FOG HORN
March 2019 Twobirds Flying Publications
CAMELBAK MIL SPEC CRUXâ„¢ 3L LUMBAR RESERVOIR
Copyright 2019, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.
Camelbak’s MIL SPEC CRUX™ 3L LUMBAR RESERVOIR MIL SPEC CRUX™ 3L LUMBAR RESERVOIR By: Sal Palma
2019
hydration bladder, several limitations needed a second look. First and foremost is the bladder geometry. When filled, your typical bladder goes from flat to round. So, there’s a tendency for it to roll on your back contributing to instability, which the back muscles have to deal with. Keep in mind that a filled 3 liter hydration bladder holds (3 x 2.205lbs.) 6.62 lbs. of water.
CamelBak has come a long way since the days of Michael Eidson, an EMT technician who thought it would be a great idea to fill an IV bag with water to hydrate on his many arduous cycling events. Over the years, the company has been a leading innovator in hydration technology for commercial and military application. In 2019, the company redesigned its MIL Motherload™ backpack. The new and improved pack features a number of improvements including laser cut PAL webbing, modifications to the harness but it’s most significant improvement was the hydration system.
Secondly, the sausage style bladder distributes its weight along the length of the back, and your upper back does more work than it needs to. If you’ve ever studied the martial arts, you were introduced to the concept of Ki. There’s nothing magical about Ki, and in Eastern philosophy it’s the point from where focus and strength emanates. Taking a more modern look at Ki, it is simply the body’s center of gravity which is just below the belly button. This is a point where a human has greatest stability. In Aikido for example techniques are taught to move Ki all the way down to the feet. The message here is that shifting loads closer to the hips improves stability and relieves stresses to the upper back; translating to improved comfort and physical performance. To achieve this goal, CamelBak introduced a new hydration bladder design that they market as the MIL SPEC CRUX™ 3L LUMBAR RESERVOIR.
CamelBak understands the need to hydrate which is reflected in its well know logo “Hydrate or Die”. Part of that understanding includes a vision for the future and a desire to address the more common complaints and limitations with the current hydration bladders. Although there’s nothing inherently wrong with what I call the sausage style
Copyright 2019, Towbirds Flying Publications. All Rights Reserved.
Camelbak’s MIL SPEC CRUX™ 3L LUMBAR RESERVOIR
2019
The Lumbar reservoir uses a shorter but broader bag that sits at the bottom of the hydration pocket and contours to the lower back. So, all of the water weight is shifted to the hips eliminating back strain and increasing lateral stability. The bag’s geometry is such that, even when full of water, it lays flat and comfortably against the lumbar region, so you don’t experience a rolling or shifting sensation, even when running.
CamelBak’s MIL SPEC CRUX™ 3L LUMBAR RESERVOIR is standard equipment on the new redesigned Motherload pack but it can also be purchased separately for $49 directly from CamelBak’s military / tactical products line.
Other notable features include the large bottle mouth which makes filling the bladder a snap. CamelBak also includes a handle, which one of the guys I commune with, an ex-Marine, thought was a shoehorn.
the bottom of the hydration pocket. TRY IT! -SP
If you’re not using a Motherload pack you’ll need a 45-50 liter back pack. For this review, I tried it on a Maxpedition pack, and as you can see in the figure below the CRUX™ 3L LUMBAR reservoir sits nicely at
SPECIFICATIONS
All of the customary CamelBak bladder features are present as well; the angled exit port which allows the attachment of purifiers and other accessories; insulated tube cover, which maintains water temperature and protects the tube from UV rays; mil-spec polyurethane construction with Hydroguard Technology to prevent bacterial growth; the easy open, leak-proof, cap and self-sealing bite valve.
CAPACITY: 3L/100 fl oz CLOSURE: Leak-proof COLLECTION: Pack Accessories ACTIVITY: Accessories BPA/BPS/BPF FREE: Yes DIMENSIONS: 27 x 28 x 8 cm / 10.5 x 11 x 3 in MATERIAL: Polyurethane WEIGHT: 229 g / 8 oz
Copyright 2019, Twobirds Flying Publications, All Rights Reserved