Camelbak continues to innovate with its latest hydration packs using a new Antidote bladder.

Its 20 years since hydration systems first became available and Camelbak has continued to evolve its designs, and its latest water reservoir is designed to be even easier to use and tougher to withstand the unforgiving conditions of mountain biking.

The new bladder has a larger opening for easier cleaning than the previous design, with a new quick-seal cap. The profile of the bladder has also been reduced and is lighter to boot. Inside there’s clever integrated arms and a hanger to make drying it out after cleaning a no-fuss affair.

Available to supercharge the bladder is the optional Flow Meter to keep track of how much water you have left, and an insulated tube and Fresh filter for cooler and cleaner water respectively.

As well as giving the bladder a major update, there’s several new packs to choose from. Different riding styles are catered for with various different capacity packs and features designed for different riders, from XC racing to all-mountain all-day riding.

A highlight of the 2011 range is the Blowfish, a versatile pack that can be used equally for short rides or long epics, with an easy expanding section boosting the load carrying capacity.

“In all its expanded glory, this pack is designed to fit such absolute wilderness necessities as your tools, pump, tunes or cam, a spare tube, some extra layers, wallet, keys helmet and even your laptop! To make sure your stuff doesn’t get wet if you get caught in the rain, the Blowfish features an integrated rain cover.”

If you still like using a good old water bottle for occasional rides or for racing, the updated Podium Big Chill bottle is insulated for a double-wall design to keep water cooler for longer. 750ml of water is easily dispatched via the Jet Valve nozzle and easy-squeeze bottle.

More info at www.zyro.co.uk and www.camelbak.com