Hydration is essential for all sporting activities. Sportsmen and women, whether at leisure or in competition, need to optimise their water requirements and drink regularly to compensate for the water lost through perspiration. On Ekosport, you'll find all the hydration equipment you need for trail running, cycling, hiking and, more generally, all sports. In the shop, you'll find a wide range of hydration bags, water bottles, water pouches, cycling bottles, filter bottles and isothermal bottles.

Hydration: a key factor in sporting performance

During exercise, athletes lose up to 2 litres of water per hour. This is because the muscles produce heat and the body temperature rises, creating perspiration. We are 65% water. That's why it's essential to stay well hydrated during any sporting activity, so that your cells, muscles, kidneys and heart can continue to function properly. Scientific studies have shown that the consequences of dehydration are real. Reaction time is reduced, as is psychomotor capacity. That's why it's advisable to drink at least 0.5 to 1 litre of water per hour before, after and during exercise. It's best to drink water or an isotonic drink regularly, every 15 minutes or so. For easy drinking, you can use very practical hydration accessories that won't hamper your performance, such as a hydration bag or a rucksack fitted with a water pouch.

Equipment and accessories for drinking during sporting activities

There are many technical solutions for drinking during exercise. The hydration bag, also known as a hydrobag, is a key piece of equipment for endurance sports such as trail running or cross-country skiing. It's a bag or waistcoat worn close to the body and fitted with a water pouch and a hose with a teat. So you can drink without stopping. For short trail-running outings or walks, there are water-bottle belts that make it easy to carry one or more water bottles or flasks (with a capacity of 250 ml to 1 litre). Some water bottles are isothermal, making them ideal for carrying a warm drink on the slopes of Nordic areas. For cycling and mountain biking, the ideal solution is a water bottle that slides into a holder fixed to the frame. That way, you'll have quick access to water. For bivouacking, trekking and mountaineering, brands offer filtering water bottles that can filter any water so you can hydrate safely in the great outdoors. The advantage of this hydration accessory is that you no longer have to carry large quantities of water on your expeditions. Finally, we've selected some isothermal water bottles for you.

Choosing your hydration pack

A hydration pack is essential for trail running and long-distance running. It's such a practical accessory that it's now a popular choice for many other sports, including hiking, mountain biking and even skiing (but beware: in sub-zero temperatures, the hose on your water bag could freeze). There are many criteria for choosing your hydrobag: volume (depending on the distance you cover and the equipment you need to carry), weight, pockets and accessibility, fit, pole holder system, strength of seams and zips, etc. At Ekosport, we've selected trail bags from leading brands such as Salomon, Raidlight, Camelbak, Black Diamond and many others. By choosing a Salomon hydration bag, you're putting your trust in a French brand that equips the greatest trail runners.