The Water Backpack

Initially, I really loved the design of the water pack. It worked to correct some of the larger issues that we pointed out in the hipporoller. However, like in all things, there are both positive and negative aspects to the Water Back Pack.

(+)

-It is looks to be more comfortable than carrying the water in hard buckets on your head.
-By carrying the pack on your back you are relieving much of the pressure that was previously placed on your neck. It seems to balance the weight more evenly.
-You can compact the pack and carry it easily when it is not being used.
-You could clean it relatively easily. (Easier to clean than a hipporoller)
-You know that no harsh chemicals have been used in it previously.
-It has a spout that you can use to pour water from, and the spout has a protective cap over it.
-Easier on rough terrain - you don't need to pull it, and you can balance yourself more easily.

(-) 

-The waterpack forces you to hunch over slightly, perhaps causing other kinds of back problems.
-Durability:

• Material: It looks like a material similar to that used on the IKEA shopping bags. Although that material is reasonable durable it could tear easily. I wonder too if with time weight of the water will eventually rip the material from the straps. 
• The Spout: The spout is used a lot. It can be pushed in and stored. (A quality similar to that of a inflatable object blow hole.) Perhaps because of continual use/movement it might tear from the material- I am not really sure how it function- let alone how it is attached to the bag in the first place.

-The materials are also not made locally, therefore causing a problem if you need pieces of it fixed or replaced.
-The pack is lined with plastic, which is not breathable. If you are carrying that on your back for miles at a time, the pack may actually contribute to you overheating.
-How do you fill it with water? Some people are getting water from waterholes where you need to physically dip and lift the container from the water. The waterpack looked really awkward to fill. It did not provide enough structure for people to hold and pull the pack up- perhaps the addition of handles along the top rim would work to solve this problem.