It has been a while since we last looked at any items of the Virtus set, but today we are returning to this webbing set and taking a look at the 3L hydration zip pouch:
This pouch is designed to be attached to either the Bergan or the daysack, on either the left or the right side through the use of zips down both sides of the pouch:
The pouch is designed to hold a plastic water bladder, which has a 3 litre capacity. This bladder has a hose and a mouth piece so that the soldier can drink without having to remove anything from his pack and in order for this hose to be accessed, a small opening is sewn into one side of the pouch for the hose to pass through:
To access the bladder for filling, the top of the pouch has a large, top folding opening, secured with Velcro:
A fabric tab on the outside allows this to be opened easily:
The flap faces inwards, towards the main body of the bergan, the outside of the pouch being plain:
Loops and a plastic D-ring are fitted here to allow items to be attached to the front of the pouch
In common with other items of Virtus equipment, the hydration pouch has an NSN number with a -31- country code as the items were designed and produced in Israel:
The system was designed to allow the soldier to carry both the bladder in the zip pouch and another in the Rider hydration pack on his back. The instruction manual explained:
When using both 3L Rider hydration pack and 3L Pack Side hydration pouch in one mission, you can store the Pack side Helix valve and drinking tube and when finished drinking the water from your Rider, simply connect the rider drinking tube into Pack Side QMT mid connector and continue drinking the 3L water in your Pack Side Hydration
Tales from the Supply Depot 
If you don’t have adequate water then your effectiveness drops off fairly quickly, the only downside to carrying lots is that it’s heavy and slows you down, two 3L waterpacks weigh over 15 pounds with the containers.
The good part is, it looks like they can be dropped quickly if need be and you should have enough for an entire day and to reconstitute rations as well.
I can easily see this being an Israeli design, their equipment is top-notch and being in a mostly arid environment, water storageand provision is a priority.
It’s a very small country and troops are rarely seperated from vehicles by much so I’d expect a lot of these to be stockpiled in those as a communal resource and taken as needed rather than carrying the extra weight for long periods.
I’ve never served in the Israeli military so that’s purely conjecture on my part, it does beat trying to get by on one canteen though 😉