Have heard water with a drop of bleach. A buddy of mine has an entire cleaning kit. I only drank water out of it but was told to clean it and the line. Is there an easy way that everyone does it?

Denture cleaning tablets.

Throw it away and use a water bottle.

I know, not very helpful. I used to mountain bike a lot and I could never seem to get my camelbak to not taste funny.

GottaRide said:

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Denture cleaning tablets.

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This is what I use in my water bladders and jerry cans. Couple of polident tablets works well.

ShinerDunk93 said:

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Throw it away and use a water bottle.

I know, not very helpful. I used to mountain bike a lot and I could never seem to get my camelbak to not taste funny.

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I had the same issue with Camelback bladders ~15 years ago. Have used the same Source bladder for the last ~10 years and it leaves no taste on the water even if it's several weeks between use/cleaning

Put dentures cleaner in them. Thanks for the tips!

I use hot water and iodine/purification tablets then clean with diluted dawn soap. Air dry in the sun.

Can you empty your bladder completely?

Cranberry juice?

Blow the water out of the tube, rinse the bladder, shove the tube in the bladder to hold it open and let it dry a few days...I might be gross but never clean mine more than that and they've seemed fine for years. I also never put anything other than plain water in it

I bent a wire hanger to fit inside longways and expand the bladder so air will circulate and dry it out. Just hang it up after every use. Fill it with soap and water once a week or so to clean it more. Never had an issue doing that.

Military taught me to put one cap full of Clorox shake we'll and rinsethat was for a standard issue canteen.

Fill with Vodka and enjoy...

I put a little mouth wash in the water when I use it. Not every time.

At home, I fill up about 1/4 and blow it out of hose and keep in freezer. I've never cleaned mine and have had no problems.

Serious question. Can someone explain what the benefit of this gross device is other than harboring bacteria?

rootube said:

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Serious question. Can someone explain what the benefit of this gross device is other than harboring bacteria?

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I thought it was fantastic on the hikes I went on. Something to be said for knowing your child has a constant source of hydration when you're taking them hiking for the first time, and in the Texas heat.

rootube said:

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Serious question. Can someone explain what the benefit of this gross device is other than harboring bacteria?

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Do you spend any time outdoors doing any type of physical activity where you can't carry enough water bottles on your person to easily re-hydrate yourself during those activities?

If you're outside, away from a vehicle, you may not have easy access to water bottles. It's a lot easier carrying a liter or two on your back than trying to hump around bottles. I've even used them under water on long scuba dives.

txyaloo said:

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rootube said:

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Serious question. Can someone explain what the benefit of this gross device is other than harboring bacteria?

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Do you spend any time outdoors doing any type of physical activity where you can't carry enough water bottles on your person to easily re-hydrate yourself during those activities?

If you're outside, away from a vehicle, you may not have easy access to water bottles. It's a lot easier carrying a liter or two on your back than trying to hump around bottles. I've even used them under water on long scuba dives.

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I use water bottles that can sanitized easily by running them through the dish washer. Water bottles can also be frozen or packed with ice when its hot. When its cold the insulated ones will hold hot coffee. On the days when I feel like a camel I could wear a backpack and stuff my water bottles inside. I'm sure there is a great use case for these things. I just haven't heard it yet.

You can absolutely throw water bottles in a backpack, but when you're jumping it over long distances or doing any kind of physical work, the camelback is a far superior solution. It holds the water in a stable position tight to your back. You don't have water bottles bouncing around with every step. The camelback Is also better than traditional backpacks T minimizing shoulder, back, and hip fatigue.

I just use a it of vinegar and warm water immediately after using it, then store it in the freezer so nothing can grow. All the soft good seem to hold up just fine to the cold temps.

txyaloo said:

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rootube said:

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Serious question. Can someone explain what the benefit of this gross device is other than harboring bacteria?

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Do you spend any time outdoors doing any type of physical activity where you can't carry enough water bottles on your person to easily re-hydrate yourself during those activities?

If you're outside, away from a vehicle, you may not have easy access to water bottles. It's a lot easier carrying a liter or two on your back than trying to hump around bottles. I've even used them under water on long scuba dives.

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I have been outdoors a couple times. I have scuba dived in most large Texas lakes and throughout the Caribbean. I have run marathons, trail races and rode in century bike rides. I've camped for weeks at a time in the wilderness. I just don't get the advantage of one of these things and probably never will. I am still waiting on a use case that makes sense to me personally.

rootube said:

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txyaloo said:

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rootube said:

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Serious question. Can someone explain what the benefit of this gross device is other than harboring bacteria?

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Do you spend any time outdoors doing any type of physical activity where you can't carry enough water bottles on your person to easily re-hydrate yourself during those activities?

If you're outside, away from a vehicle, you may not have easy access to water bottles. It's a lot easier carrying a liter or two on your back than trying to hump around bottles. I've even used them under water on long scuba dives.

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I have been outdoors a couple times. I have scuba dived in most large Texas lakes and throughout the Caribbean. I have run marathons, trail races and rode in century bike rides. I've camped for weeks at a time in the wilderness. I just don't get the advantage of one of these things and probably never will. I am still waiting on a use case that makes sense to me personally.

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The 12 YO carried her own water and snacks and never once complained about being thirsty or it being too hot

76Ag said:

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Can you empty your bladder completely?

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That's a pretty personal question. A mans body changes a lot in his 40s.

Clearly your mind is made up and you aren't actually interested in hearing reasons, but they are infinitely better when skiing. No bottle to land on and break (it or you) and easier to take a sip or two without having to open pockets etc

Not sure what to say to someone who doesn't realize how much more practical it is compared to bottles in a backpack. No stopping, pulling the backpack around, unzipping, digging around for a bottle, opening the bottle, closing the bottle, tossing it back in the bag, zipping up, and putting it back on your back.

Ogre09 said:

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Not sure what to say to someone who doesn't realize how much more practical it is compared to bottles in a backpack. No stopping, pulling the backpack around, unzipping, digging around for a bottle, opening the bottle, closing the bottle, tossing it back in the bag, zipping up, and putting it back on your back.

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Oh, I don't use a backpack.

Like others said just empty it as best you can and prop it open to dry. Then maybe spit out the first few sips when you use it again. Might not be the ultra-safe solution but I've used mine many many times and never had an issue.

As for functionality, 3L of water bottles feel waaay heavier in a pack than a full camelback does. You also tend to stay more hydrated because of how convenient it is to take a drink, and it saves you the time/hassle of having to pull bottles out of your pack.

rootube said:

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txyaloo said:

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rootube said:

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Serious question. Can someone explain what the benefit of this gross device is other than harboring bacteria?

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Do you spend any time outdoors doing any type of physical activity where you can't carry enough water bottles on your person to easily re-hydrate yourself during those activities?

If you're outside, away from a vehicle, you may not have easy access to water bottles. It's a lot easier carrying a liter or two on your back than trying to hump around bottles. I've even used them under water on long scuba dives.

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I use water bottles that can sanitized easily by running them through the dish washer. Water bottles can also be frozen or packed with ice when its hot. When its cold the insulated ones will hold hot coffee. On the days when I feel like a camel I could wear a backpack and stuff my water bottles inside. I'm sure there is a great use case for these things. I just haven't heard it yet.

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It's because you can drink at the ready. It's always there right out of eyesight. You don't have to stop and unpack a bottle, drink, repack a bottle. When it's at the ready you drink more and are less likely to get dehydrated.

This is especially important when hiking with kids, who are more prone to get dehydrated because they tend to not drink till they're thirsty as opposed to constantly when it's very hot.

Also, when you're backpacking long distances, ounces count, a lot. So I can pack three liters of water in a bladder that weighs nothing or several heavy Nakhon type water bottles.

To add to that, if you're on a multi-day backpacking trip, where you have to collect/treat your own water, it's a lot easier to do it 2 or 3 liters at a time. In those cases, I don't use my camelback. I use its bladder suspended in my backpack. I'm usually carrying way to much gear to dig for water bottles. If you're carrying 40+ pounds on your back all day, you're burning a lot of unnecessary energy taking that pack on and off to get a drink.

The folks on the H&F board will have a fair amount of experience with this. Rule of thumb though, cap full of bleach. Shake it up and let it dry out, rinse and repeat as needed.

As to the argument above with regard to water bottles vs. backpacks etc., I run quite a bit and do not like carrying something in my hands, its just a personal thing. To each his own.

I'm a big fan of hydration packs. Always store in freezer and never clean them. The times I've tried to clean them I can never get them fully dry so I just toss in freezer