Camel Bak Issue: Ever have this happen to you?

Midnight Scout

Midnight Scout

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May 27, 2007
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299
I went hiking and camping in the Guadalupe Mountains (Texas) National Park over Labor Day weekend. While getting ready for a hike on the El Capitan Trail, I "filled" my 3-liter Camel Bak Ambush water carrier. After only about 5 miles on the trail and drinking a few times I realized I was out of water. I think I had the hydration bag crimped when I was trying to fill it and I did not know that at the time. So when I saw that that bag was overflowing while I was filling it I assumed that it was full.

In hindsight, my friend and I should have turned around right then, but we looked over how much water he had left over and decided we could continue if we watched how much water he had. Not a good plan! We went on a few miles more before thunder coming from clouds nearby made us turn around. The trek back was awful and I was suffering from nausea and extreme dry mouth from lack of water.

(As an aside, I stepped over one rattlesnake before it rattled and then only 20 yards later was stepping onto another one before he rattled. No bites on either encounter. That didn't help with the worrisome situation at hand.)

Anyone have this happen when filling up a hydration bag?

Some photos are attached.
 

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Hmm...odd. I am sure you would have noticed it leaking if it was.

Is it the old style or the new style with the handle below the fill port? The newer ones are pretty easy to fill as when the bag fills it opens up from the weight of the water. You can fill them damn near the top of the fill port if you hold them at the right angle.
 
Nope, but the reason rattlers rattle late if at all now is because they know if they rattle death will be around the corner for humans. More people are being bit now because they are evolving. I have a feeling the rattlesnake may have no use for its rattle at all in years to come and may evolve into something different. Beautiful pics.
 
Goose_52 said:
Hmm...odd. I am sure you would have noticed it leaking if it was.

Is it the old style or the new style with the handle below the fill port? The newer ones are pretty easy to fill as when the bag fills it opens up from the weight of the water. You can fill them damn near the top of the fill port if you hold them at the right angle.
Click to expand...

It is an old style where the handle is below the fill port. I had the bottom of the carrier sitting on the ground too because the water spigot was low to the ground. Next time, even though it is a bit of a pain, I am going to consider taking the hydration bag out of the carrier and see it filled. The problem is that putting a filled hydration bag back into the carrier is a pain. It is better to deal with that than to have no water.
 
My Camelbak has a back panel that is unzipped to access the bladder without going into the backpack. I can pull the bladder out of the pocket (without moving the hose from the port) and fill pretty easily, then slip it back in and zip up and I'm good to go.

Never had your problem...I tend to be very careful about water, and overhydrate most of the time, so I pretty much always check my bladder before heading out.
 
I've had them leak, and I've had the bladder not fill all the way, but I usually notice either or both situations before I get moving. And unless I'm only going a short distance, I never trust one to be my only water supply.
 
Oh, I see, you filled it while it was in the pack? I always fill mine outside of the pack, then put it back in, that way I can see that it's full.

I would just write it off as a lesson learned to always fill your bladder outside of the pack so you can ensure that you are filling it up. It might be a little difficult to get it back in the pack, but not nearly as difficult as being dehydrated and risking death.
 
The only time it happened to me was when I didn't tighten the cap properly. The gasket wasn't on properly.
 
I always pull the bladder out to refil it, mostly because its a PITA to fill while its in the bag without flooding the bag and its contents. Glad ya came out ok, got to watch your ass out there. Got pics of the snakes?
 
Not trying to be critical, but I'm pretty sure I'd notice the difference of 3kg on a daypack. Glad it worked out for you in the end. You should have turned back when you noticed.
 
I had a similar experience while filling my Camelbak bladder for my Falcon II pack. Getting the bladder in and out with a full pack is a PITA, so I put it in empty and then filled it.
Fifteen minutes later, I decided to repack my bag and took everything out. The bladder was perhaps only 70% full. It was a stupid mistake which I luckily caught before setting out.
 
my usgi cantteen cup is always w me so i always have my canteen as back up... gen have a na;geen as well.... if i have to break into either it means it is a bad day... that being said i love my camelback as a primary....
 
I know what you mean with trying to stuff the bladders in the pack, not exactly easy. I have both, one standard bladder, and the other with the fill port on the outside. Definetly makes a difference. I actually bought one off of Ebay, brand new, filled it up, and it leaked right on the seam of the baffles. Put on a dab of superglue over the pin hole and it has held up for quite a while "knock on wood" :D
 
I don't fill the bladder in the bag simply because it makes a mess. I never seem to have any trouble loading the full bladder into my CamelBak either. I have a MULE and a DAHIO and they both seem to work fine. Of course, I then have to re-pack my gear around the bladder.

I also carry a 32 oz Nalgene knockoff and some tablets in the pack just in case.
 
I love Camelbak products, and I am greatful for the advent of the Omega Mouth because I like to put ice in my camelbak during bike outings. The downside to the Omega (big opening) is that you have to crank down on it pretty good when tightening it or it will leak pretty bad. Maybe that was your problem.
 
Good lesson for all of us to learn from! Another option if you want to fill the bladder while still in the pack is to use Camelbak's filler pump with or without the in-line filter. I have one with each of my packs. I just remove the mouthpiece connect the filler adapter and drop the intake hose into my water source and start to pump untill full. I know how long it takes to fill. Whe done unhook, replace the mouthpiece and secure my pump and filter and go.
 
I've used 4 or 5 different brands of bladders, and I drape the hose over my shoulder so that it doesn't hang down and crimp the bladder itself.

I've never had a bladder leak; but have always had the bladder crimp if I don't position the hose in it's working orientation before starting to fill.
 
stingray4540 said:
Oh, I see, you filled it while it was in the pack? I always fill mine outside of the pack, then put it back in, that way I can see that it's full.

I would just write it off as a lesson learned to always fill your bladder outside of the pack so you can ensure that you are filling it up. It might be a little difficult to get it back in the pack, but not nearly as difficult as being dehydrated and risking death.
Click to expand...

I fill all my baldders outside the pack except for my Unbottle and Pakteen. The Unbottle and Pakteen are basically in a sleeve, so it is easy to monitor their filling. The bladders I use inside packs get removed for filling. Another thing I do is I always burp the bladder, to insure there are no air bubbles inside. This extra time spent with the system also helps guarantee it is full.

Midnight Scout, is this a new pack for you? Looking at the Ambush, it looks to be a minimalist-type pack, and I would imagine you could probably leave the bladder inside the pack for filling. Perhaps you just need a little more time with the Ambush. Once you learn how the full pack feels, you'llbe less likely to underfill it unknowingly.

I'm glad you and your buddy are ok following the error.
 
I always pull the reservoir completely out when filling. Can never seem to get as much H2O into the reservoir when it's in the pack, and I need every ounce I can get.
 
Merost said:
I love Camelbak products, and I am greatful for the advent of the Omega Mouth because I like to put ice in my camelbak during bike outings. The downside to the Omega (big opening) is that you have to crank down on it pretty good when tightening it or it will leak pretty bad. Maybe that was your problem.
Click to expand...

Cranking down hard is what caused mine to leak - it deformed the gasket. Did you loose the gasket?
 
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