Question for Camelbak'ers

G

Gautier

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Aug 31, 2006
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For those of you that own and use Camelbak brand bladders, or even similar bladders for that matter. Do you use chemical purification with the bladders regularly? If so, have you noticed any adverse effects on the bladders themselves?
I'm speaking mostly to things like a chemical aftertaste that remains long after a treated batch of water is gone, and material degradation that almost looks like the bladder had been left out in the sun to dry rot.
Was just wondering if anyone else had experienced these issues, and if so, do you know if Camelbak's lifetime warranty covers this sort of thing?
Until I can figure out if it's my purification tabs(Potable Aqua, for those wondering) or something else(I don't know what, since I don't expose them to anything else) I've purchased a new bladder and I'm going to try not to treat the water in the bladder and see if it fairs any better.
Thanks in advance for any feedback you can give/experiences you can relay.


Gautier
 
I have a few Camelbaks and if you drink anything but water, mildew will build. I've found the best way to clean it is with a wire coat hanger bent to hold it open, spray it out vigorously with a little soap if there is any mildew and hand it upside down with the hanger holding it open to let it dry. Camelbak actually sells a hanger made to do this and hold it open to let it dry. My thing is that I rarely drink anything but tap water in it so it rarely needs washing; a rinsing at most. If you taste soap, then it just wasn't rinsed enough. I've found the tabs leave a bad taste so I don't use'em.
Jason
 
Yeah, I tried the warm water and mild soap rinse, thinking maybe there was mineral build up from some of the local water sources(lots of minerals in desert water) and that didn't seem to get rid of it. All I ever drink in them is water, so I "think" it's the purification tabs, but just wanted to see if anyone else had the same experience...or if this happens even without using purification tabs, and it's just a byproduct of the plastic used in the bladder. Thanks for the response though, I might try that coat hanger idea to dry them out quicker.


Gautier
 
I've used Oxy-Clean a few times to clean out any build up in my water bladders. The only major issue has been the drinking tubes and I just buy a few extra and leave stored. The coat-hanger is the cheapest and easiest method. My garage turns into an oven and that's where they dry out and dry out quickly. I too agree to avoid putting anything other than water in them and I'm assuming your purification is iodine based...that may be the issue with additional residue build up. Another option are the Katadyn purification tablets...my daughter has to use them due to her hypothyroid condition and I've seen no residue (only used them a couple times).

ROCK6
 
I have two Camelbak and two Blackhawk Hydrostorm bladders. I put nothing but water in them and have no problems with build-up.

I bought the Camelbak cleaning kit that has the dryer and brushes for cleaning the drinking tubes. I hesitated to spend the money on it, but think it was worth it now.

If your purification tabs are tough on your bladders, Hydrostorm makes disposable bladders... that might be a cheaper way to go than having the pricey ones get ruined.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I use straight water in mine as well and I've had no problems for 3 years now.I use a water filter when I'm out and about.I don't like the chemical stuff.
 
I have 3 that I use from time to time. I only use water in them. I have not had any problems with this setup. In fact one sits full of water for 1-2 months at a time before I ever drink from it. This has not caused me any problems so far, over the last 3 years.

How are you guys discovering this mildew? Is is something you can see, smell or taste? I always wonder if one time I am going to take a drink from one of them and quickly spit it out.....
 
I can't speak for the others, but mine isn't a mildew or even a noticeable residue/buildup. Just a slightly chemical aftertaste imparted to the water, and the bladders themselves seem to have lost a good bit of their luster. So, that's why I posted the question, to see if it was a bladder problem(boy that sounds like a commercial for prostate enlargement, huh?) or if it was my purification tablets as I suspected. Beginning to think that I should start carrying a 1 liter/quart bottle from now on to treat my water in before neutralizing it and dumping it into the bladders.


Gautier
 
Both chlorine tabs and iodine are strong oxidizing agents so they will wreak some havoc on your bladders I would imagine. My guess is iodine being the more harmful to your gear of the two.
 
I could not find any information on the Camelbak site regarding iodine or other treatment methods, and could not find anything in the product literature that I have. I can ask the Camelbak vendor rep the next time I see him and will report back.

My feeling is that iodine is probably the issue, since it is known to stain and discolor objects even with its fumes (powder? vapor?). Potable Aqua is only effective against one of the four things you need to kill, so I would recommend switching away from it anyway. Micropur or similar products will kill four out of the four things you need to kill, and bleach is recommended by Camelbak for cleaning Camelbak bladders anyway, so it should not have as much of an adverse affect on the products.
 
Thanks for that information, Storl. I appreciate you taking the time to look around. I did the same thing over at the Camelbak site and came away with basically the same conclusion. Guess I'll be looking for some Micropur in the near future.


Gautier
 
My camelback and platypus bladders have seen lots of purification tablets and treatments and have held up fine. I only use water in them, wash them after a trip with Listerine and hang them to dry. I've also kept them in the freezer empty between trips so stuff wouldn't grow in them. Probably not necessary, but they're doing fine after several years.
 
Thanks for that link, Guyon. Some good ideas there, and I never would have thought to use denture tablets. I'll try one or two of those ideas and see if it helps with the chemical taste.


Gautier
 
Gautier said:
Thanks in advance for any feedback you can give/experiences you can relay.
Gautier
Click to expand...

I have a Camelbak I bought in 1997, and have never cleaned. I bought the special plastic hold open device for drying it, as well as the special brush for the tube, but don't seem to need them. I don't put anything but water in mine, and have never used water purification tablets in it.

The bladder has gotten discolored over time, but the water tastes just as good as ever.

Frankly, I'm a little surprised that I've never had to clean mine, and I think that's mostly because I've only put water in it.
 
I have had a Blackburn system and currently use a Mirage system. I have noticed that it is a lot harder to keep mildew out of the tubing than the bladder. The Mirage tubing has a quick disconnect in the middle, which makes it dry quite a bit better. Also, the Mirage bladder is made of something like a thickened mylar plastic. All I do is rinse it with hot water, empty it, and inflate it. It will retain an inflated shape even though the cap is off, so I just throw it up on top of the fridge.
 
i have had real good luck using denture cleaner....

you know the bubbling kind from walmart..

i drop 3 tablets in with some warm water...let it do its thing rinse and i am good...i also use a hanger to dry it out..i take my tube off each time too...easier to get it dry.


note...DO NOT USE THE MINT FLAVOR....USE NO FLAVOR...its gonna leave an after taste if you use the flavored ones...
 
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