Algunderfoot Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Dear Forumites, While I love clean crisp water, and the idea of good hydration, can't anyone invent a synthetic water bag / hose that doesn't turn water into a foul chemical elixer? Has anyone succesfully treated / pickled a camel pack bag and rid themselves of this displeasure? I have tried sugar water, lemon juice, vinagar, still, and I am still left with the same aromatic polyvinyl funk. Alg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derf Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I got one last summer for cycling, and it still tastes nothing. I only put water in it, nothing else. After each ride, I rinse it thouroughly and leave it to dry upside down with something in the opening so water can escape (mine has a fold over type closure). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinecure Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I've replaced the bladders in all mine with Platypus bladders from REI. Its a much better solution. I always hate the plastic taste from Camelback bladders. The Platypus ones are made with food grade plastic and impart no taste to the water. Plus they make one with a big zip lock end that's super easy to clean and they come in various sizes. Regardless of size, they all accept the same hose connection. Now I just buy backpacks that will hold a bladder and use the Platypus. Or sometimes I just put a smaller platypus bladder into a big pocket (or the rear pocket) in my jacket. It works great. FYI, Steep and Cheap has a Camelback Snowblast on sale right now for $34. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trailertrash Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Dear Forumites, While I love clean crisp water, and the idea of good hydration, can't anyone invent a synthetic water bag / hose that doesn't turn water into a foul chemical elixer? Has anyone succesfully treated / pickled a camel pack bag and rid themselves of this displeasure? I have tried sugar water, lemon juice, vinagar, still, and I am still left with the same aromatic polyvinyl funk. Alg i have the brush from camelback to clean out the tube, that works well. a tip from bschurman, use listerine in the bladder to clean it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest cxy Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Augggghhhh, DON'T USE LISTERIN!!! Unless you particularly like that taste. I had a friend who did this just before a trip to Red Rocks NV to do 1200' of climbing. The water tasted like mouthwash for the entire day as a result I drank very little water that day. It took many washings and a dozen uses before the taste went away. MMM listerine. I've only had a problem with chemical tastes for the first couple uses of a camel back bladder. I don't like platypus bottles. The only one I had cracked where it tended to bend; the plastic is more stiff and susceptible to failure due to repeated flexing (or at least about 6 years ago they were). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chadx Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Dear Forumites, While I love clean crisp water, and the idea of good hydration, can't anyone invent a synthetic water bag / hose that doesn't turn water into a foul chemical elixer? Has anyone succesfully treated / pickled a camel pack bag and rid themselves of this displeasure? I have tried sugar water, lemon juice, vinagar, still, and I am still left with the same aromatic polyvinyl funk. Alg Hi Alg, I think you are talking about the silicone flavor rather than funk from not being cleaned, right? I don't think there is anything you can do to rid a particular type of bag/bladder of that flavor. It is because of the material the bladder is made out of. The only thing you can do is, like Sinecure suggests, switch to a different brand of bladder. The flavor usually comes from the bladder not the hoses. My camelbacks (4 different ones) have that silicone flavor you talk about. Some people are more touchy to it than others. Some of my friends say they can't taste it, others say they can't stand it. I'm somewhere in between. I do find that rinsing out the bladder a few times before filling it with the days water reduces it greatly. Definitely don't leave the same water in it over night if you don't like that taste because it really picks it up then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebu Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I agree not to use listerene. Soap and water tends to make the water taste soapy. You might want to try just really warm water... like, hot... Slosh it around really good and run it through your hoses a couple dozen times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywhit Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I think I'd rather taste stale jack daniels than listerine.I used used to race dirtbikes in the woods(hare scrambles) and a camel bak was essential.just run gatorade with some cranberry juice and you won't taste the funk.cranberries can cure all sorts of funk related itches and rashes. :p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
www.oldsnowboards.com Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I have been putting in one bottle of Rasberry flavored water and then top it off with regular. Nice! Refreshing , not to strong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr D Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 mine is supposed to be anti funk plastic antibacterial something or other but it tastes worse than the funk does. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
polaris Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Try baking soda and water. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derf Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Mine is a MEC. It tasted plastic/antibacterial stuff the first two times, but now it's ok, but the taste is still a little plastic, not neutral like rigid Nalgene bottles. Nalgene now makes some hydration pack, but I don't know if they are good though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pebu Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 You definately want to get a bladder hanger or something so it can dry out every night. You should only have water in it when you're filling it and using it, other than that it should be drying or in the process of drying. I think that would probably help reduce the plasticy taste. Also crap can't grow in it then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyYT316 Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Camelbak cleaning tablets would take care of it. I'd give the place I work for a shameless plug but you can get them at any outdoor sporting goods place around you or the internet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peter_x Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 Try baking soda and water. Finally, someone mentions the ingredient that is actually on the CamelBak instructions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paappraiser Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will eleimnate most organic smells we use it to get cat pee outta the renters carpet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kmagvette Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 De-grunge the pack using your favorite method. I use chlorox and rinse a few times. Then I use Aquabon in my water. No chlorine taste. I do the same thing with my water tanks in the boat, except I use a lot more chlorox. After rinsing, I add the appropriate amount of Aquabon. Water tastes good for quite a while and Ice Cubes (very important to boaters) don't smell at all. Aquabon can be found at your favorite marine store. Google also knows where to get it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I went the Platypus bladder route, and have been oh so happy ever since. In Japan I used Pocari Sweat or Aquarius powdered drink mix, nothing like that here :( so I usually just use water. no issues as long as the water's good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yard Sale Posted January 31, 2007 Report Share Posted January 31, 2007 I fill it up after each use and leave it filled. I clean it before the season starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carvedog Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I think I'd rather taste stale jack daniels than listerine.I used used to race dirtbikes in the woods(hare scrambles) and a camel bak was essential.just run gatorade with some cranberry juice and you won't taste the funk.cranberries can cure all sorts of funk related itches and rashes. :p Where do find stale Jack? I have never run across this. Of course the Jack she does no last long in my beverage preparation area. If you have some that is about to go stale and undrinkable, then forward to me please. As for all the whiners about plastic taste, just try going down the river when some wiseass treats all available drinking water on the trip ( for three days) with straight up Clorox bleach - as in a half cup of bleach per fiver. That will make a little plastic taste seem like mountain fresh spring water. Of course I had enough frothy carbonated beverages to survive. It is weird to brush your teeth with beer though. I still can't get used to the taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 That chlorine is the pits, I found out the hard way that good water is worth every penny/fils/dinar. The more expensive the water in Bahrain the less chlorine...and when you are drinking a few gallons a day it makes a huge difference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willywhit Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 Where do find stake Jack? I have never run across this. Of course the Jack she does no last long in my beverage preparation area. If you have some that is about to go stale and undrinkable, then forward to me please.As for all the whiners about plastic taste, just try going down the river when some wiseass treats all available drinking water on the trip ( for three days) with straight up Clorox bleach - as in a half cup of bleach per fiver. That will make a little plastic taste seem like mountain fresh spring water. Of course I had enough frothy carbonated beverages to survive. It is weird to brush your teeth with beer though. I still can't get used to the taste. I remember leaving some Jack in a Bota bag for a few weeks and the taste just lingered.still tasted better than clorox bleach - like a gulp of pool water- nasty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paappraiser Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 I went the Platypus bladder route, and have been oh so happy ever since. In Japan I used Pocari Sweat or Aquarius powdered drink mix, nothing like that here :( so I usually just use water. no issues as long as the water's good. They sell that at most asian (assi ?) markets. Ive bought energy drinks before and seen this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gecko Posted February 1, 2007 Report Share Posted February 1, 2007 They sell that at most asian (assi ?) markets. Ive bought energy drinks before and seen this. hummmm not seen the powder in any of my local asian food markets and only Pocari drinks not Aquarius. Aquarius is the best hangover helper I have ever had. However you have given me impetus to look further for it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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