Camelback Packs

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Anyone know of a good way to eliminate the "plastic" taste of the water bladders in a Camelback? I've tried a fresh lemon in the water, but it ended up just tasting like a plastic lemon.

 

C.J.

[+TeamK-9]

I've never experience that problem, but I always keep my camelback bladder in tip top, clean condition, I usually give it a good bleaching after each use and then a good rinse to get rid of the bleach.....

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Well, this is a fairly new one, having used it only a few times. I only rinsed it with fresh water before using....should it be rinsed with a bleach solution from the start?

[+TeamK-9]

Probably...

 

Also, is it an actual "Camelback" brand or is it just a generic water thing....

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

[Also, is it an actual "Camelback" brand or is it just a generic water thing....]

 

Yes, it is a Camelback Blowfish model that I got from Team Shuey. I'll try the bleach rinse. Is it something like 1 part bleach to 100 parts water?

[fallout4x4]

Yeah, that would probably be a good ratio. I own a platypus and don't taste the plastic for what its worth.

[+Johnnie Stalkers]

I own a platypus and don't taste the plastic for what its worth.

But do you taste platypus?

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Okay, thanks all! I too have a couple of small Platypus containers that don't taste funny, but I think it's because of the different material they use. Again, I'll try the bleach rinse and if anyone has any other tricks/hints for keeping these bladders "fresh", please pass it along.

[+TeamK-9]

I remember reading something somewhere that it's very important to always wash your water bottles, there's some kind of weird bacteria thing...

[+CYBret]

Definitely switch to a Platypus bladder. They're totally tasteless.

 

Bret

[Swagger]

I've never had a problem with the taste of the water in my Camelbak, even when it was brand new.

[+Capt. Jack & 1st Mate]

Definitely switch to a Platypus bladder. They're totally tasteless.

 

That is certainly a possibilty (if) I can't "fix" this one. But, what are the pros & cons of the 2 brands other than the forementioned.

[+aka Monkey]

Different people can taste different things. Really, not to impugne anyone's "sense of taste," it's a known biological fact. It's why some people like the taste of cilantro and others would rather lick their cat's patootie. It's quite possible that the CamelBak does have a plasticky taste for some people, but not for others. Just one of those things.

 

Still, I'd try the bleach rinse to clean it out. Just get it well rinsed out afterwards (it won't kill you if you don't get out every little bit, but it certainly won't taste any better than the plastic!).

 

On a not-so-related note I recently picked up an MSR MIOX water purifier, which is very cool but does give the water a bit of a chlorine taste. Still, it's better than iodine and a heck of a lot easier to use than a pump filter.

[+Cache Viking]

I have had several Camelback Packs and only the first one about 8 years ago seemed to have a bad taste. Now I have the newer bladder and no problem but this may be in part because I have 3 bladders for it and rotate them. They are also drained and hung to dry at the end of each day.

[+geospotter]

My Platypus brand bladder was definitely NOT tasteless. Maybe I'm just more sensitive than others to the taste.

 

I mentioned this in another thread, but I'll repeat it here.

 

I read several places to mix water and your favorite alcoholic beverage together and let it sit in the bladder. I don't remember the ratio or the time. There was discussion of 'isomers' that the alcohol somehow removed, dissolved, or modified. I found some leftover Jack Daniels and gave it a try. Several months later I could still taste the Jack. So I DON'T recommend the alcohol approach.

 

To get that flavor out I decided to mix some Gatorade and let it sit in the bladder. It got the Jack taste out, but left a Gatorade taste (an improvement in my opinion). After a few days even the Gatorade taste was gone. Now, no flavors or plastic taste!

 

FWIW

[+Johnnie Stalkers]

I read several places to mix water and your favorite alcoholic beverage together and let it sit in the bladder.  I don't remember the ratio or the time.

 

The proper ratio is 5 parts Jack to 1 parts water. Preferably On the Rocks

 

I found some leftover Jack Daniels and gave it a try.

 

Leftover Jack? Blasphemy!

[+DustyJacket]

The plastic taste goes away after 5 or so uses.

I used to keep mine full of water in the trunk of my car, 7 days a week.

 

Now, I fill it before a trip and empty it after the trip.

I haven't has the plastic taste in a long time.

[+Stem]

I've tried a fresh lemon in the water, but it ended up just tasting like a plastic lemon.

 

MMMM, plasteic lemon

 

But do you taste platypus?

 

MMMM, platypus

 

you're making homer hungry

[+StarshipTrooper]

For years and years, I have managed to mask the taste of various plastic canteens by adding a small amount of baking soda to the water. You get an extra benifit of less chance of a sideache while hiking, also.

 

-FreeMe

[+cache_us_if_you_can]

I'll try the bleach rinse and if anyone has any other tricks/hints for keeping these bladders "fresh", please pass it along.

To keep the bladder "fresh" try this (it works great for me):

 

After cleaning (I tend to just rinse it out with water), keep the empty bladder in a large ziplock in the freezer. This will keep it "fresh" and prevent mildew.

[+protocoldroid]

what do you all do about the water being so warm in your camelbacks (/other hydration systems)? at least when I've gone on trips... i've thought about freezing a spare bladder before I left, but, then I'm afraid I'll be stuck with extreme thirst and a block of ice! (sometimes I take a frozen steak before i leave for camp, and by the time i'm ready for dinner, it's usually thawed enough... sure beats a packet of soup!)

 

i don't notice a plastic taste in any of my bladders (and even some are cheapos!).. i do rinse 'em out really good, when new, and after every time out. if they get remotely nasty, i rinse 'em with water and a touch of vinegar.

 

(edited for typo)

Edited April 3, 2004 by protocoldroid

[+Team GPSaxophone]

(sometimes I take a frozen steak before i leave for camp, and by the time i'm ready for dinner, it's usually thawed enough... sure beats a packet of soup!)

That's a good idea. I'll bring some steaks to my campout event and let them thaw in the cooler. Should be ready to cook by Saturday night.

[+TeamK-9]

What my parents and I will usually do (and this works for normal water bottles to) is fill up the bladder about half way and then freeze it. A few hours before you need it, take it out and fill it up the rest of the way with water...

[+protocoldroid]

fill up the bladder about half way and then freeze it. A few hours before you need it, take it out and fill it up the rest of the way with water...

 

voila! good thinking... enough to keep it cold, but, not a completely solid block definatley going to try it.

[+protocoldroid]

(sometimes I take a frozen steak before i leave for camp....)

That's a good idea. I'll bring some steaks to my campout event and let them thaw in the cooler. Should be ready to cook by Saturday night.

 

if camping can make gritty coffee and gorp taste so darn good... you can imagine how good the steak is ...you're going to have some happy cachers!

 

from plastic tasting water, to mouth watering steaks, look at what a tangent i take the conversation in :0

[+Capaldo]

Don't laugh but I've been using those fizzy denture cleaning tabs to keep mine clean. I saw that Camelback sells something similar for about a buck a tab and you can get something like 40 for 3 bucks at Walgreens. They're antibacterial and remove stains too. I'd let one of my bladders get real grungy and it seemed to do the trick without any chemical 'aftertaste'. My teeth have been getting loose, but I'm sure that's unrelated.

[ju66l3r]

The "plastic taste" is often small amounts (very small) of the chemicals that helped make the plastic to begin with. That's why almost everything meant to hold food says "wash with a warm soap mixture..." when you first buy it. If that's not enough, then a mild bleach solution as described above might help. The final thing to try is to sit it around full of water for a few hours and let anything still soaking out of the plastic to osmose into the water and then dump the water and wash. Finally, one last thing that I've seen recommended (and we use in our lab sometimes for things) is to drop in a piece of activated carbon (aka a charcoal briquette...NOT the lighter-fluid-soaked variety!!). You can protect the sides of the bottle using newspaper to surround the charcoal. Let that sit closed for a few days and then pull out the charcoal/newspaper and wash with soapy water.

 

Finally, as for care, you want to make sure it's as dry as possible when you store it. Any excess water is a source for mold/mildew (maybe a bacteria if you or your water source was particularly dirty). If it can be stored inside-out, then all the better as "trapped" air will be kicked out when you reverse it back again.

 

Of course, while they are bulkier, a good Nalgene bottle will almost *never* impart a plastic flavor because of the type of plastic it is made from.

[scoutsout]

I learned to really appreciate the plastic taste when I lived in a house with only well water, I couldn't stand the taste of the water at all, but in the camelback most of the sulfur & iron flavors were covered up. Now I live in an area with heavily processed tap water, you can't really tell the difference between the water & the plastic taste of the camelback. This may be why some people don't notice the taste, they are so accustomed to the treatments & additives to their water.

 

On the topic of cooling your water, I've always filled the bladder with as many ice cubes as it can possibly hold, then top it off with water. You get instant cold water for drinking right away, and over time the ice will melt about as fast as you need to drink it. This seems to work out well for my while bicycling anyway, even in long summer rides in extreme heat. I'd worry that actually freezing the plastic bladder itself might do some damage, especially if you try to fil lit completely.

[Tahosa and Sons]

I'll usually stop by the local brew pub and fill it up with some good Stout. After the Stout is gone, then a little hot water and baking soda will freshen it up.

[+Fritz_Monroe]

I've never had any strange tastes from my Camelbak packs. You could also try baking soda.

 

If you use bleach, just make sure you rinse it really well. Also, dry that thing out. Any water left in will start a nice little mildew colony.

 

F_M

[+Faderaven]

I'm supposed to rinse it ?

[+Cherokeecacher]

I remember reading something somewhere that it's very important to always wash your water bottles, there's some kind of weird bacteria thing...

YUP. It is referred to as Biofilm, also known as "slime in the ice machine". It is a natural occurrence with water, if it is not properly sanitized. Here is something that will make you lose your appetite. The next time you are at your office, and it is time to replace the 5-gallon water jug on the cooler, when the jug is off, look inside the chiller area. I would not be surprised if you see a green film in there.

[+Team Flying Dachshund]

leave the water in it for about a day. It worked for my sherpa and it has been faithfun evar sence. Actualy Camelback sells some special pills you can put in you camelback leave it in there for a day and it will be good as new without the dmageing risk of bleach (it weakens the plastic).

Edited April 4, 2004 by Team ClandestinePenguin

[+SBPhishy]

I hate Camelbak bladders. From the very beginning, after a lemon rinse, a baking soda soak, and a bleach soak, it still tasted like a**. I cant believe they are still selling them even though they seem to always get that taste. I have had 2, and they both were terrible, and one of them was the newer one with that "pure fresh" tube or whatever they are called. I am for Platypus bladders all the way. Plus, I think they have a lifetime warranty. I finally bought a Platypus bladder for my Camelbak bag. I love Camelbak backpacks.

[+NightPilot]

I don't like the bladders either, and don't need a tube of water always in reach. It's not that hard to reach inside my pack and pull out a bottle of water when I get thirsty, and the bottles are much easier to deal with when cleaning, if I don't just throw them away.

[+briansnat]

I had the same problem with my Camlback bladder. I couldn't stand the plastic taste, so I eventually threw it away and purchased Platypus bladders. End of problem.

[CoyoteRed]

Mine still has little bit of a plastic taste, but it doesn't bother me.

 

For cooling I fill it with icecubes and then ice water. I like the cooling effect it has on my back. Thing is it doesn't last a full day's caching before it gets luke warm. Still, wet is wet.

 

On the other end of the spectrum, if you use frozen waterbottles and cache in subfreezing weather you will be thristy! That's what we did on Bradley's Bottom and ended up having to put the bottles inside our jackets to get them to thaw. It actually felt good because our core temps were up from the exertion.

 

For the record my pack is a military grade HAWG. At times I've been left wishing for a larger pack, but most of the time it carries everything I need. If need be, I can put 2(!) regular ammo cans to pack in for placement--if I take everything else out. I like the hydration system much better than bottles because I don't have to stop. I might buy an additional bladder to keep in the cooler to swap out later in the day.

[GeoFD]

just keep fresh H2O in it, if you let it sit thats when you get the plastic taste.