Camelback ?'s

[Cserv]

So I finally brokedown and bought one, after using canteens for years. My questions are regarding care and storage. I picked up a Camelback at the local surplus store,has the soldiees last name and last four marked out with sharpie. It doesn't look abused, so I gave the $35 and got it. What do you guys use to disinfect/clean, and do you store them full or empty, and why? The bite valve looks barely used if at all and the tubing has a neoprene sleeve, overall looks near new. The bladder has no odor or anything, so...
Thanks for any tips or advice.

Eric

 

[Slapchop]

For cleaning my Camelbaks, I use a mixture of water and bleach on the reservoir, tubing and bite valve. Basically the the plastic internal parts should get washed using bleach and water. If I'm going to store it for an extended length of time, I make sure that the bladder/reservoir is completely empty and dry. Same goes for the tubing and bite valve. I think that if you were to store it wet or with water in it, that would promote the growth of mold and bacteria.

Go the the Camelbak website, I'm sure they have instructions for the care and maintenance of their products. They sell shit to "clean" your Camelbak but don't spend your money on it. Bleach and water works just as well.

 

[ArmaHeavy]

I don't recommend buying used.

Hygiene issues come to mind, and I've know some people who were less than discriminating with their sexual partners, both men AND women included.

Camelbak probably recommends something simple like soap, and warm water to clean it.

I recommend boiling water, lye, rubbing alcohol, and a full-on exorcism.

No, I'm not joking. Camelbak bladders are sold separately too, and they are new, and cheap enough that you don't need to go to a surplus store and get Pvt. SnatchLicker's or Cpl. Cocksucker's used camelbak bladder.

 

[roggom]

Optics planet has the nice bladders and bite valves, some come with the neoprene sleeve as well. Not sure which pack you got, but the surplus Mules are pretty cool, you can stuff enough stuff for a day hunt in there. The civilian equiv to the military MULE can be over $100, the omega approx $75.

Hydration System Accessories SALE Hydration Backpack DISCOUNT Hydration Bladder

 

[Cserv]

Arma,
You make some valid points, and I like the terminology.lol

The pack is desert camo with a Thermobak 3L tag.

I don't know much that bleach wont kill, but peace of mind of a new bladder shouldn't cost more than $50 or so, still putting me under cost of a new one.
Thanks for the replies fellas.

Eric

 

[ArmaHeavy]

Cserv,

I should also bring up another point to you and all on here, but concerning the carriers themselves.

Overseas our guys are sometimes, or more frequently, exposed to tons of garbage, waste, and other things both unknown, and unmentionable tha your own health, and for other's as well, and safety in general when you visit a surplus store. They may not know, so share this information with them, specifically the general manager, or owner if you know them, and how much of a potential liability it could be for them.

It doesn't mean that all gear at a surplus store will be carrying a huge health risk, but all my post is, is a message for vigilance, education, and awareness when you buy surplus gear.

 

[tacshooter223]

Thermopak 3L is what I was issued at basic. So it may have been just used for a few weeks while someone was at basic and cleaned every night as we were required to.

Soap and warm water if you plan on using it again shortly after or bleach and water for when you're going to store it.

 

[Tact999]

Wow 50 dollars for a new bladder! That's high! I would ditch the camelback crap anyway and look at Source. The bladders have easier access and are made of a glass like material.....better durability and better taste. Just my .02


Tapatalk2

 

[Here2Learn]

Source Hydration would be a much better option to replace the camelback.

 

[Hairball]

Oh camelbacks, I once loaded up my crotch with about a pound of gold bond as I would be stuck in an APC all day in Iraq and when we took a rough bump, my camel back ruptured and proceeded to turn all of my gold bond into a nice heavy paste that I had to wear around until we stopped at another base where I could wipe-up. Moral of the story, camelbacks are good for hiking and whatnot but they sure don't standup to rough handling. If you need bladders, always spend the money and get new ones, there are a lot of folks out there that are lacking in the hygiene department.

 

[kydron]

Ditto on Source hydration products. If you need more convincing, here's a nice review:

Source Hydration Systems and LBT Hydration Pouches, a Winning Combo

 

[COLOSHOOTR]

I don't know that I'd have bought used because you never know how it was cared for and it could have been left for some time with nasty water in it before it found it's way to the store you bought it at. Since you already dropped the coin and have a usable carrier you can get the Omega bladder that is pretty much the one that came new in it for $35. At that point you could have bought the same model new and could have even gotten it in ever popular/expensive multicam too. So it's up to you to decide if it was taken care of enough to use the bladder after cleaning it or eat the cost for new guts. At the absolute minimum go buy a new bite valve (will run you less than $10.)

As for cleaning you can either go with the Camelbak cleaning tabs that you can get at any of your local outdoor / sporting good stores or just go to Wal-Mart and get some anti bacterial denture cleaning tabs that are pretty much the same thing for less. Fill the bladder up about a third full drop the tab in shake it up and leave it for 5-10 minutes. Then rinse it out and you're good to drink from it! I would get the Camelbak cleaning brush kit though since it has a brush that fits through the tube and can help remove any of that slime that can build up in the tube if you ever forget to clean it out right away.

To store: clean the bladder and tube, take off the tube leaving the valve open to allow it to dry and prop it open the bladder to let it dry. Once it is totally dry insert it back in the carrier and put it wherever you keep it. DO NOT store it filled or you will get a slimy bacteria build up!

I have abused the hell out of my Camelbak at work and have not popped the bladder with rough handling. It is possible to overfill the bladder though and make it more prone to rupture. The only one I've ever see fail was way over filled and he fell right onto the pack. Even if you do manage to rupture the bladder Camelbak will stand behind it and replace it.

 

[bohica17]

Another option that is more durable and better in almost every aspect other then the fact it does not have shoulder strap's. MSR Dromedary Bag - 4 Liter at REI.com they come in tone of sizes up to ten liter's. They make straw attachment's just like the camelbacks have. I hated using my camelback on mission because when they are in a bag with other gear they rip very easy. But I allways carried mine out of the carrying case running just the bladder, ounces make pounds. Thats why I re did my kit and ran a nalgene bottle on an outside pocket of my mystery ranch bag and carried a 4L msr bag inside whenever I ran out just filled back up. Trust me you do not want your only source of water to be a camelback if your moving far and run the risk of puncturing it. It is a great product if your not carrying any other equipment tho. But I like to think most people on here are doing more then just wearing it for hydration. If it will ever see the inside of a bag or be sandwiched between your back and something hard I would really check out the msr bladders.

Also to OP your worried about price the 4L bag at REI is only 35 bucks. They are cheapish and well worth what you pay for.