Mountain Biking - Drying Camelbak bladders

I have a Camelbak rogue and because i can fill it up from the outside of the pack, i barely ever take the bladder out. I did just yesterday to give it a clean and then hung it on my clothes line by its hook to dry. I put the hose and valve back through the opening so it would keep the sides separate and so it would dry faster but i havent managed to get it completely dry? I know you can buy thingos that do it but are there some cheaper ways to do it?

I saw an ingenious use of zip-ties to make your own dryer, saving loads of money, but I can't remember now where I saw it. Sorry!

ya know, I'm kinda gross, I guess. I've never dried mine out. Sure sometimes, when I'm finished with a ride, I'll empty the water and blow it out through the hose. Anyway, only washed mine in a year, routinely sits with water in it, and really never dry it out. Damn, I am gross!!! Ah well, I'm okay.

hmmmmm.... although i said i'd seen this drying system... i too have never used it... i think i've washed it out once (using bicarbonate of soda), but it was rinsed through and then used again almost immediately.
mine's been fine, but i usually just have water in it, and it doesn't really sit around for long enough to get mouldy before i take it out again

ya know, I'm kinda gross, I guess. I've never dried mine out. Sure sometimes, when I'm finished with a ride, I'll empty the water and blow it out through the hose. Anyway, only washed mine in a year, routinely sits with water in it, and really never dry it out. Damn, I am gross!!! Ah well, I'm okay.

You know the addage. Clean out the Camelbak, or it WILL clean you out! Anywho, I never clean mine either. However, I keep only water in my Camelbak, and store it in the freezer about 1/4 full of water. This keeps the bulk of the stuff from growing!

You know the addage. Clean out the Camelbak, or it WILL clean you out! Anywho, I never clean mine either. However, I keep only water in my Camelbak, and store it in the freezer about 1/4 full of water. This keeps the bulk of the stuff from growing!
Same here... it goes straight into the freezer when I get home. Usually I empty the water, give it a rinse, and put a little bit of water back in before throwing in the freezer.

Add a couple drops of lemon juice and it'll stay fresh in the freezer!

L8R

I saw an ingenious use of zip-ties to make your own dryer, saving loads of money, but I can't remember now where I saw it. Sorry!


Never though of that, I would assume all you'd have to do is form the zip ties into circles and stuff them inside.

As for myslef, I usually just stick a couple of paper towels inside, close it up, blow it up thru the mouth piece and let it hang for a while. I only do this occasionally, as I usually just store it semi-full in the fridge.

Never though of that, I would assume all you'd have to do is form the zip ties into circles and stuff them inside.

As for myslef, I usually just stick a couple of paper towels inside, close it up, blow it up thru the mouth piece and let it hang for a while. I only do this occasionally, as I usually just store it semi-full in the fridge.


Thats a good idea with the paper towel. And the zip tie thingo has given me an idea. Ill try both and see what happens. Thanx for all your help guys!

wire coathanger. jeff.

I have a Camelbak rogue and because i can fill it up from the outside of the pack, i barely ever take the bladder out. I did just yesterday to give it a clean and then hung it on my clothes line by its hook to dry. I put the hose and valve back through the opening so it would keep the sides separate and so it would dry faster but i havent managed to get it completely dry? I know you can buy thingos that do it but are there some cheaper ways to do it?


I have cut 1 inch diameter lengths of PVC pipe to fit inside the bladder. I use it to help dry, but also to clean. I soak my Mule bladders in bleach water every couple of months, and keeping the PVC in the bladder gets water in the inside nooks and crannies. Cheap and effective.

Jim

Paper towels work very well if you bladder has a large opening.

Wow...and I just rinse and turn upside down...sheesh...

I keep mine in the freezer, but then again I only put filtered water in it too.

Wash your bladder out as usual after use. Take the mouthpiece off and leave the mouth of the blader open. Wad or roll up some paper towels or my favorite, excess napkins from fast food joints, and just drop them into the mouth of the bladder, making sure to work a couple into the corners. Then hang upside down to dry. It may take a couple of days to fully dry. Honestly, I clean mine once every 6 months. It usually stays in the freezer about one third full of water ready to go and it's never grown any gunk yet. Also I've never had a problem with the bladder cracking or being destroyed in the freezer.

Get as much water out as possible and then set it on top of the dryer and the heat from that will take alot of the moisture out with wrecking anything.

This is a weird way but it works for me.. I was doing the same as you trying to figure out how to dry this bladder out.. I rinse mine with super hot water, couple of shakes, empty the water out then place the hole end over one of the feet on an ironing board.. For some reason it dries real quickly and if you already have an ironing board, cheap..

Wow...and I just rinse and turn upside down...sheesh...

Thats easy enough but if you just turn it upside down, the bladder sides stick together and never dry out. Also, if you have a screw cap and it is not at the very top of the bladder, some water will stay behind in the little pocket formed when you turn it upside down.

but what if you already have stuff growing inside the bladder. is there a way to clean it out. or do i jsut have to buy a new one and take better care of it (it has a really small opening that you can get paper towels in)

but what if you already have stuff growing inside the bladder. is there a way to clean it out. or do i jsut have to buy a new one and take better care of it (it has a really small opening that you can get paper towels in)

If you get a new one, get a camalback brand. It has a very large opening.

I just roll a piece or two of paper towel up and put it in so it runs from the bottom of the bladder and one end is sticking out the hole. It wicks water out and dries everything.

I never worry about getting it dry. I simply sterilize mine with a 1 to 20 bleach solution (1 ounce of bleach and 20 ounces of water). Let that mixture sit in the bladder for ten minutes and then rinse it thoroughly to make sure I have all the bleach solution out, and then verify it with a chlorine test strip. Once I know for certain that there is no residual bleach solution remaining in the bladder, I fill it with water and toss it in the fridge so it's ready for my next cycling trip. If I didn't have to let the bleach solution sit in the bladder for ten minutes, I could easily do the entire process in about 3 minutes time. It's also very cheap, I use the same brand of chlorine test strips that we use at the Hospital where I work and I buy mine at a local pharmacy. They cost me $12 for a bottle of 100 strips which usually lasts me 16 to 18 months.

personally... i just carry multiple water bottles in my back pack... along with a lock and various other handy-dandy things for riding.