Mountain Biking - bought my first camelback...

bought it the other day...washed it a few times with warm soapy water, but i cant seem to get the awful rubber taste out of it. is this just part of owning one, or is there a way to get rid of the flavor? :rolleyes:

Mine has a rubbery taste, but it's not very strong. Mine is 5 years old now, so maybe it has worn off over time. You could try mixing some lemon juice in with your water which may cover the rubber taste as well as clean the reservoir.

got a good tip from the LBS on that one. go get some bicarbonate of Soda, pour a bit in, half fill with water and let it sit overnite. make sure you run some through the tube as well. empty it out in the morning and it shouldnt be so bad.

ok guys thanks for the help

I use a spoonful of Clorox beach mixed with all the water it can hold. Be sure to rinse thru the "straw" tube too. This technique can also aid in keeping mold & mildew from forming inside the bladder.

Rinse the whole thing out twice with clean water to remove the bleach taste....

BTW, I don't fill my packs with any type of sports drinks or anything containing sugars. This only contributes to the formation of molds if any residue remains in the bladder between fillings. Salt, I mean sport drinks are meant to be consumed "after" the workout anyway....

got a good tip from the LBS on that one. go get some bicarbonate of Soda, pour a bit in, half fill with water and let it sit overnite. make sure you run some through the tube as well. empty it out in the morning and it shouldnt be so bad.
Yah, I do the soda routine as well. When your Camelbak is new, you may perform this process a couple of times to totally get rid of the taste.

I also do this every few weeks or so, just to keep my Camelbak nice and clean!

That's one reason I went with a http://jansport.com/productdetail.php?tid=7&cid=21&pid=TK04

You can buy the camelbak cleaning tablets.

Best advise I had was rinse in water and lemon juice, it works no nasty rubber taste.

it is also worth buying the reservoir dryer to dry the bladder.

You can buy the camelbak cleaning tablets.

Best advise I had was rinse in water and lemon juice, it works no nasty rubber taste.

it is also worth buying the reservoir dryer to dry the bladder.

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WTF ?

I've never heard of that one. I've been using a backpack type apparatus for 12 yrs. & never used one of those "dryers"....

http://images.backcountry.com/images/items/medium/CAM0012.jpg

The Camelbak Reservoir Dryer allows you to dry your Camelbak reservoir quickly and thoroughly. Developed specifically for Camelbak systems, the Camelbak Reservoir Dryer allows your reservoir to dry quickly and thoroughly. The collapsible design allows for easy insertion and removal without damaging filler port (stores great, too). Sections are designed to be trimmed to specific reservoirs to ensure complete drying of the reservoir. Can be trimmed to fit all Camelbak reservoirs except the AeroForm Baffled Reservoir.
CamelBak Reservoir Dryer
Bottom Line: Don't let your Camelbak reservoir get slimy with mold – dry it out with this handy little accessory

http://www.camelbak.com/camelbak/images/pm_90091dryerinst.gif

I just use Chlorox every month to get rid of the mold/bacteria... Cost = .09 per cleaning.... That was a good idea nevertheless....

I only use the drying rack to keep ventelated but cleaning it I use Chlorox as well.

Try Dawn dishwashing liquid. It is very good at cleaning. About 1/2 tsp. in a cup of water vigorously agitated and rinsed through has cleaned all 3 of my Camelbak's very nicely.

Holy bringing back dead threads.

Wait wait wait... before you try any of the other advice in this thread, the Camelbak cleaning tabs are... gasp... DENTURE tabs!!! Yes, for like 1.99 you can get 100 of these tabs at Walgreens. Don't get the mint ones. They disinfect, disflavor, and clean very nicely with no excessive rinsing or scrubbing.

Honestly. I haven't ever cleaned mine out. (Haven't had it for long and haven't had any problems with it) I'm trying to find some good ways to clean without horrible tastes that get stuck in the bladder and make my water taste like sh*t.

To clean mine I just rinse it with scolding water then stick it in the freezer empty of course. Then when I need it just take it out fill it up and it works fine for me.