Originally Posted by
FrenchFit
The problem with bladders and mouthpieces is the cleaning, and that likely means you avoid powders and performance liquids. They are also all or nothing, unlike bottle where you can alternate a juiced up bottle and a clean water bottle.
That pretty much goes without saying. Don't use sugar in a hydration pack. For that I carry water bottles filled with "performance" liquids of choice
2015-05-03 11.38.54 by
Stuart Black, on Flickr
I will say that they get pretty skeezy after carrying them on a bike for a while. On a tour, I've thrown them away after about 2 weeks. At home, I wash them in a dishwasher after every use but that can't be done while touring.
Originally Posted by
noimagination
- more difficult to clean, though if you clean and dry it immediately (swing tube 'round to get moisture out, put a couple of paper towels in the bladder to wick out residual moisture) it's not really that big a deal
Everyone makes a big deal out of this. Frankly I haven't had a problem. My hydration pack bladders have water in them all the time. I use them all year long and very seldom dry or even clean them. Water doesn't carry much in the way of organisms, especially if it is municipal water. I just fill them with water when they are empty and empty them while riding. I also make sure I don't put anything with sugar in them.