Hydro-Pak bladder replacement
 

I got a water backpack thingy. It was a brand called Hydro-Pak if I remember correctly (it was from Performance). Anyway....Although I like the design of the bladder it comes with (easy to use velcro roll down close mechanism), it doesn't keep the water very cold at all.

Even the cheapo Wal-Mart one my friend has keeps the water very very cold....ice has not melted after 1 hour of riding. His has a nice heavy blue bladder with a screw top lid. Mine is a thin clear bladder with velcro roll down type close mechanism.

I only didn't get the Wal-mart one because I wanted a 100 Oz. version.

So.....It seems like a fairly standard type of backpack that I could probably fit another bladder in to. Am I correct? Can I get a better bladder of that style he has (maybe a Camel back bladder) ? Would it fit?

And the $64 million dollar question, would it do the trick to keep the water cold a long time? Is the bladder the problem?

The bag itself will not do much for keeping the water cold, it is hte sleeve you put it in that does the trick, if it is insulated. I have a hydropack that is "minimalistic"...just enough space for the water bottle with a zippered pocket on the outside to stick keys and ID. It is insulated and keeps water cold for a long time, even here in Texas, but it only holds 70oz.

Alys

My backpack (the sleeve) is very much more insulated than the Wal-Mart cheapo and it was the Wal-Mart that stayed cold for much, much longer. Hmmmm.....???

Well, that is a puzzle. Not sure what to tell you there. Did your friends start out with more ice? Are you sure your's is really more insulative, or just thicker? I don't know...maybe your body get hotter, adding more heat to the bag?

I'll shut up now and maybe someone else will have a brilliant idea.

Alys

It's possible....I'm not really an "insulation expert". But it seems like it's better to me.