Hydration Pack Hacks - Bottle & Backpack Bladder Care

We’ve all done it, you get in from a ride, you’re tired and the last thing you want to do is wash your hydration pack. So you empty it, throw it into the cupboard and forget about it. But the next time you go to use it it’s full of black bits, this is mould and Owen Coutts is here to help remove and prevent that mould from reappearing with some helpful cleaning hacks.

⏱️ Timestamps ⏱️
00:00 - Welcome!
00:53 - First Scrub
01:49 - How to deep clean your camelbak
06:34 - Can you freeze a Camelbak?
07:13 - How to clean a bike bottle
10:54 - How to stay hydrated on hot days
12:26 - How to stop water sloshing around in your camelbak
13:02 - What to pack in your pack

Useful Links:

What do you use to carry your water out on a ride? Let us know in the comments!

Watch more on GMBN Tech...

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#gmbntech #gmbn #mtb #mountainbiking #camelbak #hydration #cleaninghacks

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[gmbntech]

What do you use to carry your water out on a ride? Let us know in the comments!

[ericphillips]

Just leave four or 5 ounces of water in your water pack and add 3 tablespoons of vinegar after every ride and slosh it around, make sure some gets into the tube. Rinse before filling for a ride. I’ve left my hip pack all winter and it is still clean as a whistle. Four years I’ve been doing this and never had to wash my hip pack or backpack. I used to use the freezer method but this works even better.

[mitch_smith]

2 things:
1. Perfect timing. Just back from a 3 hour ride and I definitely left the water bladder in the bed of the truck. All fresh now, did a solid clean.
2. Who has an empty freezer? Is that like a "stunt freezer" that only gets used for the action shots? LOL

[ThomasElsmore-jttp]

Rinse with cold tap water and store in freezer after each ride. The 1l camelback bladder, purchased roughly 15 years is as good as the day I got it.

[Velo]

After every ride I throw the bladder in the freezer. This keeps it fresh. And if I need to clean it I use warm water with dish soap.

[Drakonaut]

I actually got a new hydration pack, and they're starting to add a hanger loop to the bottom of the packs so you can hang them upside down to dry. Glad to have an updated video on deep cleaning these packs.

[waveydavie]

I've been using Milton Sterilising Fluid for over a year.

[metalwheelz]

I use the plastic separator in chocolate chip cookie bags to make big ice blocks that last for a few hours on hot days.

[rickkoehler]

A puffy postal envelope around the bladder will keep it much cooler for longer. An old sock is great for isolating bits in the pack and can be a handy rag if needed. A latex glow can be used as thermal insulator around a bottle increase cage holding power and be helpful in other ways.

[clivetutt]

I’ve used yellow tongue from particle board flooring and heated bent to shape for opening bladders to dry.

[semadragun]

Great video, never would have thought of using a brush to clean the actual drinking tube.
I would have been lazy and just rinsed it. 😋
My water filter jug looks like it will come in handy to keep a soon to purchase bladder pac like this even cleaner.
Oh your water hack will work a treat..and SWOSH free riding, brilliant!

[johnssmith]

I'm the type of rider that uses plastic water bottles that I store inside my backpack for hydration, it's the best solution in my opinion, the bottles are never in direct sunlight so the water is cooler not to mention they can serve as back protection in case of an accident ( which btw It happened to me once )

[LaurentiusTriarius]

"Time to murder that mold"
Looks under your mini for Peta carbombs ... 😅

[Shawn-in-da-Canyon]

The freezer is all you need. I have two bladders. Rinse, suck the water and air out, throw in the freezer and rotate bladders, so each one is in the freezer longer. I’ve been doing this since the first bladders came out, without and stink or problems.

[stupidchicken]

As soon as Im back from a ride, I refill the bladder and just throw it in the beer fridge in the garage. Havnt cleaned it in almost a year without any issues.

[Blankk]

Personally with my packs/bottles I occasionally throw in a cap of sterilising fluid for baby bottles..any mould etc disappears quickly from all the crevices/tubes, then easily washed/rinsed away, and if not rinsed properly well if it's safe for a baby to run that risk it's definitely safe for a fully grown mountain biker... Easy.

[adrianoabila]

I've used Camelback hydration pack for... ˜15 years?! Never had a problem with mould or taste or dirt... thus, never bothered to wash it 😂 and I filled it with all sort of water out there. Natural cleansing 🤷🏼‍♂?

[raff]

As soon as I am finished using my Camelback, I place the bladder in the freezer to prevent any mold. I do this with my water bottles as well.

[todd]

Efferdent in the bladder, then squeeze it out through the tube and valve. For a deeper cleaning, you can do the same with beer tap cleaner.

[dougbikescle]

After each sip, blow into the hose. It pushes the water back into the reservoir instead of leaving it in the hose to heat up.