What do you use in your camelbak?

mr meddle
mr meddle Posts: 3
edited August 2019 in MTB general
I've always used high 5 tabs in me bottles but now I just got a camelbak, can I use them in this or does it make it too much of a pain to clean out?

Comments

  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    Just water. Easier to keep clean.
  • figbat
    figbat Posts: 680
    Water. Anything else goes in a bottle.
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  • wilberforce
    wilberforce Posts: 316
    Just water. When you have finished your ride, empty the camelbak and put it in the freezer until you next need to use it.
  • JBA
    JBA Posts: 2,852
    edited August 2019
    Just plain old council pop.
    Empty it out after a ride, give the mouth piece a wash and bung the bladder in the freezer until next time.

    To answer the original question: Yes, you can use tabs in the bladder. It's important to clean the bladder, hose and mouth piece thoroughly though to prevent nasty stuff growing.
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  • billycool
    billycool Posts: 833
    I use just water. I used to use the High 5 type tabs but the sugar content encourages mould growth.

    You can get sugar free tabs, but not sure if they would be any better.

    As as been said - if you wash regularly and /or stick it in the freezer, you can limit any issues.

    I did soak mine in some Milton recently and gave the tubes a clean with a cleaning kit. Even using just water, it does need some TLC once in a while.
    "Ride, crash, replace"
  • bigmitch41
    bigmitch41 Posts: 685
    High5 in my'n. Keep it stored in the fridge and use Milton to sterilize.
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  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,453
    I use diluted orange squash and a couple of High 5 Zero tabs, each with 75mg caffeine. The zero refers to zero sugar and zero calories.

    After every ride, I rinse out the bladder and hose twice and then dry it inside and out. It is important to prop open the bladder to let air circulate so I put two crumpled up paper towels in the the bladder and leave the cap hanging.

    I have noticed that the hose is the first place to start growing mould, so at sight of the first spec of black I get out the hose brush and the Milton fluid. After the brushing, I coil up the hose inside the bladder and then fill the bladder with a Milton solution and leave it for half an hour or so. Make sure that the hose is filled with the Milton solution.
  • Midnight
    Midnight Posts: 80
    Ice cubes and water
  • steve_sordy
    steve_sordy Posts: 2,453
    On hot days, I put the filled bladder in the fridge overnight. Hadn't thought to add ice cubes just before setting off.
  • Midnight
    Midnight Posts: 80
    steve_sordy wrote:
    On hot days, I put the filled bladder in the fridge overnight. Hadn't thought to add ice cubes just before setting off.


    I use 50/50
  • mr meddle
    mr meddle Posts: 3
    Thanks for all your replies, went with just water. The bladder and hose now live in the freezer when not being used.

    Cheers
  • Alejandrosdog
    Alejandrosdog Posts: 1,975
    does freezing it stop the dreaded mould?
  • wilberforce
    wilberforce Posts: 316
    Alejandrosdog wrote:
    does freezing it stop the dreaded mould?

    Yep. I have used the same camelback bladder for a number of years now. I only ever use it for water, and just empty it out at the end of the ride and put it straight into the freezer. I then take it out of freezer ten minutes or so before next ride to allow it to thaw, fill it up again with water and are good to go.

    I have never seen any mould in it, the tube or mouthpiece.
  • Alejandrosdog
    Alejandrosdog Posts: 1,975
    Wilberforce wrote:
    Alejandrosdog wrote:
    does freezing it stop the dreaded mould?

    Yep. I have used the same camelback bladder for a number of years now. I only ever use it for water, and just empty it out at the end of the ride and put it straight into the freezer. I then take it out of freezer ten minutes or so before next ride to allow it to thaw, fill it up again with water and are good to go.

    I have never seen any mould in it, the tube or mouthpiece.

    a tip from the top then! thank you

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