Hydration pack advice

[kezzafish]

ha ha haaaa LMAO, funny as fuck

[JoshCragg]

ha ha haaaa LMAO, funny as fuck

i second that haha

[flyingcr250]

Shit 100 bucks! I got my 2 of trade me for $25 bucks each. They have lasted a year or more and are still going strong with 2 of us using them!

My advice get a 2 liter minimum, Keep the bladder in the freezer to stop it going moldy on the inside!

thats a good tip, its only a matter of time before the black mould inside mine gets me. lol

[kezzafish]

a tip for the katmandu bladders would be... don't fill with hot tap water to get rid of mould... the bladder will melt and stretch and glue itself together

[flyingcr250]

a tip for the katmandu bladders would be... don't fill with hot tap water to get rid of mould... the bladder will melt and stretch and glue itself together

my camelback cost me $75 about 3 years ago. not much rooms for tools etc...

[EXCDirt]

I've run a camelbak lobo which has enough for 2 litres of water and enough storage for a 500ml can of V, Keys, phone and I guess you could fit some tools aswell but I tend to leave them behind That'll bite me in the arse eventually. Might be more than $100 but well worth it as it always works, doesn't leak and is comfortable. Haven't found any mould in it yet but always rinse it out after use.

[noobi]

i use a fluro green camelbak, its the 1.5 litre one, although iv never got all of 1.5L in, it cost $65 i think, has a small pocket i put a spark plug and a spanner in it, could fit keys and a phone too without much trouble.
i just rinse it with hot water from the tap, put in some of that kitchen cleaner, give it a shake, let some run out the hose, then rinse about 3-4 times, then dry
its fluro green so dad can find me in a group of 100 bikes etc lollollol

[SpikedPunch]

I have a cheapy $13 one off trademe, black and yellow so it matches my bike which is sort of neat, didn't do it on purpose either Got a kathmandu bladder because the one that came with tasted of plastic. I usually carry a spare brake, (got a spare of both levers now) spark plug in one of those little cases, a muesli bar and some basic first aid stuff. Krad carries all the tools and I should really get around to packing my own for when I'm zipping round on my lonesome, I tend to just assume someone else will have stuff - fat load of good the spare sparky will be with nothing to take out the old one/put on the new one.

[cheese]

I got a camel back spy, has lots of compartments to fit tools etc. holds 1.5l. they are expendy though. the cheap ones seem to not have very strong bladders.

I do have a spare Camo "desert storm" camel back that holds 3l. Could be tempted to part with it as I've only used it twice..... not storage inside though.

[warewolf]

I bought a Reservoir Dog from Ground Effect a good few years ago. Gets used for mtb, m/c (road, trail, xc, adv) and the occasional day tramp. Probably avg 3 times a week for 5+ years. They've updated the design since I bought mine. It's held up well, and it gets hammered by crashing off bikes, covered in mud and being stuffed over-full when I'm not wearing all the thermals, rain gear etc and sometimes the rain gear has to be strapped on the outside using the straps provided. I researched to the max before buying this (both in terms of what size would be suitable and what brand) and the bag's been damn near perfect - durable, comfortable, not too big, not too small. Weren't the cheap offerings available on trademe back then.

However, the big drawback is the Platypus bladder. They aren't the best. I've had 3 or more fail (delaminated or holed at a crease) after prolonged heavy use, the extras were bought independently of this backpack. It was readily replaced under warranty by the importer as they have a history of such failures, and the retailer gave me a credit towards a camelbak bladder instead, as they were sure I'd be back for another warranty replacement if I took another Platypus, and the camelbaks didn't have anywhere near the rate of return. (Hah! click the FAQs on the page, they now say the Platypus will become brittle with use, plan to buy a new one every 12 months!!) Yep, so far the camelbak's been faultless.

As to hygiene, you can leave plain water in there for a while, but sugary fluids - eg raro - will grow black mould in 24-48 hours. Buy a cleaning kit and use it. Occasionally sterlise the whole lot with baby bottle tablets.

[xen]

have a camelbak pathfinder with 1.5l, usually enough but on some long loops where I've fallen over heaps I run out of juice. Has a good amount of space for jersey and tools. Had a mule when I was biking and good to. Just chuck it in the freezer after the ride and no mould.

[NighthawkNZ:Me]

we pick up 2 hydro packs for $50 about 2 years ago from Smith City... would want to pay any more than that to tell the honest truth, heck go buy a bladder a and a 10 buck pack from the ware house

[thecharmed01]

I have a camelbak bladder, and a mudpack bag.
I prefer the camelbak valves because they leak the least and are the easiest to drink from. Yes, more expensive, but I prefer ease of use and quality and the cheapie that I had before didnt last.
Camelbak also sell parts, so if you manage to break it, you can replace the valves and mouthpieces.
Bag rocks cause it has about 10 pockets and the bladder has its own, so you dont shove stuff in with it and get holes......
There is a specific pocket in the bottom for tools too.

Keeping the bladder in the fridge stops the mould from growing and always storing it with a little water in.
Once you clean it, 1/4 fill it with water and refrigerate.

You can buy a kit for cleaning them which helps to get rid of the mould, there is a brush which does the tube..... Might be worth a try Nath?

[vr4king]

Think ill just buy a new bladder this is my second one plus they cheap as

I bought my bag awhile ago from that little bike shop round the basin reserve back when i used it for snowboarding K2 is the brand

Not to keen in mixing my drink with mould that shit is deadly i hear

[secondfield]

To get rid of the mould in your bladder fill the bastard with straight vodka, whiskey rum etc doesnt work... you will also gain confidence as your ride progresses, attempting things you previously never thought possible.....