damn hydration bladder
 

got a question and couldnt find any previous posts pertaining to this.

ive got a hydration bladder, used it about 4 times but i still get that fricken rubbery taste. how the hell do you get rid of that, or can you?

I use Dasani water in mine. It's ozonated and I don't know if that plays a part in the taste staying clean for long periods. And it doesn't matter on the bladder either. From my Camelbak to the cheap Wal-Mart special, they're all the same. I've left water in a bladder for several days, then tasted it and it seemed fine.

It goes away gradually the more water you run through it. Leave it in the fridge with some water for a few days, rinse it really well, and expect a plastic taste for the first couple weeks. Some people say letting it sit with water and a bit of baking soda for a while helps.

sloosh a little vodka in there, does wonders for the taste.

1 cup water
1 cup viniger
- pour in bladder
- swish around for 5 minutes
- throw in fridge for 30 minutes
- swish around for 5 minutes
- empty
- rinse with water

Done !! I use viniger and water with mine everytime I use it .. then put a speggetti fork inside the bladder to keep it open with the lid off to air dry out .. wait overnight and it's ready to use when you need it, no oder, no bad aftertaste.

:!: (NSFW)
1L vinigar
1cup baking soda
seal quikly
shake
point nozzle in safe direction
NSF HOME either :-D

I've heard that rinsing it out with really warm (but not hot) water gets rid of pasticky/rubber flavour of bladders/water bottles. Although I grew impatient with mine and got rid of it.

I have always put some flavouring in my canteen and now with my bladders. Kool aid or the like. Not enough to make it sweet. Just enough to kill the taste of plastic. Flavoured water would work as it has no colour to stain the bladder.

Yeah, I used to get gatorade drink mix and throw gatorade in mine. Then one time, I forgot to rinse it and put it back in the fridge...mould city.

ha.. ya i heard it wasnt a good idea to use anything other than water for sake of mould and bacteria.

i also heard the baking soda thing, but didnt think that was true, but it does make sense.... im worried about trying the vineger thing... ill do that as a last resort.

as it stands im doing the water in the fridge for a few days and then progressing to more extreem measures as they others fail. ill keep everyone posted

Oi! Using Gatorade or Kool Aid in a bladder is not a good idea. Due to their shape, and construction there is far too hhigh a risk that some of that juice remains behind, and then begins to fester. It's a good way to greatly increase the risk of food poisoning. The only thing that should go in the bladder as a drink is water.

To clean it, and get rid of the "rubbery" taste, use he aforementioned mix of water and vinegar. However, no need to regigerate it for 30 minutes. Just let it sit for a while, then rinse it thoroughly a few times.

I think you missed the point. You don't put alot of flavour mix in. It's not even enough to change the colour of the water. It is enough to kill the taste. I've been doing that for 25 years now with my canteen and for the last two with my bladder. I haven't puked or shit myself yet. By the way. You're supposed to clean the bladder every once in a while so if you do that, there is no time for anything to "fester". Troops use their bladders all the time so they're constantly refilling them as well. Again, no time for anything to go stagnant.

Or just use a Platypus replacement bladder, which has little taste to begin with (its plastic), is transparent and easy to clean...

do elaborate drake, got a pic?

I justed filled mine with water with a bit of lemon juice in it & let it sit in the fridge over night, then flushed it, then did the same.

Never had a foul taste since doing that. Always lemony fresh. :)