Orsonab
Member
These are some tips I just scavenged out of the August edition of "Trail" magazine, a British equivalent of "Backpacker." If you ever decide to pop over The Pond, pick up a copy - it's worth a read.
Anyway, the following are bits of advice about maintaining your hydration pack which you may or may not know so enjoy!
1) Cleaning your hydration pack:
- At the end of the hike, fill the bladder with tapwater and run it out through the tube and bite valve (hold the bladder up high and the bite valve low and let gravity do its work)
- OR Tip 3/4 cup of water plus 1/4 cup of baking soda into bladder, close and shake THEN add 1/4 cup of lemon juice, seal the cap, shake for ten seconds THEN TAKE OFF THE CAP or your bladder will explode. Repeat this last part three times. Empty, expel as much air as possible, replace the cap, leave for twenty minutes, than rinse out with tapwater. (Did I mention you then had to spin around three times while doing the hokey-pokey?)
2) Make sure no water gets trapped in the hydration pack by:
- inserting three golf practice balls (the ones with holes in them); they'll hold the sides of the bladder apart.
- OR insert the handles of three wooden spoons then stand the ladder on its end so the spoons form a tripod stand.
- Let the tube dry by swinging it then storing it pointed downwards with the bite valve off.
- Remember to clean out the bite valve with a Q-tip for time to time.
3) Store your hydration pack in the freezer to slow any formation of bacteria BUT always store the bladder pack dry and as flat as possible. Allow it to thaw out for a few minutes before filling it with water.
4) Keep your bite valve clean by taking an empty 35mm film cannister (remember them?), drill a hole in the bottom slightly larger than your hydration tube and thread it on. Attach your bite valve and the film cannister should slide over the valve protecting it from mud, etc.
Anyway, the following are bits of advice about maintaining your hydration pack which you may or may not know so enjoy!
1) Cleaning your hydration pack:
- At the end of the hike, fill the bladder with tapwater and run it out through the tube and bite valve (hold the bladder up high and the bite valve low and let gravity do its work)
- OR Tip 3/4 cup of water plus 1/4 cup of baking soda into bladder, close and shake THEN add 1/4 cup of lemon juice, seal the cap, shake for ten seconds THEN TAKE OFF THE CAP or your bladder will explode. Repeat this last part three times. Empty, expel as much air as possible, replace the cap, leave for twenty minutes, than rinse out with tapwater. (Did I mention you then had to spin around three times while doing the hokey-pokey?)
2) Make sure no water gets trapped in the hydration pack by:
- inserting three golf practice balls (the ones with holes in them); they'll hold the sides of the bladder apart.
- OR insert the handles of three wooden spoons then stand the ladder on its end so the spoons form a tripod stand.
- Let the tube dry by swinging it then storing it pointed downwards with the bite valve off.
- Remember to clean out the bite valve with a Q-tip for time to time.
3) Store your hydration pack in the freezer to slow any formation of bacteria BUT always store the bladder pack dry and as flat as possible. Allow it to thaw out for a few minutes before filling it with water.
4) Keep your bite valve clean by taking an empty 35mm film cannister (remember them?), drill a hole in the bottom slightly larger than your hydration tube and thread it on. Attach your bite valve and the film cannister should slide over the valve protecting it from mud, etc.