Thoughts on a Camelbak

[Pale Rider]

This may be a knee jerk reaction to the recent hot weather, but I am thinking of getting a Camelbak or similar.

I managed to get myself what I believe to be dehydrated earlier this week.

By the time I realised, it was too late to do much about it.

My cycling skills don't extend to using a bidon while riding, so the idea of being able to sip regularly, rather than stopping for the occasional bigger slurp, is appealing.

I've had a brief look online - Camelbaks seem a lot of money for what they are.

Is it worth paying eighty odd quid, or would a much cheaper one do?

I think I grasp the use of one, but is care and maintenance a faff?

Any thoughts/recommendations appreciated.

 

[Drago]

There are some good ones out there at lesser prices. I've got four, but only one is a real Camelbak, when In terms of the standard of materials and stitching the humble Bike Hut model is as good.

I only use them on long rides. I must confess that in this weeks uber warm weather I've just not been riding and pushing my luck, mainly in reference to having had a heart attack 5 months ago

 

[Milkfloat]

I have a variety of hydration packs that I use for MTB. They all have pluses and minuses - including sweaty back syndrome. I only ever use water in mine, so maintenance less of an issue. I tend to drt them in the airing cupboard though. If you already have a decent rucksack then you can just get the internals - if not then a whoel system is less than £30 http://www.fawkes-cycles.co.uk/2391...currency=GBP&gclid=CKDdv6_AvsYCFeLItAodLb8L8A

 

[Simontm]

This may be a knee jerk reaction to the recent hot weather, but I am thinking of getting a Camelbak or similar.

I managed to get myself what I believe to be dehydrated earlier this week.

By the time I realised, it was too late to do much about it.

My cycling skills don't extend to using a bidon while riding, so the idea of being able to sip regularly, rather than stopping for the occasional bigger slurp, is appealing.

I've had a brief look online - Camelbaks seem a lot of money for what they are.

Is it worth paying eighty odd quid, or would a much cheaper one do?

I think I grasp the use of one, but is care and maintenance a faff?

Any thoughts/recommendations appreciated.

Have you looked at handlebar holders and a sip straw?

 

[Mandragora]

I've had two, and really liked them, though maintenance is a bit of faff - but if you can keep up with a simple system of not leaving water in the tube, you'll be fine.

My system failed when one of my kids took to 'borrowing' it and not leaving it empty - mould city by the time I next picked it up. In the end I gave up and just got a couple of bigger drinks bottles for my bike (pretty cheap, and in plentiful supply at all decent bike shops and also Halfords, who have a price cutting thing going on at the moment). I wouldn't say I'm the world's best cyclist, but I manage to take sips as I'm going along, and for longer drinks, and a chance to refill the 'easy to get at 'bottle from the 'harder to reach' bottle, well, it's always good to have an excuse to stop and admire the view.

 

[Pale Rider]

There are some good ones out there at lesser prices. I've got four, but only one is a real Camelbak, when In terms of the standard of materials and stitching the humble Bike Hut model is as good.

I only use them on long rides. I must confess that in this weeks uber warm weather I've just not been riding and pushing my luck, mainly in reference to having had a heart attack 5 months ago

Last time I looked in Halfords they only had expensive ones - I will have another look for the Bike Hut one.

I think you are very wise not to push the cycling in this weather.

I have a variety of hydration packs that I use for MTB. They all have pluses and minuses - including sweaty back syndrome. I only ever use water in mine, so maintenance less of an issue. I tend to drt them in the airing cupboard though. If you already have a decent rucksack then you can just get the internals - if not then a whoel system is less than £30 http://www.fawkes-cycles.co.uk/2391...currency=GBP&gclid=CKDdv6_AvsYCFeLItAodLb8L8A

I would only use water, although I have no airing cupboard in my draughty Victorian terrace.

The occasional cleaning solution flush might not be too much trouble.

Thanks for the link - £30 is OK and it is about the capacity I want.

 

[Pale Rider]

Have you looked at handlebar holders and a sip straw?

That's a thought, but I lack space on the bars and have three bikes.

 

[potsy]

I like my camelbak for walking, never tried it on the bike as I really don't like carrying a rucksack due to sweaty back syndrome.
Must have a look at mine to see if it's still usable for an upcoming break.

 

[Arjimlad]

I bought a tiddly bike rucksac from Mountain Warehouse to carry a lock & change of clothing as I generally don't have much luggage on the bike and don't need to carry stuff very often.

It has a facility to take a water bladder so I bought a cheap one off Ebay. Not used it yet though !

 

[Pale Rider]

In the end I gave up.

I could see me going down the same route, although having a £30 cycling accessory lying unused wouldn't bother me quite as much as an £80 one.

 

[Venod]

For me essential on MTB as bottles get dirty, I don't use one on the road, once you get used to bottles its as easy as riding a bike, they do tend to make your back sweaty, no need to pay too much, I always rinse mine out after every ride, don't forget the tube, I have 1 Camelback (on its second bladder) and one North Wave the bladders are made of different material but both perform the same, the Camelback holds 3 litre the Northwave 1.5 , you don't have to fill them.

 

[fossyant]

Decathlon have a good range.

 

[w00hoo_kent]

I've always used one, yes you get a sweaty back, bothers some people more than others. I have a genuine Camelbak, but it's old and doesn't get used much as I don't like the bladder being 'fixed' to the ruck, the filling is a bit fiddly and it doesn't hold much more than the bladder as it only has a tiny pocket.

I use a wide necked, 2l Platypus bladder (easy to fill, easy to put ice in if you want) inside a cheap 22l (yeah, right!) Trespass rucksack from the outlet store (£15 I think). I replaced the bladder last year, it was about 5 years old and I think I managed to let mould grow in the mouthpiece (it's what I'm blaming for getting horrible 'food poisoning' type ill anyway) so I take a bit more care of it now although I do keep berating myself that meaning to sterilise it with Milton isn't quite the same as actually sterilising it with Milton. I only ever put water in it and use a bottle if I want to carry electrolyte mix.

I'm better at drinking from a bottle while riding now than I was but I still find the pack much easier to use, especially in traffic, and the odd little sip is handy.

 

[Drago]

Rinse the bladders and hoses out, pop them in the freezer between rides.

 

[numbnuts]

I've had one for the last 18 years plus I find them great to some they have a draw back
sweaty backs – get over it
cost – good one last a very long time Camelbak Blowfish
in the summer – put in an ice pack drink stays cool for 2 hours (mine is insulated)
winter – warm drinks very nice.