Brown Residue inside my Osprey Hydration Pack .

[serviceguy]

After a ride I forgot some of the water mixed with Vitalyte electrolytes in my Osprey 2.5l hydration pack for several days...I guess I should ride more, I know, I know. Anyway, it produced some light brown residue that I tried and scrub away with the cleaning tools and even with the tablets provide by the manufacturer to clean the bladder but still nothing, the brawn-ish patina is still there. Should I ditch the bladder all together or it's just a cosmetic issue and it's still safe to use?

 

[shrpshtr325]

if you have sterilized it with the camelbak cleaning tabs i would think its cosmetic at this point, but this type of thing is exactly what im afraid of happening and why i only put water in my pack, mix always goes in a bottle that can be tossed in the dishwasher (or is cheap enough to toss if something like this happens)

 

[serviceguy]

if you have sterilized it with the camelbak cleaning tabs i would think its cosmetic at this point, but this type of thing is exactly what im afraid of happening and why i only put water in my pack, mix always goes in a bottle that can be tossed in the dishwasher (or is cheap enough to toss if something like this happens)

Solid feedback, thanks. I think that from now on I'll only use water in the pack...in 2025 probably.

 

[rick81721]

Rinse it with diluted bleach to be sure.

 

[Juggernaut]

So just to be clear, are you saying the bladder is stained but there’s no actual residue on the inside or funky taste to the water? If so, I think you’re fine.

 

[JDurk]

Only put wooder in the bladder. Drain and put it in the refrigerator deli drawing between use, or freezer for longer duration.

 

[LukeW]

After a ride I forgot some of the water mixed with Vitalyte electrolytes in my Osprey 2.5l hydration pack for several days...I guess I should ride more, I know, I know. Anyway, it produced some light brown residue that I tried and scrub away with the cleaning tools and even with the tablets provide by the manufacturer to clean the bladder but still nothing, the brawn-ish patina is still there. Should I ditch the bladder all together or it's just a cosmetic issue and it's still safe to use?

My osprey pack is only a year old and I only clean it with dish soap and water, yet the entire bladder is tinted yellow, so yours might be similar. I don’t think it’s any sort of dangerous mold or dirt, just wear.

 

[Bike N Gear]

Soak with bleach. No need to remove.

 

[jmanic]

New bike.

 

[Magic]

Tablet or salt/bleach water, scrub, rinse, drain, dry. Probably just discolored. I only put water in the bladder. Use bottles for mixes.

 

[Mathers]

Vinegar will work too

 

[scotth]

I used to put the denture cleaning tabs in the bladder with plain water thinking it helped with disinfecting. I don’t have it anymore so I’m not sure if it was discolored at all.

 

[JimN]

Water only in the bladder, never clean it, buy a new one every year. This weekend I brought a bottle and some GU tabs, and I refilled the bottle from my Camelbak a few times.

 

[ilnadi]

My osprey pack is only a year old and I only clean it with dish soap and water, yet the entire bladder is tinted yellow, so yours might be similar. I don’t think it’s any sort of dangerous mold or dirt, just wear.

My son and I both have osprey packs. His got the yellow tint (especially where the hose runs across the bladder) but mine did not. No idea what's different

 

[Wildwalker]

Burn it !!!

 

[serviceguy]

Burn it !!!

You're doing it wrong. You're supposed to just say 'Fire' with optional animated gif of fire...right @MadisonDan ?

 

[MadisonDan]

 

[rick81721]

You're doing it wrong. You're supposed to just say 'Fire' with optional animated gif of fire...right @MadisonDan ?

View attachment 127036

Out of curiosity, I looked at my osprey bladder/hose. There is a little brown stain at the bottom of the bladder - the hose, especially the exposed part, is turning yellow-brown - assuming from sun oxidation. Pretty much worst case scenario down here - but I only put water in mine

 

[serviceguy]

Out of curiosity, I looked at my osprey bladder/hose. There is a little brown stain at the bottom of the bladder - the hose, especially the exposed part, is turning yellow-brown - assuming from sun oxidation. Pretty much worst case scenario down here - but I only put water in mine

I was thinking about the water only thing actually, I was assuming it would prevent the discoloration due to the organic material in the electrolyte decaying after a while, but unless you only use distilled water you would still have some amount of organic material that will eventually go yellow/brown...no?

 

[rick81721]

I was thinking about the water only thing actually, I was assuming it would prevent the discoloration due to the organic material in the electrolyte decaying after a while, but unless you only use distilled water you would still have some amount of organic material that will eventually go yellow/brown...no?

yep - our water down here is on the hard side