hi all,
my first post here! I recently discovered a pinprick hole in my camelbak hose. I would like to repair it if possible. I first thought of using a bike innertube repair kit, but a buddy thought that this might get something noxious into the water.
Has anyone tried doing this repair, and if so, what did you use?

Welcome newguy!

I'd just replace the hose. They're dirt cheap (the bladders are dirt cheap, you could replace the whole bladder for under $12).

If I didn't have that option I'd use aquarium grade silicone sealant.

If it were an emergency repair I'd use a hot glue stick.

Welcome Newguy! Hacksaw has it right, buy a new one...

If it's just a pinprick hole, you might try carefully melting it closed by holding it over a BIC lighter (don't let the flame touch the hose, you just want the heat).

Good call on the heat. Maybe a soldering iron to quickly touch it?? How about some heat shrink tubing and a hot blowdryer/heat gun? I would think that would work quite well.

I would think that good old duct tape would take care of the problem too.

Welcome NEWGUY...Join the party...feel free to jump in with both feet.

Buy another hose, then use the old one to make various types of repairs. Post the results here for us all to learn from. The repairs could be based on what you have in your pack or EDC.

I'll chime in on replacement, too. I broke a hose and went to a local hardware store. They had the identical hose on a huge reel with a few hundred feet. I bought what I needed and just replaced the hose. Rinse it first to get rid of the taste, though. Eyeeew. Wish I had.

The issue with fixing a hole is whether your fix fails when you really, really need the hose to work. The second issue is whether your fix causes nasty agents to get loose into your water stream - glue from a patch, tape, or other repair; chemicals freed by heat to the plastic.

I'll 2nd the heat shrink tubing. If you have any around it would be a quick and easy fix, and it won't introduce any "extras" into your water.

Roger

As many have already suggested, I'd simply replace the hose and be done with it.

If you're dead set on repairing it, the best solution would be to eliminate the portion of the tube with the hole. If it is located at either end, simply remove the tube, trim it slightly beyond the hole, reinstall it, and live with a slightly shorter drink tube.

If it is towards the center of the tube, remove a half inch (or so) section containing the hole, and then rejoin the tube with a non-toxic plastic coupling.

Most of the better water purification systems include quick disconnect fittings such as I've described to allow for refilling the bladder directly from the hand pump, so that would be a viable source for the coupling.

If after all of this you're still on the fence regarding complete replacement of the tube, I'd suggest going with the insulated tube with the covered bite valve, and then you'll have the additional benefit of reduced freeze-ups in the winter and cooler water in the summer. This might make it easier for you to justify spending a few bucks.

Jim

Replacing the hose sounds like the right way to go. I guess it depends on the design.

Some designs I saw a while back seem to have the tubing permanently welded in place. If the hole was tiny I think I would cut a circle of 3M clear packaging tape, wash the hose well with alcohol and make sure to round the corners on the piece you use and don't overlap it, and see how it went. If it sealed well I would make the repair more durable by slipping on a piece of adhesive-lined heat-shrink tubing. Or lashing a cover of nylon string. Stacked half-hitches would do it. Depends what I have on hand and my mood at the time.

If I couldn't replace the tubing because it was welded to the bag and it looked like the hole might spread I would probably cut the hose square at the hole and insert a standard double-barbed connector. To get a god seal I would get one that fit rather tight and heat the tubing so it would fit over the ends of the connector. Fit this way there should be no need for any clamps.

Thanks for the tips, guys! it is a cheapo Walmart knockoff, and it would be easy just to replace the whole thing. I do like to repair stuff where possible, I figure it is a way to learn things. Since the hose has threaded connectors at both ends, I think i will try the heatshrink route, and report back.
One reason why I like the walmart units is that the hose unscrews from the bladder and the mouthpiece, which facilitates cleaning it.
I will report back.

I believe platypus has special repair-patches: http://www.rei.com/product/619859

I think those are just for the bladder...I'm not sure they'd work on the hose. I've never used them though so I'm not 100% sure.

For just a dollar more you could get another hose complete with a new bite valve:
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=845524442592483&FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302699815&bmUID=1210858197563

Buy a new tube and sell the old one on eBay as a slow drip plant irrigation system...

hi guys,
thanks for all the responses! I let the whole thing slide for a couple of weeks. The aquarium sealant was $9 per tube, and heat-shrink wrap was at least $15 at the electrical supply place, so I passed on them.
I decided to try using teflon plumbing tape, covered by duct tape, over the hole in the hose. It mostly worked, only leaking a few drops. then I discovered that the bladder was leaking from around the cap, so I trashed it.

john