Camelbak, bad taste!

I recently purchased a Camelbak BFM and used it for the first time today. I love the bag, but the taste of the water from the reservoir is TERRIBLE!!!! Just to give an idea of houw bad the taste was, my dog would not drink it. After adding a powdered drink mix it was still awful. Any one have any expirence with this, or have advise to fix it? Thanks for any info. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

IIRC, there is tapocia flour in the reservoir to prevent the insides from sticking together.
Did you rinse/soak it well before using?

Try washing it with a solution of warm water & baking soda. Let it soak for a while (~30 min or so) then rinse with a mild (1T/L) vinegar/water solution. Finish with a plain water rinse and then see if any foul taste remains. You may need to do this cycle 2 or 3 times but it will get rid of any nasty, rubbery taste.

I know that Camelbak sells tablets for cleaning the inside of the bladders.

A cheaper solution is to buy generic denture cleaning tablets at Walmart, put them in the bladder and let the effervescent action go to work. Rinse afterward and the bladder should be much better.

InnerVoice

Our family has seven CamelBacks. We have not had a bad taste problem. I would take it back to the store for an exchange.

Innervoice, I also have several of these and they will taste bad sometimes. The thing to do is use some cleaners like suggested in the rest of the replies to your post...lemon juice is good...the acid in it kills a lot of odors and tastes. One thing I do to combat the taste problem AFTER first use is try to always use bottled or filtered water in them...faucet water has little "thingies" growing all in it and loves to make the water bladder all slick and gooey..I have thrown them away for this offense before. Good luck and don't drink the water!

Thanks for all fo the help. I will try your cleaning tips first. If that dosn't work <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />, then i guess I will have to exchange it.

EDIT
I cleaned it with mild soap and water before using the first time.

I'm in the same boat as you, and glad that you asked the question before I had to!

I'm going to give the tips a shot as well. Before my first use, I cleaned it w/ mild soap and water, as the instructions specify.
I would equate the taste with the water the dentist uses to rinse out your mouth.

We only use filtered water from our refriderator. Maybe that is why we don't have taste problems.

I washed my out several times and it seems fine. Keep an eye on the hose. After a while I found mold growing inside mine. I wahed it thoroughly and it is fine.

I had just asked my wife if that would work. She said she wasn't sure so I kept reading and found your post. Thanks!

You're welcome. I forget where I originally saw the idea on the net or in a magazine. Seems to work pretty well so far.

I've only used a Source brand hydration bladder, which came with my kelty hydration pack (excellent deal for only $20), They're also available direct from Source and probably come with other brands of hydro packs.

I've left water in the bladder for weeks, in hot and often dirty conditions, and I've never had a problem with bad tasting water. I usually use filtered water, but I have used unfiltered water a bunch of times as well. I also never use anything other than water in it, if you that might be part of the problem.
I recently got the camelbak brush kit and now I clean it regularly, but for the first few months after I bought the pack I rarely cleaned it and even then just rinsed it with soapy water.

The bladder and tube both have some kind of anti-microbial coating, which is probably why I've never had a a problem.

FYI these are made in Israel, and I've heard that there used in the Isreali military(this is uncomfirmed, but highly likely for obvious reasons). Anyway I figure that people who live their whole lives in a desert know a thing or 2 about hydration.

I don't mean to sound like a salesman, I'm just a very satisfied customer recomending a good product.