Camelbak Bladder in Freezer

Skunkabilly · July 12, 2003, 01:33 AM

Will it be a Bad Thing to fill my Camelbak partially (1/4 or so) with water and toss it in the freezer overnight?

HBK · July 12, 2003, 01:49 AM

Sounds like a bad idea, but I'm no expert or authority on camelbacks, just on bad ideas.

UltimaSE · July 12, 2003, 03:27 AM

Just freeze a couple of trays of ice cubes, fill half the bladder with water put the bladder in the fridge, next morning dump the ice in.

UltimaSE

Prodigalshooter · July 12, 2003, 04:09 AM

Yup, UltimaSE has it right. I've done that for epic mountain bike and road rides in torrid summer weather, it works.

Peter Gun · July 12, 2003, 11:01 PM

You dont want to put it in the freezer. The bladder does OK but the connector to the hose can crack, so can the hose. I speak from experience when I've tried to use mine skiing in very cold weather. Ice in the water is better. Another trick for long rides or shoots is to add some more insulation between the bladder and your back. Tin foil works OK, those insulating liners for boot soles work great.

Spark · July 12, 2003, 11:52 PM

Ya, never freeze the reservior if possible. Even the old style ones have fill holes large enough for ice cubes - that should be plenty for you. The new Omega style ones are even larger.

444 · July 13, 2003, 12:40 AM

I froze mine everyday this past week. I didn't have any problems, but who knows if any long term damage was done.
I was talking the Gunsite 250 course. Thursday it was 106 degrees. That makes a long day on the range. You have to have the gun illness bad to do something like that.

10-Ring · July 13, 2003, 04:12 AM

I just put ice in mine. I'll have ice in the bladder literally for hours w/ no function problems.

blue86buick · July 13, 2003, 04:17 AM

a friend of mine would frequently freeze his before going rock climbing w/o any problems.

Erick Gelhaus · July 13, 2003, 02:12 PM

In my experience, there has not been a problem freezing them. It's easiest if after you partially fill it, you lay it flat in the freezer.

scottgun · July 15, 2003, 12:58 PM

I don't think freezing will really hurt a Camelbak, I use my Camelbak for skiing all the time and it ends up freezing on those very cold days when I wear it on the outside of my jacket.

Your idea of filling it 1/4 full and then in the freezer is a good idea, as the problems with freezing would come from too much water causing it to explode, or the tube freezing and not being able to drink from it.

Rocko · July 15, 2003, 09:59 PM

Relative got a cambelback knockoff (can't remember the brand) and the documentation that came with it recommended storing the bladder in the freezer to prevent bacteria from growing in the nice, moist, evironment between uses.

Rocko

OEF_VET · July 24, 2003, 06:37 PM

I've put mine in the freezer before with zero problems.

Frank

**Dr.Rob** · July 30, 2003, 07:05 PM

As lonmg as its not totally full it should not be a problem. Remember water expands as it freezes. If your camel is full, it will burst.

Remander · August 9, 2003, 03:31 AM

I live in a very hot area and have done many centuries and long rides with a Camelback. My MO is to fill it with clean water upon return home and put it in the fridge. (I use the crisper drawer.) Nice and chilled w/o risk of rupture. Done it for years.

If it's gonna be a really long ride, I'll dump a little liquid and replace with ice cubes before I head out. Either way, it stays cool for hours. If I drink it all on the ride, which is normal around here, we stop at a country store and buy a bag of ice and jugs of water to share and refill.

Never tried the freeze method, but never needed to. Never heard a horror story either.

July 12, 2003, 01:33 AM	#1
Skunkabilly Member Join Date: December 23, 2002 Location: Los Angeles, Untacticalifornia =( Posts: 9,730	Camelbak Bladder in Freezer Will it be a Bad Thing to fill my Camelbak partially (1/4 or so) with water and toss it in the freezer overnight? __________________ http://www.skunkabilly.com If Chuck Norris and The Skunk logged onto THR at the same time, the servers would crash, for they could not contain that amount of pure awesome.

July 12, 2003, 03:27 AM	#3
UltimaSE Member Join Date: February 3, 2003 Posts: 61	Just freeze a couple of trays of ice cubes, fill half the bladder with water put the bladder in the fridge, next morning dump the ice in. UltimaSE __________________ TFL Alumnus

July 12, 2003, 04:09 AM	#4
Prodigalshooter Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: SoCal Gulag Posts: 553	Yup, UltimaSE has it right. I've done that for epic mountain bike and road rides in torrid summer weather, it works. __________________ just another survivor

July 12, 2003, 11:52 PM	#6
Spark Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Posts: 311	Ya, never freeze the reservior if possible. Even the old style ones have fill holes large enough for ice cubes - that should be plenty for you. The new Omega style ones are even larger. __________________ Kevin Jon Schlossberg http://www.bladeforums.com Only Sharp Knives are Interesting

July 13, 2003, 04:12 AM	#8
10-Ring Member Join Date: December 24, 2002 Location: California Posts: 12,039	I just put ice in mine. I'll have ice in the bladder literally for hours w/ no function problems. __________________ "We will not waver; we will not tire; we will not falter; and we will not fail. Peace and freedom will prevail." President George W. Bush, October 7, 2001

July 12, 2003, 01:49 AM	#2
HBK member Join Date: April 21, 2003 Location: A liberal hellhole: Olympia, WA. Posts: 1,432	Sounds like a bad idea, but I'm no expert or authority on camelbacks, just on bad ideas.

July 12, 2003, 11:01 PM	#5
Peter Gun Member Join Date: December 25, 2002 Location: free carry VT Posts: 335	You dont want to put it in the freezer. The bladder does OK but the connector to the hose can crack, so can the hose. I speak from experience when I've tried to use mine skiing in very cold weather. Ice in the water is better. Another trick for long rides or shoots is to add some more insulation between the bladder and your back. Tin foil works OK, those insulating liners for boot soles work great.

July 13, 2003, 12:40 AM	#7
444 Member Join Date: December 26, 2002 Location: Pahrump Nevada Posts: 7,719	I froze mine everyday this past week. I didn't have any problems, but who knows if any long term damage was done. I was talking the Gunsite 250 course. Thursday it was 106 degrees. That makes a long day on the range. You have to have the gun illness bad to do something like that.

July 13, 2003, 04:17 AM	#9
blue86buick Member Join Date: May 7, 2003 Location: Cedar Rapids, IA Posts: 394	a friend of mine would frequently freeze his before going rock climbing w/o any problems.

July 13, 2003, 02:12 PM	#10
Erick Gelhaus Moderator Emeritus Join Date: December 22, 2002 Location: northern CA Posts: 379	In my experience, there has not been a problem freezing them. It's easiest if after you partially fill it, you lay it flat in the freezer.

July 15, 2003, 12:58 PM	#11
scottgun Member Join Date: December 30, 2002 Location: CO Posts: 550	I don't think freezing will really hurt a Camelbak, I use my Camelbak for skiing all the time and it ends up freezing on those very cold days when I wear it on the outside of my jacket. Your idea of filling it 1/4 full and then in the freezer is a good idea, as the problems with freezing would come from too much water causing it to explode, or the tube freezing and not being able to drink from it.

July 15, 2003, 09:59 PM	#12
Rocko Member Join Date: December 31, 2002 Posts: 119	Relative got a cambelback knockoff (can't remember the brand) and the documentation that came with it recommended storing the bladder in the freezer to prevent bacteria from growing in the nice, moist, evironment between uses. Rocko

July 24, 2003, 06:37 PM	#13
OEF_VET Member Join Date: March 30, 2003 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 2,063	I've put mine in the freezer before with zero problems. Frank

July 30, 2003, 07:05 PM	#14
Dr.Rob Moderator Join Date: December 23, 2002 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 6,740	As lonmg as its not totally full it should not be a problem. Remember water expands as it freezes. If your camel is full, it will burst. __________________ Former TFL Moderator. "Guess you broke into the WRONG rec room!" ;)

August 9, 2003, 03:31 AM	#15
Remander Member Join Date: February 16, 2003 Posts: 430	I live in a very hot area and have done many centuries and long rides with a Camelback. My MO is to fill it with clean water upon return home and put it in the fridge. (I use the crisper drawer.) Nice and chilled w/o risk of rupture. Done it for years. If it's gonna be a really long ride, I'll dump a little liquid and replace with ice cubes before I head out. Either way, it stays cool for hours. If I drink it all on the ride, which is normal around here, we stop at a country store and buy a bag of ice and jugs of water to share and refill. Never tried the freeze method, but never needed to. Never heard a horror story either.

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