camelbak bladders, how long has yours lasted?

[faded1004]

just wondering how long is the real lifetime for the camelbak bladders? there is a good deal on a new bladder, and i am not sure if it might be worth getting an extra?

for the people who have camelbaks, do you buy extra bladders? do you find it helpful?

did you have your bladder for more then a year with no problems so do'nt see a need to carry extra?

let me know what your thoughts are...

thanks for your help...

other info: i have a lobo with 100 bladder, was thinking about picking up another one of the 100 bladders...

[DownHillPhil]

There's a lifetime warrantee on the bladder. No reason to get a spare, cuz all you have to do is mail in yours if it breaks and they'll send you a new one.

[Solo]

I have one of the old 70 oz. Lobos that I've used for the past 4 years with no bladder issues (can't say the same for myself).
Just make sure not put it next to anything sharp in your pack, clean it out once in awhile and it should last as long as your pack.

[faded1004]

okay, so i guess mechanical reasons are negligible...

has anyone tried to claim one? do you need store reciept?

[cjwally]

Steepandcheap.com has the CamelBak 70ozer on sale for 13.65 right now...

[2wheel_lee]

The zippers and straps fail on my Camelbaks long before the bladder does. And the failures can't really be blamed on Camelbak, but those damned low hanging branches. I still have a Camelbak from about 1997ish. It also spent a few years as my dirt bike riding Camelbak and even my jet ski Camelbak (for when I used to regularly ride over to Catalina and back). It's more of a loaner pack these days.

[jasonmason]

I've got a camelbak hawg that i've been beating up for years and the only thing that's worn out was the shock cord for strapping a jacket on the bottom, which i never used anyway.
This thing has been through the wringer - all my geology field trips, field camp, hiking, trail races, riding, you name it. I'm still on the original 100oz bladder, hose, and bite valve, and have never had any leakage problems. Never got any weird tastes or funk growing in there either, so i've never felt like i neded another bladder.
They're good, solid built packs that'll take lots of abuse.

[Alex]

My old style 70 oz. bladder in my Rogue lasted five years before it gave up. It lasted through some really rough trips and handling, and even my complete lack of care for it. I still use the pack.

Camelbak makes some of the best products, period! Maybe I'm just partial to them, but the packs they make are superior to anything else, both the packs and the bladders.

I'd buy it, just because it's Camelbak, but that one will last a long time, no problem.

Originally Posted by DownHillPhil

There's a lifetime warrantee on the bladder. No reason to get a spare, cuz all you have to do is mail in yours if it breaks and they'll send you a new one.

I didn't know that! I don't know what I did with my old one, though...

Originally Posted by cjwally

Steepandcheap.com has the CamelBak 70ozer on sale for 13.65 right now...

Stop it! I don't need to spend any more money...

[El Prieto]

i have a Mule... 10 + years .... same bladder.. Water only!

[bighit8]

Originally Posted by faded1004

just wondering how long is the real lifetime for the camelbak bladders? there is a good deal on a new bladder, and i am not sure if it might be worth getting an extra?

for the people who have camelbaks, do you buy extra bladders? do you find it helpful?

did you have your bladder for more then a year with no problems so do'nt see a need to carry extra?

let me know what your thoughts are...

thanks for your help...

other info: i have a lobo with 100 bladder, was thinking about picking up another one of the 100 bladders...

I have about 5 bladders, I just keep them full in the fridge so I can grab one and go.It has saved a ride at times when someone forgot water, I usually bring one extra just in case.

[DBD]

I am sure (or at least hope) that the Camelbak bladders are at least of the same quality as my UltimateDirection.

The Camelbak I have now if my first and is only a few months old but I had my UltimateDirection one for 9yrs and the only reason I replaced it was it help prevent a serious back injury.

With the pack full of water I tried a descent that was narrow and along a fence. What I did not know was the ground was filled with snake or rodent tunnels. I was moving pretty good until the ground disappeared, My bars hooked the fence, smashed the front brake lever and I went OTB with a 15ft to flat fall lading on my back a lot softer then I expected and causing the bladder to explode. I thought it was blood gushing 'cause the pedals smacked my back/neck pretty good but could not find the red stuff, just the water flowing and my wife laughing her ass off once she saw me trying to untangle my self from the bike.

edit; Guess that was a little ot but I would think if you take care of the bladder it will last a while

[denmother]

When surfing the web you never know what you might find. I thought I would check the Camelbak website to see the new offerings and came across a link titled "Cambelbak Originals". You can submit a story about you and your Camelbak. Well after checking all the featured athletes I came across Kevin Connolly. A professional photographer and skier born without legs. I couldn't link the skiing pictures as the web pages are done in Flash. But here is one from his Photography website. Just amazing!!!

[faded1004]

Originally Posted by cjwally

Steepandcheap.com has the CamelBak 70ozer on sale for 13.65 right now...

ioh no.... i missed it!

[slo65]

don't mean to necro-post but what's a pretty common (good) camel back to get? i got a little one (50oz i believe) about 3 months ago, went otb on one of my first rides with it and its been leaking ever since

[kanga]

My camelback bladder lasted one ride... couldn't handle the plastic taste (I only ever drink water... straight up!). That was many years ago, and I don't know if the more recent ones are better.

I swapped it out for a Platypus by Cascade designs... has no taste. I got about 2 - 3 years out of the first one and it started a very slow (a few drips an hour) leak around the seam between the hose connector and the bladder itself. But they come with a lifetime warranty, and it was replaced without question. Still on that second one after at least 3 - 4 years...I honestly don't remember how long it's been. Now using that in my Ergon BD2 pack.

[Piranha]

Originally Posted by kanga

I only ever drink water... straight up!

Nice to know that I am not alone with straight H2O.


The previous 100 oz. Camelbak bladder I had lasted well over 5 years, and quite possibly over 10. I don't specifically recall. The newer ones do not taste like plastic IMO, but perhaps I have bad taste buds.
Do you think they may last a bit longer using water only as opposed to Cyto, Accelerade, Heed etc. mixes?

[L8 APEKS]

Originally Posted by faded1004

just wondering how long is the real lifetime for the camelbak bladders? there is a good deal on a new bladder, and i am not sure if it might be worth getting an extra?

for the people who have camelbaks, do you buy extra bladders? do you find it helpful?

did you have your bladder for more then a year with no problems so do'nt see a need to carry extra?

let me know what your thoughts are...

thanks for your help...

other info: i have a lobo with 100 bladder, was thinking about picking up another one of the 100 bladders...

Had I not lost it last year, I would still have my ORIGINAL Camelbak (the very first design) in good useable shape from 1992 or so. It was a pretty small bladder, in a neoprene pouch with a velcro closure on top. I think it was maybe 40 oz.

So that's roughly 15 years that the bladder lasted?

The one I am using now is maybe 3-4 years old.

[Elisheva]

Originally Posted by DownHillPhil

There's a lifetime warrantee on the bladder. No reason to get a spare, cuz all you have to do is mail in yours if it breaks and they'll send you a new one.

That's correct. I phoned the company and told them my Camelbak bladder was leaking. In 24 hrs. they shipped a brand new one to my house and told me I could keep the old leaky one.

Great service!