Hydration packs

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A hydration pack is one of the most useful things you can have on the playa.

Cleaning and Maintenance

• Before you go to the playa, thoroughly clean the bladder in your hydration pack. You won't drink enough water if it tastes bad.
• Before you go to the playa, test your pack to make sure it doesn't leak.
• Once you return from the playa, thoroughly clean and dry the bladder. If you store the bladder while it is damp, mildew will grow, which will permanently taint the water you put in it.
• The tube and mouthpiece can be soaked in soapy water. Any brown mold or other gunk can b easily cleaned off with your finger, paper towel, or toothbrush.

Cleaning Kits

Cleaning kits are available from Camelbak and other hydration pack manufacturers. These typically include brushes for cleaning the bladder and tube, a drying rack, and cleaning tablets. These tools are convenient, but it's easy to make do without them:

• The tube cleaning brush is probably the most useful item of the batch, but can be replaced with a pipe cleaner wrapped around the end of a coat hanger.
• The cleaning tablets are also fairly useful, but a good cleaning with soap and water will to just about as well. There is also a drawback to the tablets. They can leave behind a strong salty/chlorine-like flavor that can be very difficult to rinse out.
• The dryer is designed to keep the bladder open while it dries. If the interior walls press together, they won't dry and mildew will sometimes grow. Anything that keeps the interior walls separated will make a good drying rack.

Buying a Hydration Pack

• Look for one with a really large reservoir. This means that you can stay out longer without refilling.
• Make sure the pack has decent shoulder straps. Water can weigh a lot.
• Avoid stripped-down bladder-only packs. You'll want to carry more than water in your hydration pack.
• A good hydration pack is worth the extra cost.
• Some packs have bladders that have a zip seal (like a zip-lock bag.) These are difficult to seal properly, and will often cause leaks.

See Also

• Hydration for more info on keeping well hydrated on the playa.
• Your kit for a suggested list of stuff to carry with you.