Heed in Camelbak...not a good idea

[kenyonchris]

I am a big fan of Hammer Nutrition stuff. SO is sponsored by them,so I use it too. I love Heed. It got hot here, so I mixed powdered Heed and ice water in my camelbak for my mountain bike ride last week. When I got home, I poured out the dregs, rinsed it well, and hung it up as I always do in the garage. I have been on the roadbike for the last week so haven't used it. So I went to refill it today and when I opened it some green nasty miasma of a smell wafted up. GROSS. I guess I had a bit left in there which cooked for a week. I washed everything well with the camelbak cleaning stuff but I think it is a goner unless anyone has any wonderful ideas. I have found that if I don't wash (like in the machine) my bottles directly after use the Heed smell really sticks with it, even after washing.
I did try vinegar too, but this just make things that much worse.

[Zen]

Try storing it in the freezer instead of trying to let it dry.

[OakLeaf]

Some of the flavoring got absorbed by the plastic, just as strong flavors of leftover foods (onion, tomato, lemon, etc.) get absorbed by plastic containers. You'll barely taste it the next time you use the bottle, and after three or four uses it'll dissipate. Heed seems to be particularly persistent, but all sports drinks (and fresh squeezed lemon juice, for that matter) will get absorbed by the plastic.

I don't like to use bleach because of the dioxin, but if bleach-based dishwashing detergent is what you like to get the smell out of your bottles, then a weak solution of bleach should work on your Camelbak bladder as well. But as I said, it's unnecessary.

[PscyclePath]

+1 on the weak bleach solution... Let it soak in there for a few minutes then rinse with fresh water.

I ran into HEED the first time last weekend... organizers at one of the early summer centuries got some sponsorship from Hammer, so they put HEED in the energy drink coolers. I drank two cups of it at the second rest stop, and most of one bottle over the next 30 miles, and wound up cramping like crazy... not to mention a little nausea. Could have been that I was hanging with a pretty fast group, but the cramps lead me to think it was the electrolytes...

I'm a big fan or Hammer gels, but I think I;ll leave the HEED alone for the time being.'

[kenyonchris]

OK, I'll give the weak bleach a try. I would rather not just chunk it out, it is the right size and weight for me...but yuck.

Personally, have never had anything but good experience with the Heed. I am not a cramper, lucky me, even when I am pushing hard on a long century or more ride, but I can totally lose my momentum if I don't have enough fuel. My SO swears by the Perpetuem, but I don't like it, too heavy for me. BUT, having said that, if it is not seriously hot I dilute it a bit from the label directions. In this heat (over 95) I put it in both bottles and carry a bit of powder with me for refills.

I may rethink putting it in the camelbak, though.

[Andrea]

I made the same mistake once of (A) drinking HEED then finding out that it contains sugar alcohol, which, even though it's "natural," still gives me gas/bloating about 24-48hrs after consumption and (B) putting it in my camelbak to do so. It's been several months since then, and it still has a HEED "essence" to it.

[lattae]

I love Hammer Heed but made the same mistake and left it in the camelbak too long. I couldn't get rid of the mold so tossed my bag out. I only use the Heed in my polar bottle and wash it very well afterwards. The Heed has come in real handy since we have the heat and humidity in our area. The best thing to do is to put a ziploc bag of additional Heed in your camelbak pocket and fill a water bottle with it as needed.

[BarbaraAlys]

The campleback disinfectant stuff leaves an odor and taste in the bottle that I do not care for, so I like to soak my camle back water bags in water and lemon juice after disinfecting.

I also store them open, hanging with opening downward and some papertowel stuffed in the bottom to keep it opened up. This allows any water left in to dry out (the papertowel acts like a wick leading the water out). It is pretty dry here, so this works well, you might not have the same results in a humid environment.

BarbaraAlys

[surgtech1956]

You can use Efferdent too. 'Back in the day' when I was in the Army National Guard, we used this to clean out our canteens - worked like a charm.

[kenyonchris]

I love Hammer Heed but made the same mistake and left it in the camelbak too long. I couldn't get rid of the mold so tossed my bag out. I only use the Heed in my polar bottle and wash it very well afterwards. The Heed has come in real handy since we have the heat and humidity in our area. The best thing to do is to put a ziploc bag of additional Heed in your camelbak pocket and fill a water bottle with it as needed.


Not bleach, not listerine, not gloom of night could fix my camelback. I chucked it. I will be more careful in the future and make sure to remove every last drop of it out. I can't fit a bottle on my MTB frame.

[lattae]

I've also heard that Efferdent was effective in cleaning camelbaks ,,, sometimes I use the Efferdent, rinse, then store the empty bag in the freezer. You can try and drain the water from the tube as much as you can but I never could get the entire tubing to dry out completely, so I just throw the entire bag into the freezer to prevent mold(esp during the winter months when not is use)

[grey]

Try storing it in the freezer instead of trying to let it dry.

Now why the heck, in all the years my husband and I have been riding bikes and carrying those camelbacks, have we NEVER thought of that? I have worked to clean many an impossible-smelling-looking mess in those for years. Zen, you're a genius.

[OakLeaf]

Ew, freezer smell. :p

Even in Ohio humidity the drink tube will dry in two or three days if you take the bite valve off and brace the bladder open.

[Resi]

clean the bladder and put it in the fridge, freezer I don't know about that. I never ever had a problem.

Resi

[TrekTheKaty]

Stupid question. Do you leave the tube on when you put it in the fridge/freezer?