Hydration Bladder Hacks

Got a noisy hydration bladder, or issues with how to clean it? Check out this video where Bryan walks through his favorite hydration bladder and what he’s done to unlock its full potential.
Support us on Patreon! ➝ / itstactical
Resources
Source WXP 3L Hydration System - amzn.to/2bYOd1K
Source Replacement Helix Valve - amzn.to/2zAxrmI
ITS Article on Source Hydration Systems - bit.ly/2iT08AT

[@doinker50]

I wanted to comment that I enjoyed this short and informative video. It was a little heavy on the specific product but still had some universal bladder tips. Would love to see more of these

[@hellooperator6639]

When I in the military, my issued Camelbak popped after the first few times of use. After replacing it with the same brand and getting similar results, on a whim, I saw the source bladder, bought it, and used it on my first deployment. MAJOR improvement. It never popped. The nozzle mechanism where you drink from never dripped. Easier to maintain and fill. I was so happy with it. That was back in circa 2005ish so Camelbak may have made improvements.

[@bobr8410]

Strix I've thoroughly abused my issue Camelbak since 2011- no pops. Must have improved greatly.

[@TheTyrial86]

I was issued source bladders.

[@bryanpoff3390]

Camelbak still leak from the bite valve.

[@mattronan2746]

Loved the polished look of this! Clean, simple, to the point! Would love to see more like this!!

[@ToXSicK1340]

2nd this! Many of the video's are tooooo long and my ADHD can't focus, lol.

[@TangoOscarMikeN3WS]

The newer Camelbak bladders have a large mouth that you can fit your hand into for easy filling/cleaning, quick disconnects and a vertical baffle down the center which also helps stop the bladder from bulging as well as the slosh. I've crashed on my bike and landed on the bladder several times and it's never popped or leaked.

[@Kremit_the_Forg]

If you have a quick release on the mouth-piece: Tape it. Sand gets everywhere! And if sand and/or any other dirt gets under the paddle it can get really hard to push in the paddle for the release.

[@Theckonestroh]

Break tooth brush down halfway pack it pack. Use water and tooth brush clean head. Army field training extra tooth brush is a must. Also use condom over the tip and use it to protect nozzle.

[@stacylittle6282]

I've been using source for several years now. Absolutely the best out there! Great video!

[@Deecompoza]

Thanks broe, those relieved me from the confusions I had after buying my hydration bag without user manual👌👌

[@rdsmith334]

You didn't bring up the best feature, imo. The quick fill through the hose attachment. You just click off the mouth piece, click on the filler attachment, and can refill your bag from water bottles, water faucets, and even water filters. All directly into the bag, without removing anything, through the tube.

[@Hailexx]

I absolutely agree, but i'd like to add a caveat to that. I purchased the hose attachment for specifically that purpose, to refill from faucets and water bottles, and it spills EVERYWHERE! There is absolutely no positive seal that I can get out of it. Using a water bottle slowly leaks water, and using a faucet sprays water everywhere. Just my two cents on my experience with it.

[@rdsmith334]

Hailex, you have to make sure the bladder doesn't have any air in it. If there's air in the bladder, it'll do that. Suck the air out like Brian showed. Also, it can't be forced in. With the water bottles, screw the water bottles into the adapter and move the accordion part of the adapter up and down. It'll start flowing in, while the air valve on the adapter will start letting aIt into the water bottle.

[@rdsmith334]

Hailex also make sure you screw the threads of the faucet into the adapter. You'll still have to hold it on, but it helps with the seal.

[@CraigslistUser310]

Sadly, the current version of the bladder doesn’t have the quick release for the bite valve.

[@bofeity]

You forgot to mention the denture cleaning tablets to clean them overnight with no residual taste.

[@psybain]

Been a fan of the source water systems since I was issued one about 10 years ago, never had one go moldy or funky on me either. The best thing about filling from the top is it makes it easy to load it with ice if you know it's going to be a hot day.

[@dhalfacre]

Have one. Love it. It is an amazingly well thought out design.

[@CKinnerley]

Bloody hell... over a decade I've been using camelbaks and sources and had them sloshing around and never known about this. How stupid I feel now.

[@bofeity]

yeah just turn your backpack upside down and start sucking

[@garretr4488]

The Camelbak military bladders are by far my favorite

[@trevorlaporte5951]

I have the source 3L with the storm valve and I love it, also got the attachment to fill through the hose. The ability to fill through the hose is awesome and I carry a silcock key in my bug out bag to compliment that. The source bladders really are awesome, I carry mine in my EDC bag and had actually got negligent and left it about a quarter full for several weeks and had expected it to be moldy or at the very least have a smell. When I finally got around to cleaning it, I was surprised to find that it didn't have either. I didn't know about the method of sucking out the air to keep from sloshing, that's good information to know. I'm curious what you think of HydraPak, specifacally their bladder with the hose that you can drink from as well as use it as a hose.

[@brynwest4495]

Even calling your stuff your "every day carry" I find very cringey. I just feel its the same as all the tacticool lameness.

[@anastasiafiandaca2888]

I was hoping for some specific ideas about how to attach/install a hydration bladder into a regular backpack. The other tips were great, though.

[@swekiwi4517]

The none slush method is great!

[@TacticalTrainer223]

Have you had a problem with your bite valve falling off? I took my new Source bladder to the field for the first time last week, and after our mission was over I went to take a drink and found my bite valve gone. Walked back through the area we were in and never found it so I was without water the rest of the week (from my hydration pack only of course)

[@dandelicious6177]

which valve? Storm or Helix?

[@bryanpoff3390]

Big fan of ITS! "Hacks" is a tad misleading... good info ✔ yes! Gear Review of Source Tactical WXP ✔ yes!

[@WarGrrl3]

Excellent vid; great info, explained well. Thank you.

[@ErgonomicChair]

Hrm I was thinking of this or the Seibertron, this is pretty cool. I think I'll go with this one. Thanks, ITS.

[@MacChew008]

Thank you, Good Pointers.

[@justsomeguy3931]

Awesome info, thanks for sharing

[@TheTyrial86]

You forgot to mention to bring a nalgene bottle to mix your powdered gatoraid.

[@cathyscuderi5452]

good job we all should know, thanks

[@gilmotier]

This was helpful. Thanks!

[@thirdhorizon6964]

Thank you.

[@loghousedreamer]

You are pro to do these videos just i like to see

[@xavierbreath2227]

Anyway to hook a filter to the drinking line? It would be nice to fill the bladder in a river and just have an in-line filter like a sawyer take care of cleaning the water as you drink.

[@JandT98086]

Yes, Sawyer makes a kit called “Fast Fill Adapters for Hydration Packs”

[@MalinaM1]

How would you recommend to clean the hose? I’m not sure how to get that all clean?

[@Teddy_______]

All I see is all the camo on the rack. I can’t even hear what you’re saying. It’s beautiful. The mythical dnc.

[@AngelosGeorgopoulos]

I am looking for a bladder that can take a tap apart from the hose, so I can take my shower too. Any idea?

[@MWDAdventures]

I see source makes a wide with out the cap is there an advantage to have it wider or no cap in a ruck pack?

[@hitgarthelast5351]

How it stands against pressure? Some of hydrators leack when i sit in viecle pressured by plate and car sit.

[@sonebone7]

how to do you clean the tube itself, some tubes you cant open due to the vacuum seal

[@XxStupendousManxX]

What top are you wearing in this video?

[@dandelicious6177]

Can't decide between storm valve and helix valve! Can you help me on that decision? Thanks!

[@raindi100]

Only problem is that you have to suck like there's no tomorrow to get the water flowing. I'd much prefer if it had some sort of pressure pump system so it squirts in.

[@danielellisporter]

Oh and it looks super tacticool! Yeeeeaaaaaaaaa.....

[@LokeshThakur]

never been a fan of hydration bladders because of the "bite valves", ive used a camelbak and the taste was horrid, always had to mix a bit of flavored electrolyte to overpower the taste of ass.

[@SpartaTV]

Nice

[@nathanmason5337]

How can I use water from my bladder to fill a cup using the hose?.

[@Truthloveliberty]

Why is it super super hard to initiate drinking

[@zefftrus9825]

Can I have any tactical survival camping hiking or camping gear you don't want 🥺😋🤔

[@HikingAZ]

This is a product review, not a hacks video.

[@laodealmuqarrabun656]

Hi, do you know if this Source WXP is the same that Source make for Eberlestock? I'm wondering if they have the exact same dimension

[@miamitreo]

How do you clean the drinking hose? Cleaning the bladder itself is easy but not the hose????

[@bobr8410]

miamitreo I fill the bladder with my cleaning solution of choice, and run it through the hose by pressing hard on the bladder and opening the valve. Camelbak and others make flexible hose brushes, but I haven't needed them in 6 years of regular hydration bladder usage.

[@cordelmar]

Did he say how many litters on the bladder?

[@hawk9mm]

Had 3 of their 2 liters and they all began to leak from the tube attachment point, sorry but 3 strikes and you're out in my book "military grade" my ass, barely use it by comparison to what Source claims yet my old used Camelbak still works with no leaks. I gave Source every chance in the world to prove that they were military grade reliable and they could not deliver. Moved to HydraPak and so far it has been doing what Source has never done, plus has the same features, better feed line and possibly better bite valve (still not sure which I like more).

[@mobbs]

How do you fix it if the moth part tears

[@tylermiller2358]

How to fix a hole in bladder please reply quick i need mines fixed before band camp

[@waterborne]

Tyler Miller a dab of shoe goo.

[@목푸는황구다-l6e]

Goood!

[@perpetualconfusion5885]

Me: can't fit the bladder into the carrier. I seriously struggle to.

[@krookimuss]

Put it in empty then fill it with the hose attachment!

[@pmayh3m]

How do you clean the hose?

[@JandT98086]

Source makes a hose cleaning kit, basically a small pipe cleaner brush on the end of a wire.

[@pmayh3m]

@@JandT98086 that won't work on the quick detachable hose. That hose has lockout mechanisms at each end to prevent water coming out. Does anyone with this system know how to clean the hose?

[@JandT98086]

No, there is only a lockout at the mouthpiece end of the hose. The other lockout is on the bladder. You would insert the brush into the open end of the hose and then work it down until it hits the lockout on the other end. The rinse water will still run out, the lock only holds on and seals the mouthpiece. The mouthpiece is where the water turns on and off. If you have a different style (mine is 4 years old, maybe they changed?) and the lockout does stop the water, then just hold it open with your thumb while working the brush with your other hand.

[@JandT98086]

And I forgot to also mention, you obviously need to take off the mouthpiece when you’re cleaning the hose.

[@ivantoxie]

These are design features, not hacks.

[@oKevn]

This damn bite valve sucks it won’t open for me

[@itsdox7433]

Any preference over the the standard 3L bladder over the Widepac Lowprofile 3L?

[@lordkrythic6246]

Chris C 3L is overkill for anyone. You don't always need to go for "the biggest, baddest, and most expensive". I've extensively tested a 2L and 3L and every single time the 3L was more than I actually needed for a simple hike. I now carry a 2L, and it's perfect in terms of weight and sustenance.

[@alfiehardwick8788]

Try a geigerrig 3l

[@mikey4016]

And support slavery (since geigerrig is made by slaves in china).

[@joekelly9369]

Looks as complicated as the ex's nickers

[@Jabskin]

for that last hack it might just be better to move to metric aha

[@DyingMedic]

how about a hack to clean the hose! I've been tasting that orange fake-aid in my line for the past 3 months, and can't get it out!

[@michaelbagley497]

Victor Henley I have never had that problem, but have you tried using dummy cord to pull either a cleaning cloth or a pipe cleaner through the hose?

[@bobr8410]

Victor Henley I have had that problem before. I was able to finally get rid of the flavor by flushing multiple times with dish soap and water alternating with solutions of white vinegar and water, then several flushes with water only. Never again did I put anything other than water in the bladder.

[@TheTyrial86]

New hose and only fill with water. This is why you should also carry a nalgene bottle.

[@jethro9341]

Heres a hack. Never put anything but clean water in it.

[@cyberfeces]

Remove the hose from the bladder, go outside, pinch the bite valve to allow air to flow through the tube, swing the hose around vertically so that any water leaves the hose. The influence of centrifugal force pulls any water out of the hose, which is why you do it outside. If you need to clean a foul taste out of the hose, try soaking it in denture cleaning solution, a baking soda, or mild bleach solution first.