ZeroGoo Hydration Bladder Dryer $37.50
Some months back, at Interbike 2008, I came across ZeroGoo. I actually did a double take. A simple booth with two very friendly guys showing off possibly, in my strange opinion, the best product of Interbike 2008. A hydration bladder dryer. Freaking awesome! I know, I’m missing some screws.
Since then I’ve been using this wonderfully helpful device after almost every ride. It is very simple, you screw in dryer to the bladder, plug the drying into the wall, walk away. That is it. Seriously it is genius.
How well does it work?
It works very well. Especially if you are like me and tend for forget your bladder in your hydration pack for a couple weeks and open it up to some primordial ooze starting to take on a life of it’s own.
Drying does take some time though. It obviously is not blowing heated air into the bladder and evaporation only goes so fast. Also the dryer forces more air into the bladder than can actually pass out the hose end which causes the bladder to inflate which is good. This make sure no surface inside the bladder misses its opportunity to dry. The amount of air that can actually pass through the bladder is still restricted by the hose and drying can take some time. I found for myself that using it after a ride the bladder would be dry about the time I was ready to hit the sack.
Another great feature of the dryer is that you can use it on your shoes after a ride in the rain. This might be a little unsanitary but than again, mountain biking isn’t a very sanitary sport to begin with.
What hydration bladders does it fit?
Currently the ZeroGoo dryer fits large and small mouth Camelbak® brand bladders but that doesn’t mean with a little home ingenuity you can’t get it to fit others.
Anything to improve upon?
There are a couple things that I think could be improved on. First, the dryer is pretty loud. It is about as loud as a real hair dryer. So I found, in my small apartment, it was best used in the bathroom where I could shut the door and walk away. Second, I think the idea of a hard plastic screw adapter isn’t bad, but it isn’t a one size fits all. If ZeroGoo can find a one size fits all method of adapting the dryer to the bladder mouth it would be perfect. I made one for home using some rubber bands and a small plastic bag.
Conclusion
I think the ZeroGoo dryer is an awesome product. I do realize that not everyone will agree with me. I was promptly told I am crazy for liking the dang thing so much by my co-workers here at MTBR. So maybe it is a love it or hate it device. Though it does what it is supposed to do and if you have issues with drying your hydration bladder you should drop a few bucks on a product well worth it.
| A Word From ZeroGoo
How does it work? What makes ZEROGOO different? What are the main advantages of the dryer? Are there any alternative uses for the dryer? What types of hydration bladders will the ZEROGOO dryer fit? If you have any additional questions that are not addressed here, please feel free to email trent@zerogoo.com with questions and (or) product enhancement suggestions. The dryers are manufactured (by Trent and his sidekicks) in Bloomington IL from both domestic and foreign components. |
After every use, I shake out the bladder and put it in the freezer, comes out fresh and clean, no smells or mold after several years use.
Bloody awesome idea. Kinda hard to justify at almost $40 though- I can buy almost 2 bladders for that, and my current solution (a bent coathanger + waiting time) is free
Christian,
Not a bad idea but downhilling, or really any riding, with a block of ice on your back isn’t really a good thing in a crash. But you don’t have a bad idea as long as you remember to let the ice melt a good amount before going on a ride.
Adam,
I think you misunderstood Christian’s comment. He puts the EMPTY bladder in the freezer. My guess is that his freezer is frost-free and, as a result, the remaining moisture is evaporated more quickly. In addition, the cold temperatures will inhibit bacterial growth.
get sick once off a nasty moldy bladder and you’ll appreciate this little dryer! super easy to use. I’m like Adam and think it’s brilliant.