Big Bite Valve

CamelBak Big Bite Valve is the silicone mouthpiece on the end of a CamelBak hydration tube, and the part that wears out first. It is a single moulded piece of silicone with nothing inside to snap or jam: bite gently and water flows, let go and the valve seals itself so the tube stops dripping down your back or into the pack. At 5 g, a fresh one makes a tired hydration bladder feel new again.

Who it's for

Anyone running a CamelBak bladder whose bite valve has gone chewed, split, cloudy or lost. Mountain bikers on the trails around Nerang, trail runners on long Lamington days and bushwalkers carrying three litres on their back all go through valves, and a spare weighs nothing in a repair kit. The 4 Pack suits a family or club sharing bladders, with a different colour for each person so nobody grabs the wrong tube.

How the Big Bite works

• One-piece silicone: no springs or moving parts to fail.
• Self-sealing: the slit closes after each sip, so water stays in the tube between drinks.
• Hands-free drinking: clip the tube to your shoulder strap and drink without stopping.
• Pairs with the Crux on/off valve: CamelBak's Crux reservoir on/off valve is built around the Big Bite, adding a lever to shut off flow when the pack is stowed in luggage or a gear bag.

Single or 4 Pack

The Single is one blue valve. The 4 Pack - Assorted gives you four valves in four different colours. Every valve is 100% silicone and weighs 5 g; the single measures 3.4 x 1.5 x 1.9 cm and the 4 Pack valves 3.9 x 1.5 x 1.9 cm.

Cleaning and mould

Pull the valve off the tube after a ride or walk, rinse it in warm water and leave it to air dry with the bladder rather than sealed in a damp pack. Squeeze the slit open while you rinse so nothing sits in it. When the silicone starts to tear, stays cloudy or will not seal, swap in a new one rather than putting up with a leak.