Backcountry Forum
Backpacking & Hiking Gear

Backcountry Forum
Our long-time Sponsor - the leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear
 
 
 

Amazon.com
Backpacking Forums
---- Our Gear Store ----
The Lightweight Gear Store
 
 WINTER CAMPING 

Shelters
Bivy Bags
Sleeping Bags
Sleeping Pads
Snow Sports
Winter Kitchen

 SNOWSPORTS 

Snowshoes
Avalanche Gear
Skins
Hats, Gloves, & Gaiters
Accessories

 ULTRA-LIGHT 

Ultralight Backpacks
Ultralight Bivy Sacks
Ultralight Shelters
Ultralight Tarps
Ultralight Tents
Ultralight Raingear
Ultralight Stoves & Cookware
Ultralight Down Sleeping Bags
Ultralight Synthetic Sleep Bags
Ultralight Apparel


the Titanium Page
WM Extremelite Sleeping Bags

 CAMPING & HIKING 

Backpacks
Tents
Sleeping Bags
Hydration
Kitchen
Accessories

 CLIMBING 

Ropes & Cordage
Protection & Hardware
Carabiners & Quickdraws
Climbing Packs & Bags
Big Wall
Rescue & Industrial

 MEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 WOMEN'S APPAREL 

Jackets
Shirts
Baselayer
Headwear
Gloves
Accessories

 FOOTWEAR 

Men's Footwear
Women's Footwear

 CLEARANCE 

Backpacks
Mens Apparel
Womens Apparel
Climbing
Footwear
Accessories

 BRANDS 

Black Diamond
Granite Gear
La Sportiva
Osprey
Smartwool

 WAYS TO SHOP 

Sale
Clearance
Top Brands
All Brands

 Backpacking Equipment 

Shelters
BackPacks
Sleeping Bags
Water Treatment
Kitchen
Hydration
Climbing


 Backcountry Gear Clearance

Topic Options
Rate This Topic
#188965 - 02/07/15 07:16 PM prevent water from freezing...
freeballer Offline
newbie

Registered: 08/30/14
Posts: 12
another hike today, and my water froze.. again.. I'm using a hydrapak 2l bladder in a MEC 9l backpack. There isn't enough room for a seperate bottle, even a small one, and my budget is too tight for an upgraded pack.. I bought the insulated hose but that didn't help either.. I've tried keeping the hose inside my coat today, but the other end (near the pack) froze.. there must have been some residual water left after I blew it back in the bladder.

I've read a little alcohol will do.. Is that a practical joke for new hikers, or does it work? if so, how much do I add?

Other tips are appreciated. I tend to drink quite a bit of water (when its not frozen)

Thanks for your time
Geo

Top
#188970 - 02/08/15 12:10 AM Re: prevent water from freezing... [Re: freeballer]
AdventureMyk Offline
member

Registered: 06/16/14
Posts: 127
Loc: Knoxville, TN
Try a couple of the little hand-warmers that you pull from the pack and shake up. Leave one or two at the bottom and the radiant heat ought to be plenty to keep it from freezing.

Top
#188971 - 02/08/15 04:41 AM Re: prevent water from freezing... [Re: AdventureMyk]
DTape Offline
member

Registered: 11/23/07
Posts: 666
Loc: Upstate NY
As the mercury drops, bladders with hoses become increasingly difficult to manage. While I do not use a hoser even in mild weather, I have noted my friends who do cease to use them in the serious cold. Water bottles become the norm. Sometimescertain gear choices need to change to match the conditions.
_________________________
http://ducttapeadk.blogspot.com

Top
#188973 - 02/08/15 10:58 AM Re: prevent water from freezing... [Re: freeballer]
freeballer Offline
newbie

Registered: 08/30/14
Posts: 12
I'm going to buy a couple cheap handwarmers for my next 'venture and give it a try. thanks.

here's my dilemma. I have tried fitting a bottle on the outside and it just wasn't practical.. It would also, likely, freeze the same way the hose does. I'm not working either so getting a pack with more storage is out of the question right now.

Top
#188974 - 02/08/15 11:02 AM Re: prevent water from freezing... [Re: freeballer]
DTape Offline
member

Registered: 11/23/07
Posts: 666
Loc: Upstate NY
yes, a bottle on the outside of the pack will also eventually freeze, but different than the hose, as the volume is significantly different. An insulator sleeve helps with the bottles, as does keeping is opening side down (water freezes from the top down).
_________________________
http://ducttapeadk.blogspot.com

Top
#188975 - 02/08/15 03:43 PM Re: prevent water from freezing... [Re: freeballer]
OregonMouse Online   content
member

Registered: 02/03/06
Posts: 6799
Loc: Gateway to Columbia Gorge
One good thing about the soggy Pacific NW is that most of the time it isn't cold enough for us to have this problem, at least not with water bottles. I've had water bottles freeze at night, but not solid, even on a 15*F night. As DTape says, turning the bottle upside down means that the last place to freeze is around the opening. If it's way below freezing, starting with warm or even hot water and an insulator sleeve should help. I agree that a hoser system (which I don't use) is probably not practical when it's way below freezing in the daytime.
_________________________
May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view--E. Abbey

Top
#189353 - 02/24/15 01:49 PM Re: prevent water from freezing... [Re: freeballer]
finallyME Offline
member

Registered: 09/24/07
Posts: 2710
Loc: Utah
I am generally against water bladders in winter. I don't really like them in summer either. smile Anyways, in winter I usually will bring water in a stainless canteen. When it is being stored, it is in a cozy I made from sleeping mat foam. When I store it over night, I turn it upside down and jam it into the snow. The snow insulates it, and if it freezes, chances are it won't freeze on the bottom. Turning it upside down makes the bottom the top, etc. Since it is in a metal container, it is easy to warm up/ thaw out.

If you have to have a bladder.....check out this video. This guy has an interesting take on it. It isn't my video, BTW.
water bladder in winter
_________________________
I've taken a vow of poverty. To annoy me, send money.

Top
#189426 - 02/27/15 06:19 AM Re: prevent water from freezing... [Re: finallyME]
bluefish Offline
member

Registered: 06/05/13
Posts: 680
We've had a cold winter in the Northeast, and a lot of our hikes have been in single digits and below. I bought some Hydroflasks and have had zero issues with freezing. For the small weight penalty of the stainless steel bottle, liquids put in at cool temps would stay just that for many hours. Not as convenient as a tube, but better than eating snow. I use to wrap my bottles in Reflectix and foam, but the flasks have rendered that useless. On overnights, I had water for the morning coffee by putting in some hot water from dinner. Didn't keep the flask in my sleeping bag, either. That's a plus!
_________________________
Charlie

Top

Shout Box

Highest Quality Lightweight Down Sleeping Bags
 
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags
 
Lite Gear Talk - Featured Topics
Backcountry Discussion - Featured Topics
Make Your Own Gear - Featured Topics
Featured Photos
Spiderco Chaparral Pocketknife
David & Goliath
Also Testing
Trip Report with Photos
Seven Devils, Idaho
Oat Hill Mine Trail 2012
Dark Canyon - Utah
Who's Online
0 registered (), 241 Guests and 0 Spiders online.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Newest Members
Noodles, McCrary, DanyBacky, Rashy Willia, WanderBison
13240 Registered Users
Forum Links
Disclaimer
Policies
Site Links
Backpacking.net
Lightweight Gear Store
Backpacking Book Store
Lightweight Zone
Hiking Essentials

Our long-time Sponsor, BackcountryGear.com - The leading source for ultralite/lightweight outdoor gear:

Backcountry Forum
 

Affiliate Disclaimer: This forum is an affiliate of BackcountryGear.com, Amazon.com, R.E.I. and others. The product links herein are linked to their sites. If you follow these links to make a purchase, we may get a small commission. This is our only source of support for these forums. Thanks.!
 
 

Since 1996 - the Original Backcountry Forum
Copyright © The Lightweight Backpacker & BackcountryForum