Hydration Packs In Cold Weather?

V

Vivi

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I was thinking about trading for a Blackhawk aptor backpack. It seemed very rugged and well made, and I liked the idea of a hydration pack too. However after being out in the cold today I got to thinking they probably would just freeze at colder temperatures.

Does anyone have any experience trying to use these in below freezing conditions?
 
Just went out today (3F when I left in the morning). I put warmish water in the bladder of my camelbak and it worked fine. The trick is to make sure that there's no water in the hose. After drinking, I just blow the water back into the pack and let any excess drip. There's usually a few drops left, which freeze, but letting the bite valve sit in my mouth for a second or two melts it and I can drink.
 
Joel Stave said:
Just went out today (3F when I left in the morning). I put warmish water in the bladder of my camelbak and it worked fine. The trick is to make sure that there's no water in the hose. After drinking, I just blow the water back into the pack and let any excess drip. There's usually a few drops left, which freeze, but letting the bite valve sit in my mouth for a second or two melts it and I can drink.
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This correlates with my experience as well. I gave up on the drinking tubes after getting sick from what I believed to be mold in the tubes after having it out for six days. If your just putting water in it, you likely be okay but if you put drink mix in there (gatorade) it seems it has a tendancy to develop....baddies......in the crevices and tubes. YMMV!
 
There are special insulative tubes that have a zip closure for the bite valve and a pocket inside you put a chemical handwarmer. Cant remember the maker but I have one on both my bladders.

they work good if you start with warm water and blow the drink back down the tube every time you use it.

Been using bladders with gatorade for 12 years and never had a problem. I scrub mine inside and out after every trip though.

Skam
 
skammer said:
There are special insulative tubes that have a zip closure for the bite valve and a pocket inside you put a chemical handwarmer. Cant remember the maker but I have one on both my bladders.

they work good if you start with warm water and blow the drink back down the tube every time you use it.

Been using bladders with gatorade for 12 years and never had a problem. I scrub mine inside and out after every trip though.

Skam
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Boy I tried! Just bad luck I guess. It may not even have been what made me sick but I was just highly suspicious after seeing that mildew in there. Now Im spooky of them and it sucks cause they sure are conveinient:thumbup:
 
I got a Dakine pack for skiing which has an insulated sleeve in the pack strap that the hydration tube runs through.
 
skammer said:
Been using bladders with gatorade for 12 years and never had a problem. I scrub mine inside and out after every trip though.

Skam
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Since there seems to be problems for some people, can you give directions on how you scrub yours to keep it in good shape?

Thanks
 
I have never scrubbed any of mine. I use a water/bleach rinse immediately after each trip and then allow to dry. I haven;t had a problem yet (fingers crossed). I use only water in mine.
 
Put the bladder with you in your sleeping bag at night or else it will freeze. I put mine at the top of my bag and use it as a waterbed-like pillow.
 
Put the hydration pack under your jacket in cold weather and run the tube around your collar or down your sleeve, if it is long enough. Your body heat will keep it from freezing just fine. If you use the blowback method, just be sure to release the extra air every now and then so you can keep from having a puffed up hydration bladder (although air does insulate very well :) ).
 
i had the the insulated tube freeze on me when i first got my camelbak several years ago. don't let that happen because i was without water the rest of the day.
 
I use mine in below freezing and below zero temps (I have Blackhawk and Camelback systems). Your body heat will keep the bladder from freezing. As others have said, you need to be sure to clear the tube of water after drinking.

You can simply put the bite valve end of the tube inside your jacket to prevent any residual water from freezing in the valve.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I have the blackhawk pack coming to me in the mail next week. I'll test it out and follow everyone's suggestions. It does has the insulated tube so that should help.
 
CamelBak has a neoprene sleeve for the hose. I will check later and see if it is universal...
 
a hand warmer tossed into the watter bladder sleeve is very effective. factor in about 3 used in a 24 hour period in extreme cold temps. Blow back the water in the tube and it helps to insulate the tube as well.
 
dougo83 said:
CamelBak has a neoprene sleeve for the hose. I will check later and see if it is universal...
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It is. I have a Gerber bladder that I use a Camelbak tube and neoprene sleeve one. I like the semi-rigid Gerber bladders a lot, but the bite valve that came with it kind of sucks.
 
I've never liked bladders in the winter. I tried one on a vertical ice climbing course in 2000 and our guide just laughed. Within minutes, the tube froze and I found myself carrying a block of ice in no time. What did he carry? Standard nalgenes with insulated carriers made out of closed foam pads.

The handwarmers will work in the short term as will heated liquids and keeping the pack under your jacket next to your body. For brief trips, this can work but for being out for multiple days and up to a week on end, I'm sticking with stainless bottles I can boil in. That's what I'll carry with me in February for our Winter Survival Course.

Kev
 
crossada said:
i had the the insulated tube freeze on me when i first got my camelbak several years ago. don't let that happen because i was without water the rest of the day.
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I had that happen one of the first times I used my Blackwawk bag in the cold (twelve hours in the single digits/low teens). It has an insulated tube cover, but I had it slid up the tube a ways so the bottom 6" or so was uncovered. I really don't think that little bit of insulation would matter anyway... the important thing is to clear the tube of water after drinking.

I prefer to hold it up straight overhead and squeeze the valve to allow the water to drain back into the bladder. I figure this may introduce less nasties than blowing into the tube to force the water back.

I have a Camelback "Unbottle" hydration bag that is basically a standard bladder inside a nylon fabric-covered closed cell foam insulating jacket. I haven't used it in winter conditions yet, but I think it would be slightly more handy than a standard bare bladder.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
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