Water Bottle Anti-Freeze Methods

Home

Experience From - Rich Schick , Geraldine "Lady G" Wales , Karl King , Bjorn Jungnelius , Clint Morse ,


Rich Schick

Freeze up is not too hard to beat as long as your equipment is not too bulky and your clothing not too tight. I put on a thin layer of clothing (thermax or whatever) then the water bottle carrier then at least one layer over the bottles. They are a little more awkward to get to but if you don't over dress you shouldn't need to get to them all that often.


Geraldine "Lady "G" Wales

Anyone running in really cold weather with a Camel Bak Go Be take heed. Someone suggested that to keep the water from freezing in the tube just blow it back into the pouch when finished drinking. I tried it and it worked wonderfully.


Karl King

Ran 14 yesterday at 7F, 4 this morning at -3F, so we have the weather to test the ability to keep fluids fluid. Here's what works for me.

Fill the bottles with very hot water just before going out. Put them in a pack that will provide extra insulation. I like the single or two bottle UD packs for that.

Wear the pack under a roomy shell or jacket.

Instead of the standard UD bottle, I like a Nalgene 1/2 Liter bottle. It has a wide mouth that almost never freezes over completely, and the design makes it easy to open. The regular UD bottle sometimes freezes up at the top, making it impossible to get the fluid through. The Nalgene bottle fits perfectly in the UD packs.

Some years ago when I was really into cross-country skiing, I would drink water before starting, then drink peach schnapps while on the ski trails. My performance may have suffered, but I always finished with a smile on my face, and warm memories. Please do not take that as a technical recommendation, but then some things in life are too much fun to let the technical aspects get in the way.


Bjorn Jungnelius

Phil wrote:

Does anyone have any tricks to keeping water liquid when the weather isn't cooperating?

Is there actually a problem?

Since I live in a country (Isle of Gotland, Sweden) where winters are long and occasionally very cold I am forced to run under such conditions at times, e.g. temperatures around 0 F. Properly dressed,(not too much-not too little), you don't sweat a lot and airway losses (of water) are small.

Before I leave for such a run I usually drink a pint of hot chocolate or cafe'-au-lait (stays in the stomach for some time where it doesn't freeze) and for runs lasting up to two hours and sometimes more I have never experienced any signs of dehydration. I might bring some raisins or sweets in a small plastic bag in my pocket just to have if I feel like it. And I usually bring a light-weight sweater if I have to stop for some reason in order to avoid getting cold.


Clint Morse

A quick tip to keep your water bottle from freezing up on the really cold runs. First use warm to hot water to start with and most importantly, use a leak proof bottle (nalgenes are great) and carry it upside down. Ice forms on the top so if you carry the bottle upside down you won't freeze over the mouth and end up unable to get to the liquid below.