Camelbacks and water bladders

I have bought a new backpack for this season and it has a pouch in the back for a camelback water sack and tube going down the strap.

Looking at the weather forecasts for Mayrhofen and Hintertux, it looks to be getting down to -10.

Now I know that water freezes at 0, so it might sound silly asking if the water in backpack will freeze when I am skiing but I am not sure.

Will the constant movement of the water and some of my bodyheat keep the water from freezing?

Tom

The pouch will be unlikely to freeze, but the pipe will ice up easily. To combat this either:

Insulate the pipe and mouthpiece, or

When you have had a drink, blow the remaining contents of the pipe back into the bag.

Sounds yukky, but it generally works.

I lost my mouthpiece cover on a drag lift in Zinal, :roll: using a Dakine pack now, with a zipped cover for the end of the pipe, which I have yet to try out.

Try VODKA - I keep my bottle of Absolute on the freezer at home....

No worries.

There's a bit of a swing in opinion about these now, not only have you those problems with freezing and the problems keeping them clean but there's also a problem that you can't monitor your fluid intake properly and then either empty it too quick or not take enough liquid. All things being equal if you're really working hard and need to keep your fluid intake up you're generally better off stopping for a moment and taking a drink. They're also a nuisance in a full rucksack.

The Camelbak bladders won't freeze as they are insulated. You can also get a neoprene insulator for the tube.
It's worth getting a valve with a tap, as the bite valves can leak down your jacket when the bladder gets squeezed when you sit of a chair lift.

I like to stop for a drink, in a hut, log fire, take in the sights and plan the next piste.

I've got the CamelBak Snoblast.There's a separate compartment for the bladder apart from general rucsac storage. The tube is insulated and the mouthpiece can tuck back into the straps to keep it protected. Can't see that the bladder contents would freeze due to the protection from the bag lining and your own body heat.
I've used various versions of these both for sport (Marathon running, mountain biking,long distance cycling) and for my work in the forces (can't tell you about that or I'll have to shoot you. :wink:)
Have never had a problem controlling fluid intake because I've used a hydration system. I found that I was more inclined to take in fluid because it was readily available without having to stop and unload by rucsac to find the lonley bottle of H20 hidden away amongst the paraphanalia (sp?) within.

andyhull wrote:The Camelbak bladders won't freeze as they are insulated. You can also get a neoprene insulator for the tube.

that's only true if you don't go anywhere actually cold :)