Frozen water bladder tube

[rm06]

I'm not sure where this question belongs so I'll try here: I struggle every year with the tube from my water bladder freezing solid on my way up the hill. Depending on the weather, it may or may not thaw for several hours or at all. I should probably add an electrolyte but I really don't want to sip off some ultra-sweet syrupy candied liquid all day. Perhaps I'm way behind the eight ball on this one but is there a good solution for this?

 

[chessie]

It helps to blow the water out of the tube back into the bladder, but if its real cold about the only solution is forget the bladder and go to a Nalgene or 2

 

[muleman]

Do as chessie said and blow air into the tube. You can also use a hand warmer. Personally, I just blow air back into the tube.

 

[justinspicher]

I've used 2" tubular nylon to cover the hose. Cut it to the length of your hose and tape the ends. It works decent enough alone, but if you blow the water back out when your done with a drink, it works even better.

 

[ScottP]

Blow the water back and also get as much out of the bite valve as possible. Another option is to take frequent drinks and clear the cold water out of the hose before it freezes. I sometimes start with warm water when I'm hunting from home on those really frigid mornings, buys you a little more time. I do have an insulating sleeve on the hose but it doesn't help all that much. You can also stuff the valve down into your jacket if you are only freezing there.

 

[Hardstalk]

Under your strap rather than on top. Or jam it behind you(after blowing it back in the bladder). I hate when this happens!

 

[5MilesBack]

Yet one more thing I don't miss at all with the rifle seasons. Gosh I love hunting in August and September.

 

[Shrek]

I have my sawyer filter right above the bite valve so it's kind of critical for me. My solution is to slip the whole filter and as much of the tube as possible under my jacket against my body. It will still freeze the exposed tube if it's really cold though. Planning on trying the insulation on the tube this year to see if the body heat combined with insulation will keep the part exposed to the air from freezing. That or some 100 proof vodka in the bladder to keep me and the bladder from freezing .

 

[Mike7]

As above, I use the neoprene sleeve and blow air back, if sitting a lot and not sipping on the water all of the time while on the move. I almost never have the tube freeze...usually it's the bite valve, which is why blowing the air back through it seems to help so much I think.

I also always leave my MSR black plastic dispensing cap in my pack's water bladder sleeve, so the bladder will be functional as a canteen even if my tube freezes fully. This also allows me to leave my tube empty on my pack overnight in frigid temps so I can put my capped Dromlite bladder then under my pillow on my air pad or inside of my bivy sac.

 

[2rocky]

I'm going to try the Valve in the Chest pocket of my jacket with a Handwarmer. Additional Foam insulation over the neoprene will help as well.

 

[rm06]

I forgot to mention it already has the neoprene sleeve. I will try blowing air back into it though, thanks for the tip

 

[Hunt'nFish]

If it's that cold I don't really need to drink much, and what I would drink would probably be 40proof anyway. As I understand it, you gain ~5F lower freezing point for every 10% alcohol content.
Hunt'nFish

 

[orionsbrother]

10° and colder, I just use Nalgenes. Even with those freezing a bit, you can get the lid off and get your water. Fill it with warm water, stuff it inside your pack if it's really cold.