Frozen water bottles

**justaguy** · 02-16-2012, 10:36

Hey guys.

Long time lurker, first time poster.

I am about to make the move from tent to hammock, and I am very excited about it! I've been doing research the last few weeks, and I plan on pulling the trigger next week.

My question is a silly one, but I haven't found any mention of it. On cold overnighters like I had this past weekend (low teens), I usually put my water bottle(s) into my sleeping bag to keep them from freezing. I usually have just enough space in my mummy bag so that the bottles aren't pressed up against me, which avoids having them act as a heat sink.

If I switch from a sleeping bag to a TQ/UQ configuration, what is the best way to keep the water from freezing? I can put them under my TQ, but then they will be resting aqainst my leg, drawing my body heat into them. How do you folks do it?

Thanks a ton.

**Stone** · 02-16-2012, 10:39

Just store it upside down on the ground. Water freezes top down, the frozen part (if it freezes) will be at the bottom of the bottle.

**Shug** · 02-16-2012, 10:39

I use a Nalgene Hard bottle and put very hot water in before sleep. Put that in a Gallon baggie for redundancy. Warms you. Ready to go for breakfast from the hammock.
Carry Forth.....
Shug

**Rain Man** · 02-16-2012, 10:52

Good suggestions so far (and I've done both), but if they don't suit you, I have also hung my water bottle in my hammock at head or foot end. It's available if I need a swig or two during the night, plus it doesn't freeze (so far).

Rain Man

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**mugs** · 02-16-2012, 11:52

All very good suggestions. I highly recommend the hard nalgene bottle with hot water in it for winter time hammocking. It will keep you and your feet warm all night. I just throw it at the bottom of my TQ and push it in (lid facing up) with my feet.

If snow camping I berry platty bladders standing up, with the top down. I try to get them as deep in the snow as possible and then cover them up. I will usually find a stick or something like that to stab in the ground next to it, in case it snows alot over night. That way I can find my water in the morning the next day.

If the weather calls for really cold temps (or if I just have extra insulative gear/or an extra reflectix pad) I will actually boil some water from the bladder the night before, and pour it back in. I may do this a couple of times, until that water temp is good and hot. Then I do one of 3 things: wrap the bladder in the insulation, put it in the reflectix sleeve that I have made for it, or the extra reflectix pad I am not using and place it in my pack. This seems to work the best and not digging your water out of the snow the next day. Just plan accordingly when it comes to carrying extra fuel. In the winter time I use a white gas stove in combination with my esbit stove, so it all works out.

Hope this helps

**adkphoto** · 02-16-2012, 11:56

I would also recommend putting the hot water in some sort of insulation like a clean dry sock or purpose made bottle cozy. It will keep warm longer and prevent you from getting burned when it's really hot.

David

**Tendertoe** · 02-16-2012, 12:09

Another option would be a single-walled stainless steel bottle.

If water does freeze in it, you can put it in the fire without the cap on or put it on your stove.

Any size under 40oz is a bit unstable on a stove FYI.

**termite** · 02-16-2012, 12:16

+2 for hanging the bottles inside your hammock. I also have a couple of cozies made from reflectex that fit the standard nalgene 1lt bottles. I haven’t had one freeze yet, but I only have hung into the low twenties.