Using A Hot Water Bottle To Stay Warm

**pellet gun** · 06-27-2011, 16:00

hmmmmmm, that sounds like something to try that doesn't actually cost anything!

**Bogey Lee** · 07-07-2011, 00:24

great tip man now next time i will not be wrapping my feet in an extra pair of shorts or a towel lol looking forward to trying this

**Four-O** · 07-07-2011, 06:09

wow this works great

**AaronAlso** · 08-21-2011, 13:36

Yeppers! It's one of those "I should have thought of that" ideas. I didn't read all 27 pages so if this was discussed I appologize...

First of all, I think the reason so much heat is retained by the bottles is mostly due to the closed lid. The water vapor can't escape and pressurizes the bottle. This pressure prevents any new vapor from being created. Since
evaporation uses heat energy, preventing the hot water from evaporating away causes it to stay hot much longer. Therefore, filling the bottle as full as possible should cause it to retain the most heat.

I personally use stainless steel water bottles. I can boil right in the bottle for cooking, and they hold the heat much much longer than plastics or aluminium. Yes, they weight a few ounces more but I consider the multi-functional aspect good weight.

**dimeotane** · 10-23-2011, 19:41

Last night I filled a 500ml Nalgine HDPE wide mouth bottle after boiling two cups on my alcohol stove. Glad I did, cause itt went down to 0 c during the night.
Screwed down the lid tight so it was leakproof. I put a fleece sock over the bottle, since it was too hot to handle. I buried it inside my sleeping bag for a bit before bedtime while I sat around the fire. It gave me lots of heat on my hands and against my side late into the night. Eventually the bottle reached body temp until I woke up in the morning and tossed it out.

I noticed the HDPE became softer with boiling water. By morning the bottle was slightly deformed from contracting while cooling.

**Just swingin** · 10-25-2011, 07:22

I haven't heard of this tip so thanks a bunch. My wife especially will love the extra warmth.

Thanks from a noob.

**Dos** · 10-29-2011, 22:23

i can't believe I read this entire thread.
soooo many great insights and ideas.

**jtlee1** · 10-30-2011, 21:34

Anyone ever try using those on a cold night? You wouldn't have the issue of leaks that you might with a hot water bottle, but are they as effective?

**raiffnuke** · 10-31-2011, 06:52

Originally Posted by jtlee1

Anyone ever try using those on a cold night? You wouldn't have the issue of leaks that you might with a hot water bottle, but are they as effective?

I have and they are not nearly as warm as the hot water bottle trick. They do work good for warming up your frozen boots in the morning! After your warm boots are on, you can rubber band them to the back of your GPS or other electronic devices (SteriPen) to keep the batteries warm and happy and ensure many hours of cold weather use.

**Streetgang** · 11-05-2011, 21:30

Originally Posted by jtlee1

Anyone ever try using those on a cold night? You wouldn't have the issue of leaks that you might with a hot water bottle, but are they as effective?

I used them when training in Kodiak AK. They are ok but not great. As said, they are good to warm your boots or hands. You can also get ones that are rechargeable. They have a metal disc that begins the heat reaction. After it cools, you drop it in boiling water and it "recharges".