How to carry water in freezing temperatures?

Question

When backpacking in freezing weather, water in a canteen often turns to ice. I am looking for a canteen that

1. Will not burst when the volume of water increases due to freezing
2. Will make it possible, and not too difficult, to extract the frozen water, by melting, by breaking into chunks and shaking out, or by some other convenient way.

What kind of canteen or other container should I get?

Answer 1

Another option is to keep your water bottle inside your jacket and use your body heat to prevent the water from freezing. Many mountaineering jackets have internal elasticated mesh pockets for this purpose. Alternatively, I find I can just put the water bottle inside my jacket and use the waist belt of my rucksack to prevent the bottle from falling down inside the jacket. The other advantage is easy access to water without having to go to your rucksack.

• If storing the bottle within your jacket, keep in mind that this will drain body heat.
• To keep the water bottle from freezing without sacrificing body heat keep the water bottle in a 'water bottle parka'. These can be purchased at many outdoor retailers.
• You can also make these out of old "ensolite" sleeping pads by making a tube with a top and bottom.

Nalgene bottles such as this one advertises it "withstands sub-freezing to boiling temperatures". Just be sure to not fill it completely as the cap will pop and potentially split the side of the bottle if a perfectly full nalgene bottle freezes completely through.

For a good practical review of different storage vessels and their performance in freezing conditions, see this excellent article

Answer 2

We've been using flexible Platypus reservoirs and have had no trouble thus far. I have knitted an insulation tube (six-stitch I-cord in a sport weight wool) that runs the entire length of the drinking tube-- that's where we've seen the most issues with freezing because of the enormous surface area of the tube. When the reservoir isn't in my pack, it's near me staying as warm as I can keep it.

Answer 3

Personally I'd recommend soft plastic type water bottles if they'll be frozen (though still check that this is ok with the manufacturer.) I've heard some people recommend Nalgene bottles for this, but have heard stories from more than one other source about them splitting when left to completely freeze. A softer plastic will allow for a bit of expansion when freezing - you could also squeeze it a bit when you add the water so it expands into its normal shape as it freezes.

As pointed out already, you can if you wish mix the water with a bit of alcohol to stop it freezing so easily, and you can also insulate the bottle with cloth / foil to try and keep as much heat in as possible.

Answer 4

For winter hiking, I prefer to wear a hydration bladder inside my coat and you can fill it with warm water if desired for an extra heat bonus when you start out.

When camping in the very cold, you can often find / treat water and just heat up enough for a day or half day and carry that water closer to your body. Also, a bottle inside a spare fleece, sweater or sleeping bag won't freeze after a long day unless the outside temperatures are really quite far below zero.

Answer 5

500 ml and 20 oz water bottles from a convenience store will freeze without breaking. You can carry them inside your clothes, in your pack next to your body, and keep them inside your sleeping bag to help keep them from freezing.