Frozen nozzle

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Hello. I ventured out on first 3 hour run for a while, and all was well. It was a beautiful frosty clear morning with only deer for company (I didn't pre-arrange that, they just turned up). However, my tube completely froze! Platypus water bladder nozzle, ahem.

Plus my hands were too cold to open up the bag and drink straight from the water bladder, so I got a wee bit thirsty. Anyone got any tips to keep your nozzle and tube clear? Apart from anti-freeze or gin that is?

Wilkie · November 2007

Tape some thin bubble wrap around it?

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Salt? Two birds, one stone and all that...

[Deleted User] · November 2007

I like these ideas already! Thank you - I guess then a juice/water/salt mix would freeze at lower temp than plain old water wickett? It should be obvious that I havn't an ounce of scientist in my body.

musketeer · November 2007

Alcohol?

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Or, to keep the temperature up, you could wear the camelback-type-thingy under your jacket!!

But then you'd just look weird.

mudman · November 2007

CamelPak make an insulator hose for this problem, just a bit of neoprene tubing.

Or stick a Nuun in the bladder.

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Great thanks, I'll try the bubble wrap and the salt/nuun ideas. It's only the tube that froze up, which would have to be outside my t-shirt. Jacket? What's that?

Musketeer - alcohol's kept in my hip flask - I'm not watering down my single malts!

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Blow down the tube after each drink. Essential practice in alpine climbing.

PS: Take a bottle instead

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Raid Light sell a water bladder with an insulating sleeve on the tube. It worked for me while cross country skiing in Norway, as long as I took a sip every quarter of an hour. See http://www.raidlight.com/boutique/fiche_produit.cfm?type=68&ref=6SAC004_copie_copie&code_lg=lg_fr&pag=1&num=0

cougie · November 2007

Damn - I was gonna give the same tip as David.

I remember taking warm water out in my camelbak one winters night.

After a while it must have been at the same temperature as my body, and I went to drink it in - but it didnt register in my mouth that I'd got liquid in - no temperature difference and no taste - I think I breathed half of it in ! Very confusing !

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Why does that not surprise me, Cougie?

cougie · November 2007

fat buddha · November 2007

do as DB2 says but with a neoprene cover as well just for added insulation

I've skied with a Camelbak for years and have the neoprene cover and the rubber cover for the bite valve - works a treat

cougie · November 2007

Failing that - just lick at lichen on stones and save carrying the Camelback ?

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Another vote for the camelbak neoprene cover - I use mine skiing as well - the only time it has ever frozen was when it got down to about -25C !

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Thanks for all these - just checked and yes, there is a platypus tube insulator - but it's £20. Think I'll try the bubble wrap option for now. Now I've just got to wait for the next freeze to test it, or sit in the freezer?

[Deleted User] · November 2007

Just to report back - this morning's run, same as last week, and similar temperatures. I wrapped my tube in bubble-wrap, and blew down it after every swig. NO FREEZING!

Thank you everyone for your top tips.

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