Beat the Freeze! Tips to Prevent Your Water Bottle from Freezing on a Winter Adventure

Beat the Freeze!

Tips and tricks to prevent your water from freezing during your run or hike adventure during cold winter

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With the cold snap hitting so many regions of the country right now, freezing temps are having an impact on runners. For those of us running longer distances or times and carrying hydration, it’s possible for water to freeze mid-run. Since nobody wants to carry water and not be able to use it, here are some tips on how to prevent your water from freezing!

When Will the Water Likely Freeze?

Before we delve into the tips for preventing water from freezing, there are a few things we can consider around why or how water may freeze. As a caveat, this is a rough primer into some physics concepts — I did decently well in my high school and college physics and chemistry classes, but I’m not an expert and you should take the info with a grain of salt.

What is Freezing, After all?

First, why does something freeze? Freezing is the result of molecules slowing down enough so that they arrange themselves into fixed position. These molecules essentially lose energy, become fixed in place, and the overall matter becomes solid. As a note: this doesn’t mean the molecules have ZERO energy — even when frozen, there is some movement/vibration of each molecule, it’s just not bouncing all over the place. There is a concept of absolute zero, which is where all molecular motion stops, but hold that thought for a more in-depth physics class ;)

Temperature

The obvious factor around whether your water will freeze is temperature. If you’re running in a sunny place, then the radiant light may help keep the water marginally warmer, but if you’re running under tree cover, cloud cover, or other shade, or if the temps are really frigid, then that will make the water more likely to freeze.

Time

Time is another factor; the longer your water is exposed to the cold temps, the more heat can dissipate from the water and the water is more likely to freeze. If you’re out running or hiking for hours, that time in the cold increases the likelihood of the water freezing.

Surface Area

Surface area can also impact how likely something is to freeze: the larger the surface area, the more exposure it has to the cold temps and heat dissipation, and the more likely it is to freeze. Heat has a gradient, and freezing happens from the surface or area closest to the colder end of the gradient — hence why standing water will form a layer of ice at the top where the water makes contact with the air, and over time (which is relative to the extremity of the cold) that layer of ice thickens.

Energy

Energy within the water can also impact how likely or quickly it may freeze. Boiling hot water has higher energy, and so it takes longer (or colder temps or more surface area) for that energy to dissipate. You can also apply kinetic energy to water — aka energy that an object has because of motion. Running water or dripping water has kinetic energy because the water is moving, and therefore is less likely to freeze. (Okay, as a quick caveat: I’m saying “less likely to freeze” throughout this article so that we don’t do a full deep dive into physics, lol) As an aside - this is why it’s recommended to let your faucet drip during a freeze warning! The dripping water is moving, and therefore has kinetic energy.

Deeper Dive into Thermodynamics

If we delve into the details of thermodynamics (skip to the next section if you’re not so keen on physics!), what we are talking about with water freezing in a water bottle is convection. Convection is when there is heat transfer via fluid (liquid or gas) — the fluid/air moves from one location to another, and takes the heat with it. Higher winds or colder temps can increase convection, or having a higher surface area exposed to the elements can contribute to heat transfer. To put this in practical terms, consider standing in front of a fan — if you have a small fan and keep it concentrated on, say, your hand, then it will quickly cool your hand, but won’t be as effective at cooling your whole body. If you stand in front of one large and powerful fan (or lots and lots of small fans), then it will quickly cool your whole body - especially if you have more skin exposed to that air. The air movement forced by the fan transfers heat from the surface of your skin and dissipates that heat into the air.

In practical terms for carrying water, this corresponds to the temperature, time, surface area, and energy within the water.

So now that we know those factors, we can mitigate those factors to ensure we’ve got water throughout the duration of our adventure!

General Tips

Mitigate Exposure - Swap or Insulate Bottles

One way to do this is by limiting your time outdoors, or by limiting your water bottle’s time outdoors — such as swapping out water bottles regularly. Of course, this requires either shortening your run or having access to a place to refill your water or get fresh bottles, and that may not always be feasible.

You could also mitigate exposure by having more insulation between your water and the cold. You could do this by using a double-walled or insulated bottle; even if it’s not a double-walled metal bottle, some of the insulated or double-walled plastic bottles can help here. You can also insulate the water bottle by adding layers to the bottle, such as putting it under clothes or in your pack or in an insulating sleeve.

Increase Its Energy - Start with Warm Water or Keep Water Moving

You can do this via heat by starting with warmer water (maybe skip the ice cubes in your bottle), or by jostling the water around more (such as using a handheld and pumping your arms). You can use a dark-colored bottle, which absorbs more light and energy. Also, sip frequently — that keeps the water moving through the bottle (and helps ensure you’re taking in fluids during your adventures).

Lower the Freezing Point of Your Water - Add Electrolytes or Fuel

Fun fact: ocean water doesn’t freeze at 32°F (0°C); it actually freezes at 28°F (-2°C)! This is because when water freezes, it lines up its hydrogen atoms (which are positively charged) and oxygen atoms (which are negatively charged) so that it creates a crystal structure.

Second fun fact: water is special in that its volume INCREASES when it becomes solid. Crystal structure means that molecules are arranged in a geometric pattern. Lining up the hydrogen and oxygen atoms and locking them into place results in a rigid geometric pattern, and increases space between the molecules. Want to try this at home? Fill up a cheap plastic water bottle as full as possible, and then put it in your freezer. Wait 24 to 48 hours, and then check on it — the ice will have expanded. Depending on how full you filled it and the quality of the bottle and seal, it may just distort and distend the bottle, or it may leak through the cap, or it might completely bust the bottle. Fair warning though: if it busts your bottle, you may hear it explode or blow the cap off, and depending on when/how it splits it may make an icy mess of your freezer. You’ve been warned, now go have fun!

To extend your science experiment, you can put other materials inside a metal ring or band of some sort — heyyyy mason jar bands! — and then stick it in the freezer. Most materials will shrink in volume when frozen. I’ve stuck my hand in the freezer a couple times when I’ve gotten a metal ring stuck on my finger, or when other things (like my cheap plastic high school clarinet) got stuck together and I couldn’t take them apart.

Anyways, that’s a reeeeeeally long detour from the fact that water forms a crystalline structure when it freezes. But you can disrupt this crystallization by dissolving salt (or sugar! or other water-soluble compounds) into the water. For the purposes of this article, let’s assume you’re dissolving SAFE compounds in your water, and you’re not poisoning yourself ;) By creating a solution, those other molecules or ions get in the way of the water molecules lining up and forming the crystal structure.

One of the most obvious things to dissolve in your water is some electrolytes! Something like LMNT* or Nuun* or Skratch* or other electrolyte or fuel is great to add to your water. Plus, you’re fueling yourself and taking in salts! (Yep, even when it’s cold, you may still sweat and need all that salty goodness replenished!)

Okay, and with that ridiculously long preamble and physics lessons, here are some practical tips depending on your bottle type!

For Handhelds

If you are running with a handheld — such as the Nathan SpeedDraw* or Amphipod Hydraform Ergo-Lite bottle* or the Amphipod Hydraform Soft-Tech bottle* — or even if you’re just rocking a soft flask or commercial water bottle in your hand or secured via a Buff, there are a few tips and tricks to keep it from freezing.

Three handheld bottles. From left to right: Amphipod Hydraform Ergo-Lite bottle*, Nathan SpeedDraw* and the Amphipod Hydraform Soft-Tech bottle*

Shake it up

Go ahead and shake it up, shake it up! Pump those arms! Keeping the water moving can help it from freezing. Because these are handheld bottles and they will naturally have more bounce and movement in your hand (at least compared to belts or vests), they may be a better option to prevent your water from freezing. If you keep some air in the bottle and let it slosh around (I know that’s not the preferred method, lol) that can help keep up the kinetic energy.

Carry It Upside Down

As long as your bottle seals well and doesn’t end up leaking everywhere if you flip it over, you can consider carrying it upside down. Since ice floats on water, it would force all the ice to the top (aka away from the valve) and keep water where you can sip from it.

Clear Water From Your Bite Valve

If you have a handheld that has a bite valve or some other cap that holds water within the cap, then clear that valve. Bite and blow into the bite valve so that there’s air in the cap. This prevents the small amount of water in the bite valve from freezing up.

Insulate It

Consider an insulated or double-walled bottle, or add a sleeve or bottle jacket.

Sip Frequently

Sipping frequently keeps the water moving and prevents it from freezing.

Warm It Up

You can start with warmer water (skip the ice!) or maybe slip a hand warmer into a sleeve or in your glove where you are holding the bottle.

Salt It Up

Add in some electrolytes or some sort of fuel solution to lower the freezing temp of your water!

Refill It or Keep a Back-up Bottle

Have a back-up or spare bottle kept in a warm place, and then swap out what you’re carrying on a regular basis. Or you can refill your bottle regularly with warmer water. Since you’re usually carrying smaller volume of water in a handheld compared to other hydration options, this may be something you’re planning on anyways if you choose a handheld.

Use a Dark-Colored Bottle

As a general rule, darker colors (black especially) absorb light (and therefore energy), while lighter colors (especially white) reflect light/energy. So if you have a black or dark-colored water bottle, it will absorb more light and energy, and will keep it warmer.

For Hydration Belts

If you are running with a hydration belt — such as a Nathan hydration belt* — you can try these tips to help prevent your water from freezing.

A Nathan hydration belt*

Embrace the Bounce

I know, I know, a bouncing belt never feels great, but this time let it bounce! Keeping the water bouncing with each step can help it from freezing. Plus, if you keep some air in the bottle and let it slosh around that can help keep up the kinetic energy.

Carry It Upside Down

As long as your bottle seals well and doesn’t end up leaking everywhere if you flip it over, you can consider carrying it upside down. Since ice floats on water, it would force all the ice to the top (aka away from the valve) and keep water where you can sip from it.

Clear Water From Your Bite Valve

If you have a bottle that has a bite valve or some other cap that holds water within the cap, then clear that valve. Bite and blow into the bite valve so that there’s air in the cap. This prevents the small amount of water in the bite valve from freezing up.

Insulate It

Consider an insulated or double-walled bottle, or add a sleeve or bottle jacket.

Sip Frequently

Sipping frequently keeps the water moving and prevents it from freezing.

Warm It Up

You can start with warmer water (skip the ice!) or maybe slip a hand warmer into a sleeve around the bottle.

Salt It Up

Add in some electrolytes or some sort of fuel solution to lower the freezing temp of your water!

Refill It or Keep a Back-up Bottle

Have a back-up or spare bottle kept in a warm place, and then swap out what you’re carrying on a regular basis. Or you can refill your bottles regularly with warmer water.

Use a Dark-Colored Bottle

As a general rule, darker colors (black especially) absorb light (and therefore energy), while lighter colors (especially white) reflect light/energy. So if you have a black or dark-colored water bottle, it will absorb more light and energy, and will keep it warmer.

For Flasks (Hydration Vests or Packs)

If you’re using soft flasks for a hydration vest — such as a Salomon running vest* or or Ultimate Direction vest* or any of the countless other running vests out there — then here are a few tips.

Soft flasks for a hydration vest — such as a Salomon running vest* or or Ultimate Direction vest*

Clear Water From Your Bite Valve

If you have a bottle that has a bite valve or some other cap that holds water within the cap, then clear that valve. Bite and blow into the bite valve so that there’s air in the cap. This prevents the small amount of water in the bite valve from freezing up. This is especially helpful if you’ve got a flask that has a long tube with the bite valve attached (like one of these*).

Insulate It

If you aren’t using a bottle regularly, then you can stuff it deep in your pack or against your body, and insulate it with a neoprene sleeve*. If you have a flask that has a long tube with the bite valve attached (like one of these*), then consider insulating the tube. You could get one of these neoprene tubes* and cut it to size.

Sip Frequently

Sipping frequently keeps the water moving and prevents it from freezing.

Warm It Up

You can start with warmer water (skip the ice!) or maybe slip a hand warmer into a sleeve around the bottle.

Salt It Up

Add in some electrolytes or some sort of fuel solution to lower the freezing temp of your water!

Refill It or Keep a Back-up Bottle

Have a back-up or spare bottle kept in a warm place, and then swap out what you’re carrying on a regular basis. Or you can refill your bottles regularly with warmer water. If you’ve got room in your pack, you could carry a spare bottle on your back. Insulate it, and/or keep it close to the center of your back so that your body keeps it warm. Then swap out bottles as needed.

Use a Dark-Colored Bottle

As a general rule, darker colors (black especially) absorb light (and therefore energy), while lighter colors (especially white) reflect light/energy. So if you have a black or dark-colored water bottle or vest, it will absorb more light and energy, and will keep it warmer.

For Bladders (Hydration Vests or Packs)

I’ve found that bladders for a hydration vest — such as a Salomon running vest* or or Ultimate Direction vest* or any of the countless other running vests out there — are most likely to freeze. In particular, the long tube often freezes, because you’ve got a large surface area of water exposed to cold air along the tube. So while it definitely enables you to carry more water, you’ve got to be more diligent to make sure you can use that water!

The long tube of a bladders for a hydration vest — such as a Salomon running vest* or or Ultimate Direction vest* — is a key area where water may freeze.

Clear Water From Your Bite Valve And Tube

Most hydration bladders have a bite valve, and it’s important to keep that clear of water. Bite and blow into the bite valve so that there’s air in the valve. This prevents the small amount of water in the bite valve from freezing up. Depending on your hydration bladder, your time, and your patience, you may want to try blowing as much air into the tube as you can so that water doesn’t sit in the tube and freeze.

Insulate It

That tube from the hydration bladder to the bite valve is the real Achilles heel of the hydration bladder in cold weather. I’ve known far too many people whose tube has frozen on a run (even on runs less than a hour!). You can get one of these neoprene tubes* for the hydration tube to help insulate it.

Sip Frequently

This is really important for that long tube! Sipping frequently keeps the water moving and prevents it from freezing. Same concept as letting your faucet drip in a freeze warning — sip early and sip often to keep the water moving through the tube!

Warm It Up

You can start with warmer water (skip the ice!). I’ve read that some people may slip a hand warmer into a waterproof bag or Ziploc and stash it inside the bladder, but the chance of leakage or leaching from the hand warmer into the water makes me nervous.

Salt It Up

Add in some electrolytes or some sort of fuel solution to lower the freezing temp of your water!

Put Layers of Clothes Over your Vest

Consider wearing a jacket OVER your vest! This can help insulate the bladder and the tube from the cold air. You could also run the hydration tube under your shirt, under your armpit (mmm extra warm and moist!), and out the collar.

Conclusion

I hope you found these tips helpful! Both at a high level to understand when or why your water might freeze and what you can do about it, plus the practical tips of what to do depending on your hydration method.

Have you tried any of these tips? Or do you have any other advice to add? Let me know in the comments!