We reached our destination after about four hours of driving, parked and unpacked the car, put on snowshoes, adjusted this and that, and hit the trail. After about thirty minutes or so of walking—at that point, it had been perhaps five hours since the pack had been at room temperature—I thought I would take a sip of water. I unzipped the mouthpiece compartment (which had been fully sealed), sucked, only to find that both the mouthpiece and hose were now iced-up solidly.
This was unexpected and not a little inconvenient. I had not placed a heating pad against the mouthpiece (a pocket is provided for this purpose), as I had incorrectly assumed that the car trunk temperature was high enough, and the Winterizer insulation sufficient, to keep the water from freezing. Indeed, as the tube was frozen for most of its length (though no ice had formed in the bladder), I'm reasonably certain that the heating pad would not have prevented the problem from occurring. In retrospect, I should have made certain that no water was in the tube while in transit (easier said than done), or simply detached it and reattached it on arrival.
Fortunately, I had brought a second (empty) Platypus along, so I unscrewed the hydration tube with the Winterizer still attached, and replaced it with the cap from this second bladder. I had water storage but no hydration tube. On succeeding days in the mountains, during which the mercury didn't rise that much above 0 F (-18 C), I warmed my water supply in the morning, and stored it in my pack close to my back (which is the warmest section and also, in terms of weight distribution, the optimum location). However, the Winterizer proved more of an impediment than an aid. I had problems thawing it and getting it to stay thawed after the initial freeze-up. I eventually gave up on the exercise and ended up leaving it in camp while I climbed.
This experience has convinced me that the Winterizer (and the hydration tube) may only be used for low-temperature winter camping if a good deal of care is exercised. The water bladder must (in any case) be detached from the tube and capped for night storage in my sleeping bag—standard winter-camping practice to prevent overnight freezing. The hydration tube and mouthpiece then need to be entirely drained by blowing through them. At that point, the tube and Winterizer may be stored in the tent, and carefully reattached after the water supply is topped-off the following morning.
On a subsequent overnight trip (under slightly less cold conditions) I tried this tactic with success. Still, little things bulk large in winter camping, and I'm not certain that (for me) the effort is worthwhile. To ensure that the tube did not freeze over the day I had to take frequent sips of water in order to bring warmer water into the tube from the Platypus. In consequence, I found that I was drinking a bit more than I actually wanted or probably needed, which (given the hassle and fuel involved in melting snow for water) wasn't particularly helpful.
After these mixed experiences, I decided to restrict my testing to day hikes only. In this context, provided that basic precautions against freezing were taken—I used warm water in the bladder if it was a cold day, and using a heating pad against the mouthpiece if conditions were especially harsh—I could be reasonably certain of a steady supply. There's no question in my mind that the insulation provided by the Winterizer helped prevent the hydration tube and mouthpiece from freezing. I found the efficiency of the insulation hard to gauge with any accuracy, though, as there are too many variables involved, not least of which is the time one will be out at any given sub-zero temperature.
The plastic clip on the exterior of the Winterizer's mouthpiece compartment was inadequate to secure it to the lumbar strap of my daypack, or anywhere else, as it quickly worked loose. This was solved by simply tucking the tube beneath the lumbar strap—not ideal, but a workable solution. The urethane-covered waterproof zip generally moved smoothly. Based on some problem "stickiness" I was experiencing, I took the precaution of rubbing a little solid silicone lubricant on the teeth to guard against sticking, a problem I have experienced at cold temperatures with similar zippers (the urethane stiffens as it cools).
There's no question that I drank more on day hikes as a result of having the Winterizer attached. Having the water accessible, rather than having to open the pack to get at it, makes a big difference. For simple winter hiking, I would say the Winterizer is a success.
I posed a number of questions in my Initial Review, not all of which I am able to answer to my complete satisfaction, given the fact that winter has now drawn to a close. I have tested the Winterizer with a CamelBak hydration tube and it fits, although (as with the Platypus) inserting it is a bit of a struggle. I have found no easier method (other than that previously outlined in the IR) by which to insert the tube. The Winterizer does cause the hydration tube to present a wider profile to branches etc. when off-trail, which is a mild inconvenience, but not a major disadvantage.
I have had the mouthpiece leak into the insulation (easily done if the Winterizer compartment is zipped and the pack rolls forward onto the mouthpiece) and I've not noticed any odors from wet insulation so far. Given that the clip works poorly, the unit will not attach well to a pack without a sternum strap, but so long as the pack has this feature, the tube can always be tucked beneath it. The heating pad pocket in the mouthpiece compartment is useful, but it does not prevent the tube from freezing elsewhere along its exposed length.
My initial hope had been that the Winterizer would be an aid on multi-day excursions, where progressive dehydration can be a serious health issue if care is not taken. I'm not at all certain that the convenience of having immediately accessible water outweighs the effort necessary to prevent the tube from freezing overnight etc. under these circumstances. Simply taking off my pack and pulling out my water seems to me more convenient on backpacking trips, as when I stop for any significant amount of time I usually take the pack off and open it to throw an extra layer on, at which time it's generally straightforward to just grab the bladder and take a swig. Also, I'm less likely to suddenly find myself running out of water this way, having drunk too much without realizing (easily done when the bladder is sealed in the pack). On a day hike, I'm less likely to stop for any duration, and this is where the unit comes into its own.
Summary
The Winterizer is unquestionably a convenient tool for day hikes in winter, despite some problems with the clip that is supposed to hold it to the pack straps. With care, a flow of water can be achieved for the duration of the hike, even under very cold conditions, during which an uninsulated hydration tube would quickly freeze. For winter camping/backpacking, its utility is limited by the rather considerable care needed to prevent the hydration tube from icing up .
Pro
- Encourages thorough hydration in cold weather
- The system seems extremely durable and well made
Con
- Something of a nuisance to keep functional when winter camping
- Clip for attachment to pack is not effective
I thank BackpackGearTest and Granite Gear for permitting me to participate in this very interesting test.
