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Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bladders > Granite Gear Winterizer > Tim Coughlin > Initial Report
. The Winterizer is an add-on accessory designed to insulate the normally exposed hose and bite valve on a hydration bladder. Typically, the bladder itself is protected while stored in the hiker's backpack, yet the hose and bite valve are usually left unprotected from the elements during a cold winter's hike. Due to this exposure and small thermal mass, the water in the hose and bite valve tends to freeze, rendering the hydration system useless. The Winterizer is the solution to this problem!
Tester Biographical Information
Backpacking Background: I have been an active backpacker for 28 years, with experience hiking in many parts of the continental United States and Canada. Most of my time is spent in the Northeast, especially the Adirondack region of New York. I am a seasoned veteran to 3-season backpacking, and I’m expanding my resume to include winter backpacking. I would classify myself as a "lightweight" backpacker, but always working towards the "ultralight" title. I am an avid four-season dayhiker.
Product Description: The Winterizer came stored in its own 7 x 8 in (18 x 20 cm) mesh carry bag, complete with drawstring and small cordlock. Stapled along the top of the mesh sack was a cardboard retail tag. The tag identified the product's name, along with some sales pictures, product description and contact information for Granite Gear. The Winterizer was coiled neatly inside the stuff sack. The Winterizer was just what I expected, based on my research of it on the Granite Gear website. The Winterizer appeared in flawless condition; seams were tight and construction first-rate with no visible extraneous strings. Laying the Winterizer out flat on a table, I observed the following characteristics:
First Impressions: I'm impressed! The Winterizer seems very well made. I was confused at first on how to install my hydration hose, as the Winterizer came with no instructions. I did not care for this; a newbie can always use a little help. I would suggest a few notes on the attached cardboard placard.
Beginning Tests - How the Winterizer Fits: "Wow, it's a tight fit!" I gasped as I struggled to get my bladder hose down the sleeve. I needed to attach my hose to a small plastic rod and feed that down the sleeve, starting at the bite valve pocket first with the hose attached to the rod. It made the install easy, as I was able to feed the rod through as I worked the material back from the outside. I still haven't figured out the usefulness of the string loop. After the install, I placed the bladder/Winterizer combo in my pack to see how well the setup deployed. I had no problems. The sleeve was long enough to allow the bladder to sit in the pocket inside my pack and not end up too short at the other end where the bite valve pocket secured to my sternum strap. The little clip attached nicely to the sternum strap, even as I worked it with gloves on. Test Plan The test period begins in the midst of a pretty substantial snowstorm. We've had plenty of cold days this winter, and I suspect this trend will continue for some time. I'll be able to test the Winterizer's ability to prevent, or at least retard, the formation of ice in my hydration tube and bite valve in conditions as low as -10 F (-23 C). The winter slowly loses its grip on the region over the next several months, but there will still be plenty of good testing days. I'm on a mission to find the perfect chemical hand warmer that fits the Winterizer. I'm curious if it really helps. The test period also runs into spring conditions. I'm very anxious to see how well the Winterizer performs on those cold, rainy days of early spring. I want to see if the Winterizer absorbs water, and how long it takes to dry. I'm also curious to see if it has any adverse effects on me, like does it cause a wet streak down the front of my shirt? Does it cause me to be cold? How well does it dry, even if it's cold outside? The testing will continue through the dog days of summer, where temperatures will hit 90 F (32 C). I'm hoping those same insulative properties of the Winterizer will help keep my water cooler, and hopefully reduce the plastic taste I experience as my water sits in the bladder. I've always suspected much of this bad taste came from the water heating up in the hose and bite valve. I'll be reporting these results in the Long Term Report. The Winterizer is well made, and fairly light considering its purpose. The first time installing the Winterizer required the assistance of another "tool" and I'm glad I didn't try this out on the trail. The real question that remains to be answered is how well does it insulate, and I hope to answer this question at both extremes of winter and summer testing. Field Testing Information There are three primary areas I frequent for my gear testing. They include Western New York, Northwestern Pennsylvania and the Adirondack Mountain region. Currently, local conditions in Western New York are classified as winter. Temperatures during the initial part of the test run will be mostly in the 20 F (-7 C) range. We have lots of snow. As the weather warms up over the next few months, conditions will change to sleet and cold rain. Spring in many ways is the toughest testing time in my opinion. It's wet, cold and often gray outside. Summer is beautiful, with temperatures approaching 90 F (32 C). The terrain is a mixed bag, starting out close to the shores of Lake Erie as a flat plateau and changing to rolling hills further away from the lake. The flat land is around a 700 ft (200 m) elevation with the hills steadily increasing to close to 2000 ft (600 m). Northern Pennsylvania tends to experience temperatures similar to Western New York, although the terrain is considerably more hilly and steep. This is the home of the Allegheny Mountains, with elevations typically around 2000 ft (600 m). The Adirondack region is much cooler than Western New York. Water runs fast and high during the spring and early summer. Summer months are July and August, with daily temperatures fluctuating anywhere between freezing to 80F (27C). Snow is possible any time, with excellent chances from now through June. This mountainous region has elevations starting at 3000 ft (900 m) and upwards of 5000 ft (1500 m). Tim
Read more reviews of Granite Gear gear Read more gear reviews by Tim Coughlin Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bladders > Granite Gear Winterizer > Tim Coughlin > Initial Report | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
alve pocket. Just before the junction with the bite valve pocket was
the Granite Gear logo encircling the tube sleeve.
The clip was attachable to either side of the bite valve pocket,
depending on routing of the Winterizer (worn either on the left side or right
side, depending on the user's preference).
continuous layer up the tube sleeve, ending abruptly 1.5 in (3.8 cm)
before the open end of the tube sleeve. The last 1.5 in (3.8 cm) consisted of
only the nylon cover.