When hiking, you need to bring enough snacks and drinks to keep you hydrated and fueled along the way. However, keeping water cold is somewhat of a challenge when hiking, especially if you’re hiking on a hot summer’s day. Rest assured, though, we have asked around and found the best tips and tricks for keeping your water cold while hiking.
There are different ways to keep water cold while hiking, such as freezing the water, adding ice cubes, and placing the water in a cooler bag. Certain water bottles are also better to use when you want to keep water cold, such as hydration packs and insulated water bottles.
This article will discuss the best methods for keeping your water cold while hiking and some other tips and water bottles to use when hiking. Remember to keep your water separate from electronic devices and clothes if the bottle leaks or condensation forms around the bottle.
How To Keep Your Water Cold When Hiking
Having cold water when hiking is a well appreciated, if not crucial part to having a pleasant hiking trip. While you might think it impossible to keep your water cold on a long hiking trip, rest assured that there are several methods of ensuring this. Without further a due, this is how to keep water cold while hiking.
Method 1: Choose The Right Water Bottle
There are so many water bottles to choose from when hiking. However, not all of them are made specifically to keep water cold for long periods. When hiking, you’ll surely want to drink cold, refreshing water. Therefore, having the right kind of bottle is important.
The first water bottle you can use is a hydration pack. These work wonderfully because your hands are free, and they have a hose that allows you to drink water whenever you want, without first having to take off your backpack.
Hydration packs are also made from thick plastic and do a decent job of keeping your water colder for longer. If you can, buy a backpack with a specialized hydration pack section. This will make your hiking trip more convenient, and the hydration pack will also be kept away from clothes and other items.
The second kind of water bottle you can choose is an insulated water bottle. Insulated water bottles are fantastic for keeping water cold and will do so for up to 24 hours. There are many types of insulated water bottles, and you’re sure to find the one you like. Ensure the bottle fits into the backpack or the mesh pockets outside the backpack, so you don’t have to carry the bottle around.
If neither of these bottles works for you, there are many other ways to ensure your water stays cold while hiking.
Method 2: Freeze The Water Bottle Ahead Of Time
Freezing the water might seem like an obvious way to have cold water while hiking, but you must freeze the water correctly. Water expands as it freezes, so freezing the wrong type of bottle will cause problems.
Don’t place insulated water bottles, glass water bottles, or water bottles made from hard plastic in the freezer. There is a chance that these bottles might burst, as they don’t have any flexibility to accommodate the expanding water.
While you can place a hydration pack in the freezer, be sure to fill it halfway and ensure there is no water in the hose or hose opening, as this will make it difficult to drink water when you are hiking. In fact, be sure to fill any bottle only halfway with water. Doing so will allow you to add water to the bottle before you start hiking.
The frozen half will ensure the water is cold, and you will have water readily available for your entire trip. In addition, by placing the bottle on its side while freezing, all the water you add will be cold, not only the water closest to the ice.
Ice cubes are another way to ensure your water is cold. However, freezing some of the water in the bottle is better than adding ice cubes. Because of the smaller surface area, ice cubes melt faster than a bigger piece of ice, resulting in your water heating up faster.
Method 3: Surround The Water Bottle With Ice Packs
Ice packs are cheap and easy to use. They are also lightweight. Freezing some ice packs and placing them around your water bottle is excellent to ensure your water remains cold. In addition to ice packs, you can also buy sleeves for water bottles. These help to insulate the water bottle, keeping it colder for longer.
Make an ice pack by filling a zip-lock bag with water and freezing it. Be sure to store any ice packs away from clothes, food, and electronic devices if they leak. Ice packs that are filled with blue gel will also stain anything they leak onto, so it’s best to wrap them in a rag before placing them in your backpack.
Method 4: Fill The Water Bottle With Cold Water
Whether you’re adding ice cubes, have frozen some of the water in advance, or what type of water bottle you use, filling the bottle with cold water will surely help keep the water colder. Place the water you wish to take in the fridge well in advance to ensure the water is cold when it is packed.
Transporting the water in a cooler bag or portable fridge is another way to ensure the water is as cold as possible when you start the hike. If you refill your bottle on the hike, try to find a shaded part of the stream or look for a colder area in the water to fill the water bottle.
Method 5: Keep The Water Away From Heat
Keeping your water bottle inside your backpack is an excellent way to shield it from the sun, which can heat the water faster. Also, keep the water bottle in the front side of your backpack if possible. Storing the water bottle close to your back will result in the water heating up from your body heat.
Therefore, keep the water away from your body and the sun to keep it colder for longer. If you take a break along the hiking trail, store your water bottle in a shaded area. If you pass a stream and take a break, place the water bottle in the stream. The cold stream water will help keep the water inside your bottle cold.
Method 6: Wrap The Water Bottle In Clothes
This is the least effective method we have discussed. However, if you don’t have any other options available, wrapping your water bottle in some clothes or rags will help insulate the bottle, keeping the water colder for longer.
You can also buy a foam sleeve to place around your bottle that will have the same effect. However, this method doesn’t work as well as some of the other techniques we discussed.
Conclusion
There are many ways to ensure your water is cold while hiking. First, choosing the right water bottle, such as a hydration pack or an insulated bottle, is a great start. Then, you can use any of the tips we discussed, or a combination of them, to ensure your water remains cold for the hike.
Keep your water separate from electronics or clothes to protect it from possible leakage or condensation.
