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Post by trinity on Feb 6, 2017 18:52:58 GMT -8
Not sure where to post this, so I'm putting it here. Has anyone taken bottled Smartwater on winter trips? I was out a few weeks ago, needed more water than I could carry in my platys so I bought two liters of Smartwater. What amazed me was how resistant it was to freezing. My other bottles and bladders had significant ice formation, I was really having trouble keeping my water in liquid form. But the Smartwater bottles stayed ice-free, at extended periods in the low to mid-teens. At some point while I was drinking from the bottles they froze up suddenly, but only partially, as if ice crystals had suddenly formed around nucleators in supercooled water. Has anyone had experience with this? Does the purity of the water depress the freezing point, or the added electrolytes? My experience would suggest that Smartwater (as much as I hate buying bottled water) would be well worth taking on winter excursions.
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Post by rustyshackleford on Feb 6, 2017 19:27:31 GMT -8
it is the electrolytes. it is called freezing point depression. ive been wanting to try it with my nuun tablets that i use in summer. this is how salts melt snow.
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Post by bluefish on Feb 6, 2017 20:02:29 GMT -8
I often carry Gatorade for hydration. Same experience and helpful in the cold.
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crawford
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Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.--Edison
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Post by crawford on Feb 7, 2017 4:34:17 GMT -8
trinity you also had the added benefit of an extremely light bottle! A friend of mine uses Smartwater bottles instead of any other carrying device (a folded platypus bag is also in his pack in case of need for carrying more because of conditions). He carries them because they are durable and light. This finding of yours makes me think I should consider doing similarly in winter conditions, but with fresh bottles still filled with actual smartwater. Thanks for the post.
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Post by trinity on Feb 7, 2017 7:28:58 GMT -8
trinity you also had the added benefit of an extremely light bottle! This is the primary reason I used Smartwater, I've seen it recommended before, I think on BPL, because the bottles are lightweight, and their shape makes them great for fitting into small spaces in a backpack. it is the electrolytes. it is called freezing point depression. This was my initial thought, but I found it hard to believe that a few electrolytes added for taste could depress the freezing point so far (at least down to 12 degrees F). It seemed more like supercooling than freezing point depression, or maybe a combination of the two. But I'm no physicist. If buying bottled water bugs you, Get gatorade powder or something similar. Have you ever observed how low this depresses the freezing point? |
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tigger
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Post by tigger on Feb 7, 2017 7:49:34 GMT -8
Many things go into freezing water. The temperature of the water that it starts at is exponentially drawn toward the point of freezing and reaching an organized state will mean a higher freezing point. Adding contaminants will also affect the freezing point. One trick in winter that I have used is to bury my beer in snow overnight. The air temp is often much colder than the snow, slowing down the freezing point. Throwing in a hand warmer into a stuff sack with liquids is also another method to keep things thawed. The best thing I have done is to put my liquids into a stuff sack and putting it near/in my sleeping bag if temps get extremely low.
Either that...or it's just magic.
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ErnieW
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I want to backpack
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Post by ErnieW on Feb 8, 2017 20:35:02 GMT -8
I have buried warm melted snow in 1L bottles in the snow overnight. It does work. It was explained to me that the warm water melts back the snow which eventually freezes creating a sealed airspace surrounded by snow which actually also insulates. Essentially a thermos. Slows the heat loss so much the water does freeze overnight.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 9, 2017 5:15:13 GMT -8
Reusing those bottles will wear off the inner coating of the bottles. Once the inner coatings are worn off an estrogen mimic is expoed; just something males should be aware of. Please recycle.
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Post by Lamebeaver on Feb 10, 2017 7:48:11 GMT -8
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