We often snowshoe and cross-country ski in very cold weather, sometimes in single digits, down to 0 degrees. For temperatures that low, it can be challenging to prevent water from freezing in the water tube and bite valve. Prior to purchasing this product, I had used a plain neoprene sleeve with my Osprey Rev 6 Hydration Pack; however, it did not cover the full length of the tube, and it did not cover any of the bite valve, resulting in a freeze.
Larry had purchased Osprey’s Insulated Hydraulics cover for his tube and bite valve, but I did not like it. It was too bulky for my preference, and I did not like the separate cover for the bite valve. After a great deal of searching, I came across the Deuter Streamer Tube Insulator, which fits my needs and preferences perfectly.
EASE OF USE: Putting the cover on/off the tube is very simple because the zipper extends the entire length of the cover. The neoprene cover that I had prior to this was always a struggle because it was so tight. This product, you just open the cover to insert the tube inside and zip it up. The loops on the front of my pack (and most packs) are stretchy enough for the cover to fit inside of them with ease.
NOTE: If your pack does not have loops to slide the tube through, there is a long piece of Velcro attached to the cover so you can utilize that to attach the tube to your pack. The area for the bite valve is attached to the cover, so you just pop it into the pocket. Zipping and unzipping the bite valve area for drinking water while out adventuring is also very simple. I prefer to keep a cover on my bite valve to keep it clean and it still fits perfectly.
With most tube insulation products, they cover up the little magnet that attaches the tube to the pack, which prevents the tube from hanging down the front of the body. However, because this product is not bulky, I am able to easily loop it up and slide it under the front chest strap of my pack. It is so simple to use!
QUALITY: I have used this for two winter seasons thus far to fully test it out. The neoprene material is thick, durable and stitched together well. The zipper moves up/down easily. I have not experienced any quality concerns with this product.
INSULATION: As a rule of thumb in the winter, it is always best practice to blow the water from the tube back into the baffle once finished drinking. With that said, sometimes I have forgotten to do this, yet my water has never frozen while using this product. Even in single digit temperatures, I have never had any ice accumulation inside of the tube or bite valve. For my purposes, this product provides excellent insulation. For temperatures below zero, I anticipate it may still work adequately for a short period of time (not sure about several hours), but I have not tested it in that cold of an environment… not sure if I will.
FINAL THOUGHTS: If you want an insulated cover for your tube and bite valve that is not bulky, easy to use and provides good insulation for temperatures down to 0 degrees, I highly recommend considering the Deuter Streamer Tube Insulator. It has been a game changer for me. Some people devalue the importance of drinking water while adventuring in the winter, but dehydration also occurs in cold temperatures. Make sure that you are able to prevent your water from freezing.
Overall: Excellent
Price Paid: $26.33
Place Purchased: Amazon
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