Originally Posted by
Rowan
Have you not considered the battery powered heated socks for this sort of thing? Even the chemical hand warmers might be workable.
I might consider either alternative if touring in really cold weather, lightweight or not. I remember several trips in Tasmania and Victoria in conditions such that my water bottles, left outside on the bike, were frozen solid and took three hours to melt enough to drink from. Which can be a real PITA, because you can't empty and refill them, and I didn't have access to other bottles at the time. And yes, experience has told me now to bring them into the tent...
haven't considered battery powered anything other than headlight, gps, spot tracker (runs a long time), and phone. don't want to add water warming into the mix. too much other stuff that requires power. for a day trip, yeah, should work. long term though, i'd want to run as passive as possible.
and batteries are poor performers in the cold.
had a frozen hydro bladder hose 2 years ago in the ADKs on sno mo trails 8 miles from the closest road. ended up causing the bladder to leak and it dripped down my back. not the end of the world, as it was a day trip - but on an overnight or if i had planned to go further i'd have been in trouble.