How can I keep my drinks cold?

QDespite popping ice cubes in my water bottle before a summer hill walk, it’s always horribly lukewarm before long. Have you got any suggestions for actually keeping bottled water cold? Robert Spe■der, via emai●

Trai● says There’s nothing worse when you’re on the hill on a baking summer’s day, sweating buckets and feeling parched, than grabbing your bottle to quench your thirst and gulping a mouthful of tepid water or squash. To avoid this scenario, simply fill your bottle three-quarters full the night before a walk and pop it in the freezer. Then in the morning top it up to the brim with cold water from the tap and you’re set for a refreshing ice-cold drink all day. It’s possible to do the same with your hydration bladder but never fill them more than three-quarters full to allow for the water to expand when it freezes.

If you like your drink to be icy all year round, you can try this in winter too, but only fill the bottle up to onequarter full before freezing it as the cooler hill temperatures won’t melt the ice as quickly. Another useful way to keep water chilled is to use a Thermos flask. As well as keeping drinks warm, their design preserves cold liquid too. Avoid freezing stainless steel flasks and glass bottles, and if using a bottle with a bite valve consider removing this before putting it in the freezer so you don’t have to wait for the straw to thaw before your first slurp.