How well does this product work in freezing temperatures?

Hi...I also had a less than stellar experience with my MRS Hydration Kit a few weeks ago in northern Ontario. I was in a group of 7 hikers and everyone else had a camelback with insulated hose kit. My MSR was the only hose that froze. I thought like one of the previous posters that if I fed the hose through my backpack's shoulder strap, that it would be kept warm enough. Not the case and it was a VERY long day of cold hiking with little water... I learned my lesson... I'm moving back to my old faithful water bottle and insulated pouch....(note.. I didn't try blowing back into the hose so maybe that's the trick but honestly, I don't want to take the chance of frozen water again).

I'm with you Shannon, there's a definite inconvenience in the winter in AK (or anywhere else really cold) when you have to dig your water out of your pack to drink, but that's the only solution I've found. Those insulated sleeves don't do squat in my experience. The mouthpiece freezes first even with blowing the water back and drinking often. I've even had the water in the bag freeze. Instead, I start the day with hot water in a solid wide-mouth nalgene stuffed in an insulator with a hand warmer... upside down in my pack, like you said. Or, better yet, I use a thermos bottle with hot ginger tea. I happily pull my MSR bag out again come April or May.

I live in Alaska. Even Camelbak brand gear will freeze in the winter. I've even tried placing hand warmer packs next to the bladder and the hose connector piece on the bladder. The only real fix is to 1) always blow remaining water in the hose back into the bladder when finished drinking; and 2) drink constantly...like a small sip every 5 minutes to keep the water constantly moving (and even that's only somewhat effective). Otherwise, you have no hope. I just don't use hydration systems in the winter anymore. A couple nalgenes turned upside (bottom always freezes last) generally work great, though less convenient than an on-the-go hydration system. The difference with the Camelbak hose vs. the Dromedary hose is that the hose will not delaminate or fall apart in the cold. I have never replaced a camelbak hose due to cold weather damage. I'm actually really surprised Jeff's (reviewer below) hose developed issues because in my experience, MSR makes bomber gear.

Honestly, not well. All hydration tubes will freeze up if not insulated (i.e. used with a pack that places the hose within the shoulder strap, thereby insulating and warming it with your shoulder). But this one actually delaminated after being frozen and thawed. I could see flakes of plastic flapping in the hose, and cracks developed on the inside curves. I also had the leaking problem mentioned in a review on this page. Love my drom, hate the hose, especially in winter.