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From daily errands to backcountry missions, many people carry a water bottle at least a few times a week. While you may clutch your “emotional support water bottle” for your morning walk or evening social plans, some outdoor adventures require a lighter, collapsible, and more efficient hydration method. The best water bottles shouldn’t leak or break under the rigors of an outdoor adventure. They must be easy to store. With that in mind, I tested these bottles for their reliability, weight, and convenience to determine the best water bottles for your favorite outdoor activities.
How I Chose the Best Water Bottles
Considering weight during hiking, hunting and backpacking, I chose lightweight bottles from reliable brands that make performance products. I focused on aspects that matter in the hinterland, such as purification, stowability and sustainability. I’ve taken these bottles on a number of day hikes and camping trips to see how they perform when they’re your main water source. The bottles on this list excel in different ways, so let’s take a look at their unique characteristics.
Best water bottles: reviews and recommendations
Most important features
- Capacity: 22 ounce bottle, 16 ounce cup or 17 ounce bottle, 12 ounce cup
- Roll-and-fold lid
- Double-walled vacuum insulated
- Dishwasher safe
- Measured weight: 1 pound, 7 ounces
- Price: $52 (22 ounces)
Plus points
- Two-in-one barrel
- Sweat resistant
Cons
The Camelbak MultiBev is a unique water bottle with a screw-off cup and a matching lid that can be conveniently stored in the bottle cap. It can process and insulate hot and cold drinks. Drinks stay cold for 24 hours and hot for 16 hours. Start with coffee in the morning, switch to water during the day and finish with some wine without lugging a dangerous glass bottle into the backcountry. It’s actually 3 ounces less than a full wine bottle, but leaving half a glass isn’t the end of the world.
Moreover, it is ideal for sharing. Give a friend the cup and enjoy the rest of your drink from the bottle. The exterior has a matte finish that won’t sweat or slip and the silicone base makes it harder to fall over. All parts of the bottle are dishwasher safe. At $52 it may seem expensive for a water bottle, but when you consider that you get a 16-ounce tumbler ($22) and a 22-ounce water bottle ($32) together in one convenient package, the price makes sense. I’m happy to carry this 1-pound, 7-ounce bottle on a day hike in exchange for a convenient and chilled drink, but I wouldn’t recommend it for backpacking. If you use this as a daily water bottle, you always have a reusable cup at hand for coffee runs.
Most important features
- Packed to pocket size
- Contents: 750 milliliters, 1 liter, 1.5 liters
- Weight: 3.2 grams
- Measured weight: 3.6 grams
- Price: $30 (1.5 liters)
Plus points
Cons
The HydraPak Flux rolls up and can be stored in the flexible carrying handle. This is a handy space saver when your backpack is full. The foldable material still has a good structure to stand up for filling and packing into bags. The mouthpiece on my test model rotates open and you have to suck or squeeze the bottle to get water out, which is useful for preventing spills, but doesn’t get much flow through. Some models now include a high-flow nozzle and dust cover.
The structured walls provide good grip, so that it does not slip out of your hands. It is also compatible with the Katadyn BeFree water filter. I washed this bottle with soap and water before filling it, but the water from it still had a plastic taste. Put some lemon juice and warm water in this bottle to remove the taste. The bottle can also be frozen, but should not be filled with boiling water. However, you can throw this in the top shelf of the dishwasher.
Most important features
- Protects against bacteria, parasites, microplastics, sludge, sand and cloudiness
- Membrane microfilter lasts up to 2,000 liters
- Contents: 650 milliliters, 1 liter
- Weight: 3.9 grams
- Measured weight: 3.8 grams
- Price: $44 (1 liter)
Plus points
- Foldable
- Lightweight
- Filter
Cons
- Replace the filter after 2,000 liters
- Doesn’t get up
Lightweight and collapsible, the LifeStraw Peak Series soft bottle is the perfect water bottle for borderline adventures. You know those long runs or hot desert days when your typical water bottle or bladder might not cut it. Take this filtered squeeze bottle with you in case you need to refill at a stream or lake. With this bottle you don’t have to bring a water filter and garbage bag just to refill your supply. There is also no need to contaminate a clean bottle with dirty water; the LifeStraw Peak is constantly filled with unclean water and filters as you drink.
This wouldn’t be enough for me to filter water on a backpacking trip, but it’s perfect for excursions where you often go to pubs or walk along a river so you can get away with carrying less liquid. The bag is ultra durable and does not easily collect sand or dirt. The drinking mouthpiece is also protected by an attached dust cover. The attachment loop is useful for holding the filter cap on your finger so that it does not fall on the ground or into dirty water during filling. To keep the filter flowing properly, LifeStraw comes with a syringe so you can backwash the filter to keep it clean.
Read next: The best filtered water bottles
Most important features
- Stainless steel
- Double-walled vacuum insulation
- Handle
- Capacity: 21, 24, 32 or 40 ounces
- Weight: 12.2 ounces (32 ounce bottle)
- Measured weight: 12.3 grams
- Price: $50 (32 ounces)
Plus points
- Keeps water cold for 24 hours
- 25 percent lighter than a normal HydroFlask
Cons
Normally the weight of my water bottle means a lot to me. I don’t want to carry something heavy on a walk for a little luxury like chilled water. But I was surprised at how light the empty HydroFlask Trail was. It’s not a backpacking light, but definitely a day hiking light. Obviously it gets heavier once it’s full, but your water stays chilled for 24 hours and it stays cool for even longer. In addition, this bottle keeps hot drinks warm for 12 hours.
I took this bottle car camping this weekend and it has already picked up a few scratches and dents. While I’m far from precious with my water bottles, be prepared for some extra character in the form of silver stainless steel peeking through your chosen color. Overall, this bottle has great insulation properties with a lighter weight. The carrying handle is also useful for attaching or clamping to your bag.
Most important features
- 32 ounces
- Weight: 6.3 grams
- Measured weight: 6.4 grams
- Made in the USA
- Price: $17
Plus points
- Durable
- Lifetime Warranty
- Wide mouth
Cons
Nalgenes are one of the most popular water bottles among outdoor enthusiasts. And with good reason; they last forever. These plastic water bottles are durable, dishwasher safe and come with a lifetime warranty. If your Nalgene does break, simply submit a warranty claim for a new one. This bottle is not insulated, which means it will sweat when filled with cold water and will not keep your water cool for long. But it can withstand boiling water. Filling your Nalgene with warm water and placing it in the bottom of your sleeping bag is a long-standing hiking trick for warming up on a cold night.
The wide mouth of a Nalgene is ideal for adding ice cubes or fruit to your drink. The cap is also reliable and provides a leak-free seal. Side measurements are also helpful in adding the right amount of water to your best backpacking meal so it doesn’t become too soupy.
Read next: The best insulated water bottles
Frequently Asked Questions
The great thing about buying a reusable water bottle is that you no longer have to buy disposable bottles. It’s better for the environment and your wallet. The Nalgene, CamelBak and Hydroflask have a lifetime warranty, so you never have to buy a new water bottle again. The Larq is rechargeable and the LifeStraw filter can be replaced. You only need to buy a new water bottle if your current one is lost, broken or develops an unpleasant taste.
Choosing a good water bottle depends on what is important to you. If you want cold water, choose an insulated model. If you plan to backpack, hike, or hunt regularly, choose a lightweight option. Reputable brands and guarantees are a good sign that you have chosen one of the best water bottles.
Leaking is my biggest concern with water bottles. However, all of the options on this list will not leak if they are closed properly. Another problem may be that the carrying handle breaks, but this is also covered by the warranty.
Final thoughts
Water is important for your health and athletic performance. The best water bottles keep you hydrated because their designs are convenient, reliable and efficient. These models excel in different ways, but they’re all great for outdoor hydration. If you backpack regularly, choose the lightweight Platypus DuoLock. The CamelBak Multibev is ideal for car camping.
syndication@recurrent.io (Ashley Thess)
