Best Camping/Hiking Water Bottles – Reviews and Guide 2020

Water Bottle Categories

The range and type of different water bottles which are available in the market today are as diverse as the companies that are producing them. Learn about the different categories of water bottles for hiking to find the most suitable option for you.

Everyday Bottles

One of the most common uses for a water bottle is that it keeps you hydrated during daily life. You need water during commuting, at your office, as well as around the community. As a whole, everyday water bottles have to be long-lasting and sturdy enough to withstand the occasional drop so that you can rely on them. However, keep in mind that there are a growing variety of fairly delicate glass bottles on the market. Some everyday water bottles have silicone cages designed to prevent damage. Ideally, you would like an option that is resistant to shattering, even if the bottle costs a bit more.

A glass water bottle for backpacking takes all the great parts of the standard drinking glass—a pure and clean taste and no concerns about chemical plasticizers, such as bisphenol A (BPA) and puts them into a nice and convenient bottle that you can close and take with you on the go. At times, considerations, such as weight is not as important, both narrow mouth and wide mouth water bottles are popular options.

Ultralight Bottles

Ultralight water bottles are ideal for outdoor activities where you will have to carry water for long distances. Some of these activities include hiking, camping, backpacking, and climbing. Incredibly lightweight, corrosion-resistant, incredibly strong, and biocompatible, these bottles are an easy choice for many outdoor activities where pack weight and health is of concern.

This makes ultralight water bottles ideal for anybody who prefers to travel light – whether the destination is a camping site, a gym, or an airport.

However, as ultralight water bottles mainly focus on keeping weight low, they are not the best option for everyday use and are ideal only when weight is the main priority. So, you should keep this in mind when buying an ultralight backpacking water bottle.

Outdoor Bottles

Depending on your specific needs, you may want the best backpacking water bottle that is light and a bit more rugged. You should look for an outdoor water bottle. These bottles are specially made for the outdoors. They have a sturdy construction and perform well in harsh conditions. These rugged bottles also hold up well when subjected to drop tests. Many campers, hikers, rafters, and backcountry travelers prefer Hydro Flask and Yeti bottles because of their sturdy construction, and they also keep your beverage hot or cool for hours on end.

What to Look for When Buying a Water Bottle

With so many choices, we know that finding the best hiking water bottle can be challenging and confusing. It is worth mentioning that choosing a water bottle for backpacking is not as simple as picking the prettiest, brightest option, or the most economical one.

While the water bottle really needs no formal introduction, the options available on the market can leave even the savviest buyers perplexed. Simple, environmentally responsible, utilitarian, and often boasting unique designs and peacock-bright colors, you can easily spot it on hiking trails, campsites, backseats of cars, and everywhere in between.

Our buying guide will introduce you to several topics that can help you choose the best water bottle for hiking, depending on your needs and preferences.

Weight

Weight of your hiking bottle is one of the top things to keep in mind when choosing the best backpacking water bottle. Water bottles for hikers are usually weighed in ounces when empty. Aluminum and stainless steel water bottles are often heavier than their plastic counterparts.

Depending on the type of activities and travel you prefer, such as camping, backpacking, hiking, and city breaks, etc., you will like to assess how much the bottle weighs and how much space you have in your travel bag. Also, you will have to know how heavy the bottle is when full.

If weight is the main factor for your hiking or camping trip, you should carry a plastic bottle.

While a majority of athletes and hikers want lightweight materials in order to expend as little extra effort and energy as possible, note that hydration is considered so crucial that a lot of hikers and campers consider the extra weight of water more than worth any extra energy expended for carrying it.

We still recommend an insulated water bottle for hiking, camping, and backpacking as the additional weight is often trumped by the superior functionality and convenience provided by the best insulated water bottle for hiking

Insulated vs. Non-Insulated

Insulated water bottles for hiking are the stainless steel bottles which are carefully designed to be vacuum sealed and hence can retain cold or hot temperatures regardless of the temperatures of your surroundings. A well-built and lightweight insulated water bottle is excellent at keeping cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot for extended periods of time.

Although different brands on the market make different claims regarding how long the bottles will keep cold liquids cold and hot liquids hot, if you buy an insulated water bottle one from a reliable and reputable brand you can easily depend on the bottle for keeping your coffee or tea hot for at least 3 to 4 hours, and ice water (or cocktails) cold for twelve hours or more. These bottles are also remarkably durable.

On the other hand, regular water bottles (non-insulated ones) include aluminum water bottles, plastic water bottles, and generally the disposable water bottles. Note that these non-insulated water bottles don’t have the abilities and convenience offered by insulated water bottles.

However, keep in mind that most insulated water bottles for hiking and camping are usually more expensive, bulkier, and heavier. Therefore, if you do not have to maintain the temperature of your hot or cold beverages for long periods of time, you can easily save a lot of money, space, and weight by sticking with non-insulated water bottles.

Capacity

Once you have identified its weight, you will have to find a suitable size bottle, or capacity, which coincides with your preferred activity, like camping or hiking. Many water bottles come in high-capacity options, which is great for travelers. You can measure the capacity in either liters or fluid ounces, and it often ranges from 16 to 32 ounces. According to the most recent expert estimates, men should drink about three liters of water daily, while women should drink around 2.2 liters. However, during any strenuous physical activity, like running, hiking or cycling, you should ideally drink about four to six ounces every twenty minutes.

Mouth Opening: Narrow, Standard, and Wide

When drinking straight out of the water bottle’s mouth, narrow mouth water bottles are easier to drink from. Narrow mouth water bottles for hikers are also less likely to splash down the chest, and you could usually continue moving or walking while drinking, too.

Standard mouth water bottles work incredibly well as an everyday carry and are easy to drink out of because of their just-right mouth.

Wide mouth bottles, on the other hand, are easier and quicker to clean and fill, which is crucial. One of the biggest advantages of wide mouth water bottles is that they are compatible with many water filters. Moreover, wide mouth bottles have enough room for ice cubes. This also makes them more versatile and convenient and an excellent choice for gathering water out of streams in the backcountry. Nozzles let you sip water out easily of a wide-mouth bottle, and you will not be spilling and sloshing.

Sippers and Straws

Sippers with straws offer a great way to drink when you are on a hike. We also recommend sports tops or straws for the most adventuring; however, neither would be possible with hot drinks.

Bottles with Built-in Filters and Purifiers

You filter the water in your fridge, so why not filter and purify your water on the go? If you are hiking and camping and are worried about what is in the water you are drinking, then bottles with filters are essential for some peace of mind. Some water bottles for hiking come with a purifier. You may also get a purification/filtration device that can be inserted into the water bottle – like a lifestraw.

Conclusion

Before buying a water bottle for hiking or camping, you should choose the best features to suit all your needs and preferences. There are different types of water bottles for outdoors, and they differ in terms of weight, capacity, and insulation, etc. Keep these factors in mind before getting a water bottle for your outdoor activities.

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