There are few things better than a day spent in the great outdoors. Hiking is a great way to decompress, relax, and get some exercise, but it is essential that you stay hydrated on these long walks.
Dehydration is a serious issue, especially on a hot day, so it is important that you carry a generous supply of water at all times. It is best to choose a bottle that will keep your drink at a consistent temperature and one that is tough enough to endure the rigors of a long hike.
To help you find the right product, we have reviewed five of the best hiking water bottles that are currently available. We chose these bottles for their material, capacity, insulation, and how you drink from them.
- Water level markings
- Made in the USA
- 2.5-inch wide mouth
- Double-wall insulation
- Pro-grade stainless steel
- Multiple size options
- Vacuum insulation
- User-friendly screw-cap
- BPA-free polypropylene
- Two-stage integrated filter
- Nylon strap & carabiner
- Flip-top mouthpiece
- Collapsible body
- Minimalist design
- Suitable for extreme conditions
The Best Hiking Water Bottles of 2023
A high-quality bottle is essential for keeping you hydrated on long treks. That is why we have taken the time to examine numerous products and review five of the best hiking water bottles that are currently available. We selected these bottles based on their capacity, weight, durability, insulation, and mouth openings.
Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth Water Bottle
Best Budget Pick
This Nalgene hiking water bottle will be ideal for anyone who wants a practical, no-nonsense container for their drinks, and offers excellent value for money.
It is made of durable, BPA-free Tritan co-polyester and is dishwasher-safe and impact-resistant. It also features measurement markings, which will help you track your fluid intake and add specific amounts of water to meals and energy drinks.
There are more than 70 cap and body color combinations — including some that are glow-in-the-dark to ensure you can find your drink at night. If you want to look color-coordinated while hiking, Nalgene ensures you can do so.
What We Like
Capacity Markings
Unusually for a hiking water bottle, this one features measurement gradings. They are printed on the outside of the container in both milliliters and fluid ounces.
If you need to mix drinks — such as an energy powder for an intense hike — this will be very helpful. It will also help you track your daily fluid intake, as you will be able to see exactly how much you have had to drink.
Made in the USA
This reliable design has not changed for two decades and the bottles are made in the United States. This can be helpful when trying to contact customer support.
Wide Mouth and Cap
At 2.5 inches wide, this mouthpiece will accommodate ice cubes and allow you to drink quickly. A loop-top ensures you won’t lose the cap by accidentally dropping it and also provides some extra grip.
What We Don't Like
Lacks Some Features
The simplicity of this hiking bottle is a major reason for its popularity. However, its lack of insulation, flip-top, or filter might deter some outdoor enthusiasts from choosing it over more advanced models.
Product Specs
| Construction Material | BPA-free Tritan |
| Size | 3.5 x 8.2 inches |
| Weight | 6.25 ounces |
| Color Choice | 70+ cap and bottle combinations |
| Capacity | 32 fluid ounces |
Our Ratings
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Water Bottle
Best Wide Mouth Lid
This Hydro Flask is one of the best hiking water bottles currently on the market. If want a wide mouth for pouring or adding ice to your drink, you will appreciate its 2.87-inch opening.
Made of food-grade 304 stainless steel, this bottle is very durable and you won’t have to worry about it releasing contaminants into your water. The exterior of the bottle has a powder coating that adds to its visual appeal and makes it easier to grip for a more secure hold.
Vacuum insulation will keep your drink cold for up to 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. This is thanks to Hydro Flask’s unique Tempshield technology.
What We Like
Double-Wall Insulation
This bottle incorporates the manufacturer’s bespoke Tempshield technology. It promises to keep your liquids hot for 12 hours or cold for 24 hours, regardless of your surroundings.
Pro-Grade Stainless Steel
The food-grade 18/8 (304) stainless steel casing means this bottle is very durable. This high-quality metal also ensures the bottle won’t affect how the drink tastes.
Versatility
If the 32 fluid ounce capacity is too large or too small for your needs, there are alternatives. This bottle is also available in an 18-ounce, 40-ounce, or a very large 64-ounce variety, each of which retain 2.87-inch mouth,.
If you want something other than the wide-mouth option, straw and flip lids are available separately to increase your bottle’s versatility.
Exterior Powder Coating
This bottle’s stainless steel has been powder-coated to improve its durability. It also enables you to maintain a secure grip with sweaty hands or while wearing gloves.
What We Don't Like
Too Wide
A wide mouth opening can be a positive or negative. Some reviewers mention spills while drinking due to the wide opening. Despite its many positives, this means the bottle might not be suitable for intense hikes or runs.
Product Specs
| Construction Material | Stainless Steel |
| Size | 9.61 x 3.7 x 3.66 inches |
| Weight | 1.28 ounces |
| Color Choice | 3 |
| Capacity | 32 fluid ounces |
Our Ratings
CamelBak Chute Vacuum Insulated Stainless Water Bottle
Best for Insulation
This CamelBak bottle boasts highly effective vacuum insulation. It is an excellent option for hikers who want to keep their drink cold or hot throghout a long walk. It can keep a drink cold for up to 48 hours, long enough that you can take it camping.
A unique spout design makes it easy to use with one hand, reducing the risk of spilling your drink while hiking. This stainless steel bottle also has an anti-slip finish to improve your grip. It has a handle that allows you to connect it to a carabiner for easy carrying.
What We Like
Impressive Insulation
The vacuum casing provides excellent insulation and will keep drinks cold for up to 48 hours or hot for up to six hours.
Easy Drinking
Some screw-caps are tricky to remove, but this one can be opened with a half-turn, so you can probably open it with one hand. The cap will then hang from a retaining lanyard or can be clicked securely into the handle to get it out of the way.
You can also remove the entire top section of the bottle to provide a wide mouth. This is ideal for refilling the bottle or adding ice cubes or tea bags.
BPA-Free
While the body of the bottle is stainless steel, the lid is made of BPA-free polypropylene. This ensures it is safe to drink from.
Simple to Clean
As you can completely remove the lid to reveal a wide mouth, you will be able to use a dish brush to clean the bottle’s interior. The cap assembly is also safe for the top shelf of your dishwasher, making it easier to prevent germs and microbes.
What We Don't Like
Low Capacity
This bottle has a 20-fluid-ounce capacity. This should be fine for short walks but might be inadequate for longer hikes, unless you can refill your bottle along your route.
Product Specs
| Construction Material | Stainless Steel |
| Size | 4 x 2.75 x 9 inches |
| Weight | 10.9 ounces |
| Color Choice | 10 |
| Capacity | 20 fluid ounces |
Our Ratings
LifeStraw Go Water Bottle with Filter
Best for Filtering
LifeStraw is one of the leading names in outdoor water filtration, and this hiking bottle features one of the brand’s excellent two-stage filters.
This makes the bottle ideal for very long hikes as you will be able to filter water taken from natural water sources. The first stage will remove bacteria, before the second stage removes chemicals and improves the water’s smell and taste.
Despite its advanced filter system and generous 23-fluid-ounce capacity, this bottle is lightweight at just 7.8 ounces.
What We Like
Two-Stage Integrated Filter
This user-friendly bottle will ensure you can drink clean water anywhere — even when you take it from lakes or streams. You simply fill the container, attach the cap with an integrated filter straw, and drink from it.
The first stage is a hollow fiber membrane that removes waterborne bacteria, including E-coli and Salmonella. It also eliminates protozoa, such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium.
The second stage carbon filter neutralizes odors, chlorine, and unpleasant tastes.
Includes Strap and Carabiner
A nylon strap and carabiner allow you to securely attach this bottle to your backpack.
Importantly, this strap is on the body of the bottle rather than the cap. If you want to fill the container from waterfalls or fast-flowing rivers, you can secure it onto a wrist lanyard. This means you won’t have to worry about losing the bottle if you accidentally drop it.
Flip-Top Mouthpiece
To drink from the bottle, you simply flip the cap open with your thumb to reveal a hygienic silicone mouthpiece. The straw greatly reduces the risk of spillage, even if you accidentally drop the bottle.
What We Don't Like
Requires Replacement Filters
Like any filter, this bottle’s will eventually need to be replaced. The manufacturer states that the carbon filter should last for about 100 liters. The fiber membrane will last much longer, at about 1,000 liters.
No Insulation
As this hiking bottle is designed to clean water taken from natural sources, there is little need for it to have insulation. This means that even if you remove the filter to use it as a standard bottle, it won’t be able to keep your drinks hot or cold.
Product Specs
| Construction Material | BPA-free Tritan |
| Size | 3.1 x 9.2 inches |
| Weight | 7.8 ounces |
| Color Choice | 15 |
| Capacity | 23 fluid ounces |
Our Ratings
Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle
Best for Survivalists
If you want a water bottle that will occupy very little space when not in use, this product from Nomader is a excellent option. Made from food-grade silicone, the bottle weighs just 7.2 ounces and can be collapsed to a quarter of its original size.
A wide mouth makes it easy to fill and pour from. A nylon strap can attach the bottle to your backpack or belt, but it can also be wrapped around the bottle when it is collapsed to keep it as compact as possible
The bottle’s tough silicone is designed for use in every environment, so it is also suitable for placing in a dishwasher or freezer.
What We Like
Collapsible
Thanks to its silicone construction, you can roll this bottle to a quarter of its original size. This will not only allow you to save space in your backpack, but it also means the bottle should fit into your pockets.
Minimalist Design
This product avoids any unnecessary parts that might break, resulting in a rugged, leakproof, and shatterproof bottle. You won’t have to worry about any fragile components as you might with a more technologically advanced bottle.
Made for Extremes
This bottle can cope with the harshest of environments in the wilderness as it won’t shatter or break if dropped. It is also airline-approved, so it can be taken with you on vacation. This also means it is suitable for the dishwasher or freezer.
Strap
The nylon strap allows you to attach this bottle to your backpack, belt, or survival vest. When the bottle is collapsed, the strap can be tightened around it to ensure it stays as compact as possible.
What We Don't Like
Lacks Insulation
The minimalist design means this water bottle won’t effectively insulate its contents. Your drink will change temperature to match your surroundings.
Maintenance
Despite having a wide 4.8-centimeter mouth, cleaning the inside of the bottle is quite tricky. The silicone exterior doesn’t discourage dirt from becoming attached so you will need to clean it thoroughly from time to time.
Product Specs
| Construction Material | Silicone |
| Size | 2.91 x 2.91 x 10.39 inches |
| Weight | 7.19 ounces |
| Color Choice | 8 |
| Capacity | 22 fluid ounces |
Our Ratings
| Product | Best | Material | Size | Weight | Color | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nalgene Tritan Water Bottle | Budget Pick | BPA-free Tritan | 3.5 x 8.2″ | 6.25 oz | 70+ | 32 fluid oz |
| Hydro Flask Water Bottle | Wide Mouth Lid | Stainless Steel | 9.61 x 3.7 x 3.66″ | 1.28 oz | 3 | 32 fluid oz |
| CamelBak Chute Vacuum Bottle | Insulation | Stainless Steel | 4 x 2.75 x 9″ | 10.9 oz | 10 | 20 fluid oz |
| LifeStraw Go Water Bottle | Filtering | BPA-free Tritan | 3.1 x 9.2″ | 7.8 oz | 15 | 23 fluid oz |
| Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle | Survivalists | Silicone | 2.91 x 2.91 x 10.39″ | 7.19 oz | 8 | 22 fluid oz |
Why You Need a Hiking Water Bottle
Walking in the great outdoors can provide a much-needed change of scenery and an escape from the trappings of modern life. While this provides numerous benefits to physical and mental well-being, it also means you might be without water sources for prolonged periods.
This makes dehydration a serious concern for any hiker. If you don’t drink enough water while exploring, you could face issues such as:
- Inability to focus and inhibited memory (1)
- Reduced dexterity
- Decrease in physical performance (2)
- Less muscle strength and endurance (3)
When you have to return to your usual routine, a good hiking water bottle will also be ideal for everyday use whether you are at home, work, or the gym.
Studies have found that about 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated due to insufficient water intake (4). Ensuring you always have water nearby can go a long way toward changing your habits and will help you constantly top up your hydration throughout the day.
Choosing the Best Hiking Water Bottle
There are countless hiking water bottles available and many of them are excellent. If you want to find the right one for you, there are some important criteria to keep in mind:
Material
The material used to manufacture your bottle will have a significant influence on its weight and durability. The most common materials used for hiking bottles are plastic or stainless steel.
Stainless steel bottles are the strongest and most durable. If you enjoy hiking over rough and unforgiving terrain — or the bottle will be in your backpack with other equipment — they are the safest choice and worth the extra cost.
Plastic will be suitable for people who enjoy an occasional walk. These bottles have the benefit of being lighter than their metal counterparts. It is important to ensure your plastic bottle is BPA-free as Bisphenol A is a possible cause of serious health issues, including infertility and cancer (5).
Insulation
Despite being water bottles, many hiking bottles can also be used for other liquids. The best hiking bottles are well-insulated, which means they will keep cold drinks cool and hot drinks warm. If you need some coffee to warm you up on a winter hike, insulation is key.
Usually, insulated bottles are essentially two bottles with one inside the other. The gap between the two is a vacuum that prevents heat loss/gain via convection and conduction (6). This means the temperature within the inner bottle changes far more slowly.
Capacity
A full water bottle can be relatively heavy and this is especially true if it is insulated. As such, it is unlikely that you will carry more than one on a long hike.
You will need to consider your bottle’s capacity carefully, to ensure you have enough water without being over-encumbered. To avoid carrying a heavy bottle, you can store extra water in a larger water carrier on your back. You can then use this carrier to refill your bottle.
With this in mind, there is little point in choosing a capacity larger than 32 fluid ounces. If you usually take short walks or have access to clean water along your route, a smaller 18-ounce bottle will probably be sufficient.
Mouth Opening
Perhaps the most important aspect of a hiking water bottle’s design is its opening, the part you drink from. Here are some of the most common types of mouth openings on hiking bottles:
- Screwcap: As the name suggests, screwcaps screw into the top of your bottle. These lids are very secure and unlikely to leak, but they can be awkward to open and close on the move, especially if you are wearing gloves.
- Quick access: Quick access openings include straws, flip lids, and push-pull caps, which allow you to quickly access your drink one-handed. On the other hand, they are more difficult to clean than screwtops, so they require greater care to sanitize properly.
- Wide or narrow mouth: Narrow mouths are more comfortable to drink from and make it less likely that you will waste water by spilling it. Wider mouths will enable you to place ice cubes in the bottle and are easier to fill and clean.
FAQs
How Do You Clip a Water Bottle into a Backpack?
Some backpacks have built-in loops or clips designed specifically for this purpose, while others require that you attach some sort of carabiner or clip to the sides.
What Is the Lightest Metal Water Bottle?
Aluminum is one of the lightest metals used to make water bottles. It maintains good durability and resistance to corrosion. Compared to other materials, such as stainless steel or copper, aluminum typically has a low environmental impact and is relatively easy to recycle.
What Is the Best Reusable Water Bottle?
The Hydro Flask reusable water bottle is one of the best in this category. It’s made from a combination of stainless steel and BPA-free plastic. You can get it in a ton of colors and size options, and it’s designed to keep drinks cold for a full 24 hours.
The insulated cap retains liquid temperature and is even leak-proof, and they’re dishwasher safe.
Are Hydroflasks Good for Hiking?
Hydroflasks are some of the best in the game, but some hikers use them sparingly because they are quite heavy. However, they offer a lot of other benefits that compensate for the heavier weight, benefits which some hikers.
After all, you want to move easily and efficiently through the wilderness, so having a lightweight water flask is vital. This is because bulky, heavy water bottles will slow you down and make it difficult to carry all of your essential gear.
A lightweight flask helps you avoid carrying excessive amounts of water, which can unnecessarily drain away valuable energy.
Why Do Hikers Use Nalgene Bottles?
The advantages of using Nalgene bottles include their portability, longevity, assurance against leakage, high capacity, broad mouth, and graded markings. Nalgene bottles are also inexpensive.
The thread on the bottles is likewise standardized, enabling many different water filter manufacturers to simply pair their filters with the bottles.
The wider mouth makes it easier to fill and clean, while the durable plastic resists breakage and scratches. Additionally, the BPA-free material ensures that hikers can safely drink from their bottles without fear of harmful chemicals leaching into their water supply.
And thanks to its compact size, a Nalgene bottle is ideal for carrying light gear on long treks through the wilderness.
What Kind of Water Bottle is Best for Hiking?
Undoubtedly the best water bottle for hiking is the LifeStraw Go Water Filter Bottle. It removes water contaminants, including parasites, chlorine, microplastics, etc. There’s a bunch of sizes you can choose from, too.
Some of the features you’ll find are hollow fiber membranes for finer filtration and an activated carbon filter that moves bad taste and odors.
