As a hiker, one of your biggest priorities is staying hydrated, as failing to do so can put your hike and your life at risk if you are hiking in a more harsh environment, especially if you are a solo hiker.
To that end, we have tried and tested multiple water bottles to ensure these are the six best options you can turn to for all your hydration needs. For those pressed for time, here is a quick list:
- AEXPF
- qbottle with Carabiner Lid
- Hydration Bladder
- Nalgene Sustain Tritan
- CamelBak Chute Mag
- SHOKE
Below, we will dive into what qualifiers are used to differentiate each. We encourage you to continue reading for all there is to know about these wonderful accessories for your hiking trip!
What Are the Best Hiking Water Bottles?
.jpg)
1. AEXPF 40 oz Insulated Water Bottle
The AEXPF is a solid 40 oz insulated water bottle that is guaranteed to keep you hydrated and your water crisp and cool. This water bottle has a stainless steel covering that makes it durable enough to endure the most intense conditions and not spring a leak while on the go.
Another feather in this thermos’ cap would be the adjustable strap that it comes with that allows you to secure it to yourself or your bag to make carrying it a breeze, and if it gets a little dinged up on your journey, you’d be none the wiser.
.jpg)
2. qbottle Insulated Water Bottles with Carabiner Lid
The qbottle brings the same level of durability that the AEXPF does with a slight adjustment to it’s price to make it more affordable without forsaking anything in the way of quality.
If you opt to go with the qbottle, you’ll also have the same leakproof design that you’d expect of a bottle worthy of going on an experienced hikers rig, with the additional benefit of a “no sweat” layer on the outside of the bottle. Lastly, you have many colors to choose from to express your flair.
.jpg)
3. Hydration Bladder, Water Bladder for Hiking
Ditching the conventional water bottle design, the hydration bladder seeks to conform to your storage needs and go with the flow. Like its owner, this water bladder pack has a wide opening that will allow for a better water flow for drinking or rinsing yourself off should the need arise.
The opening for getting water into the pouch is relatively large and makes it a breeze to keep the bladder clean, and if you want your water to be ice cold, you can easily scoop some ice cubes in to take it on the go. Finally, the Hydration Bladder is meant to take a beating and keep on trucking, so you have durability on your side.
.jpg)
4. Nalgene Sustain Tritan BPA-Free Water Bottle
Next, we have a conventional, no-nonsense design from Nalgene with a water bottle that will keep you hydrated while on the go. Still, if you consider nature, this bottle is perfect for you because it is made with materials that are reused from 50% plastic waste, keeping your conscience clean as clean as your water.
The bottle is 32 oz and features a wide mouth nozzle to ensure you’ll always get as much water as you need, with various colors. The bottle is perfect for water and all beverages, hot or cold. Most hiking bottles feature less versatility, but this is a more casual bottle than one explicitly catered to hiking.
.jpg)
5. CamelBak Chute Mag BPA Free Water Bottle
Assuming you have a deep desire for a bottle that will keep you hydrated and come with a BPA-free guarantee, this bottle could be your go-to choice. The design is very simplistic, featuring a minimal logo and extra pizazz. This hiking bottle will do the job and prevent you from springing a leak, assuming you’ve got the lid on securely.
One of the best things this bottle brings is its lightweight design and innate durability. The top of the bottle is also magnetic, allowing you to have a few more options for storage and toting it around on the go.
.jpg)
6. SHOKE 1 Liter Water Bottle
While the SHOKE is the last bottle on the list, it could be better or better mid-tier. The SHOKE features a BPA-free build with a large mouth, getting you that precious water when you need it most and not being greedy about the amount. The top is leakproof, so you know your water will be there when you need it most.
Suppose you’ve ever had a favorite go-to water bottle. In that case, you’ll know the specific designs can make cleaning them a hassle. To that end, SHOKE took the incentive to have their bottles come with a brush designed specifically to make cleaning a breeze and ensure every sip you take is clean and trouble-free, and with a bottle that is 32oz, that is rather impressive.
Hiking Water Bottle Guide
Figuring out what sets one water bottle apart can boil down to several factors, ranging from how heavy it is to how annoying it can be to configure your loadout to its design.
All of these things accumulate into a water bottle that will work perfectly for your hiking needs but also keep you sufficiently hydrated while taking a beating while on the trail.
Different Water Bottle Categories
Every bottle has a different purpose behind its design. While you can use most of these in every situation you find yourself in, the utility offered can be overkill or insufficient.
For example, suppose you are using a water bottle specifically designed for daily use. In that case, it might not be strong enough to endure being jostled around while on a hike, and the other side of the spectrum, a hiking water bottle might be too heavy or clunky to bring to the office.
For these reasons and more, you want to take some time and consider what kind of water bottle will work best for you and keep you from making yourself look silly or being ill-prepared while on your hiking expedition.
1. Filter
As the name implies, a filtered bottle is just that, a bottle with an extra filter inside it to ensure your water is at the pinnacle of freshness when you drink it.
At the same time, this is not a big deal when hiking for just a day or so. A more treacherous hike might call for you to gather water from a questionable body of water, or if you are traveling abroad, the quality of the water itself could be dangerous. To that end, a filtered water bottle is invaluable.
2. Hiking
A hiking water bottle’s primary purpose is to be strong, durable, and dependable, as without it, you will be in dire straights with the amount of physical effort you exert. Without a reliable method of rehydrating, you could be putting your body at risk and, in the most extreme cases, your very life.
3. Daily
If you are using a water bottle for your daily lifestyle, it must be seamless and easy to take with you everywhere. The designs of these bottles aren’t typically very elaborate and focus more on being accessible and lightweight than anything else. Still, as with anything in life, you can find exceptions and outliers that make a daily-use water bottle one of the most expensive; just be rational when shopping for one!
Reusable vs. Disposable
A common argument amongst hikers and travelers alike is which kind of bottle would be the best to bring on your journey. While each has pros and cons, the simple answer would be reusable, as you’d already be investing in a water bottle either way. In that case, why not have the initial purchase last as long as possible and provide a higher quality experience instead of paying less but inevitably spending more?
Hard-Sided vs. Collapsable
Here, we enter an arena that is more balanced than the topic above. On the one hand, a hard-sided water bottle will yield to impact less efficiently, but it also won’t fit into your pack (or onto your hip/sling carry).
On the other hand, collapsible water storage options will happily slide into most rigs and setups you run with and allow you to bring even more gear or provisions along for your hike, making the entire experience more enjoyable. So, you should reflect on what is most important to you and move forward accordingly.
Insulated vs. Non-insulated
Assuming cold water is essential to you (as it can be if you need the splash of ice while out and about, then you’d want to go with the insulated bottles, but if you don’t care either way, then you’ll want to go with a non-insulated, as the alternative usually has a higher price tag.
What Material to Use
The materials themselves are typically plastic or stainless steel. Still, there is the rare third option of glass, which has been growing in popularity, but with the possibility of shattering being on the table, there are better options for someone who intends to go hiking.
Plastic is a fantastic choice as it is reasonably durable. Still, if you don’t clean your bottle routinely or leave water stagnating, you can ruin the bottle itself and give it a permanent stale aftertaste, making the investment itself void.
Alternatively, you can go with stainless steel, which is a more resilient choice regarding raw durability but will obviously weigh a bit more and can be more costly. In most cases, though, you’ll gain more than you lose going with the stainless steel, especially if you are rough on their water bottles.
Water Bottle Capacity
When it comes to choosing a good water bottle capacity, you have to look at the overall duration of your hikes, in general, to determine what is going to make the most sense for you if you aren’t hiking very often or your hikes are relatively short, you won’t need the largest water bottle money can buy.
However, even a short hike can require excessive amounts of water if you are hiking in an arid environment or on a higher elevation hike that will increase your body’s demands, causing your raw needs to increase.
Mouth Opening Type
The kind of mouth opening you choose only changes the cleaning experience of the bottle itself and slightly alters your options of putting ice into your bottle. This is because the narrow mouth opening will make it more challenging to fit cubes without melting them. In contrast, the standard and wide offer enough room to do the job relatively easily.
It’s worth noting that if you get the large mouth types, you will be more prone to spilling some of your precious water when siping. Still, to counteract that, most bottle sellers offer options regarding the spout attached to it, limiting your chances of spillage or removing them entirely at a slight upcharge.
Weight
One of the most pivotal choices regarding the bottle comes down to the weight. Going with stainless steel, of course, gives you a very resilient bottle, but you will be lugging it throughout your journey. The small amount of extra weight could become quite taxing on a long enough hike; even drinking from it (assuming you don’t use an extended spout) can be tiring.
Suppose you believe the overall weight could be an issue for you, or you have injuries in your arms preventing you from lifting the bottle when you are fatigued. In that case, you should heavily consider a water bladder and an extended nozzle to ensure you stay hydrated while on the trail.
Conclusion
Water is paramount to your survival, and making sure it is at hand when needed is a no-brainer. Consider all the above when choosing what kind of water bottle works best for you, and make an informed decision that will make your hikes as challenging or relaxing as you desire!
