Klean Kanteen (in a color)

S

Scott Free

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Sep 15, 1999
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For Christmas, a friend got me a green 27 oz. Klean Kanteen. I very much like it, but wouldn't hesitate to put it in a fire if I needed hot water. I'm wondering what's the coating? Paint? I don't think I want to remove it, as the chance that I'd actually HAVE to put it in a fire is practically nil. I'm just wondering about the consequences should I have to do so. Anyone know?
 
My Wife got the one they have with a pink color:eek: LOL She thinks they are so cool. I think she is right to:D

Bryan
 
I bought two for my wife. She doesn't go anywhere without her bottle of water. Her's are 17 oz. plain. (No paint)

I don't know if I would put it directly in a fire, but suspending it above the flames should not be a problem.
 
i found this on their web site "Klean Kanteens are single walled and not for use with HOT liquids."
I wouldnt recomend putting it in the fire. You can always try it and let us know :)
 
Have a couple myself. The inside is unlined stainless steel, no lining or coating. On the colored versions, however, there is indeed a painted/laminated finish on the outside. Doubt it'll hurt the water if boiled, but I can see it getting damaged if put over a flame. The plain stainless one is a different matter entirely, however.
 
I've put mine (plain jane model, no color) in a fire to boil water plenty of times, I think they are referring to the fact that the single wall transmits heat and will burn you, unlike a thermos are other double wall container, which you cannot heat over a fire.
 
For day hikes, up until now, I've carried a nalgene bottle, a GSI lexan flask and a titanium cup (should I REALLY need to heat/boil water.) The thing is, the ti cup gets carried but never used. The Kleen Kanteen, while a tiny bit heavier than the Nalgene, allows me to ditch the ti cup. I haven't figured it out yet, but I'll end up with a net loss of two ounces or so. The ti cup and alcohol stove will still be carried if I KNOW I'll be wanting something hot.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
i found this on their web site "Klean Kanteens are single walled and not for use with HOT liquids."
I wouldnt recomend putting it in the fire. You can always try it and let us know :)
Click to expand...

The reason for this is because of the heat transfer from the liquid-container-hand. This has nothing to do with the ability to heat it but a safety precaution so you don't burn yourself.

I am not sure about the coating on the outside, but as long as its isn't on the inside you should be fine(the outside coating may burn/stain but it will only be cosmetic). I put my uncoated bottle on my gas stove the day I got it to see what happend. I got boiling water very quickly along with black stains on the outside of hte bottle. They easily scrubbed of with a bit of oap and water.

You will notice with these single wall containers that the bottle will be what ever temp the liquid is so don't grab a bottle with boiling water in it. I actually made a nice koozie for mine so I dont get burnt/frozen fingers.
 
ac1d0v3r1d3 said:
i found this on their web site "Klean Kanteens are single walled and not for use with HOT liquids."
I wouldnt recomend putting it in the fire. You can always try it and let us know :)
Click to expand...

They warn against hot liquids so you don't burn your lips or hands. They are tough bottles and I can't see where putting them in the hot coals is going to to any damage other than blackening. If an aluminum pot will survive, steel is sure going to make it. An aluminum beer can will withstand 2500F flames if it has water in it. You don't want to leave the cap on a stainless bottle with any kind of heat:eek:

As to the paint, it is going to get burnt. Why they want to paint a stainless steel bottle is beyond me. I *like* the look of stainless.

I got a cheap stainless bottle with a seam near the bottom and I have my doubts about putting it in a fire-- I'm not sure if there is solder or some sort of glue.

I really like the stainless bottles. They allow carrying water and a means of boiling water in an emergency without the cost and bulk of a separate pot. I would like to see more models with a wider mouth so they could be used as a PSK container as well. Anyone know of the Guyot Designs bottles have any plastic on the bottle other than the cap? I'd like to see lighter bottles too. I have an H2O to Go bottle that is a lot thinner than the Kleen Canteens and still more than strong enough.

[Update] Here's a good article on the Guyot Designs bottle with it in the coals. http://www.ncsuoc.org/viewtopic.php?id=110
 
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BTW when your bottles blacken, it may not be pretty, but should be left like that. The black will absorb heat faster than a satin or polished surface.

Also, beyond burning your lips and hands, I wouldn't put a hot bottle (like soon after it was in the coals/fire) in one of those spendy silnylon packs. Best case it melts through and falls out. Worst case it melts to the pack and has to be cut off.
 
I purposely avoided the colors so I could drop mine in the fire worry free. Guess that's not an option if you get one as a gift though:D I would be interested in learning what eventually happens to the colored bottles when regularly subjected to heat/fire.
 
I just bought two of the forty ounce plain Kleen Kanteens, and while searching for reviews I found a reviewer who said that while backpacking he would fill his with hot (NOT boiling) water and put it in his sleeping bag before bed for extra warmth. Sounds like a good option to have.
 
mrappraisit said:
I found a reviewer who said that while backpacking he would fill his with hot (NOT boiling) water and put it in his sleeping bag before bed for extra warmth.
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I've always done this in the winter with nalgene (lexan) bottles. I also carry two GSI (old style) 16 oz. lexan flasks that fit perfectly against the body whether in a sleeping bag or in a jacket. It's nice that the stainless steel bottles work for this, but it's even better that you can heat the water in them too.

Today, I broke down and removed the finish. I started with paint remover but it was taking forever, so I finally took it out the the garage and used a brass wire brush on a grinder. It's now all perfectly shiny and ready for fire. :)

(The friend who gave it to me lives in a yurt. He'll understand why I defaced his gift.)
 
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