Modern Nalgene travel jars and bottles (not for drinking)?

S

Sid Post

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Oct 14, 1998
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I'm looking for some high quality travel jars and bottles that won't "break the bank." In the past I could buy Nalgene jars for $2~$6 dollars in sizes appropriate for travel or backpacking but, these days supply and demand appears to be at work with prices of ~$20 or more.

I need some small bottles that won't leak or crush for things like a a little laundry determent and dish soap, some cooking oils, spices, and similar things along with my prescription meds and Gatorade powder.

I'm beginning to wonder about using Muth glass bottles from a honey supplier! I would think a Nalgene'ish bottle is out there at a fair price but, I'm guessing my search skills are failing me!

Repurposing common grocery store glass bottles may work well in a kitchen cupboard but, the last thing I want is soapy underwear or olive oil soaked blue jeans!

TIA,
Sid

P.S. My main concern is leaking, whether crushed or just traveling through a mountain pass!
 
There's an old trick you can use with plastic straws and a lighter. You cut a length of straw and melt one end shut. Then you fill it with whatever liquid/powder/cream that you need to take with you. Toothpaste, drink mix, neosporin, salt, lemon juice, soap, etc. Whatever you want. Then you melt the other end shut. Now it's sealed and ready to go.

In many cases these will be single-use items. Once you've cut one of them open, be prepared to use the entire contents. You should take that into account when making and packing them.

You may also want to label them with a sharpie, magic marker, or some other permanent marker pen. That way there's no possible confusion about the contents. It would suck to reach for toothpaste and get neosporin, or open what you think is gatoraide mix only to get some table salt.
 
I don’t think I’d use glass bottles in a situation where you’re worried about them getting crushed. The only thing worse than olive oil soaked blue jeans would be olive oil soaked blue jeans and a pile of broken glass.

You can get all sorts of sizes of aluminum metal tins with screw on lids from the big river site. That would probably be my first bet.

-Mike
 
16 oz Nalgene bottles are under $10. The smaller sizes are even cheaper. I would not recommend glass for travel
 
I hesitate to name the store I get mine, but it's an outdoor store that caters to yuppies. They're usually only $2-3 each, if 2 - 4 oz is ok or around there.
 
If you are looking for specific travel stuff, that market has shifted somewhat over the past few years. you can get lab bottles, PET "Bottle forms", silicone tubes, and all kinds of stuff. The trick is figuring out the best material for what you want to put in it. While PET is really good for most stuff, a squeese bottle is sometimes helpful. In general, silicone is water permeable so castile soaps and other high water content products are not recommended. I've got a variety, and to be honest, the good ones no longer come cheap. But if you are willing to take risks or buy more disposable stuff, then it's up to you.
 
Guy McVer said:
There's an old trick you can use with plastic straws and a lighter. You cut a length of straw and melt one end shut. Then you fill it with whatever liquid/powder/cream that you need to take with you. Toothpaste, drink mix, neosporin, salt, lemon juice, soap, etc. Whatever you want. Then you melt the other end shut. Now it's sealed and ready to go.

In many cases these will be single-use items. Once you've cut one of them open, be prepared to use the entire contents. You should take that into account when making and packing them.

You may also want to label them with a sharpie, magic marker, or some other permanent marker pen. That way there's no possible confusion about the contents. It would suck to reach for toothpaste and get neosporin, or open what you think is gatoraide mix only to get some table salt.
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That is a awesome idea for some Gatorade or similar powder. I'll have play with the random straws around the house and see how I can get that work. I have a little funnel that should work for a normal straw diameter too! 👍

Not really a fan of all the plastic waste but, in today's world that is probably one of the better solutions.
 
sodak said:
What sizes? You can get 2 - 6 oz nalgenes that won't leak, and are very cheap.
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For laundry detergent and Olive oil, that is probably a reasonable size. For salt, spices, and similar thing way too much to be practical. Salt and Pepper shakers are easy enough to buy but, Paprika and similar spice would end up being a bunch of plastic jars if I bought new spices locally but, that is a really expensive way to buy them and the quantity is pretty small. I use a lot of Paprika and similar spices vegetable dishes and soups and, rice get a lot of curry themed spices some days. I can do an egg with just some salt but, a bit spice really adds some pizazz to them.
 
sodak said:
I hesitate to name the store I get mine, but it's an outdoor store that caters to yuppies. They're usually only $2-3 each, if 2 - 4 oz is ok or around there.
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For things like this, Yuppie stores are a good solution. I'm not too proud to go in and make a purchase.

The main thing for me is avoiding horrendous shipping up charges for remote purchases.
 
gadgetgeek said:
If you are looking for specific travel stuff, that market has shifted somewhat over the past few years. you can get lab bottles, PET "Bottle forms", silicone tubes, and all kinds of stuff. The trick is figuring out the best material for what you want to put in it. While PET is really good for most stuff, a squeese bottle is sometimes helpful. In general, silicone is water permeable so castile soaps and other high water content products are not recommended. I've got a variety, and to be honest, the good ones no longer come cheap. But if you are willing to take risks or buy more disposable stuff, then it's up to you.
Click to expand...
I'm trying to find reusable things and to avoid needless waste. The little $1 plastic shakers of spices you see big box and discount stores are really love it / hate it thing. The spices are marginal, generally dried out and lifeless and then you have the plastic waste.
 
gentleman_edc said:
Do you know any recent parents?

Gerber juice bottles or small Naked Juice bottles work well.
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That is a great idea!

The Gerber 4oz bottles look promising, especially for things like cooking oil and laundry detergents and similar things.
 
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