Water containers?

S

sideways

Joined
Feb 19, 2013
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How do you transport your water?

Metal or plastic bottle?
Army canteen or nalgene form factor?
Camelbak or collapsible bottles?
Something completely different?

Does it change depending on the environmental conditions?

On your hip or on your back?
Over or under your clothing? (Very cold weather means you have to get creative or you have to keep it close so it doesn't freeze)

I'm especially interest in whether people like metal bottles. I get that you can boil water in them but I also hate touching cold metal in the winter and my water bottle is something I'm reaching for often.... so I am hesitant.

Lately i've been carrying a couple of 1.5 liter soda bottles so I have enough water for the day but I've been thinking about going back to a nalgene. If I went with a metal one I'd have to wrap it in my spare wool socks to keep it warm to the touch or make a foam cozy. :)

I've tried the camelbak style reservoirs but mine at least is a pain to clean and fill up so I only bother when I need hands free hydration. So basically it comes out for long distance bike rides.

For longer camp outs where weight is not an issue I have 5, 10, and 20 liter plastic containers for use in camp. Fill them up at home and toss them in the car / boat. :)

How do you carry your water?
 
I use a combo of hard nalgenes and soft bottles. right now no bladder, but I am considering getting one for some uses. I'll likely get an MSR Dromlite as it is more adaptable than a normal camel.

Hard nalgenes for drinking, dromy for large water capacity (4L) and small softbottles for backups. I like the dromy better for large water use as it doesn't take space when empty. I also have more capacity than I need or carry so that I can go really heavy on water if needed, and a bottle break won't be a problem. I don't do a steel bottle as there is no need for me. If I've lost my main kit and don't have my stove and pot, I'm not staying any longer than it takes them to find me, because its all gone very, very wrong at that point.
Car use is 20L vinegar jugs from a resturant.
 
I used nalgene bottles for a long time. Now I use Gatorade bottles. Lighter but with same volume.
 
sideways said:
How do you transport your water?

Metal or plastic bottle?
Army canteen or nalgene form factor?
Camelbak or collapsible bottles?
Something completely different?
Click to expand...

I use Sawyer filters to filter water from a Platypus bladder or the Sawyer bags into my containers, so it really doesn't make that much of a difference what I use as far as filtering goes.

With a big pack I generally drink water from a Source bladder on my back and another drink of some sort in a bottle on the waist belt. If I'm drinking from a Powerade or Gatorade bottle, I'll generally have a "plastic" Nalgene (wide-mouth or canteen) or a CamelBak bottle. The Nalgene or CamelBak bottle will weigh 4.5-8oz depending on what it is and its volume. A stainless 38oz volume Nalgene weighs over 12oz. If I'm drinking from a wide-mouth Nalgene or CamelBak bottle, it will have a CamelBak Chute lid because they do not leak IME. If I'm in need of carrying a large volume of water for significant distance, I really like the 6L MSR Dromlites (just under 6oz.). A spare Platypus 2L Platy Bottle weighs about 1.5oz.

With a small pack (for me that means no real hipbelt), I'll have a Source bladder for water on my back and a bottle in at least one side pocket. I've been using Platy Bottles for short, lightweight trips, especially day-trips.

sideways said:
Does it change depending on the environmental conditions?

On your hip or on your back?
Over or under your clothing? (Very cold weather means you have to get creative or you have to keep it close so it doesn't freeze)
Click to expand...

Yes. If the high temp will possibly not be above freezing during the day, I use an insulated tube cover for my bladder and make sure the bladder itself is sufficiently insulated (usually with a neoprene like cover). For the bottles, a foam pouch will do the trick. Let's remember that water in motion is much less likely to freeze than water sitting still.

My concern in such cold conditions is much more about my filter than my bottles or water. I must keep the filter warm enough. I can use "handwarmers" or keep the small, lightweight Sawyer in a foam or neoprene pouch under my insulation layers.

sideways said:
I'm especially interest in whether people like metal bottles. I get that you can boil water in them but I also hate touching cold metal in the winter and my water bottle is something I'm reaching for often.... so I am hesitant.

Lately i've been carrying a couple of 1.5 liter soda bottles so I have enough water for the day but I've been thinking about going back to a nalgene. If I went with a metal one I'd have to wrap it in my spare wool socks to keep it warm to the touch or make a foam cozy. :)
Click to expand...

I have a few. I almost never use them. They have some distinct advantages for some uses, but I do not like to drink from them and would rather carry my titanium cookware and a "plastic" bottle than carry a metal bottle for the option of heating water in it.


sideways said:
I've tried the camelbak style reservoirs but mine at least is a pain to clean and fill up so I only bother when I need hands free hydration. So basically it comes out for long distance bike rides.
Click to expand...
That's one reason I use reservoirs made by Source. Platypus makes similar reservoirs called Big Zips. They get dirty, but are much easier to clean.

sideways said:
For longer camp outs where weight is not an issue I have 5, 10, and 20 liter plastic containers for use in camp. Fill them up at home and toss them in the car / boat. :)

How do you carry your water?
Click to expand...
 
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Mostly I carry water in 2l Platypus bladders. Love these things. The first one is about 13 gyears old and still going strong. Replaced the cap abour 3 years back.
 
Excellent detailed replied guys. :thumbup: Thank you!

The dromedary line looks cool. Dunno how I feel about using a non rigid large container around camp but I can see how it would be easier to carry. Do you just hang them from a tree when you get to camp? I've always doubled down on the soda bottles if I need to carry over 3L but didn't want to take the rigid basecamp water containers. Incidentally I require all of my trail packs to be able to hold 2 x 1.5L soda bottles in tall side pockets. It's a standardization requirement that has saved me a lot of headache. Both at the sporting goods store (specific requirements = less time shopping) and when planning trips (at least the water system stays the same).

I totally forgot to mention one of my cold weather mainstays. I carry my liquids in a thermos flask. Usually hot juice to keep the snivles away. That is what I am taking with me on the lake ice fishing. Also I tend to cheat in uber cold weather. Manpacking and soloing, even with a sled kinda sucks, so I'm usually staging from a heated tent or cabin. In either one the food and drinks go in an insulated freezer chest which keeps them from freezing if I'm out for the day. For cold day hikes I have worn the camelbak under my jacket with a low profil backpack and that seems to work OK if I'm not bothered about looking like quasimodo. You need to have a hard cap over the "bite dispenser" end though or you will end up triggering it under your coat. :D

Not much love for the stainless bottles I see. I understand and to be honest I had not considered just how big the weight difference is. Dang it's like a 100% weight increase just for a container. No bueno. Perhaps I should stay clear. :(

@BJBJ, thank you for being specific. :thumbup:

I've looked at the source 3L bladders with the easy access top opening. It would indeed seem to be a better design. For my lightest loads I carry a 20L "salomon xa 20" ultralight trailrunning pack with a 1.5L camelbak bladder. Just enough space for a windshirt, a sandwich, my wallet, keys, and cellphone... also an extra layer and any other little odds and ends I might need during the day. The bladder came from an original camelbak pack that weighed more and carried less. I'll have to see if one of the source bladders might be a better fit. :thumbup:
 
I switched from nalgenes to these they are awesome and I like the msr dromlite too. A little surgical tubing, two line locks, the mini sawyer and you've got a good gravity system
highres_446027691_zpslmicxveo.jpg



EDIT

Sorry I meant the elements
http://vapur.us/shop/element/element
 
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Seldom carry water at all, but when I do I use Nalgenes, Norwegian army canteen or a vacuum bottle (mostly carry water in Winter).
 
EDC
I always carry in a sling, a 750 ml klean kanteen or nalgene off track, which both have one handed openers to be able to drink at will

Hiking
1 1/2 liter soda bottles, one each of the side pockets of the pack

Here in Israel, you must carry 3 liters for a day hike
All the locally made packs have side pockets that take 1 1/2 liter soda bottles
you put them in the freezer the night before a hike to have cold water

Also there are shoulder carry bottle holders for the 1 1/2 liter bottles that kids will carry on a hike

For my packs made in the US, I put two 1 liter nalgene bottles in each of the side pockets as the pockets are smaller

I have used 3 liter split bladders in my packs
BUT
I have no way knowing how much I have drunk to ration my daily water
So I use the bladder as a reservoir and fill the 1 liter bottles from it, so I can control how much water I am drinking
 
neeman said:
EDC
I always carry in a sling, a 750 ml klean kanteen or nalgene off track, which both have one handed openers to be able to drink at will

Hiking
1 1/2 liter soda bottles, one each of the side pockets of the pack

Here in Israel, you must carry 3 liters for a day hike
All the locally made packs have side pockets that take 1 1/2 liter soda bottles
you put them in the freezer the night before a hike to have cold water

Also there are shoulder carry bottle holders for the 1 1/2 liter bottles that kids will carry on a hike

For my packs made in the US, I put two 1 liter nalgene bottles in each of the side pockets as the pockets are smaller

I have used 3 liter split bladders in my packs
BUT
I have no way knowing how much I have drunk to ration my daily water
So I use the bladder as a reservoir and fill the 1 liter bottles from it, so I can control how much water I am drinking
Click to expand...

Great post! :thumbup: I have heard very few people mention this over the years, but it is valid. The first time I drank a 70oz (2L) bladder on a long bike ride, I decided I would also always carry bottles on the frame.
 
Gatorade bottles are great if you have never tried them. They are amazingly well made. I have some that have been through the dishwasher, bottle and lids, dozens of times and they still function properly. Seal tight and never leak. Lastly virtually free.
 
Been using the heck out of these vapur collapsible ones, nice touch having the carbiner.

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I like the versatility of the Vargo 1L Ti bottle pot. It is very light, holds a lot, and can be used to boil water.
 
you do any overnight camping in below freezing weather a stainless steel bottle becomes a must have.
 
panzertroop said:
you do any overnight camping in below freezing weather a stainless steel bottle becomes a must have.
Click to expand...
Just sleep with the bottle or better yet boil the water and sleep with the bottle, add a plastic ziplock for added security

the vapur bottles can be frozen too, you just won't be able to put them over the fire like SS
 
Sleeping with hot water bottles in cold weather is an underutilized luxury. Just remember to wrap em in a sock to keep the temperature somewhat constant. :)

@ Neeman I'd never heard of that technique for rationing water from a platypus. Smart. Thanks. :thumbup:

@Beans those roll up bottles seem like a great edc item to have on hand. :thumbup:
 
I like having water hung from a tree. helps keep the camp looking tidy. I've lost so many water bottles over time, and the platy ones are easy to loose in the wind.

Sideways, given that a lot of places will fill a bottle of water for you, or you can find a tap, I find it very handy to carry an empty bottle as well as my drinking bottle. Here temps can get insane and sometimes plans change. and since I'm cheap, I hate buying bottled water, even if it is available.
 
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