Why Nalgene over metal?

sqoon

sqoon

Joined
Jan 1, 2010
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I've been using Platypus bottles for a while now for short hikes or family outings. I've been wanting to get a solid bottle for a BOB or car kit. I see that these Nalgene bottles are making their way in just about every kit I see posted here. I'm trying to figure out why they are being picked over aluminum or steel. Doesn't the ability to be able to cook or at least boil water in a metal bottle instantly make it a better choice in just about every other respect? I have seen those metal pots which some people nest their Nalgene into, but since they are so gosh darn lightweight, why not just go with a metal bottle and skip the pot? or just nest a metal bottle inside a metal pot? Is there a property of Nalgene bottles that I am missing? or a downside to a metal bottle or canteen that I'm not seeing?
 
i have both nalgene and a steel vacuum bottle. i prefer my steel bottle. keeps things hotter or colder for much longer. mall ninjas and gear snobs will probably give all these played up reasons that nalgene is better, but for anyone that wants to keep their coffee hot and their kool aid cool, they'll prefer metal more.
 
I brought a couple purely because they are see through and have measurements on the side... I prefer aluminium on the whole tho.
 
Nalgene bottles don't dent, they are tougher than metal bottles, you can see how much is in them, and the openings fit a variety of water filters and pouring attachments. They are also cheaper than metal bottles.

You can't cook in them, but how often have you needed to cook in your water bottle???

Go with what you like.
 
I actually carry my plastic Maxpedition Nalgene most of the time, but I also have a stainless Nalgene which is bigger. If I need more water (summer here is brutal--I can go through a quart an hour), I carry both and then some.
 
sutured said:
You can't cook in them, but how often have you needed to cook in your water bottle???
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Never, of course. But for the sake of a BOB or SHTF bag, I just figured it would make more sense to pack with the most versatile of gear.

Glad to see everyone's point of view. Thanks for the feedback so far.
 
I carry a Thermos full of coffee in the winter, and a Camelbak bottle in the summer, fall, and spring. The reason that I carry the Camelbak bottle over the Thermos (or stainless bottle) and over a Nalgene is because of the bite valve. Most of the time I don't need hot coffee or cold koolaid, and the bite valve makes up for that loss.
 
I use a SIGG bottle thats lasted me 4ish years. It has a finish on the inside that prevents any leeching, and wont come off if its dropped and dented. I've dented my kleen bottle pretty good.

Somebody should have told my Nalgenes they were supposed to be tougher, since mine have cracked after being dropped full, and one got a little drippy after being left in the sun (started leaking from somewhere that I could never find.)

The big thing about Nalgene seemed to be they were wicked cheap, you could see into them, they came in fun new age colors, and they didnt impart a metallic flavor like old metal canteens. And then there was the whole 'BPA scandal' and people moved back towards metal.
 
rmoore911 said:
i prefer my steel bottle. keeps things hotter or colder for much longer. mall ninjas and gear snobs will probably give all these played up reasons that nalgene is better, but for anyone that wants to keep their coffee hot and their kool aid cool, they'll prefer metal more.
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Yes, but a metal bottle with piping hot coffee in it is burning hot. Neither will it insulate your beverage any better since it will be radiating heat or cold.

If your goal is to maintain beverage temperature, then a thermos makes more sense.
 
some of the metal bottles also have a lining on the inside that is likely not meant to stand up to cooking heat. The lining is put in so that the metal does not impart a taste to the water.
 
rmoore911 said:
i have both nalgene and a steel vacuum bottle. i prefer my steel bottle. keeps things hotter or colder for much longer. mall ninjas and gear snobs will probably give all these played up reasons that nalgene is better, but for anyone that wants to keep their coffee hot and their kool aid cool, they'll prefer metal more.
Click to expand...

I agree. I probably have half a dozen various aluminum water bottles. When I romp through Walfart I grab something if the price looks good. I'm bad for having fluid containers everywhere. Right now I know that there are metal water bottles and a plastic G.I. canteen in the cupboards. And the car trunk and interior, has the same. I go through a lot of water humping around with a metal detector (and a folder clipped in pocket). Actualy I found a hawk in the trunk a few days ago that I forgot was in there. Jeez.
 
I've noticed metal tastes from the steel ones(kleen kanteen) and they can also rust if you're not careful. I also like having the ability to brew a cup of tea instead of a bottle of tea.
 
Don't know about anyone else, but I personally like steel water bottles for all the reasons you and other people have mentioned. I have a Guyot Standard (38 oz) and a Klean Kanteen wide mouth (40 oz). Both of them nest perfectly with the GSI steel cup. Both of them have firebox paint on them and always ready to put on a fire, but I prefer the Guyot bottle. It is thicker gauge, and much higher construction quality (machined threads for cap, not stamped, for example), etc.
 
I guess it's a very personal choice. Both work.
I prefer Nalgene bottles for weight. Sometimes, for "unexpected" hikes, I just bought a couple of plastic bottles of water at some supermarket and took them with me, and didn't notice any difference. Sometimes I think that Nalgene is overkill too :rolleyes:

:cool:
 
In order of Decreasing weight:

1. Kleen kanteen 27 oz (800ml)
Stainless steel
Weight WITHOUT cap 6.25 oz (177g)
http://www.kleankanteen.com/products/wide/klean-kanteen-27oz-wide.php
Can be used to boil water

2. Nalgene 32oz (950ml) wide mouth
Copolyester bpa free
Weight WITH cap 6.3oz (179g)
http://store.nalgene.com/Water-Bottle-32-ounce-wide-mouth-p/32 ounce wide mouth.htm

3. Platypus big zip sl 100oz (3L)
Polyurethane/polyethylene
Weight with tubing 5.8oz (165g)
http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/hydration-systems/big-zip-sl/product
Fill as much or as little as you like, easy access to drink on the go. Folds up when empty.

4. Platypus Plusbottle 34oz (1L)
Polyurethane/polyethylene
Weight WITH cap 1.3oz (38g)
http://cascadedesigns.com/platypus/water-bottles/plusbottle/product
Folds up when empty
 
Nalgene is a brand. They sell bottles made of stainless steel, polyethylene, and Lexan plastic. They were best known for their quart-size Lexan bottles which were popular for their toughness until doubts arose over BPA. They now sell Lexan bottles that don't contain BPA, but now that stainless steel bottles are available they are getting to be more popular than Lexan.
 
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