That’s really interesting - thanks! I’ve never owned a Nalgene bottle. And have found the metal ones problematic. I use a lot of cheap Tesco bottles around the house, gym, etc but don’t trust them for hiking, etc use really. I now have quite a few of the Hydrapak folding bottles and have been really impressed so far. Even found them cheaper here in the UK, I guess as they’re not a well known brand. I think I bought all mine on sale... I have to carry *a lot* more water than the average hiker / camper, as I have a brain condition that requires me to drink litres every day. So I end up with the problem of carrying tons of empty bottles (or relying more on filtering water than I like to bank on). These Hydrapak bottles roll down very small once empty, and seem durable so far. I’m pretty sure you can’t use them with hot water through (due to how seams are welded), and you do need to use two hands to drink from them. I have a mix of ones with a sports bottle top and a plain cap and wide neck (more for cooking / topping up). Just thought you might be interested ☺️👍... Thanks for the useful review!
Hi Nicki, thanks for this comment, ive just had a look at the hydrapak bottles and that looks very good. Im experimenting with a Katadyn Befree which looks to be the same material but with a water filter so you can drink from streams. More for the warmer months though, is that similar to what you are doing? Im trying out not really carrying much water just drinking a good amount at water sources and carrying a small amount so i got the 0.6 litre bottle. Sorry to hear you have a condition that means you have to drink more water, that must be tough going but its not stopping you getting out so well done.
Great information for anyone thinking of using a Nalgene vessel. I have, for many years, used a Nalgene for Canadian backcountry camping, construction work, and at home. They are all intact, and still in use. I prefer the easy sipper insert for drinking. It is an inexpensive modification. Enjoy!
Got my first Nalgene in 1978 as a kid starting out backacking. The lids and wide-mouth openings have evolved. I have never had one break. They don't retain flavors when used for food prep.
Get yourself a Camelbak Eddy+ cap & straw replacement set, these fit the Nalgene widemouth perfectly. Have used this sipper setup for years and all the family love it.
Hi Martin, informative and balanced appraisal, as always. Personally, because of their almost ubiquity, I went for a wide mouthed Nalgene when I bought my kit, and found it awful to drink from, too. So I got the narrow mouthed version, which is the diametric opposite, it's a joy to drink from. The neck has chamfered and rounded edges, which make every other water bottle seem just uncomfortable by comparison. Does that mean my wide mouthed Nalgene is redundant? No, I use that one for filtering water into, in case I want to boil before drinking (e.g. after collecting standing water). Then decant into the narrow necked bottle. Of course, there is another reason the wide mouthed bottle is so popular, to use as a night time pee bottle, when you really don't want to leave the tent! Finally, in terms of weight. There is a bit of an offset in that a 1L Nalgene replaces 2x 500ml 'disposable' water bottles, but I guess the bigger argument is that there's much more weight to be saved by clever and efficient water management, and the last thing you want if you're carrying the bare minimum, is to lose water from a bottle split - dehydration will sap your energy far quicker than carrying a few extra grams (I know from personal experience). While we're on the subject of water management, the volume measurements on the side of Nalgenes are really useful for tracking how much water you have, and are using, especially when 'cooking' dehydrated meals. But as ever, it all comes down to personal preference, doesn't it? Obsessive 'ultralighters' swear by Smart Water bottles, and I've hiked with others whose backpack side pockets were bulging with 500ml disposable water bottles, and that worked just fine.
this is basically where i am at with them, the only downside for me is hot water pouring as i like to use them as a hot water bottle, i could do it really carefully or bring a small funnel i think that would work you can get tiny plastic ones. i really like using these bottles in the winter, pour boiling water into it, let that warm me up and then drink it when its the right temp, a second one as a pee bottle too or the same if you arent fussed!
There not designed to be drank out of, so thats why it poors everywhere, that being said, it's a water bottle so people are going to use it for that. I don't own one and am thinking of getting one, so thank you for your opinion, I always find your videos to be incredibly helpful.
@@HikingWithMartin I rate it could be done carefully. Put it down on a surface and pour slowly. It depends on whether you want easier filling or easier drinking. I'd rather have easy drinking from the narrow mouth :) I do have both versions of the 32oz bottle and narrow mouth is by far my favourite for daily use.
@@Dandalf42 I might give it a go then, I only really use it in winter but they aren’t so expensive that’s it’s not worth a go, I’ll get one and see how it is to fill at home. 👍
Main advantages: - you can use them to measure water volume (useful when rehydrating food, brewing coffee etc.) - you can pee in them (if you don't want to leave your bag/tent (that's why the mouth is so wide...)
The " easy sipper " for the widemouth bottle is excellent. Don't force it untill it pops out the other side ha ha ! Just push the Easy Sipper down untill the top is just proud of the top of the bottle. Then screw the lid down tight and that will press it down just enough !... a perfect sip every time !
The 1L HDPE version is only 109g and food safe (it's what milk jugs are made from). The only downside is they are cloudy white coloured but are half the weight of the fancy clear or coloured tritan versions. I use mine for cold soaking or hot rehydrating in a insulated Metaflex cosy when out in the wilds and eat from it with a long spoon. It's also used to drink from too :)
At the end of the day they both weigh nothing, if that few grams is enough to make you consider not carrying it I believe you are problem at that point, I'm far from a big or strong man and I carry plenty of tools, titanium water bottle, 2 nalgene bottles, stainless steel and titanium cooking pots/pans, food, clothes, and whatever else I may need to take. And weight has never become an issue before the bulk has. Even on 7 day hikes or month long camping trips, taking a rifle for sourcing meat and carrying things like pasta, flour and dehydrated mash and noodles to put with it. people are far too concerned with saving weight these days when it really doesn't matter that much as long as you consume enough calories. People managed for thousands of years carrying far heavier and bulkier items than we use today and all they needed was enough food to keep them going.
@@MDM1992 Hey the video mentioned weight and being not insignificant! I was only pointing out there were lighter options of Nalgene’s out there. Look I don’t disagree with you. However weight is extremely important for me though as I do vol-bivouac with my paraglider i.e fly & camp across mountain ranges where everything has to fit in my harness and weigh as light as possible to stay within the weight limits of my glider (avatar pic from Hindu Kush trip). And lots of little things quickly add up to push me above the limit. Anyway if people like taking lighter gear it’s up to them - hike your own hike etc. I don’t judge.
Commenting on an old video, but just in case it helps someone: I’ve never used a 32oz wide mouth without a Humangear CapCap just for that spillage reason. Highly recommended.
I know people are now trying to get away from throw-away type water bottles, which is obviously a good thing and as you say Nalgene bottles seem very popular. The aluminium bottles (Sigg and several other brands) are popular too . Which would you opt for, if you were not using one as a hot water bottle thanks !
I’d probably go for a plastic non Nalgene bottle something see through so you can see how much water you have at a glance, something easy to clean and easy to drink from, something that holds a litre of water. I’m looking for a bottle like this now I’ll comment if I find something suitable. But there seem to be a lot of bottles like this around. I’d not go for the sigg as they dent and I can see what’s in it
you prolly dont care but if you are stoned like me atm then you can watch all the new series on Instaflixxer. Have been binge watching with my girlfriend lately xD
Yes, one thing I can't stand about the wild camping youtube channels and those who wild camp is that everyone just buys the same crap that people use in their videos. I research myself and buy what suits me not what's being recommended and usually recommended because of the kickback from amazon sales etc. Stupid stuff like gloves for £60, ffs! A certain Paul M is terrible for having to have all the so-called "best gear"(most expensive) ,always. Your channel is refreshing mate,all the best!
Hi Simon, the aluminium bottles are fine to use but youll find you cant see how much water you have left but also they tend to dent, can be harder to clean as well, all valid options though, whatever suits you.
@@HikingWithMartin if you fill an aluminum bottle with boiling water, most the time its very hot, unless you get a double wall one. and then its just heavy
That’s really interesting - thanks! I’ve never owned a Nalgene bottle. And have found the metal ones problematic. I use a lot of cheap Tesco bottles around the house, gym, etc but don’t trust them for hiking, etc use really. I now have quite a few of the Hydrapak folding bottles and have been really impressed so far. Even found them cheaper here in the UK, I guess as they’re not a well known brand. I think I bought all mine on sale... I have to carry *a lot* more water than the average hiker / camper, as I have a brain condition that requires me to drink litres every day. So I end up with the problem of carrying tons of empty bottles (or relying more on filtering water than I like to bank on). These Hydrapak bottles roll down very small once empty, and seem durable so far. I’m pretty sure you can’t use them with hot water through (due to how seams are welded), and you do need to use two hands to drink from them. I have a mix of ones with a sports bottle top and a plain cap and wide neck (more for cooking / topping up). Just thought you might be interested ☺️👍... Thanks for the useful review!
Hi Nicki, thanks for this comment, ive just had a look at the hydrapak bottles and that looks very good. Im experimenting with a Katadyn Befree which looks to be the same material but with a water filter so you can drink from streams. More for the warmer months though, is that similar to what you are doing? Im trying out not really carrying much water just drinking a good amount at water sources and carrying a small amount so i got the 0.6 litre bottle. Sorry to hear you have a condition that means you have to drink more water, that must be tough going but its not stopping you getting out so well done.
Great information for anyone thinking of using a Nalgene vessel. I have, for many years, used a Nalgene for Canadian backcountry camping, construction work, and at home. They are all intact, and still in use. I prefer the easy sipper insert for drinking. It is an inexpensive modification. Enjoy!
That’s good to hear it’s lasting so well for you it’s important that get tested like that and last thanks for your input on this appreciated
I like spilling water down my face, it reminds me of Shawshank redemption.
But filling these up in a stream is a pleasure.
Haha very good 🤣
I never had a problem with my Nalgene Easy Sipper Bottle Insert but I can understand your frustration if that happened
Thanks, yes was quite annoying, hopefully yours stays good!
Got my first Nalgene in 1978 as a kid starting out backacking. The lids and wide-mouth openings have evolved. I have never had one break. They don't retain flavors when used for food prep.
Get yourself a Camelbak Eddy+ cap & straw replacement set, these fit the Nalgene widemouth perfectly.
Have used this sipper setup for years and all the family love it.
I use them because they work perfectly with my MSR Miniworks EX filter
Hi Martin, informative and balanced appraisal, as always.
Personally, because of their almost ubiquity, I went for a wide mouthed Nalgene when I bought my kit, and found it awful to drink from, too. So I got the narrow mouthed version, which is the diametric opposite, it's a joy to drink from. The neck has chamfered and rounded edges, which make every other water bottle seem just uncomfortable by comparison.
Does that mean my wide mouthed Nalgene is redundant? No, I use that one for filtering water into, in case I want to boil before drinking (e.g. after collecting standing water). Then decant into the narrow necked bottle.
Of course, there is another reason the wide mouthed bottle is so popular, to use as a night time pee bottle, when you really don't want to leave the tent!
Finally, in terms of weight. There is a bit of an offset in that a 1L Nalgene replaces 2x 500ml 'disposable' water bottles, but I guess the bigger argument is that there's much more weight to be saved by clever and efficient water management, and the last thing you want if you're carrying the bare minimum, is to lose water from a bottle split - dehydration will sap your energy far quicker than carrying a few extra grams (I know from personal experience). While we're on the subject of water management, the volume measurements on the side of Nalgenes are really useful for tracking how much water you have, and are using, especially when 'cooking' dehydrated meals.
But as ever, it all comes down to personal preference, doesn't it? Obsessive 'ultralighters' swear by Smart Water bottles, and I've hiked with others whose backpack side pockets were bulging with 500ml disposable water bottles, and that worked just fine.
this is basically where i am at with them, the only downside for me is hot water pouring as i like to use them as a hot water bottle, i could do it really carefully or bring a small funnel i think that would work you can get tiny plastic ones. i really like using these bottles in the winter, pour boiling water into it, let that warm me up and then drink it when its the right temp, a second one as a pee bottle too or the same if you arent fussed!
There not designed to be drank out of, so thats why it poors everywhere, that being said, it's a water bottle so people are going to use it for that.
I don't own one and am thinking of getting one, so thank you for your opinion, I always find your videos to be incredibly helpful.
thanks Arran, inevitably people drink from them though! glad you find the videos helpfuly buddy
there are splashguards that are made for inside the rim to make it easier to drink from. Nalgene also makes narrow mouth bottles.
Nalgene does narrow mouth options too. They're perfect.
I’m only worried about pouring boiling water into them, what do you think?
@@HikingWithMartin I rate it could be done carefully. Put it down on a surface and pour slowly.
It depends on whether you want easier filling or easier drinking. I'd rather have easy drinking from the narrow mouth :)
I do have both versions of the 32oz bottle and narrow mouth is by far my favourite for daily use.
@@Dandalf42 I might give it a go then, I only really use it in winter but they aren’t so expensive that’s it’s not worth a go, I’ll get one and see how it is to fill at home. 👍
@@HikingWithMartin Awesome. Let me know what you think :)
Main advantages:
- you can use them to measure water volume (useful when rehydrating food, brewing coffee etc.)
- you can pee in them (if you don't want to leave your bag/tent (that's why the mouth is so wide...)
The " easy sipper " for the widemouth bottle is excellent. Don't force it untill it pops out the other side ha ha ! Just push the Easy Sipper down untill the top is just proud of the top of the bottle. Then screw the lid down tight and that will press it down just enough !... a perfect sip every time !
I’ve had two but both just fell straight through unfortunately and then it’s dirty fingers in the water time to get it out 😢
The 1L HDPE version is only 109g and food safe (it's what milk jugs are made from). The only downside is they are cloudy white coloured but are half the weight of the fancy clear or coloured tritan versions. I use mine for cold soaking or hot rehydrating in a insulated Metaflex cosy when out in the wilds and eat from it with a long spoon. It's also used to drink from too :)
At the end of the day they both weigh nothing, if that few grams is enough to make you consider not carrying it I believe you are problem at that point, I'm far from a big or strong man and I carry plenty of tools, titanium water bottle, 2 nalgene bottles, stainless steel and titanium cooking pots/pans, food, clothes, and whatever else I may need to take. And weight has never become an issue before the bulk has. Even on 7 day hikes or month long camping trips, taking a rifle for sourcing meat and carrying things like pasta, flour and dehydrated mash and noodles to put with it. people are far too concerned with saving weight these days when it really doesn't matter that much as long as you consume enough calories. People managed for thousands of years carrying far heavier and bulkier items than we use today and all they needed was enough food to keep them going.
@@MDM1992 Hey the video mentioned weight and being not insignificant! I was only pointing out there were lighter options of Nalgene’s out there. Look I don’t disagree with you. However weight is extremely important for me though as I do vol-bivouac with my paraglider i.e fly & camp across mountain ranges where everything has to fit in my harness and weigh as light as possible to stay within the weight limits of my glider (avatar pic from Hindu Kush trip). And lots of little things quickly add up to push me above the limit. Anyway if people like taking lighter gear it’s up to them - hike your own hike etc. I don’t judge.
Just the reason I'm getting the narrow mouth version, had the same problem witha. Cheaper wide mouth version. Went all over you.
You can buy lids that have a more sipping action to them. I am for sure going to get that lid it’s an actual lid not an insert like you described.
im going to try and find this as well then, thanks
@@HikingWithMartin I found them on Nalgene website
@@leeweyer3140 ok thanks I’m going to check them out
Good information! Thanks!
Thanks!
Commenting on an old video, but just in case it helps someone: I’ve never used a 32oz wide mouth without a Humangear CapCap just for that spillage reason. Highly recommended.
I know people are now trying to get away from throw-away type water bottles, which is obviously a good thing and as you say Nalgene bottles seem very popular.
The aluminium bottles (Sigg and several other brands) are popular too .
Which would you opt for, if you were not using one as a hot water bottle
thanks !
I’d probably go for a plastic non Nalgene bottle something see through so you can see how much water you have at a glance, something easy to clean and easy to drink from, something that holds a litre of water. I’m looking for a bottle like this now I’ll comment if I find something suitable. But there seem to be a lot of bottles like this around. I’d not go for the sigg as they dent and I can see what’s in it
Oh and ideally a cap you can’t drop
They make a cap that has a smaller drinking port
you prolly dont care but if you are stoned like me atm then you can watch all the new series on Instaflixxer. Have been binge watching with my girlfriend lately xD
@Eduardo Declan Yea, I've been using Instaflixxer for months myself :)
Isn't that a drinking port, which is on top of the cap?
No lol would be good if it were.
Yes, one thing I can't stand about the wild camping youtube channels and those who wild camp is that everyone just buys the same crap that people use in their videos. I research myself and buy what suits me not what's being recommended and usually recommended because of the kickback from amazon sales etc. Stupid stuff like gloves for £60, ffs! A certain Paul M is terrible for having to have all the so-called
"best gear"(most expensive) ,always. Your channel is refreshing mate,all the best!
Hardside hydration. Look them up.
Why use one of these over an aluminium bottle?
Hi Simon, the aluminium bottles are fine to use but youll find you cant see how much water you have left but also they tend to dent, can be harder to clean as well, all valid options though, whatever suits you.
@@HikingWithMartin if you fill an aluminum bottle with boiling water, most the time its very hot, unless you get a double wall one. and then its just heavy
Get a narrow-mouth 0.5-litre bottle!
To pour boiling water into?