10 Best Water Bottles for Hiking and Backpacking | Recommendations
Hiking, backpacking, and water bottles go hand in hand because staying hydrated is so important for your comfort, safety, and performance in the backcountry. While you’d think choosing a water bottle for hiking or backpacking would be a simple affair, it’s anything but because there are so many options available and different styles of walking and hiking, from everyday use and day hiking to thru-hiking and traditional backpacking that require different hydration solutions. Hot weather, infrequent water sources, or the need to filter water further complicate the water bottle selection process.
| Make / Model | Capacity | Weight | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydro Flask Lightweight Vacuum Bottle | 32 oz | 12 oz | Everyday, Hiking |
| Nalgene Bottles | 32 oz | 6.25, 3.75 oz | Everyday, Hiking, Backpacking |
| Smartwater Bottles | 33.8 oz | 1.2 oz | Everyday, Hiking, Backpacking |
| Owala Freesip Bottle | 32 oz | 15.2 oz | Everyday, Hiking |
| CNOC Vesica Water Bottle | 33.8 oz | 2.11 oz | Hiking, Backpacking |
| CNOC Vecto 2L Water Container | 64 oz | 2.6 oz | Backpacking |
| Platypus Platy 2.0L Bottle | 70 oz | 1.3 oz | Backpacking |
| Grayl Geopress Purifier Bottle | 24 oz | 15.9 oz | Everyday, Hiking |
| Katadyn BeFree Filter Bottle | 33.8 oz | 2.3 oz | Hiking, Backpacking |
| HydraPak Seeker Filter Bottle | 100 oz | 4.5 oz | Backpacking |
With all these factors in mind, here are our top picks for hiking and backpacking water bottles and hydration systems. Our selection guide delves deeply into the issues and needs that drive hiking and backpacking water bottle selection.
Hydro Flask Lightweight Vacuum Water Bottle (32 oz)
Nalgene Bottles
Smartwater Bottles
Owala FreeSip Vacuum Water Bottle 32 oz
CNOC Vesica 1L Collapsible Bottle
CNOC Vecto 2L Water Container
Platypus Platy 2.0L Soft Bottle
Grayl GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier Bottle
Katadyn BeFree 1L Water Filter Bottle 33.8 oz
HydraPak Seeker 3L Collapsible Bottle with Water Filter Cap
Hiking and Backpacking Water Bottle Guide
There is a wide range of water bottles that can be used for hiking and backpacking, ranging from soda and bottled water bottles, insulated stainless steel bottles, soft bottles, and those that incorporate a water filter or water purifier element. While you probably just want to carry one bottle for everyday or day-hiking use, many backpackers carry multiple bottle types at the same time to fill different functions, such as filtering water or for carrying larger amounts of water across dry stretches of trail where water is scarce.
Here are many of the factors that you should consider when choosing water bottles for hiking use.
Reusable Bottles
Reusable bottles are preferable over disposable bottles from an environmental perspective. However, many so-called disposable bottles, such as plastic soda or bottled water bottles, can be used repeatedly for quite some time before they get too hard to clean and must be replaced. The lightest-weight reusable bottles are soft ones that can be rolled up when not in use. Stainless steel bottles are also reusable, but are more appropriate for everyday or day hiking use, where gear weight is less of an issue, and the option of using an insulated bottle may be more appealing.
Volume
For everyday use and day hiking, you generally need to carry a bottle with less volume than for backpacking over longer distances, where water may be scarce, and you need to carry more so you don’t run out. When using a water filter, you can use a lower-capacity squeeze bottle if you transfer the water to a large bottle for storage. Consideration should also be given to the size of your backpack pockets, since day hiking packs tend to have smaller and narrower pockets than backpacking packs, which can hold higher-capacity bottles. For example, a 24 oz hard-sided bottle will fit in most smaller daypack pockets, while a 32 oz bottle may not.
Material
Plastic water bottles are usually much lighter than stainless steel bottles, but they’re less durable and not insulated. When choosing among plastic bottles, make sure that they are BPA-free and PFC-free and do not hold tastes or smells. Soft bottles have the advantage over hard-sided bottles because they pack up very small when not in use.
Weight
The weight of plastic bottles is usually insignificant, but stainless steel bottles can be quite heavy. This is less of a concern for everyday use or day hiking when gear weights are low overall, but it can impose significant hardship if you were to carry multiple steel bottles at a time on a backpacking trip. When comparing plastic and soft bottle weights, be sure to take into account the weight of the filter element. Also, filter bottles tend to be heavier in use when wet because the filters retain water between uses.
Mouth Opening
The size of a bottle’s mouth opening determines its filter compatibility, the ease with which you can fill it from natural water sources that have still water, like ponds, and whether it is large enough to accept ice cubes in the case of an insulated bottle. Most water bottles with 28mm openings are compatible with the popular Sawyer squeeze water filter, which is the most popular filter used by backpackers. Those with 42mm openings are compatible with the Katadyn BeFree filter, which is also popular because it has such a high flow rate. If you use one of these squeeze filters, you’ll need a bottle that can be squeezed for water through it.
Insulated Bottles
If you want to carry cold drinks or hot liquids, you’ll be looking at insulated Stainless Steel bottles. In the case of hot liquids, check to see what the maximum liquid temperature is that they can be safely used with.
Bootle Lids and Caps
When choosing bottles for backpacking, those with tethered caps are preferable to those without to prevent accidental loss. If you want a bottle with a straw or a push-pull spout for sipping, be sure to find one that has a cap that keeps them clean and is leakproof.
Soft vs Hard Bottles
Soft bottles are much easier to pack when not in use than hard-sided bottles, which can take up significant backpack volume even when they’re empty. Some soft bottles have the ability to stand up when full, which is convenient in camp when cooking.
Cleaning
You will need to clean your bottles sooner or later, and the number and size of the bottles’ openings play a big part in how easy they are to clean. For example, bottles with small necks or sipping straws can pose cleaning challenges, while a bottle with a wide mouth or slide opening will be much easier to sanitize. If you plan to clean your bottles or their caps in a dishwasher, make sure that they are also dishwasher safe.
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The CNOC Vecto and Vesica also come in 42mm openings, thus also compatible with the old Katadyn BeFree filter (and, I assume, the new BeFree, though I haven’t tried it.) Other than opening size, there is no difference between the Vectos or Vesicas.
After a thousand miles (1600 km) on the AT, I’ve settled on the following which works for me.
A 3 L CNOC Vesto is my bulk dirty water bag. It rolls up around my Versaflow filter and the silicone tubing that I use to make a gravity feed. That goes into a cut off 1 L standard size water bottle which serves as my scoop. When I say standard size I mean the type of 1 L bottle you can get at a convenience store but not a long bottle such as a Smartwater.
I have two 1 L Smartwater bottles that generally go in the mesh pocket on the back of my pack. I try to fill those about the time I break for the night because I’ll typically use about 3/4 the contents of one for supper and 3/4 at breakfast time. The little bit of extra will give me something to drink as I hike in the morning to the next water supply.
For easily accessible water as a hike, I have a 7 L smart water bottle that clips to one of my shoulder straps and a regular size 1 L bottle that slips into a pocket on the other strap.
I used to put a 1 L smart water bottle in that pocket, however its length would sometimes smack me in the chin. Although many people agree that I sometimes need a smack across the noggin, I’ve decided to quit allowing a water bottle to discipline me. I’ll save that for someone else!
I meant to say in the second last paragraph:
For easily accessible water as I hike, I have a .7 L Smartwater bottle that clips to one of my shoulder straps…
A 7 L bottle would tear the strap off my pack and probably take my shoulder with it!
I have done slightly fewer AT miles than you, Grandpa, but I have finally dialed in my water system too. First off, I also LOVE my Vecto with my Versa Flow – the easiest filter system I have used. I just attach the filter directly to the Vecto and to a Platypus bottle and hang it up while I eat my dinner or set up my tent or whatever. I use a 1L Vesica for electrolyte water – I buy powdered stuff* and make a bottle every morning and drink that first, then switch to plain water for the rest of the day. (I seem to sweat a LOT of salt and not much fluid, so that plain water actually imbalances my electrolytes if I’m not careful.) The Vesica is a lot easier to clean that a Platypus bottle is and I only use the Platypus ones for water so I don’t have to worry about them getting yucky from all the sugar and salt in the powders.
So: I bring a 2L Vecto, 1L Vesica, and 1 or 2 Platypus 1L bottles depending on how far I have to go between water sources.
* Not Gatorade, because I don’t like the flavors of their powders, but a different kind. And Nuun and the like don’t work for me either, because I can’t stand the taste of Stevia and other artificial sweeteners. Even Pedialyte puts it in their powders, which is pretty disappointing.
I used the Cnoc bags for extra water storage, but switched to Evernew because they stand to attention! I’ve heard they may be more durable than Cnoc, but time will tell. Yes, it’s an extra step in having to use a scoop sometimes, but that I can just plop them down and have them stand is worth it. I do use Cnoc bottles for daily drinking from the bottle holder on my shoulder strap. (the ones that do not stand, as they’re easier to manipulate from within my holder.) I especially like that I can just squeeze it as it empties, negating having to pull a bottle out of its holder every time I drink on the go.
Platy’s also stand up. I’ve been using them since 2006.
aha!! thx..do you think one better than the other?
Platy is just more convenient in terms of availability. However, I think the evernew bottles are also Sawyer compatible. I’ve been using the PLaty quickdraw filter, which is compatible with both.
Good article on the Hydros.
The tip on the translucent Nalgene for winter backpacking is good for weight savings but when the chips are down I’ll stick to plastic thank you very much.
My tip is to attach the Zpaks water bottle holder on each shoulder strap.
Then I carry one Poland spring bottle and one wide mouth Gatorade. Drink the Gatorade on the way in and then I use it for a Pee bottle in my Hammock.
Around here the Smart Water bottles have that goofy flip cap on it which always snaps off so that’s a no go for me.
My filter is a Kataydin Bee free. Best filter I ever had. Easy to clean and flows nicely. Purchase the clip top and silicone tube which rests right in the Platy bag. Hang Katy on branch rest.
No more of those Sawyer filters for me. They constantly are clogged up and you have to take a doctors bag of syringes hoses and other junk with you.
For summit attempts it’s hard to beat the one Liter Platy. Super light and they are pretty durable. Get the snap down tops and carry a spare cap. For some reason my last trip I lost one cap with a fully loaded Platy. With my remaining Platy and my Poland spring bottle it was enough to make the day.
For winter use as I said the Nalgene rocks but I don’t put them in my bag at night. Had one cap leak and that was the end of that.
Hope this helps.
I bought a used backpack on ebay a few years ago. It came with 2 of the lighter Nalgene bottles. Stopped using disposable water bottles and have switched to the Nalgenes. Way more durable than smartwater bottles and more sustainable. I bought an Epic water filter that fits inside the bottle so you don’t even need a water bag. Used it last year in the Winds but we also had a CNOC 3 L bag and sawyer squeeze. The other advantage of a Nalgene is you can use it outside of backpacking. I use mine everyday at work, ad ice to it and get water from our water cooler. I couldn’t do that with a smartwater bottle as the opening is to small for ice cubes and it’s too tall to fit under the water cooler at work.
I use them too. For many reasons, including that I can put hot water in them when I want tea in the morning when backpacking.
Packing for flight, saw my hiking gear, so grabbed a reusable water bottle, like the Platypus Platy 2.0L Soft Bottle. Carried empty, then filled it up past security. Had plenty of (clean) water for the 4 hr flight.
Philip, keep up the good work!
I’ve always used the CNOC systems and liked them; however, I am also trying to stay clear of plastics as much as possible. I’m looking for a decent titanium 1-liter water bottle…..
I don’t like the taste of water that has been sitting in hot plastic, so I have a 1L Vargo titanium bottle and a titanium 1.5L from Silverant. They’re both similar to Nalgene bottles, including the opening. My main system for backpacking and trail surveying is the 1.5L with One Bottle Hydration silicone tubing.
Similar except I can buy 20-30 Nalgene bottles for the cost of one. No, I don’t expect them to be similar in price but $80-$150 is well outside what I would pay for a water bottle.