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.

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.