If you’re tired of those old plastic squirt water bottles that have been living at the bottom of your camping pack for the past several years and are ready to upgrade, you’ve come to the right place.
Camping water bottles have evolved over the past few years as several companies launch trendy new products. Because of that, shopping for a new water bottle can be overwhelming.
That’s where we can help. We’ve compiled a list of the top water bottles for camping, and researched key information on those products to help you make the best possible purchase.
Understand these features when shopping for a new water bottle :
- Capacity. The more it can hold, the heavier it is. Find that sweet spot when it comes to capacity.
- Insulation. What’s vacuum insulation? We explain what you need to know.
- Wide-mouth design. This is becoming a popular design feature among newer water bottles.
Read More : 7 Things to Know Before Buying Camping Water Bottles
There’s plenty of other facets to understand as well.
Here are the 10 best water bottles for camping
Hydro Flask Vacuum Water Bottle
- Volume : 32oz / 946mL
- Material : Stainless steel
- Weight : 19oz / 539g
Hydro Flask has exploded as a company over the past couple of years and the Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle is one of its top products.
It’s great for keeping drinks cold for hours, even if it sits in a 90-degree car for most of the day, which makes it a great water bottle for camping.
This 32oz bottle is pretty big and heavy for a water bottle, so we couldn’t recommend it for backpacking hikers. For around the campsite, though, you can’t go wrong with its wide-mouth design and ability to keep your water cold without adding that weird metallic taste to it.
We love how Hydro Flask offers nearly a dozen different color options.
One downside to this Hydro Flask bottle is its exterior durability. Little drops can result in noticeable dents.
What we like
- Colorful. Pick from one of 11 bright colors.
- Vacuum insulation keeps water cold for hours.
- Lifetime warranty protects against manufacturer defects.
What we don't like
- Expensive because this is also a trendy brand.
- Easily dents. Make sure not to drop it as it dents quite easily.
YETI Rambler Vacuum Bottle with Chug Cap
- Volume : 36oz / 1L
- Material : Stainless steel
- Weight : 24.5oz / 694g
If you’re looking for a wide-mouth water bottle that allows you to drink it like a standard-mouth water bottle, the YETI Rambler Vacuum Bottle with Chug Cap is the ultimate innovation that makes drinking water easy.
The Chug Cap is made up of two separate tops that screw into the 36oz bottle. The first seals into the bottle and has a standard water bottle opening that makes it extremely easy to drink from, without worrying about water dribbling down your mouth.
The second is the TripleHaul Handle, which seals the bottle shut and allows you to easily carry it around.
If you need a super-tough, versatile water bottle, the YETI Rambler is the way to go.
What we like
- Chug cap turns a wide-mouth design into a standard water bottle opening for easy drinking.
- Leakproof. If the caps are screwed on, this isn’t leaking water.
- Super tough. If you drop this YETI, don’t worry about seeing dents.
What we don't like
- Expensive. YETI is a premium brand with expensive products.
- Big and heavy. Doesn’t fit into most car cup holders.
Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottle
- Volume : 32oz / 946mL
- Material : Plastic
- Weight : 6.25oz / 177g
No campsite is complete without a few Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottles lying around. This basic water bottle for camping has been a favorite among campers for many years.
At its core, this is a plain, plastic water bottle that doesn’t leak water and can help keep you hydrated.
For the cheap price, you’re not getting any type of insulation, so don’t expect your water to stay cold.
But this water bottle is built to last. The plastic is extremely tough and designed for activities like camping. If you drop it in the dirt or even off a cliff, you can rest assured knowing it’ll still work well as your camping water bottle.
Once it gets beat up too much, you can easily afford to buy a new one. As a bonus, it’s dishwasher safe and free of all environmental hazards, including BPA, BPS and phthalates.
What we like
- Cheap. You can afford to buy two of these basic water bottles.
- Tough. This plastic water bottle is designed to take a beating.
What we don't like
- No insulation to keep your water cold.
LifeStraw Go Filter Bottle
- Volume : 22oz / 650mL
- Material : Plastic
- Weight : 7.8oz / 221g
An all-in-one water bottle and filter, the LifeStraw Go Filter Bottle is extremely convenient for backpacking campers who are always on the go.
As its name suggests, this water bottle’s main feature is the built-in filtering device that lets you run water from a stream through it and have 99.9% of all bacteria removed. The filter will last you about 1,000 gallons worth of water before being replaced. That means you can refill this bottle more than 5,800 times.
The one downside to this LifeStraw water bottle is its water capacity. Because of the filtering membrane, you can only get 22oz of water in it, which is on the smaller side.
What we like
- Filtering straw cleans out the water before it hits your mouth, removing 99.9% of all bacteria.
- Removable filter membrane lets you clean up to 1,000 gallons of water before replacement is needed.
What we don't like
- Small volume. The filter takes up a lot of room, so you can go through water quickly due to the small reservoir.
Platypus Platy Water Bottle
- Volume : 70oz / 2.7L
- Material : Plastic
- Weight : 1.3oz / 37g
A portable and compact water bottle with a huge reservoir, the Platypus Platy Water Bottle is a backpacking camper’s dream.
This water bottle is extremely light at 1.3oz and when it’s not being used, you can flatten and roll it up for easy packing.
We love how much water it can hold, though. At 70oz, it can hold more than two times the amount of most camping water bottles. Obviously, this water bottle is considerably heavier when filled.
The best part? The price. You can afford to buy one of these Platypus water bottles for yourself and one for a friend.
What we like
- Extremely light and compact. This scrunchable water bottle is 80% lighter than normal bottles and takes up 80% less space when packed away.
- Big reservoir. At 70oz, it can hold enough water to get you through a day on the campsite.
- Affordable. For the size and portability, this bottle actually comes with a low price tag.
What we don't like
- Unattached cap can easily become lost if you’re not careful.
- Difficult to dry the inside after cleaning.
Klean Kanteen Stainless-Steel Water Bottle
- Volume : 64oz / 1.9L
- Material : Stainless steel
- Weight : 11.5oz / 326g
The Klean Kanteen Stainless-Steel Wide-Mouth Water Bottle is a capable camping water bottle that’s great for the campsite and is light enough that you may even want to bring it with you on a hike.
At 64oz, this is another water bottle with a large capacity, allowing you to fill it up in the morning and drink enough water out of that one fill-up to stay hydrated all day long.
With its wide-mouth design and no option for a straw, you’ll need to get used to drinking out of that big of an opening if you’re not already.
This Klean Kanteen bottle can keep your water cold for a few hours, but not all day because it’s not double-walled insulated. Expect to see condensation on it on those really hot days outside.
What we like
- Lightweight for such a large stainless steel water bottle.
- Keeps water cold for several hours.
What we don't like
- No cap accessories, like a straw or smaller mouth.
- Make sure it’s tight. The seal is good, but you need to really tighten the cap.
Hydrapak Stash Collapsible Water Bottle
- Volume : 32oz / 946mL
- Material : Plastic
- Weight : 3.3oz / 94g
A collapsible water bottle that comes in four fun colors, the Hydrapak Stash Collapsible Water Bottle is great for backpacking, or for those car campers who simply want to save on space.
For a collapsible water bottle, this model is extremely sturdy. That durability and strength mean it takes a little muscle and getting used to scrunching it up and pulling it back out again, but after some practice, it becomes easy.
At the campsite, it’s also pretty versatile. While most will use it for drinking water, feel free to put your morning coffee in it, or even a cold beer in the afternoon.
If portability is what you’re looking for, you can’t go wrong with this Hydrapak bottle.
What we like
- Light and compact. Especially great for backpacking campers where weight and space are critical.
- Hot or cold drinks can be enjoyed in this bottle.
- Great colors, including blue, orange, green and grey.
What we don't like
- Takes up a lot of space when filled with water
- Can be messy until you get used to drinking out of it properly.
CamelBak Chute Mag 1L Bottle
- Volume : 34oz / 1L
- Material : Plastic
- Weight : 6.8oz / 193g
From a trusted brand when it comes to hydration, the CamelBak Chute Mag 1L Bottle is a great plastic option that was engineered for easy drinking.
The first thing you’ll notice is how light this water bottle is. For a large-volume water bottle, it’s impressive the engineers at CamelBak got this down to 6.7oz, which is less than half of a pound.
And that weight includes CamelBak’s magnetic cap, which allows you to pop the lid and drink with one hand.
Make sure the screw-on lid on the wide-mouth opening is screwed in tightly to prevent leaks.
The width of this CamelBak bottle is comfortable enough for holding with one hand and fits nicely into a standard car cup holder.
What we like
- Easy-sipping cap plus a wide-mouth for easily filling it up.
- Magnetic cap makes for easy one-hand drinking.
- Trusted brand when it comes to hydration in the outdoors.
What we don't like
- Careful of leaks. The magnetic cap doesn’t prevent leaks; you need to twist on the cap tightly.
Stanley Classic Wide Mouth Flask
- Volume : 8oz / 237mL
- Material : Stainless steel
- Weight : 8oz / 227g
Of course, you can use the stanley classic Easy-Fill Wide Mouth Flask for water, similar to the other bottles on this list.
But we think after you see it, you’ll likely use it for some other kind of (adult) beverage.
Stanley, known for making tough camping gear, has delivered with this 8oz camping flask. From its wide-mouth opening to the fun colors you can pick from, it’s not only a great flask for the campsite but also as a gift for one of your fellow campers.
If you’re going the gift route, the base of this flask is engravable, which makes for a nice touch.
With the top on, this stainless steel flask certainly keeps your cold beverages cold and your hot ones hot.
If you prefer something a little stronger that’s closer to room temperature, this Stanley flask delivers on that too.
What we like
- Durable. Good luck denting this super-tough stainless steel.
- Great colors. We especially like the blue and green options.
What we don't like
- Small capacity. But that’s the idea with a flask.
GSI Outdoors Microlite Twist Bottle
- Volume : 33oz / 976mL
- Material : Stainless Steel
- Weight : 13oz / 500g
At first touch, you probably wouldn’t expect the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist Bottle to be insulated enough to keep your cold beverages nice and icy for more than a day, but that’s exactly what this camping water bottle delivers.
Thinner than most insulated water bottles, this stainless steel bottle weighs in at under 1lbs, which is pretty amazing for its 33oz water capacity.
Campers will likely be divided if they like the attached cap. Some might say it gets in the way when drinking, while others will appreciate that they can’t mistakenly lose it.
One downside of this thin construction is that it’s a bit more prone to dents.
But if you want a stainless steel water bottle that can keep your drinks cold at a mid-range price, you should definitely check out the GSI Outdoors Microlite 1000 Twist Bottle.
What we like
- Super thin for an insulated water bottle.
- Vacuum insulation can keep cold beverages cold for 32 hours, and hot beverages hot for 16 hours.
What we don't like
- Attached cap may not be for everyone, but you certainly won’t lose it.
Camping Water Bottles Buying Guide
When shopping for a camping bottle, you’re going to see all sorts of technical specs and features.
Use this guide to learn more about those and make a purchase that best fits your needs.
Water bottle materials
There are two main materials that are primarily used when it comes to camping water bottles.
- Stainless steel is super-tough and when vacuum-insulated, does a great job at keeping beverages hot and cold. The YETI Rambler Vacuum Bottle with Chug Cap might do this better than any stainless steel bottle. You’ll likely see a material called 18/8 stainless steel, which is the most common type of stainless steel, made up of 18% chromium and 8% nickel. You might also see it labeled as 304. While stainless steel is durable, it can dent easily when it takes a tumble.
- Plastic water bottles for camping are a great option because they’re durable and tend to be pretty cheap. So, if you lose one while camping, you’re not going to be out a ton of money. The downside, of course, is that plastic bottles don’t keep your beverages hot or cold for too long. The big upside is that plastic technology can allow for crunchable bottles that save on weight and space, like the Platypus Platy Water Bottle, which is extremely light for a 70oz water bottle.
Water bottle capacity
Perhaps the trickiest part of purchasing a water bottle is determining how much capacity you need.
Do you need something really big, like the Klean Kanteen Stainless-Steel Wide-Mouth Water Bottle, that features a capacity of 64oz?
Or can you get away with something a little smaller, like a 32oz Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottle?
This all depends on what type of camping you’re into. If you’re hitting up public campsites where there’s easy access to clean water, it’s not a huge deal to have to refill a smaller water bottle throughout the day. You’ll save money because it’s a smaller bottle and you’ll save on packing space.
Now, if you’re driving into the backcountry and are only bringing a few large jugs of water with you, it’s probably a great idea to go with something a little bigger and fill it up before taking off.
Most water bottles are between 22oz and 32oz, so if you need something on the larger side, look for about double that capacity.
Wide-mouth design
A popular feature among camping water bottles is the wide-mouth design.
Wide-mouth, as found on the Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth Vacuum Water Bottle, means it’s bigger than the standard opening to drink out of than a typical disposable water bottle that you would buy at a gas station.
The biggest advantage of a wide-mouth water bottle is the ease of filling it up. As you can imagine, holding a tiny opening straight enough under a spicket to ensure no water falls to the ground and is wasted is pretty tough. If you have a nice, golf-hole-sized opening, it becomes much easier.
Drinking out of a wide-mouth bottle can take some getting used to. If you tip it back too quickly, expect a bunch of water to splash on your face and dribble down your chin.
Yeti has figured out this issue with its Chug Cap, which screws on to the wide-mouth opening, making your drinking experience much more enjoyable.
Leak proof design
A leaky water bottle is the last thing you need, especially if you’re carrying your water inside a backpack with other gear.
Thankfully, most water bottles feature a leak-proof design as long as the caps are screwed on tightly.
Even collapsible bottles, like the Hydrapak Stash Collapsible Water Bottle, tout a leak-proof design. Again, to prevent leaks, it comes down to tightening the cap and making sure there are no significant dents and dings in the body of the bottle that could turn into small holes.
Insulation
Another big decision you need to make when shopping for a camping water bottle is if you need an insulated bottle that can keep beverages hot and cold.
Obviously, the biggest benefit of insulation is keeping your beverages at a desired temperature for an extended period of time.
The downside is that insulation adds weight to the bottle and tends to be pricier.
The CamelBak Chute Mag 1L Bottle, for instance, has no insulation in it. You can put ice in the bottle to keep water cold, but it’ll melt if it’s hot outside.
The GSI Outdoors Microlite Twist Bottle is actually relatively thin and light for an insulated bottle, and it does a great job at keeping your beverages hot and cold for a longer-than-normal amount of time.
Vacuum insulation is a term you’ll likely see while shopping. It means there are essentially two flasks inside of each other with a gap of air that prevents hot and cold air from entering or exiting the reservoir.
You’ll also see double-wall insulation, which means there’s a second layer that allows you to easily carry a hot beverage without worrying about burning your hands.
BPA-free, BPS-free and Phthalate-free
If you think you want a plastic camping water bottle, you’ll often see the manufacturer market the product as being free of BPA, BPS and Phthalate.
- BPA stands for bisphenol A, a chemical used during the 1960s to manufacture plastic. Many experts agree this is a toxic chemical to ingest.
- BPS is an alternate form of bisphenol, which is less toxic than A, but can still disrupt cell function, even in small amounts.
- Phthalate is often used in plastic production. It’s unclear what types of effects it has on the body.
Bottle weight
Bottle weight is most important for backpacking campers who need to be careful about how much weight is in their pack.
Obviously, when filled with water, the bottle can become significantly heavier. For example, 33oz of water weighs about 2.2lbs (1kg). If you’re bringing a bottle with about double the capacity, like the Platypus Platy Water Bottle, you can double that weight, plus add-in the weight of the bottle.
For car campers, bottle weight is less of an issue because it’s primarily going to live in a camping car cup holder or on a table.
FAQ
Are camping water bottles dishwasher safe?
Many camping water bottles are dishwasher safe, but you need to check what the manufacturer recommends before deciding to wash it.
Yeti, for example, pledges that all of their products are dishwasher safe.
How do I clean the water bottles while camping?
The best way to clean your water bottle while camping is to use a little bit of dish soap with water that has boiled to ensure all bacteria is gone. You can wait for the water to cool off a bit before washing it so you won’t burn your hand.
Since you’re living outside, it’s recommended you wash your water bottle at least one time per day.
Andrew Dodson
Andrew Dodson is an avid camper who enjoys the great outdoors with his wife and two-year-old son. He resides in Colorado, where you can often find him enjoying hikes with a toddler strapped to his back and mini goldendoodle Percy nearby.
