Water’s not just essential for hiking, it’s essential for life. So getting a good water bottle always makes sense whether you’re heading for the mountains or just to work on your daily commute. The environmental impact of single-use plastic bottles is huge and you can save money as well as the planet with a reusable bottle. Of course, staying hydrated is even more important when you’re undertaking strenuous activity and could be miles away from a faucet.
A hiking water bottle needs to be robust enough to handle the bumps and scapes of being on the trail but not add too much weight to your backpack. Insulated bottles are usually heavier so there’s a trade-off to be made if you want to keep drinks hot or cold for your hike. These are the water bottles we would recommend.
HYDRO CELL Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Keeps drinks cool or hot
Made from high-grade stainless steel, the Hydro Cell Bottle has a powder coating to make it easier to hang on to in wet (or sweaty) conditions. The bottle has a double-walled vacuum-seal to keep your coffee hot for up to eight hours and which also prevents condensation from forming on the bottle when carrying cold drinks.
Survivor Filter Collapsible Canteens
Roll up lightweight water carrier
Water carriers don’t get much more lightweight than these 1.3-ounce canteens, made from BPA-free heavy-duty plastic. They stand upright when filled but can be rolled up in your pack or attached to the outside with the included carabiners. You drink through the push-pull cap which can also be attached to a water filter.
CamelBak Eddy+ BPA Free Water Bottle
Never loses water even when dropped
This has a clever bite valve which you flip open to sip from the one-liter bottle. It’s leak-proof when closed and spill-proof when open so all your precious water is safe when you’re adventuring in the backcountry or drop it on the bus. Easy to clean in the dishwasher, this new model allows you to drink 25% more water per sip.
Hydro Flask Water Bottle Wide Mouth 2.0
Wide-mouthed insulated flask
Double-walled vacuum insulation keeps cold drinks icy and hot drinks steaming in this wide-mouthed stainless steel flask. The powder coating stops it getting too slippery when wet and it’s dishwasher safe so you can get it clean when returning home. The wide mouth means adding ice cubes is easy too. It’s available in 20oz, 32oz and 40oz sizes and 10 different colors.
Nalgene Lid Wide Mouth Loop-Top Water Bottle
The classic campers’ bottle
A bestseller for 30 years, Nalgene’s simple leak-proof, durable BPA-free plastic bottles are an icon of the outdoors. The wide mouth of this design makes it easy to fill from a stream or add ice cubes to and clean after use. It can be put in the top rack of a dishwasher. Made in the USA, it holds a liter, handily shown by the measurements on the side and is available in multiple colors.
Bottom line
You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.
A good water bottle is something you might need to carry every day as well as on a hiking trip so you want one that is dependable, durable and simple to use and keep clean afterward but doesn’t weigh you down. With all this in mind, we think the HYDRO CELL Stainless Steel Water Bottle is the best choice for most people. The double-walled insulation makes it good for commuting or sports as well as hiking. We would never underestimate how important being able to have a hot coffee or icy water on hand is. The stainless steel construction makes it pretty much indestructible. It’s the best bottle for the price.
If you want a simple, basic bottle that will never let you down over countless trips and even more sips, the Nalgene Lid Wide Mouth Loop-Top Water Bottle is a classic for a reason. It won’t leak a drop and is easy to use and keep clean.
