You’re about to head out on that quick hike, and realize you need to grab a water bottle. But before you grab that single-use plastic water bottle, take a moment to consider that globally over ONE BILLION (that’s 1,000,000,000) are consumed and thrown away everyday. In the U.S. alone we use 60 million plastic water bottles per day with 80% ending up in landfills. The unfortunate reality is most plastics aren’t actually recyclable with current technology. Most plastics end up in landfills and oceans, which is no good for anyone or anything. Plastic from these bottles will take at least 300 years to break down and it is unclear if the compounds ever completely disappear.

Fortunately, you can easily help keep plastic out of landfills and oceans! And you can save big bucks by purchasing just one reusable water bottle. But, with so many options which one should you choose? 

Great for Stickers and Hydration!

On the face of them water bottles are used to communicate interests, opinions, and goals to others out on the trail, at the park, or at the game through a phantasmagoria of stickers. But, out on the trail hikers like to debate about which water bottle is better for outdoor adventurers. This is because it is vital to carry enough water to keep you well-hydrated on the trail. And there are two brands of bottles that provide a most excellent surface for your sticker collection while also being able to handle the trials of a rough day on the trail: the Nalgene and the Hydro Flask. When considering a water bottle, both the Nalgene and the Hydro Flask brands offer unique benefits worth considering, but no matter which you choose you will look forward to adhering pieces of your personality to the sides and making connections with fellow hikers.

The Nalgene: Sticking with a Classic

If you grew up in the 1990s you likely owned a Nalgene. In 1949 at a Rochester, New York science lab, a chemist worked to develop a better plastic for a pipette bottle. His colleagues quickly realized that this leak-proof and light weight bottle worked great in the lab, but would be even better for carrying water out on the day hikes they enjoyed in the Adirondacks. By the late 1970s, as the environmental movement was building, park rangers were looking for ways to reduce trash left by visitors. Parks and wilderness areas were discouraging visitors from toting in glass and metal containers, which were often left behind or burned. Instead, they promoted the “Carry In/Carry Out” trend. This led to more park visitors bringing reusable water bottles. Over the next few decades the Nalgene water bottle became an essential item on any hiker, camper, or backpacker’s list. 

What Makes a Nalgene a Solid Choice for the Trail

The Nalgene bottle is made from a particularly strong type of plastic called Tritan. Tritan is able to withstand drops on rocky terrain, extreme temperature fluctuations, and other types of abuse. Nalgene bottles are also guaranteed to be leak-proof. This comes in handy in saving your gear from getting wet and dripping out precious water along the trail. Maybe most importantly when it comes to plastics, they are free from bisphenols or BPA/BPS’s. These compounds are industrial chemicals used in the manufacture of many types of plastics. They have been found to seep into food and drinks potentially causing health issues.

Perhaps the biggest selling point, besides toughness, is the lightness. Weighing in at about 6 ounces for the standard bottle and only 3.75 ounces for the ultralite version, it’s easy to carry along a full liter of water. But the downside of the lightweight construction is there is no insulation, so you will soon be sipping lukewarm water. Lastly, Nalgenes come in a variety of color combinations and sizes with narrow and wide mouth designs. Fun! Tough, leak-proof, light-weight, and colorful makes them perfect for outdoor enthusiasts and those who prioritize functionality.  

Side Note on the Camelbak: Sticking to Hands-Free Carrying Capacity

Again if you are like me and grew up in the 1990s, you may also have owned a Camelbak hydration pack as an option alongside your Nalgene bottle. While the Nalgene bottle flourished because of the carry in/carry out trend, other outdoor activities required careful thought about water carrying capacity. Let’s consider cycling, which is a popular outdoor recreation activity that requires some creativity when it comes to bringing enough water.

An example of such creativity came from a cyclist trying to finish a particularly hot race in Texas. The cyclist wanted hands-free hydration, so he rigged up an IV bag with a suction tube jammed inside a tube sock to make the first ever Camelbak. Camelbaks are a great option for longer hikes. They typically have a larger water carrying capacity and are almost hands-free. With a Camelbak, the water weight resides in a light comfortable backpack and you sip through an over the shoulder drinking tube. Of course, the big downside is there’s no room for stickers, but you could probably find some space for patches! 

The Hydro Flask: New Tech a Sticking Point for a New Generation

If you have tweens or teens then you might have a couple or half a dozen Hydro Flasks sitting around the house. After a humble, but enthusiastic, debut at a farmer’s market in Oregon in 2009, the Hydro Flask skyrocketed as the go-to reusable water bottle for a whole new generation. Stemming from a disdain for sipping on lukewarm water while out on the trail, this bottle is all about insulation. The designer of the Hydro Flask improved upon Thermos’ double-wall vacuum insulation technology to create a temperature perfect and aesthetically pleasing drinking experience. 

What Makes a Hydro Flask a Cool Choice for the Trail

In the world of reusable water bottles, the Hydro Flask boasts superior insulation! They keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12 hours. This bottle is an excellent choice for folks who enjoy their drinks at the just-right temperature throughout the day. However, what you get in insulation you get double in the weight. The Hydro Flask weighs in at a hefty 14 ounces. This makes it a little more of a challenge to carry along the trail. However, its sleek design and variety of colors made possible by the powder coating turn a basic metal tube into an ideal palette for all those stickers! Hydro Flask also promises a lifetime of temperature perfect sipping and all items are dishwasher safe. So for anyone seeking modern style alongside functionality, then a Hydro Flask may be the bottle for you.

Stick to the Reusable Choice

Personally, I am team Nalgene. Perhaps because of nostalgia or the fact that my bottle is already covered in beloved stickers that take me down memory lane. Water bottles hydrate and give you a chance to let others know a little bit about where you’ve been and what’s important to you. No matter which bottle you choose, the important thing is you are removing thousands of single-use plastic water bottles from the environment. Remember as you line up at the water refill station, which are now widely distributed at parks, airports, schools, and other public buildings, that’s less plastic. Ultimately, whether you prioritize unbeatable durability or temperature control, both Nalgene and Hydro Flask offer reliable options to suit your lifestyle and hydration needs. 

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