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Say goodbye to bottled water and discover the best hiking water bottles with our guide. We've all heard horror stories about hikers who get dehydrated while hiking because they didn't bring enough water with them, let's not be one of them.
As a hiker, I try to do my part for the environment by avoiding single-use plastic as much as possible. Fortunately, when it comes to durable water bottles, that's quite easy. Plus, the reusable ones are much more practical for hiking and even everyday water drinking, as you'll see.
Here's our guide to the best water bottle for your hiking adventure
Water Bottles For Hiking: Plastic vs Stainless Steel
Water bottles are made from either 1) plastic - Nalgene bottles are the most famous brand or 2) stainless steel water bottles.
Personally, I prefer stainless steel ones because I feel like plastic bottles change the taste of the water.
Plus, stainless steel bottles prevent your water from getting too warm in hot climates. They also tend to hold up better if you drop them.
And if you get an insulated one, they'll keep your drink warm in winter if you prefer something like tea to warm you up.
Another perk of water bottles is that if you put them in your backpack near your back they aren't as likely to freeze as water bladders do in cold temperatures.
Top 3 Best Quality Hiking Water Bottles
Top 3 Best Mid-Priced Hiking Water Bottles
Top 3 Best Budget Hiking Water Bottles
Special Mentions
Water Bottles vs Water Bladders: Pros and Cons
Water Bottles
Pros:- You know exactly how much water you have left at a glance.
- Water bottles are less likely to leak
- Water bottles are easier to fill up than bladders.
- It's easier to pour from a water bottle into another container than from a bladder.
- If you don't have pockets on the side of your bag, you have to stop walking to have a drink.
- Bottles can be hard to clean if they have a small mouth opening.
- Water bottles don't reduce in size as your drink from them unless you're using a collapsible water bottle.
Water Bladders/Hydration Bladders
Pros:- Easy to drink from while hiking, helping to ensure that you'll drink more and not get dehydrated
- A bladder is usually easier to fit inside a backpack
- As you drink from your bladder it reduces in size
- You can never be certain of how much water you've drunk without stopping to check.
- The water in the tube can freeze in cold weather and gets warm in hot weather while you're hiking
- It's difficult to drink when you sit down to take a break
- Inconvenient to clean
- They can leak
So, water bottle or water bladder? You decide! I normally hike with a 3-liter water bladder and a 500ml water bottle I use when sitting. It's also insurance in case my bladder leaks. If I'm hiking in particularly hot weather or doing a long time, I'll sometimes bring two bottles in addition to the bladder.
Insulated vs Non-Insulated Hiking Water Bottles
An insulated water bottle helps regulate the temperature of your beverage and keeps your water cool and your tea warm.
Non-insulated bottles don't regulate the temperature but adjust to the temperature around them, s you could be drinking warm water or cold tea.
While an insulated bottle is more expensive than a non-insulated one, I personally think they're worth it. If you've ever been snowshoeing and were looking forward to a drink of tea to warm you up, only to find that it's now cold, you'll know what I mean. Plus, it's usually a one-time purchase. I've used the same water bottles for years.
