Water is the key to life; having a way to carry and store water is essential to your survival. Check out the following list of common water containers, and find the ones that will fit your needs.
| Plastic Water Bottles |
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 | Pros- Strong & Durable
- Great for storing gear in while empty
- Comes in a wide variety of sizes
- Cheap and easy to find
Cons - Can leach dangerous chemicals like bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates
- Not good for cooking or boiling water.
Tips - Look for opaque color bottles which may help to stop algae growth
- Look for Bottles that are 100% free of bisphenol-A (BPA) and phthalates
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| Metal Water Bottles |
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 | Pros- Generally considered to be stronger than Plastic
- Great for boiling water – (make sure that your bottle is not coated with a plastic material)
Cons - Expensive
- Will Corrode over time
- Reflective material easily seen if trying to hide.
Tips - We recommend the Klean Kanteen It’s light weight, strong and can be used to boil water in a pinch
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| Military Canteens |
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 | Pros- Strong & Durable (they are made to stand up in a war zone)
- Great for boiling water and come with an attached metal cup for boiling or cooking
Cons - Watch out for cheap imitations
Tips - Look for the Standard Issue bottle used by most military troops around the world. Also, get one with a Cover that protects against rusting leaking and can be easily attached to your bag.
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| Thermos |
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 | Pros- Very tough & can take a beating
- Great for keeping liquids cold or warm over extended periods of time
Cons - Extremely heavy and not practical for hiking
- Not good for cooking or boiling water
Tips - We recommend the time tested Stanley Thermos I beat the heck out of mine and it has never failed me.
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| Camelbacks & Water Bags |
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 | Pros- Easy to carry
- Easy access to water while walking or on the go. No need to stop to take out your water bottle.
Cons - Can take up valuable room in your backpack
- Hard to see how much water you have left.
- Hard to clean and can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
- If the bag gets punctured you will have a backpack full of wet gear
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| Collapsible Bottles |
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 | Pros- Compact and takes up very little room in your bag
Cons - Can leach dangerous chemicals
- Not good for cooking or boiling water
- Not very durable
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| Collapsible Military Bowls |
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 | Pros- Easy to pack & takes up very little room in your bag
Cons - Not good for cooking or boiling water
- Not good for carrying over long distances
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| Plastic & Ziploc Bags |
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 | Pros- Compact and takes up very little room in your bag
- Multi-use – Great for storing food, tinder, and keeping gear dry.
Cons - Can leach dangerous chemicals
- Not very strong and can easily spring a leak
Tips - Larger bags can be used to make a Condensation trap. A clear plastic bag placed around a tree branch with leaves will produce condensation that can then be used for drinking. Make sure the bag is in direct sunlight.
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I used 1 and 2 quart Gatorade bottles on my 2010 Appalachian Trail thru hike.
an easy way around the stainless plastic capped cheaper bottles (wallyworld $5) is to get one where all plastic parts are on the cap it self and use a small amount of safety wire wrapped around the neck (look for one with a lip) to hang it over a fire.
Also be sure the many ways to make fresh water, Solar, homemade gravity etc. I have a stash of brita’s and am thinking of making my own big 5gallon brita with charcoal an all. Boil and filter is best. If you can get fire, you can drink good water. In most cases. Thanks OgridSur. for posting all these important Views!! Hope for the Best, Expect the worst.