OutdoorHub 2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Water Bottles NOT Made in China

   11.18.22

OutdoorHub 2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Water Bottles NOT Made in China

Stay hydrated! Words to live by! No matter how you get your water on the go, having a good water bottle is a surefire way to always be ready for adventure when it calls. While store-bought “disposable” plastic water bottles are inexpensive and convenient, they’re also terrible for the environment, more expensive per gallon of water, and are nowhere near as durable. Nice, well-made reusable water bottles have none of those drawbacks and also happen to make great gifts. As we approach the upcoming holiday season, you might want to consider a nice high-quality (read: not made in China) water bottle for your adventure-loving friends and family. Today we’ll be providing you with some of our favorites as well as some budget-minded options for you to consider so you can make sure everyone you care about stays well-hydrated this holiday season!

More Holiday Gift Guides @ OutdoorHub:

OutdoorHub 2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Water Bottles NOT Made in China

OutdoorHub 2022 Holiday Gift Guide: Water Bottles NOT Made in China

 

1. Anchor Hocking Life Durable Glass Hydration Water Bottle

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Anchor Hocking Life Durable Glass Hydration Water Bottle

These snappy water bottles are some of my favorites because they feature a rock-solid leak-proof design, and also come with silicone sleeves making them easy to grip when your hands are wet or dry! Glass might seem like an odd choice for a backpacking or camping water bottle but the durable tempered glass is quite honestly so durable that even I haven’t managed to break one yet!

The Anchor Hocking 19.5oz Pebble Grey Life Durable Glass Bottle is completely BPA-free. Made of tempered glass, and up to 100% stronger than regular glass bottles. The tempered glass bottle is wrapped in a BPA-free silicone sleeve for additional protection and features an easy-to-grip pebbled texture. The lid is crafted from stainless steel and capped with a BPA-free silicone stopper.

Pros/100% BPA Free and comes with a silicone sleeve for extra durablity and better ergonomics in wet conditions
Cons/Glass can break and when it does its a huge mess compared to plastic
Bottom Line/A great option for those who like to keep things classy but still want or need a good water bottle.

2. Polar Bottle Breakaway Insulated Bike Water Bottle

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Polar Bottle Breakaway Insulated Bike Water Bottle

The Breakaway Insulated water bottle was crafted in Colorado for cyclists by cyclists. The newly re-engineered Tri-Layer insulation takes Polar Bottle’s recognized radiant heat reflective technology to the next level, keeping your liquids cooler, two times longer. Whether you’re biking on dirt or road, you’ll stay refreshed long into your ride. Trusted by cycling adventurers for over 25 years, the Breakaway Insulated bike water bottle offers superior performance. The new bottle shape and size fits securely in a variety of bike cages, and the unique grip groove makes it effortless to grab and squeeze. The high-flow Surge Cap provides a sip or blast of water and self-seals to eliminate spills and splatter, even on your bumpiest rides.

Pros/Insulated design works well with cold water and sepecifically designed to work with bike cages.
Cons/Drinking nipple easily gets damaged and will need replacement if dropped too much
Bottom Line/Lots of design variety to choose from so you can customize your pick to each person!

3. Platypus Platy Collapsible Water Bottle

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Platypus Platy Collapsible Water Bottle

Made in the USA and absolutely the best in its class for collapsible water bottles. Platypus water bottles are great for backpackers and those who love adventure but like to stay light on their feet. Platypus’ original lightweight, collapsible water bottle design, the Platy Bottle holds 2 liters of water or other hydrating liquid. Made of 100% taste- and BPA-free, food-grade nylon and polyethylene that’s pliable and durable, this lightweight and packable water bottle weighs 80% less weight than standard hard water bottles. The bottle features a simple threaded cap that’s compatible with any threaded Platy lid, drink tube, and other accessories. Easy-to-use freestanding design for stable use.

Pros/Super lightweight and compact when not storing water - great for use with water filters and backpacking adventures
Cons/Not very durable
Bottom Line/A great option for hikers and backapckers

4. Nalgene Wide Mouth Water Bottle

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Nalgene Wide Mouth Water Bottle

Even if you’re not familiar with the name you’re probably familiar with the shape. Nalgene water bottles are made right here in the USA in New York and are used by nearly everyone who likes to have a convenient source of hydration. The iconic wide-mouth water bottle is perfect for everyday use, outdoor sports, hiking, camping, range day, hunting, and virtually everything else. The wide mouth allows you to easily fill the bottle up with water, ice, and drink mixes and also makes it insanely easy to clean. Every genuine Nalgene bottle comes with a lifetime guarantee and there are tons of color options and customization options if you want to personalize your gift.

Pros/Wide mouth is great for adding ice and cleaning.
Cons/Beware of knockoffs as they arent nearly as durable as genuine Nalgene bottles
Bottom Line/You cant go wong with the OG Water bottle!

5. Nalgene Sustain Tritan 16oz Water Bottle

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Nalgene Sustain Tritan 16oz Water Bottle

Kids need water too! These smaller 16oz Nalgene bottles are perfect for kids who like to take water to school or on the road with them and fit conveniently in most backpack-mounted water bottle pouches. Like other Nalgene bottles, the Tritan is virtually indestructable but is made from 50% recycled plastic so they are using even less new material than the original Nalgene bottle.

Pros/Made from partially recycled materials, smaller mouthpiece is easier to drink from for kids.
Cons/Harder to clean than the wide mouth version
Bottom Line/Makes for a great travel water bottle or one pefect for the kids!

What Does “BPA Free” mean?

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an industrial chemical used primarily in the manufacture of polycarbonate (PC) plastics and epoxy resins.

A product that is BPA-free is one that does not use the organic compound Bisphenol A in its construction. In the past, many plastic products such as baby bottles, plastic plates and cutlery, storage containers, and drink bottles have been made using BPA.

Over the years, concerns have been raised about its effects on human health, especially when it is used in food contact materials and articles (FCM). Many jurisdictions around the world now regulate the use of BPA, making it important for manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers to understand and comply with the relevant laws and standards for their target markets.

 

What is the most durable material to use for a water bottle?

Glass water bottles are chemical-free, natural, recyclable, and easy to clean. Glass bottles are also non-permeable, so they won’t break down into the water, affecting taste and your health. UV Rays (the sun) can expose your water bottles to intense heat which could degrade the lifetime of the plastic and also break down the material which could get into your water (microplastics). Another good option is stainless steel water bottles which share a lot of the same characteristics as glass water bottles and likely have some insulative properties as well. However, both of these material choices come at an increased cost.

How long can I store water in my BPA-free plastic water bottle?

If you’re dead set on storing water in a plastic water bottle then its best to only keep it around for as long as you’ll need it. Water technically doesn’t expire but plastic particles can leach into the water over time which affects both the taste and toxicity of the water. If the seal on your water bottle isn’t perfect, outside contaminates can also make their way in there and cause things like bacteria and viruses to grow. Make sure you keep your hiking, camping, and emergency water bottles clean and stocked up with fresh water as much as you possibly can. Most water won’t last well for more than a couple of weeks especially if exposed to the sun.

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Luke is currently a full-time writer for TheFirearmBlog.com, OvertDefense.com, AllOutdoor.com, and of course, OutdoorHub.com. Luke is a competitive shooter, firearms enthusiast, reloader, outdoorsman, and generally takes an interest in anything that has to do with the great outdoors. Luke is also a private certified pilot and is currently pursuing his commercial pilot's license in the hopes of becoming a professional pilot. Some of Luke's other interests include anything to do with aviation, aerospace and military technology, and American Conservancy efforts. Instagram: @ballisticaviation YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/BallisticAviation thefirearmblog.com/blog/author/luke-c/ overtdefense.com/author/luke-c/ alloutdoor.com/author/lukec/

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