(Disclaimer – I like water bottles. Therefore, the opportunity to test some new ones has given me LOTS to tell you about! Stick with this post ’til the end and be sure to comment on how creative you are with your bottles!)
Think staying hydrated is only for the summer months? Think again! Hydration is important throughout the year and during colder months we tend to forget to stay hydrated. Let a new bottle inspire you to keep the liquids flowing!
Great Outdoor Provision Co. offers a variety of hydration motivators if you will. For starters, there’s the tried and true Nalgene, everyone’s got ‘em and we all love ‘em (there’s also a new style!). But be sure check out some of the newer guys, CamelBak, Nathan, and Klean Kanteen.
With the BPA (bisphenol-A) hype that’s come up recently, we’re all a little more conscious of what type of plastics we’re using. I’m happy to say that the new bottles in stock are BPA free and have giant stickers on the side gleaming with pride! If you still have questions about the BPA contents, ask us – we’ll be glad to help or point you to the right direction!
First up – let’s talk about Nalgene! While Nalgene makes bottles in a variety of compounds, the everyday line contains the most sought after bottles. Best of all, our shops should now have the newest member of the Nalgene family – the OTG (On-The-Go). The OTG is a great 24oz option that has a nifty, one-handed flip top – perfect for any on-the-go lifestyle. This guy joins the 16oz and 32oz wide and narrow mouth tops. Bottles from the everyday line can withstand temps from -40F-212F. Dishwasher safe on the top rack and microwavable too! My personal favorite is the narrow mouth 32oz since I’m often out on the trail or in the car driving – however, there are inserts you can buy for the wide mouth variety that provides the same non-spilling action AND preserves the large open mouth area for other uses (i.e. ice or food). I often use my bottles for soup, cheerios, and yes… dog treats. The wide mouth bottles are GREAT for packing crackers and other crushables (pasta storage anyone?). Be creative!
Hydrate or Die. That’s what my CamelBak bottle says on the side. There’s also a small morbid skull just in case I forget. It’s actually a pretty cool graphic but the message is clearly there. CamelBak bottles are a great choice for everyone, especially youth – the smaller bottles (yep, all BPA free!) are contoured and will readily fit in most vehicles’ beverage holders. They also come fully equipped with a straw and a neat little sucker apparatus they call a “bite valve.” With an array of colorful options and prints too, CamelBak is sure to please even the pickiest bottle fanatic! I tried out the Better Bottle (that’s right, the one with the skull) in the .5L size and found it to be a great every day bottle. In case you don’t really prefer that little sucker thingy I mentioned before, the Better Bottles also come in a wide mouth option that has a classic lid. The classic lid simply screws on and off. CamelBak also makes a really cool set up of hydration packs but I’m going to skip over that as it’s a category in itself!
Nathan’s steel printed bottles are a great addition to anyone’s water bottle collection – or perfect for a first bottle! While they’re slightly pricier than their plastic counterparts, the flip top straw and mouthpiece are great. There’s also a cool clip built into the lid so you can clip it to your pack. The prints are exceptionally cute but will also appeal to the men folks as well. Being made of steel, the bottles are easy to clean, pop ‘em in the dishwasher or stick ‘em in the sink and scrub away. Did I mention that I really like the lid on this one? It even has a straw! The 700ml variety is perfect for everyday use or a quick beverage on the trail.
Finally – let’s chat about the Klean Kanteen – my new personal favorite. Where do I begin?! In sizes ranging from 12oz all the way to 40oz, this bottle is the do-tall, take-everywhere bottle. It’s made of stainless steel and has a variety of cap options. The loop top plastic cap, the sports cap, the non-loop top plastic cap, and the stainless non-loop cap – oh and there’s also a sippy cap for the little ones. I tested the 27oz regular stainless bottle but there are also six new “kolors” available. One of my favorite things about this bottle is the size. It’s large enough to hold plenty of liquid yet slim enough to fit in almost any space from my day bag to the drink holder in my Honda. I also like that being stainless, if there’s even a speck of dirt in my bottle, I can see it because of the reflection inside.
One thing I noticed about this bottle was the metallic taste. I was bummed. I poured about a ¼ cup of white vinegar, filled it up with water, rinsed, repeated. Then I stuck it in the dishwasher, voila – taste was gone. It still smelled a bit metallic but that left after about three more washes. It was worth the little trouble. The opening on this bottle isn’t quite small enough not to spill while driving, so be careful there – but it is perfect size for ice cubes!
I may be a little biased towards the Klean Kanteen for now, but it’s great on many levels. The regular stainless variety (not the “kolored”) is great for camping for many reasons…one being that aside from just a great bottle (if you don’t believe me just try one!) it’s perfect to fill with water and stick over the fire for a short time to warm it up. I promise it won’t take long and voila, warm water for washing your face (because I KNOW all of you do that when you’re out enjoying the trails…). The sippy cup conversion is also a great option for eco-conscious moms out there who limit plastics for their children. Oh, and Kevin – try the insulated tote that promises to keep contents cool for up to four hours.
Ultimately – staying hydrated is the goal with any of these bottles. I wanted to highlight a few that I’ve recently had the opportunity to try out – and so far, I’ve been pleased with each. (Although I clearly have a favorite!)
I’d love your comments on what you put in YOUR bottles – water, snacks, pasta storage, soup, morning smoothies, shampoo…heck, maybe you catch fireflies and keep them in your clear Nalgenes! Whatever the case, fill me in – I’m always looking to expand my horizons!
Ginger Dail is a sales associate at our Greenville Shop
