For the wide mouth
The wide mouth is where it gets serious. Nalgene has fully embraced the wide-mouth design. The screw cap, attached to the bottle, guarantees 100% leakproofness. The opening is ultra-simple to operate, even under difficult conditions, with one hand, while wearing gloves, or in rain and snow...
The wide mouth is ideal for collecting and transferring water, which is important in the wild when it comes to gathering water before filtering it (always collect water from a clean source and never in the direction of the current! Otherwise, you could easily capture particles that might contain harmful microorganisms!).
The wide mouth allows you to store equipment, food (flour, grains, meal leftovers...), a first aid or fire kit, electronic equipment...
The wide mouth also makes cleaning easier. The transparent and smooth Tritan material allows you to see every corner and potential mold buildup.
For various technical features
It can withstand very high temperatures (boiling water) without deforming or altering. However, avoid direct contact with flames. As such, it can be used as a hot water bottle inside a sleeping bag during a cold night or in a car when stuck in bad weather.
Some testimonies even suggest that in certain critical situations, urinating into a Nalgene bottle at night without leaving your sleeping bag can help maintain vital core temperature.
It’s a classic, and many brands use it as a reference for essential accessories like transport pouches and MSR Miniworks and Guardian filters, for example. There's even a screw-on LED system available to turn it into a waterproof lantern!
It’s nearly indestructible. You’d need a massive fall from several meters to possibly crack it. The cap and its attachment are robust. Many videos show a 4x4 truck driving over a Nalgene bottle with no damage – this is one tough bottle, you’ll be exhausted before it is!
Tips and tricks
Nalgene "For Your Everyday Adventures" will become your everyday ally. You’ll see from experience that there are countless ways to use it.
Here are a few tips:
- If you’re using a bottle in freezing temperatures, the wide mouth of the Nalgene will be more suited. It’s easier to break frozen water or gather snow.
- Leave your bottle open a few hours after washing and rinsing it with clean water, ensuring it’s completely dry before storing it (but trust me, it’ll serve you every day…).
- Use a removable reducer to drink directly from the wide mouth without spilling. This system is compatible with 1-liter and 1.5-liter Nalgene bottles.
- Use your bottle in addition to your cooking set during water bath cooking.
- Don’t forget to use the graduations on the bottle to measure water for your rehydrated meals or the amount of flour for your bannock bread, for example.
- Avoid more complex models (like multi-drink versions). While attractive, they are more prone to breaking or losing their leakproof seal due to the number of parts in the cap mechanisms.
- Avoid counterfeit versions; the plastics are often of lower quality and may not guarantee BPA-free status. The cap could break, and the dimensions may vary, meaning they may not be compatible with optional accessories.
Here are some additional tricks:
- Heat stones directly in a fire and then drop them into the bottle filled with water to easily bring the water to a boil.
- A bandana or cotton handkerchief can make a great makeshift pre-filter. Place it on the wide mouth of your bottle and collect water (always upstream). You can then filter and chemically treat the water (with Micropur, for example).
- Use the cap’s attachment loop to attach a carabiner. You can easily secure your bottle to your bag or a branch.
- A Nalgene is 100% leakproof and can be used to carry money (even liquid, haha) or documents during beach or sea trips.
- The wide mouth is big enough to fit an egg, then you can fill your bottle with flour, rice, or semolina and carry your eggs without worrying about them breaking!
- The wide mouth is also perfect for filling your Nalgene in a narrow sink with a small faucet.
Conclusion
Nalgene is a leader in the field. They’ve carved out their place by focusing on quality, simplicity, durability, and the wide mouth. In addition to being practical and versatile, Nalgene bottles are health-conscious by offering materials that won’t contaminate your water. If you’re looking for an affordable container that will be your everyday companion, you can count on this brand.
Explore the Nalgene range with bottles in 0.5, 1, and 1.5 liters (€10.90 to €17.90) and the removable reducer cap (€3.50).
See more water bottles, reservoirs, and hydration bladders.
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