What size water bottle should I get for travel?: A reusable bottle of water is an excellent way to stay hydrated on hiking trips, bike adventures, or when you commute to work. We evaluated dozens of water bottles for their durability, portability and ability to maintain temperatures.
You must consider your water bottle’s weight, size and material when choosing one. This will help you choose a container which best suits your needs.
In our Lab, we tested the most innovative and popular designs to find the best bottles in a saturated market.
The Thermoflask Dual Stainless Steel Insulated Bottle was our top choice after all the jostling and dropping we did. It also has a leakproof lid.
The Thermoflask Insulated Double Stainless Water Bottle is ideal for everyday use. This vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottle is perfect for running errands or going to the gym. It has a convenient handle and fits into a standard vehicle cup holder.
We were pleasantly surprised by the tight seal, which prevented leakage even after vigorously shaking the bottle.
You can choose between two different lids for your Thermoflask, depending on what you need. One is a straw cap, and the other is a chug top that is still leakproof even after three drops on the floor.
The chug cap is comfortable to use and provides a constant water flow. This straw lid is perfect for when you are busy or exercising, as it has a small air-pressure hole which allows you to drink with just one hand. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
7 best medium-sized water bottles that you should carry for your travelling journey
- Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle (21 oz)
- Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth Water Bottle (16 oz)
- Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Bottle (20 oz)
- Platypus Platy 2L Bottle (68 oz)
- Takeya Actives Insulated Water Bottle (18 oz)
- Nalgene Narrow Mouth Water Bottle (16 oz)
- Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle (20 oz)
1. Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle (21 oz)
According to the Hydro Flask product line description on REI’s website, I purchased this specific size and shape. It is great to have hot coffee with me when I go canoeing. The other insulated mugs I’ve used did not keep coffee hot for about an hour.
The REI website states, “Keeps the contents cold for 24 hours and hot for 12”. This model was the best choice because other models only promised 6 hours of “hot keeping”.
The bottle was a nice green colour that matched my canoe. However, the cardboard sleeves on the bottle stated that the beverage would stay hot for six hours. Even 6 hours seems to be a bit of a stretch.
Even filling the bottle with coffee that is too hot to drink will only keep the beverage warm for two or three hours.
The beverage is lukewarm after that. REI has acknowledged that the description on its website was incorrect and has changed it since.
The bottle can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours. I put in lots of ice and iced coffee. Twenty-four hours later, the cubes remained.
It is great to have cold drinks with you on a long day of paddling. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
2. Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth Water Bottle (16 oz)
It’s easy to see why this model is a tried-and-true classic. It’s lightweight, simple and affordable. This plastic classic, lighter and less expensive than insulated metal models but without the glass shattering factor, is the best choice for human-powered multi-night activities.
This bottle is designed so simply that leakage will not be a problem even though it does not have a seal. The bottle passed our test for leakage with a 100 per cent score.
This bottle gave us complete confidence and did not disappoint us even when it was thrown around in backpacks during backpacking or hiking. The cap is easy to unscrew and screw, only requiring a half-turn.
The Nalgene may claim to be many different things, but insulation is not one of them. It is transparent and made of a thin plastic (which makes it lightweight). The pack will keep liquids in place but will not keep the liquids cool when exposed to sunlight.
How many of us remember drinking Tang warm from a Nalgene bottle in the desert? There are more than a handful. We recommend our award-winning insulated bottle if you want one hat will keep your liquids cold. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
Read Also: Can you travel with a DSLR camera?
3. Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Bottle (20 oz)
Because I am incredibly clumsy, I don’t have to perform things like drop tests. The Gorilla Glass inventors deserve a big thank you because I drop my smartphone at least several times daily. I also abuse my water bottles.
This bottle has been tested for two months. It does have some minor scratches, but it is made of stainless steel and not plastic (like my Nalgene water bottles that were supposedly indestructible).
It may have some dents if I dropped it more than a few feet, put it in more water, or dropped it on a rockier surface. But so far, it’s been fine.
The title of this post indicates that I have been testing Brushed Stainless. If you’re considering buying one, I recommend the Brushed Stainless option because it won’t show as much wear and tear as the coloured versions. As you can see from reviews on Amazon and elsewhere, the paint is prone to scratching.
Klean Kanteen offers a lifetime guarantee on all their products, so it’s safe to say that they are confident this bottle will be around for quite some time. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
4. Platypus Platy 2L Bottle (68 oz)
Why review a water bottle? These Platypus water bottles of 2 litres are essential items in my backcountry gear. I would never leave without them. I’m a big fan of staying hydrated.
The containers are available in sizes ranging from 1L up to 3L. I find that the 2L container is perfect for my needs.
Two 2L containers will suffice if I need to transport more water. The side of the bottle is marked so you can quickly see how much liquid you are carrying.
The Platy has a screw-on cap that makes it easy to use. You can use a cap from a SmartWater bottle to replace the lost cap.
It isn’t easy to fill the bottle, but patience is vital. The bottle can be used upright when it is filled. The bottle can be compacted when empty and not being used.
The bottle is transparent and clear. It is easy to see if the bottle needs cleaning or if debris is inside. On the side, there are handy volume markings.
These bottles are also great for my Water Filter Sawyer Squeeze. The nozzle is perfect for the filter. Other attachments like hydration tubes or spouts work well with these bottle types.
I like to keep things simple by using it to haul and hold water. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
Read Also: Are Skechers suitable for travel?
5. Takeya Actives Insulated Water Bottle (18 oz)
There are so many lids, stoppers and locking mechanisms available for vacuum-insulated bottles that it would take a dissertation to cover them all.
Takeya Actives offers an easy-to-use solution to this problem. The wide-mouth lid can be removed easily for filling.
The lid has a screw-top drinking spout, eliminating the risk of spilling the water on oneself while drinking. Takeya is the first brand to create a cap that does not leak.
The Takeya fails a little in this area. The price is reasonable for a stainless steel, insulated bottle. The bottle is less durable than the stainless steel options that are more expensive, but its cheaper price makes up for this.
The handle is hinged to allow it to be stowed in a slimmer position. However, this joint began showing signs of wear within a few weeks. This plastic cap shows signs of wear, even though it has not entirely failed.
This bottle is among the heavier bottles reviewed. Unsurprisingly, most heavy bottles, like the Takeya, are stainless steel vacuum-insulated models.
The Takeya is heavier than most of the bottles in this class. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
6. Nalgene Narrow Mouth Water Bottle (16 oz)
What can I say about this? The Nalgene Wide Mouth HDPE Water Bottle (1-Pint) has served us well. They’ve been dropped, tossed around, jostled in a bag, lost and found, bumped on, sat upon, and thrown.
One group member said they ran their bottle over with a bicycle, which was still intact. They have survived temperatures ranging from 100 degrees to below zero, 41 states and provinces, hundreds of miles of trail, and even toddlers!
Are they in top condition to do it? Not at all! One is missing in the Utah desert, two are leaking, and none of them have their original writing.
When it was time to replace them, the choice wasn’t difficult. Nalgene HDPE bottle tops with narrower mouths were chosen.
Around 2005 or 2006, we switched to Nalgene HDPE bottles because BPA was in our water bottles that we had used for years.
We bought 10 bottles – one each for the members of our group. So far, we have only lost one. Some of the younger kids used splash guards to make drinking from the wide mouth easier.
But filling bottles with guards in place was hard, so we gave up. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
7. Owala FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle (20 oz)
A button is pressed to open the lid, and an integrated handle rises for convenient carrying. The handle can be clicked down to cover the top.
The handle can be pushed down to open the bottle, but it will cover the button enough so it won’t open accidentally if the bottle bumps against something. I have bounced this bottle around in my backpack, car, and couch. It is leakproof.
The body is made of stainless steel and is triple-insulated to keep the water cold. The 40-ounce bottle is the one I chose because I want to make fewer trips back and forth to the kitchen.
There are also options for 19, 24, 32, and 64-ounce bottles (there’s also a plastic 25-ounce version, but I prefer steel).
It’s still not heavy, even at 40 ounces. It’s possible to use it as a weapon in a pinch. I hope that I will never need to do so.
I’ve been looking for The One for a long time. The perfect water bottle. Not for lack of effort. I’ve been cycling through reusable bottle after reusable bottle for years.
Many of them I liked at the time but eventually accumulated all in my cupboard. These items simply didn’t cut to be the perfect match. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
Conclusion:
Consider factors such as duration, destination and your personal hydration requirements when choosing a travel water bottle. A 16-24-ounce bottle compromises portability and volume for short trips or day excursions. A 32-ounce or more giant bottle may be better suited for longer trips or outdoor adventures to keep you hydrated. Choose a durable and leakproof feature such as insulation or a securing carabiner. The best travel water bottle is the one that suits your travel style and lifestyle. [What size water bottle should I get for travel?]
What size water bottle should I get for travel?: FAQ
1. What factors should I consider when choosing a water bottle size for travel?
Ans: Consider the length of the trip, the climate at your destination, how much water you drink each day, and the space available in your backpack or luggage. It is essential to strike a balance between portability and capacity.
2. Is there an ideal size for a travel water bottle?
Ans: It is best to bring a medium-sized water bottle, usually between 16 and 24 ounces. (500 to 750ml). This bottle is large enough to provide plenty of water without being bulky.
3. Should I choose a more giant bottle if I’m going to a hot climate?
Ans: In hotter climates, where you might need more water, it can be helpful to have a giant bottle. For example, one that holds 32 ounces (1 litre) of water. Ensure it is still portable for your travel requirements.