Bottom Line
The Nalgene Wide Mouth lives up to its reputation as the classic water bottle. Its no-frills design is simple and straightforward, keeping its weight and price to a minimum. That’s why its a best buy on CleverHiker’s list of the best water bottles.
Made of burly BPA-free plastic, it can withstand scrapes and falls, even from heights and hits onto rough surfaces. We put the Nalgene through its paces in tests in the Utah desert and it more than held its own. A staple for outdoors people everywhere, the Nalgene blends minimal weight with durability, earning legendary status as an almost indestructible water bottle.
It is affordable and practical and features a design that prioritizes efficient hydration. Well-suited for everything from backpacking to daily water consumption, the Nalgene is an excellent multi-use bottle. Overall, with its long lasting design, ability to withstand the toughest conditions, and cheap price tag, the Nalgene Wide Mouth proves itself to be a classic time and time again.
How We Tested
Gear analyst Marion Tucker researched 35 water bottles and tested the top 13 in the field while hiking and climbing in Southern Utah. She conducted drop tests to evaluate their durability and ranked each bottle’s ergonomics, insulation, weight, and features after side-by-side comparisons.
Quick Specs
Nalgene Wide Mouth
Most Durable Budget Water Bottle
CleverHiker Rating: 4.6/5.0
Price: $17
Weight: 6.25 oz.
Insulated: No
Pros
- Affordable
- Many color/pattern choices
- Measurement lines
- Easy to add ice/supplements
- Durable
- Dishwasher safe,
- Lightweight
Cons
- Many wide mouth bottles don’t fit in cup holders
Durability
Although stainless steel bottles came out the highest performers in our testing, the Nalgene Wide Mouth demonstrates that plastic construction doesn’t mean sacrificing durability and proves to be a well-made bottle built to last. Made using a strong BPA-free plastic, the Nalgene has a no-seams design and a construction free from flexing. It is structurally sound and sturdier than your average plastic water bottle.
We’ve owned Nalgenes for years and have dropped them during alpine hikes, knocked them on metal canoes, and banged them against cliff walls while clipped to our climbing harness. Most recently, we brought a Nalgene with us hiking and climbing in Southeastern Utah. Putting it through falls onto rocky trails, the Nalgene came away from our tests unscathed, with the exception of some scratches on the main body. In our years of use, the Nalgene proves time and again to be a bottle impervious to structural damage and able to hold up against the most extreme conditions.
Ergonomics
Free from gimmicks or superfluous features, Nalgene boils water bottle design down to two of its most essential aspects: practical and efficient hydration. With its wide mouth, the bottle is easy to fill, whether in your kitchen sink or a backcountry stream. Looking to add ice or hydration packets? No problem- the wide mouth makes these tasks easy too. The Nalgene is dishwasher safe, but its design allows for accessible hand washing in the situations when machine cleaning isn’t available.
Though the wide mouth provides unencumbered access, its biggest downfall is the difficulty in avoiding spillage while drinking, especially when trying to stay hydrated on the move. However, there are Splash Guards fitted to the Nalgene Wide Mouth that make these types of spills easier to prevent.
One of our favorite aspects of the Nalgene design is the lid. Sealing tightly and securely to eliminate any leaks, when unscrewed, the lid remains attached to the water bottle via a thin band of flexible yet durable plastic. Though a seemingly obvious method to keep the lid from getting misplaced, this feature is surprisingly unique, with most water bottle lids detaching completely. The Nalgene might not win any awards for cutting edge style or aesthetics, but it’s clearly a bottle where functionality inspires the design.
Insulation
They may not be insulated, but Nalgenes can hold cold and hot water, making them perfect for quenching your thirst or shoving a bottle of toasty liquid into your sleeping bag for extra warmth. Hiking with the Nalgene exposed to the sun of the Utah desert, we found our cold water turned lukewarm in less than a couple hours. Without insulation, this bottle is not equipped to provide temperature control.
However, Nalgene’s wide mouth does allow for the easy addition of ice, for those wanting to extend their beverage’s cold temperature for a little longer. Nalgene’s unique ability to accommodate hot water separates it from the average plastic bottle, where warm liquids are a definite no-go. Though we prefer to avoid using hot liquids with plastic, a Nalgene full of hot water does make for an excellent heat source when tucked into a jacket pocket or sleeping bag during the coldest camping trips.
Weight
At 6.25 ounces, the Nalgene is one of the lightest weight bottles available. Stowed in our pack while hiking, we hardly noticed its presence even after hours on the trail. The Wide Mouth can be carried comfortably for many miles, making it a clear choice for backpacking and other long distance or multi-day outdoor adventures. Many ultralight water bottles sacrifice longevity or other features in the name of saving weight, but the Nalgene is able to maintain excellent durability without packing on the ounces. We love that we can rely on the Nalgene to last for years, while also continuing to be comfortable and lightweight in our pack.
Features
Nalgene prioritizes practical design over customization, but the Wide Mouth bottle is available in an array of colors. Many companies also sell their own custom Nalgenes with patterns or images specially designed to represent their organization. We’ve also found Nalgene’s wide plastic frame to be the perfect canvas for stickers from our favorite places and brands.
If you’re looking to shed even more pack weight, Nalgene has an Ultralight model that weighs in at 0.21lbs. They also make a Narrow Mouth version of the bottle for even easier spill-free drinking. When you’re looking to keep specific track of your hydration or just trying to figure out how much water to add to your dehydrated backpacking meal, Nalgene has useful measurement lines- both ounces and milliliters- printed on the side of the bottle. Nalgene may put function over form, but the Wide Mouth still impresses with its features and customization options.
Should You Buy the Nalgene Wide Mouth Water Bottle?
The Nalgene Wide Mouth might just be the highest value water bottle you can find, especially in relation to its insanely low cost. Its durability, ergonomic design, and light weight blend functionality, longevity, and versatility into a bottle whose affordable price seems shocking when considering how well-made a bottle it is.
If chic style and insulation are priorities, the Nalgene’s inability to provide temperature control and its basic design might point you in the direction of a different water bottle. However, the Nalgene is a great multi-purpose bottle. It’s good for everyday use and keeping track of daily hydration, but also the perfect bottle to take on a wide range of outdoor adventures. It’s light enough to take with you backpacking, but more than sturdy enough to handle the roughest terrain. The Nalgene Wide Mouth is a great all-around option, providing exceptional quality at a steal of a price.
What Other Water Bottles Should You Consider?
For a full list of recommendations, check out our guide to the best water bottles.
YETI Rambler Review: The YETI Rambler is the go-to choice for anyone valuing durability as the most important aspect of water bottle design. Also featuring superior insulating capabilities, the Rambler is a bottle meant to withstand the toughest use and roughest conditions.
CamelBak Chute Mag Renew Review: Although its longevity might not completely measure up to the Nalgene, the CamelBack Chute Mag Renew is its closest cousin with its sturdy and simple BPA-free design. The CamelBak’s easy-sipping spout provides an alternative to the wide mouth Nalgene for heightened drinkability.
Glaceau SmartWater Review: Even more bare bones than the Nalgene, if you’re in need of a water bottle for your next backpacking trip and are looking to cut even more weight from your pack, SmartWater is the ultimate ultralight bottle. When saving weight is the priority, nothing surpasses SmartWater.
