My Hydro Flask is my go-everywhere water bottle. I purchased it back in December for a winter backpacking trip, and I’m in love. (The picture is from this weekend on the lake. The blue bottle and yellow kayak were too pretty of a picture to pass up!)
Why I love it:
- It’s stainless steel, so it’s easy to clean and BPA-free (though most new water bottles are nowadays). It’s also very durable. People who know me know that my middle name is not Grace, and I drop things. A lot. This bottle has been dropped repeatedly on pavement, rocks, and all manner of things and is still in great condition.
- Its double-wall insulation helps keep hot things hot and cold things cold. From my personal use, I can attest to hot coffee being kept warm for about 6 hours, and ice water kept cool for more than 12 hours.
- I bought the wide-mouth version, and it’s great for any drink and can hold soups and things like that as well. This is basically a grown-up Rescue Rangers thermos.
- It’s great for winter backpacking. Yes, it weighs in at more than 11 oz., so it’s on the heavy side, but the insulation is worth it. I’ve had water freeze as I was hiking in a plastic water bottle (platypus), which is not fun when you need a drink and it’s either filter more water or wait for yours to thaw. The water I’ve stored in the Hydro Flask has yet to freeze, which was the main reason I bought it.
(I’m going to throw in a quick hiking tip here that applies to all water bottles. When you are winter backpacking, or backpacking in any elevation where it may freeze at night, store your water bottle upside-down before you go to sleep. That way any ice that forms will technically be in the bottom of your bottle and you’ll be able to drink water in the morning. You can also sleep with your water bottle to keep it from freezing, but that can be a hassle sometimes.)
The only downside:
- It gets stuck in my truck’s rubber cup holder. That’s it. My only downside.
You can buy this through Hydro Flask and outdoor retailers.
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