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This classic bottle is versatile and very affordable
The Nalgene Wide-Mouth is a great water vessel for adventuring. One drawback is that it's not insulated, so it's best to keep it out of the sun if you like to drink cool liquids.
The terms “Nalgene” and “water bottle” are often used synonymously, reflecting this bottle's continued popularity over more than a couple of decades now. A time-tested classic, the Nalgene Wide-Mouth is as good as plastic gets for most folks hydrating in the backcountry. It's durable, inexpensive, and lightweight. Given its versatility and affordable price tag, it earns its place as a high-value bottle despite the low cost. It's easy to clean and doesn't impart any funky plastic taste to its contents. It is so functional and stylish we found ourselves toting it around town, though it really shines as an outdoor adventure bottle.
REASONS TO BUY
Recycled material
Wide mouth
Very lightweight
Inexpensive
REASONS TO AVOID
Non-insulated
Simple
Doesn't fit in cup holders
Need more volume?
If 32 oz isn't enough for you, the Nalgene 48 oz costs only a dollar more while providing 16 more ounces of volume to keep you hydrated all day.
Editor's Note: This product review was updated on June 23, 2023, to include additional product recommendations for specific uses.
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
If you've spent any amount of time participating in outdoor activities in the last few decades, chances are you have seen or even owned a Nalgene Wide-Mouth. There is no mystery why this particular model has earned legend status as a tried and true classic – it's simple, it's light, and it's affordable. Without the heft of insulated metal models or the shatter factor of glass, this plastic classic is our hands-down go-to for multi-night human-powered activities.
Due to its weight to volume ration, the classic Nalgene Wide-Mouth is our top pick for backpacking adventures where weight is a strong consideration.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Closure
This bottle is super simple. It consists of a cylindrical body and a screw cap, with a retaining strap that attaches the two main components. This allows you to take a gulp while hanging out on a cliffside without having to worry about losing your cap. We used the retaining strap for clipping onto our favorite backpacking backpack, but this isn't necessarily for how it's designed.
Pro tip — Get a bottle insert like this one to drastically improve the drinking experience from your Nalgene. It greatly reduces the chance of spilling on yourself while moving and drinking. Some of our testers have been using these in their Nalgenes for years.
Although it's convenient, we recommend not using the lid retainer strap to carry the Nalgene Wide-Mouth. Our testers have lost more than one Nalgene in this fashion over the years.
Credit: Jon Oleson
The design is so simple leakage is not a problem with this bottle, even though it doesn't have a gasket. It passed our leak test with a score of 100 percent. We gave this bottle our complete confidence, and it did not fail us when being jumbled around inside backpacks while backpacking and hiking. It is also reasonably quick to open and close, requiring only one half-cap revolution to screw/unscrew the cap.
Insulation
While the Nalgene can claim to be many things, insulated is not one of them. The plastic is relatively thin (which is why it's lightweight) and transparent. It will keep your liquids contained in a pack, but it will not keep them cool in the sun. How many of us have memories of drinking warm Tang out of a Nalgene in the desert? Certainly, more than a few. If you want a bottle to keep your liquids cool, then we recommend checking out one of our award-winning insulated bottles.
During our insulation test, where we placed the full bottles out in the sun for six hours, the Nalgene didn't get the hottest, but it was over 105 degrees F at its peak temperature. This certainly isn't the most quenching of gulps when your body is already hot and sweaty. It is drinkable, though, and it will keep you hydrated. Again, we recommend checking out an insulated water bottle if you're planning to keep your bottle out in the sun and your preference is for cool water.
The Nalgene is a staple in most outdoor enthusiasts' hydration quiver for good reason.
Credit: Jane Jackson
Taste
The Nalgene actually surprised us during this test. Normally a plastic bottle will, at some point, impart some plastic chemical flavor. Our reviewer is uber sensitive to plastic taste and smell, and while it's not as clean tasting as drinking from glass or stainless steel, with this bottle, it's nearly indiscernible. If you want to add flavor to your bottle, fear not tainting the Nalgene. We filled it with tea and vitamin powders. After a wash with warm soapy water, the fresh water tasted clean (although a faint smell remains).
For our controlled taste test, we filled each bottle with 100-degree F water and let it sit for 30 minutes. We expected to taste some plastic here, but the Nalgene surprised us yet again, especially since many of us have memories of older iterations of this bottle tainting our water with that familiar chemical taste after being left in the sun. The upgrade may have something to do with the updated technology in its construction. All Nalgene bottles are now made from a recycled material called Tritan Renew copolyester.
Don't fear tainting your Nalgene with flavors. It's surprisingly flavor resistant. Pictured here in the garden with an electrolyte mix.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Ergonomics
Did we mention that this bottle is simple? It has no bells, no whistles. It's a plastic cylinder with a plastic lid. Yet, there are some features that contribute to ease of use. For one, it's the lightest of all the rigid bottles that we've tested, at just 6.25 oz. The lid is wide and has ridges, which makes it easy to grip and open even when wearing gloves or mittens. It only takes a half rotation to open the lid. The mouth is wide, which makes it quick and easy to fill. The side has graduated marks in both milliliters and ounces, which makes measuring liquids for backpacker meals or tracking hydration easier. It also pairs with several top-rated backpacking water filters.
That said, it didn't score the highest during this test. The lid retainer, while helpful for keeping track of the lid, isn't a very comfortable carry strap, nor is it designed for this purpose. The edges are actually a bit sharp and dig into the skin. The retaining strap is also the weakest part of this bottle. If this is your only source of water or sole vessel on a trek, we don't recommend clipping it to your pack by the strap. We've known a Nalgene or two to become lost that way. It's also a wide, bulky bottle – it won't fit in a cup holder, and it can be cumbersome to grip. Despite all that, there are many other reasons why it's an iconic backcountry bottle, and we recommend it for that purpose.
While it can be used to carry, the Nalgene Wide-Mouth's lid retainer strap has sharp edges and is not very comfortable over time.
Credit: Jon Oleson
Material Quality
This is a strong bottle. The plastic body and cap can endure many drops and tumbles and still maintain their integrity. It will scuff, for sure, but it will continue to retain liquid. The cap, which is definitely the weakest part of the bottle, will break, but it takes a lot of abuse or a big fall right on the lid to do so. We've known many a Nalgene to take a tumble down a cliffside and be found intact.
Throughout our testing, we did not experience any problems with the durability of the retaining strap. Nonetheless, this is the weakest point of the bottle. During any activity where you depend on this bottle as your sole water source, we don't recommend hanging it by its strap.
As we mentioned, all Nalgene bottles are now made from a recycled material called Tritan Renew copolyester, which boasts up to 50% certified recycled content (from recycled plastic bottles). This materials upgrade results in the reduction of fossil fuel consumption and carbon footprint for each bottle. This material is BPA, BPS, and BPF free. Bisphenols are known endocrine disruptors, so it's best to avoid using water containers that contain these chemicals. Due to its durability and considerations for environmental health, we can wholeheartedly recommend the Nalgene Wide-Mouth as a vessel for all your backcountry adventures.
The Nalgene is super leak-proof and withstood our drop test with little to no damage.
Credit: Jane Jackson
Should You Buy the Nalgene Wide-Mouth?
It's clear why the Nalgene Wide-Mouth has been so loved in the world of outdoor recreation for the past few decades. It's a nearly unbreakable bottle that is also lightweight and easy to clean. It has a few tricks up its sleeve that can make campsite cooking and cold winter nights a bit easier. You can mix drink powders in the bottle without forever tainting its contents. We feel confident in this bottle's suitability for just about any backcountry activity. It isn't our first choice for an everyday bottle, but for the price, we feel that there's still money in the bank for a bottle more suitable for that. If you enjoy the great outdoors, you're going to find lots of uses for this bottle.
The Nalgene Wide-Mouth was made for a backpack.
Credit: Jon Oleson
What Other Water Bottles Should You Consider?
The Nalgene is well-suited for outdoor activities. If you're looking for a great filter bottle to fill up your Nalgene on backcountry adventures, you'll want to check out the Grayl GeoPress Water Filter and Purifier. If you want a slightly heavier yet more insulated simple vessel for your pack, check out the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth.
