Choosing an ultralight water bottle
Most hikers end up with a mix: one hard bottle that sits in the side pocket of your pack and works with your water filter, plus one or two soft bottles as extra capacity for dry stretches. Soft bottles weigh almost nothing and disappear in a pocket when you do not need them. Hard bottles are easier to fill from a stream and to drink from while you walk.
Hard bottles
The Nalgene Ultralight bottles are made of HDPE, a softer and lighter plastic than the classic Tritan bottle. The 1 litre wide-mouth Ultralight weighs 106 grams, the Tritan version 177 grams. The Igneous NOBO is a 1 litre HDPE bottle of only 64 grams and the Mazama M!GO bottles sit in between. A wide mouth is easier to fill and to clean, a narrow mouth is easier to drink from without spilling.
Soft and foldable bottles
The soft bottles from HydraPak, Platypus and Evernew are the lightest way to carry water. The Platypus 1 litre weighs 29 grams and the Evernew Water Carry 1.5 litre 36 grams. Many hikers use one of these as the dirty water bag for their filter, so the clean water goes into a separate bottle.
Covers and small parts
Nalgene insulated and neoprene covers keep your drink warm in winter and cool in summer. The Igneous Cap & Tether keeps the cap attached to your bottle, so it does not roll away down a slope.
Frequently asked questions
What is the lightest water bottle?
A soft bottle. The Platypus 1 litre weighs 29 grams. A hard 1 litre bottle weighs between 64 grams (Igneous NOBO) and 177 grams (Nalgene Tritan).
How much water should I carry?
That depends on the route and the weather. A common rule is about half a litre per hour of hiking in warm weather, planned to the next reliable water source. With a soft bottle you have extra capacity for dry stretches, without carrying the weight of an empty hard bottle the rest of the time.
Can I use these bottles with a water filter?
Yes. The Care Plus filter screws on a standard disposable bottle and the Platypus QuickDraw fits standard 28 mm bottle threads. Have a look at our water filters to see what fits your setup.