Collapsible water bottles are great for all types of activities such as travel, exercise, and picnics. However, the collapsible water bottle is truly at home and made for hiking and camping which is why it’s the go-to choice for so many hikers and campers.
But with literally hundreds of collapsible water bottles on the market how are you supposed to choose the best collapsible water bottle for hiking and your needs?
To help we’ve created this best collapsible water bottles for hiking guide to explain both the pros and cons of the collapsible water bottle, how to choose the best water bottle for your needs, and the best collapsible water bottles currently on the market for 2019.
Advantages of a Collapsible Water Bottle While Hiking
There are many advantages to using a collapsible water bottle while hiking but we’ve listed the most beneficial below.
Portability
The most obvious advantage of the collapsible water bottle is its portability. Unlike a normal water bottle that takes up the same volume regardless of whether it contains water or not. When the collapsible water bottle is empty as the name implies collapse to a much smaller size for easy portability.
This collapsible feature adds tons of portability to the water bottle allowing you to pretty much take it anywhere.
Compact Storage
Another great feature of the collapsible water bottle related to portability is its ease of storage and compact size.
When hiking its important to take items with you that don’t take up a lot of space. This makes the collapsible water bottle a great choice for hiking as it can be collapsed when empty to about the size of a crushed can.
Durability
Collapsible water bottles are made from rugged and tough materials such as silicon and plastics that hold up well to the rigors and stresses of hiking.
In fact, if you buy a quality collapsible water bottle you should be able to get years of trouble-free hydration from it.
Eco-Friendly
While hiking in nature, it’s never more obvious and easy to understand the importance of being eco-friendly and environmentally responsible. As you are literally standing in and enjoying the very thing those behaviors seek to protect and using any type of reusable water bottle is always better for the environment when compared to single-use ones.
Disadvantages of a Collapsible Water Bottle While Hiking
There are many great reasons to use a collapsible water bottle while hiking or camping but there are also some potential drawbacks as well.
While many of the below cons can be mitigated by buying a quality collapsible water bottle, you still should be aware of these potential negatives so you can make a more informed decision.
Harder to Handle and Stand Upright
One of the biggest complaints about the collapsible water bottle is their tendency to fall over or not stand upright unless completely full.
This is because collapsible water bottles are made from flexible silicones and plastics that don’t hold their shape as well when compared to standard water bottles made from more rigid plastics and stainless steel.
Can Hold Limited Volume
While collapsible water bottles do come in a variety of sizes, as a general rule, they tend to be on the smaller side when compared to standard water bottles.
Most of the time this shouldn’t be an issue unless you’re going on a long hike where you need to a lot of water. But when you get into that territory a water bladder might be a better choice anyway.
Greater Leak Potential
Collapsible water bottles are engineered with foldable sections so they can be stored more easily. However, over time these foldable areas can be more prone to leaks as the material wears thin from repeated use.
Harder to Clean
While collapsible water bottles are great on the trails they can often be a pain to clean. Because collapsible water bottles are made with flexible and thin materials it can be harder to clean all of the interior surfaces of a collapsible water bottle.
Many Made with Plastic
Using a reusable collapsible water bottle is leaps and bounds better for the environment compared to single-use throwaway plastic bottles. But if you are trying to avoid purchasing products made from plastic buying a collapsible water bottle can be challenging.
How to Choose the Best Collapsible Water Bottle
When choosing the best collapsible water bottle there are three main areas you need to focus on including size, materials, and nozzle to ensure you pick the best water bottle for your needs.
Water Bottle Size
Perhaps one of the most important considerations when choosing a collapsible water bottle is the size of the water bottle.
As mentioned above collapsible water bottles tend to be on the smaller size compared to standard bottles but there is still a wide variety of sizes with some of them holding a surprising amount of water.
When deciding on the appropriate size for your needs think about the types of hikes you typical take and the length of those hikes.
Obviously the longer and more rugged your typical hike is the more hydration you will need while on the trails meaning you will need a larger water bottle.
Don’t forget though that bigger isn’t always better.
Even though collapsible water bottles can be collapsed for compact and easy storage when empty they still take up the same volume when they are full of water when compared to a standard water bottle.
So if you are someone that usually does short or mild hikes than a smaller and more compact water bottle might be a better choice for you to help save space.
Collapsible Water Bottle Materials
Due to the design and functionality of the collapsible water bottle, they typically will be made with plastics or some type of flexible material.
Keep in mind though that not all collapsible water bottles are created equal.
To begin with, if the collapsible water bottle is made from plastics which most are, make sure the water bottle is BPA free.
BPA or Bisphenol A is an industrial chemical that has been used since the 1960s in plastics.
The reason to avoid it is some research has indicated that BPA can actually leak into the food or drinks from the container causing potential negative health effects on the brain, prostate gland, infants, and children.
Also as the weak point for most collapsible water bottles is the collapsible material make sure to choose a water bottle that has thick collapsible material to avoid potential leak spots down the road.
Water Bottle Nozzle
While you might not think too much about the nozzle on a water bottle it’s actually a pretty important design feature.
Are you someone that prefers a wide mouth opening, or a flip-up spout when drinking from a water bottle?
While there is no one right answer it’s important to choose a collapsible water bottle with the style of nozzle you prefer.
Best Collapsible Water Bottles for Hiking
I’ve used a lot of water bottles over the years and below are the best collapsible water bottles for hiking that I could find currently on the market.
Best Overall
EXIT Collapsible Water Bottle
One of the best overall collapsible water bottles is this water bottle by EXIT.
The water bottle is made from quality FDA approved BPA free medical grade silicone which should provide years of trouble-free use.
Another great thing about this water bottle is its size, at 26 ounces it’s one of the larger collapsible water bottles that I could find.
Specs:
- 26oz Size
- Made from FDA Approved BPA Free Medical Grade Silicone
- Dishwasher Safe
- Will Stand Up Even When Not Full
- Quality Design and Components
- Available in Three Different Colors
Largest
Valourgo 35 oz Collapsible Water Bottle
The largest collapsible water bottle I could find was this 35-ounce water bottle. If you’re someone that goes on long hikes or needs a lot of water then this is the water bottle for you.
This water bottle is also BPA free and has a convenient flip-top to access the water so it’s easy to get a drink even while on the go.
Specs:
- 35oz Size
- Made from BPA Free Food Grade Silicone
- Leak and Dust Proof
- Soft and Shatter Proof
- Available in Blue and Black
Best Price:
Mountop Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle
Even though this collapsible water bottle is one of the cheapest on the market it still received Amazon’s Choice designation and provides a ton of value for the money.
Not only is the collapsible water bottle leak proof but it actually comes with an 18-month warranty just in case you have any issues.
Specs:
- 20oz Size
- Made from BPA Free Food Grade Silicone
- Leak-Proof
- 18-Month Warranty
- Comes in a Variety of Colors
Most Interesting Design
DARUNAXY Collapsible Foldable Water Bottle
One of the coolest looking collapsible water bottles currently on the market is this water bottle by Darunaxy. As it’s unique shape sets it apart from the crowd and it comes in a variety of colors.
While the design on this collapsible water bottle is really interesting it still offers all the features that you want in a collapsible water bottle including BPA free silicone, leak-proof design, and durability.
Specs:
- 16.9oz Size
- Made from BPA Free Silicone
- Leak-Proof Design
- Cool Hour Glass Shape
- Available in Multiple Colors
Want to know which is better for hiking a daypack or backpack? Check out our article “Daypack vs Backpack: Which is Better?“