Hiking is such a great way to keep fit and explore the local or far away sights.
When the weather is good, why not spend the day in the great outdoors with your family or friends? Hiking is one of those activities where you don’t need lots of expensive equipment to get started. Just get out there and give it a go! But remember, hiking isn’t just a walk.
The aim of a hike is to challenge yourself by taking on a different terrain than normal. A mountain hike always seems to do us the trick! Did you know that hiking is actually one of the top hobbies in the USA? It’s definitely time to try it out if you haven’t already.
One essential item you must take with you on your hike is a water bottle. You must stay hydrated! But what water bottle is best for hiking? We have read through many water bottle reviews to bring you all the best water bottles for hiking compiled into one handy list. We’re good to you, aren’t we?
Before we get into the products, here are two things we think you should consider:
We recommend that you opt for a stainless steel bottle. Not only does stainless steel act as an insulated vacuum but it also has many benefits that we will discuss more in-depth later on.
You will also want to consider the size of your bottle. This will most likely depend on the length of your hike or how large your bag is.
Anything from 18oz to 32oz will be a great choice.
In a hurry? Here’s our top pick!
The Hydro Flask Water Bottle just checks all the boxes. Not only does it keep drinks cool up to twenty-four hours and hot up to twelve hours but it also looks sleek and stylish.
You can really choose your water bottle to suit your taste by the different colour selections available. Our favourite colors have to be frost and lilac but they also have staples for your collection such as black and white. Whatever your style, the Hydro Flask really has it covered.
The Hydro Flask also comes with a sturdy handle which will definitely come in handy when you’re staying hydrated on the go. Instead of going in and out of your bag throughout your hike, just use the handle to keep it, quite literally, on hand.
Top 5 Best Water Bottles for Hiking
OUR TOP PICK
As you’ve read above, this is our top pick. It has 18/8 grade stainless steel which means that it is highly durable and will keep your liquids fresh.
The beauty of stainless steel is that it doesn’t let any food or flavours penetrate into the material so your drink will never taste odd or tangy. If you’ve used a plastic bottle before, you know what we’re talking about.
You can also buy different lid attachments for this product which completely transform the bottle to suit what you’re looking for. The hydro flip lid makes this product so much more accessible. With just a flip of the lid, you have yourself a built-in straw!
The sleek and stylish design also features a powder coat which has fantastic qualities. It provides a slip-free grip and is also scratch-resistant.
Perfect for any outdoor enthusiast as you never know what a hike may bring you!
Pros
- Various colors available
- Scratch-resistant
- Keeps cold drinks cool for up to twenty-four hours
- Keeps hot drinks warm for up to twelve hours
Cons
- Attachments are sold separately
EDITORS CHOICE
This water bottle also comes in a variety of colors to choose from so you can pick the perfect bottle for you.
What’s so great about this product is that the angled spout is included in the price. Not only is this a much better deal but it also provides a better drinking experience. Especially if you’re drinking on the go, during a hike.
The double-wall insulation means that your cold drinks will stay cool for up to twenty-four hours and hot drinks will stay warm for six hours.
Similarly to the previous product, the CamelBak Chute Mag is manufactured with 18/8 stainless steel which ensures you will have a pleasant drinking experience with no unexpected tastes or odours!
Pros
- A better option if you are on a budget
- Drinking spout included
- Keeps cold drinks cool for up to twenty-four hours
- Keeps warm drinks warm for up to six hours
Cons
- Only the lid is dishwasher safe
BEST VALUE
The YETI Rambler is another great option to keep your cold drinks cool throughout your hike. This water bottle only comes in the 18oz size so it is easy to carry around whilst you’re out and about.
An impressive feature of this product is the much-loved Chug Cap. You can twist off the cap with ease to reveal the cap. This cap makes it so easy to take a sip of your drink when you’re trekking up your mountain of choice!
Sun blazing down on you and you take a sip of a cold, refreshing drink - we can’t think of anything better!
The bottle also comes in a wide variety of colors which will not fade over time thanks to the DuraCoat Color.
Pros
- 18/8 stainless steel to keep drinks pure
- Chug Cap for an efficient drinking experience
- Bright colors which will not fade
Cons
- Not suitable for hot drinks
RUNNER UP
Many buyers opt for this product due to the sleek design.
The hoop cap makes it easy to tie to your bag and the powder coat finish provides a chip-resistant color.
Water bottles go to a lot of different places with you while you hike so this chip-resistant feature is so important. It keeps the product looking just like new!
The Klean Kanteen water bottle also has a double-wall climate lock which means that your drinks will stay cool for fifty hours and hot drinks will stay warm for twenty hours in their 20oz bottle. Now that is impressive!
Again, this product is made with 18/8 stainless steel so no funny tastes or odors from previous beverages. We wouldn’t recommend anything other than 18/8.
Pros
- Sleek design
- Cold drinks stay cool for up to fifty hours
- Hot drinks stay warm for up to twenty hours
Cons
- No drinking spout
RUNNER UP
This is our most affordable recommendation but it still has fantastic qualities which make it stand out from the others!
You can get the Umite Chef Water Bottle in either 18oz or 32oz. Both sizes are great for being on the go.
It is manufactured with 18/8 stainless steel which makes it a durable bottle. It is vacuum-sealed and keeps cold drinks cool for twenty-four hours and hot drinks warm for twelve hours.
Another solid feature of this product is the fact that it comes with a straw lid, two additional straws, a straw brush and a box to keep them all in.
You really cannot go wrong!
Pros
- Budget-friendly option
- Variety of colors and designs
Cons
- Some customers complained that it didn’t fit in their car cup holders
Best Water Bottles For Hiking Buying Guide
It is so important to stay hydrated in day to day life. If you are venturing out for a hike, it is even more important to do so.
Water makes up 60% of your body, so you need to treat it right and keep drinking regularly. A water bottle is the perfect accessory to ensure that you can stay hydrated wherever you are.
We like to recommend products that we would use ourselves and usually we decide on these by making sure they cover certain areas. What’s important in a water bottle?
Let’s break it down even more for you here.
18/8 Stainless Steel
You may have seen us mention this in our above product reviews.
If you’re still unsure what this is and what the benefits are, then look no further. Otherwise known as 304 stainless steel, this material is super durable and hard wearing. This is down to the compounds that go into the steel. 18/8 compromises of 18% chromium and 8% nickel.
Chromium adds the benefit of being anti-corrosive which is great, especially if you’re a fan of going hiking whatever the weather! The nickel adds strengthening properties to the stainless steel so your water bottle will last way longer than a plastic version of the product.
Stainless steel is also a more sustainable choice than plastic. When the water bottle reaches the end of it’s lifespan, it is actually completely recyclable! So you’re actually doing your bit for your body, mind and the environment when you choose a stainless steel water bottle. Go you!
BPA Free Water Bottles
A benefit of stainless steel water bottles is that they are BPA free. This is something that you should be looking out for when looking to buy your next bottle. BPA, otherwise known as, Bisphenol A is a chemical that is included in many plastic products we use every day.
We recommend purchasing BPA free water bottles as there are many risks associated with the chemical. For example, breast and prostate cancer, type two diabetes and heart disease. When you choose a stainless steel water bottle you know that you are safe from this harmful chemical!
No odors or weird tastes!
You may have seen that stainless steel has the advantage of not letting any flavours penetrate the material. Meaning that you will never take a sip of your drink and come across a strange taste.
Feel free to add a slice of lemon to your water bottle to give your drink a boost of flavour for your morning hike. We love adding a lemon slice to our water as it aids digestion and tastes so much more refreshing!
The majority of our recommendations are suitable for hot and cold drinks. So if you fancy a coffee first thing in the morning, you can do that! Then once you’re done, you can refill with water and not be worried about a coffee taste lurking in your water.
Top Tips for Staying Hydrated on your Hike
We firstly recommend that you drink before you leave the house. When you wake up, drink a glass of water to kickstart your body.
It is recommended that your daily water intake should be 96oz if you are a woman and 125oz if you are a man. That being said, if you’re heading off on a hike, you should really drink more as you are burning a lot more energy than you usually would.
You’re probably wondering how often you should drink whilst on your hike. Now, we don’t recommend downing your entire water bottle. It is much more effective to take regular sips throughout your activity.
This helps your body to digest it easier and will also keep your concentration levels peak during your hike.
The majority of our recommendations include a handle which makes it effortless to keep your bottle nearby on your hike. It’s a simple feature on a water bottle, we know!
However, it really does make all the difference. Wouldn’t you rather have your water bottle on hand rather than tucked away in your backpack? Think of all that time wasted digging around for it! We would say that buying a bottle with a handle is a must if you’re using it for any sort of exercise.
Our last tip is to encourage others to also stay hydrated. If you are hiking with others and they’re starting to look exhausted, it’s probably because they haven’t had enough to drink.
If they are struggling, suggest a break so they can hydrate, maybe have a snack and then you can continue on your trek.
The beauty of a hike is that you will never get bored of your surroundings. So take that time to inhale the views whilst being accompanied by an ice cold refreshment!