big collapsible water containers

I use both the wide mouth Nalgene Canteen 3L and the Platypus 3L reservoir. I think the platy weighs about 1.5 oz, while the nalgene weighs 2.5. The wide mouth is pretty nice (it's definitely easier to fill them and mix powdered drink mix in them.) I think they're both good. The lids are definitely more durable on the nalgenes, I've had a platy cap break.

I've used the Nalgene and the Platy. Both worked well, Nalgene was easier to fill and carry (by hand).

Ryan,

REI sells the 3L bag and 3L hydration reservoirs. I don't like anything over 2L. They are too big and when full take up too much space in one area, making it hard to organize the pack. Plus I don't like one container for all my water, in case it breaks/leaks. I would much rather carry a single 2L and one or two 1L bags. I have two day packs, and use a 3L hydration reservoir in them, because I am carrying very little, aside from the water. The hydration sleeves work well for this. But on longer trips, the hydration systems are just too difficult to manage with all my other gear, and smaller containers work better.

I carry (and love) 3 Nalgene Cantenes.

Basically for the reasons mentioned, and like Nick, I don't like all my H2O in one container.

When Platys first came out I broke many of them: punctures, worn holes from abrasion or friction, encounters with sharp climbing tools in packs during travel on pack animals, so many broken caps in critical situation that I started carrying replacement caps. I soon stopped using them altogether because my impression was that they were too fragile. I started using the Nalgenes again a couple years ago to save weight. I find them much improved and much more resilient and durable. The large opening is very convenient, my old water filter fits onto it when I need to use it and I don't have to worry about it as much. In a water critical envrionmnt like the desert I would likely have at least one hard body durable carrying container and not all soft contaners. Maybe that's paranoid but…

I bought some Nalgene containers online on their webstore. I believe that they have free shipping standard.

Good luck.

Sounds like lots of good advice, so thank you everyone! I decided to buy two 1.5 L nalgene canteens and test them out this spring/summer. I forgot I had an REI dividend, so it turned out to be perfect. I'll see how they feel when they arrive.

That's a non-UL habit I have to break. I mostly travel in well-watered places, and now that I'm getting a Frontier pro, there's no reason to be toting 70 oz of water.

The problem with the wide-mouth nalgenes is they wouldn't be compatible with the frontier pro. I know Platypus makes the big zip for ease of filling, but those are heavy-ish and more expensive than just the hoser. A UL funnel shouldn't be too hard to devise, should it?

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Just a comment on the Platypus water tank series.

I have been using the 4 L water tank as part of my gravity filter system and the zip on it is a royal pain in the butt to get closed, especially with cold, wet hands.

Personally, I have a big lack of confidence issue with carrying large loads of water in my pack with it….I just would not unless I was desperate.

They are easy to fill up when unzipped and for carrying water with the handles.

I use mine solely when I am in camp for the evening so I have water that night and in the morning.

Hopefully, they will design a better closure system.

-Tony

Of course carrying extra water negates light weight, but the benefit of collapsible water tanks is that they don't need to be full. However, when you happen to be walking through an area (say, the AT through Pennsylvania) where water is sometimes bountiful and sometimes scarce, it's good to have the capacity for carrying more. Having been seriously dehydrated a few times while backpacking, I'm happy to have one or two extra ounces of empty container to give myself the ability to go through that long stretch without refilling.

Ryan,
I agree, in many areas water conditions/availability can change drasticly throughout the year. Water sources that show on a map may or may not exist depending on the time of year, snow pack…! Having a collapsible water container that can be used as needed is light insurance againt dehydration IMO.

I have a 3L collapsible Nalgene with a with mouth. I love it. No problems and it is quite old.

Tony – Just a thought…but for strictly in-camp use, silnylon bucket-style bags allow me to capture a couple of gallons of water at a shot. They are lighter than the poly bag products and pack down smaller. The drawbacks: Cannot be used to portage through long dry areas and they need to be hung from something. So far though, mine (slightly modified with a valve in the bottom) has been extremely useful in the sub-alpine/alpine areas I frequent.

Scott,

Neat idea…reminds me of the water bucket used with the ULA gravity filter.

Thanks…though as you pointed out, the drawback of having to need to hang it from a tree is a deal killer for me.

Even using my Water Tank for dirty water in my gravity filter setup, I often just lay the bag on it side vs. hanging it in a tree.

If I am really impatient, I will sit on the water tank to speed up the process, which requires that I take the time to really make sure that the water tank is closed tight.

-Tony