I think this qualifies as a beginner question:

What's the deal with the Nalgene water bottles? I see these all over the trails. For the life of my I can't imagine why. A 32 oz plastic water bottle from Nalgene is $8-$12. An equal size PowerAid bottle is $1.50 and comes filled with PowerAid! (and is reusable as a water bottle, and is no big loss if you lose it)

So, what's the motivation to buy a Nalgene?

They sell well in backpacking stores - the same places that sell big heavy backpacks.
Most people here would agree with you. Unless it's the dead of winter and I'm pouring boiling water into them I'm either a fan of pop bottles or a platypus bladder.

I use both and each has its own unique advantages. Yes, each will hold 32 oz.of fluid but:

The Nalgene has a wider mouth and fills easier. Its threads are compatible with several types of water filters. It's also more bombproof. Some people like to hang them on their pack by the lid strap with a 'biner. Try that with a POWERaid bottle. As phat said it takes boiling water better. It's nice to take a hot water bottle to bed in winter and for that I only trust Nalgene. I'm sure some people like all the pretty colors Nalgenes come in. Many of the bottles we see out there are Nalgene clones that can be purchased for way less than eight dollars.

To each his own. For many mainstream folks, dare I say most, the difference of a few dollars and a few ounces is no biggie.

That being said, my personal bottle of choice is a Gatorade model. Unless I need any of the above qualities to meet the needs of a specific trip.

[quote Some people like to hang them on their pack by the lid strap with a 'biner. [/quote]

Yes, also something I've never understood. To me it seems about as practical, and as comfortable while walking as taking a DDD bra, putting a water ballon in one of them, and walking down the trail with one heavy lopsided thing swinging away as you step...

To me, probably the one advantage of the Nalgene bottles is you can drop them on solid rock while they're full and they won't burst. The disadvantage is the weight.

I like to carry one small bottle (16 oz) to measure water for cooking. I also use a bladder, and I like to have enough "backup" water to get me to the next water stop when the bladder runs out.

One uses a Nalgene bottle cause it is freakin cool, and you're a dork if you don't use one <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

I myself use Platypus bladders and a soda bottle (I like the narrow opening as I don't use my bottle for anything other than drinking and measuring). You can add graduations to any bottle for making measurements with a measuring cup, a funnel and a Sharpie. Then you can also write "Nalgene" on it so that it's cool.

By the way, I guess I am a dork cause I use the soda bottle...a dork with 2 less ounces on my back.

It best compliments a TNF jacket. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />

I like Aqua Fina bottles, the 1-liter version with the larger lid opening. They cost a buck and come pre-filled with actual water for your convenience. I've dropped them plenty of times and they didn't burst. (And I've had a Nalgene crack right open -- the translucent white version, not the Lexan one.)

I also like the Nalgene Cantene when I want the really wide mouth. The 1-liter size actually holds over 40 ounces of water. I usually end up hiking with one AF bottle, one Cantene, and a 6-liter Platypus Big Zip for collecting and treating water.

Well, I use my bottle for things at night other than drinking and measuring. so I like a wider mouth opening.. I suppose if you have less.... girth.... well, you could make do with a narrow mouth pop bottle <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

"So, what's the motivation to buy a Nalgene?"

I like it.

I've tried others, and I understand the logic behind using anything but a Nalgene. However, in the end, I keep taking it with me for no other reason than I like it better.

Glenn,

Is your profile correct? I thought we knew not to love something that can't love you back. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I started out with Nalgenes. Now I use one 32oz Nalgene (wide mouth and nearly bombproof), a 32oz Platy, and a regular water bottle or what have you for sipping as I hike (I don't really care for bladders).

And phat, you've been naughty! girth? tsk, tsk DDD? tsk, tsk And I thought this was a family site! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

I said "like," not "love." Besides, if you take a somewhat demented reading of one of Phat's posts about using the Nalgene for other things, maybe it can love you back. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

(Remind me again: which side do the debits go on - door or window?)

Well, you may be demented - I'd just prefer not to pee on myself in the middle of the night when using the bottle to avoid getting cold
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I never claimed to be otherwise, Phat. It was just too good a straight line to pass up. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I suppose, if forced to find reasons for liking a Nalgene, the two biggest things are that they've never broken or sprung a leak (I can't say that for the Platypus I used for a while), and I find the measuring marks very helpful, since my pot doesn't have them. Beyond that, I got nothing.

So do you also reclaim the heat from your nalgene nitely visits? I'm doing a bacteria test with my nalgene, I left it in a dark basement half full of tea to see if it grows some kinda funk. I'll retreave it Sunday, it's been there a month. As for the wide opening, it's really not needed and a gatoraid bottle has a wide enough mouth. Unless I just get aroused by the beautiful view of the woods. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

Just teasing Glenn. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I also carry a Nalgene when I think I might need a hot water bottle. I prefer the 16 oz. nonLexan version, but they are hard to find.

The debits are on the east side.

Nuts. Now I have to turn my desk. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I am envious you have an office with windows. I have no windows here in the boiler room. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

Surrounded by the Rockies and you have no window??? I'm sure there is a government bailout program to make up for your loss. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Heck...I'm surrounded by...juniper trees, right out my window. Allergies. Maybe there's a government bailout plan for me too. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

Actually, I don't have windows, either (I just figured you did.) Just a compass I brought from home. And I'm a partner! (Which really just means I haven't had a promotion for 25 years.) <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

>recycling heat from nightime nalgene use

... no, because my nalgene is used for water in winter. For nighttime visits I use a pop bottle
or a size medium ziploc freezer bag - neither of which i trust in my sleeping bag full of urine <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

What a response! Thanks everyone! I think I'm going to do some more research at my local gas station though

To understand Nalgene you have to go back to at least the 1980's. Most canteens available were either metal and made the water taste nasty (plus you couldn't put acidic drinks in them), military and heavy, or plastic with small openings that were hard to clean. Nalgene was actually making lab jars and containers. The original nalgene, the whitish translucent ones, are made of the same material as the lab stuff. It won't absorb oders, had a wide mouth for easy cleaning and for breaking the ice if your water bottle started to freeze over night, was light weight by the standards of the time, and was really hard to break. Sounds like a perfect water bottle to me. We have lots more options now but the Nalgene still excels when you need a strong, wide mouth bottle.

whats the deal with bottles period?! A, 2 liter water bladder and 2-1 liter platys are MUCH lighter and much more packable. 2 liter soda bottles are also a good light option as powerade bottles are thicker/heavier. Nalgene bottles are a name that sells and they are bomber but just not for me on the trail.