Are you hesitating when choosing a high-quality bottle? We have prepared a comparison of two of our bestsellers for you.
CamelBak Eddy 0.75 L
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| durable BPA-free material | more demanding cleaning process |
| lightweight | drinking through the straw is slower than drinking directly from the opening |
| easy one-handed operation | exposed mouthpiece |
| replacement parts available |
Dimensions: 25.5 x 9 x 8 cm
The Camelbak Eddy 0.75 L bottle is a practical and ingeniously designed accessory that you will use for everyday activities as well as your favorite sports. The bottle has an ideal shape and size, making it quick and easy to use. The safe phthalate-free plastic from which the bottle is made will surprise you with its long lifespan, as will the innovative mouthpiece, which proves that even a non-traditional way of drinking does not have to be impractical.
Functional look and safe material
The bottle consists of four parts – a chemically stable and safe plastic body (Eastman Tritan copolyester, BPA-free), a cap with a handle (polypropylene, BPA-free), a straw, and a bite valve (100% medical-grade silicone). All parts fit together perfectly, and you do not need to use force to assemble or disassemble the individual components. The slim body of the bottle allows not only for an easy grip but also for placement in most holders, both on a bike and in a car.
The bottle is also equipped with a handy loop, which can be used to attach it to a strap on a backpack or bag. You can easily carry it in the side pocket of a backpack or just in your hand without it weighing you down significantly. When completely empty, it weighs only 153 g!
Easy to use
The way of drinking is basically the same as with water reservoirs, so if you use a hydration bladder, you don't have to learn anything new; you just take the bottle, fill it, and drink. However, if you are new to outdoor gadgets, it will be good to get to know your new bottle a little better. First, you need to flip up the valve, bite the mouthpiece, and then you suck the water, which flows through the straw from the bottle directly into the mouthpiece.
If you are a proud owner of a hydration bladder, you might be a little surprised that the diameter of the straw is smaller than that of a hydration tube. In practice, this means that the flow of the sucked liquid is not as voluminous and fast, which may not suit men in particular who need to drink much more water at once during sports. Quenching thirst can therefore take a few minutes longer for some with the Camelbak Eddy. But if you are one of those "sippers" who always use free moments to replenish fluids, then you will be fully satisfied with the bottle.
What to watch out for
Thanks to the cleverly designed connection of the mouthpiece and straw, there is no leaking during normal carrying, provided that no undrunk liquid remains in the suction mouthpiece. The mouthpiece itself seals well, but if you close it with the rest of the water in the closed position, it may compress when closing and let out a few drops. However, if you make sure you have "sucked out" the water thoroughly, you should not be in any danger.
The same problem with leaking could occur if you poured a carbonated drink into the bottle, which increases the pressure in the bottle and stretches the silicone seal. For this reason, the manufacturer itself does not recommend using the bottle for carbonated or sweetened drinks. If you prefer plain tap water or still mineral water, you will be a winner with this bottle. And if you want to treat yourself to some refreshment in the summer, you can easily put ice in the bottle to cool the water; just unscrew the cap and fill it as you like.
The bottle mechanism is based on flipping. However, the mouthpiece you drink from is not covered by any plastic cap or cleverly designed cover that would protect it from dirt. Therefore, the bottle is more suitable for "indoor" use in the gym or office, car trips, or cycling.
Cleaning and a final tip
Although the maintenance of the Eddy bottle is a bit more demanding, it is by no means as complicated as it might seem at first glance. You just need to disassemble the bottle into individual parts and place them in the top rack of the dishwasher. The secret to success is to let the bottle and all its parts dry completely and then assemble them together.
A great advantage is that Camelbak offers the option to purchase replacement parts. So if you have a more serious accident or if one of the parts (valve, straw) becomes heavily worn, you don't have to worry about losing your favorite bottle.
Bottom line
The CamelBak Eddy with its patented Bite Valve and practical internal straw is a good choice for everyday use, for cycling, and for the office. The Eddy differs from ordinary bottles with its distinctive look and functional design, which not only prevents leaking but also allows you to handle the bottle with only one hand.
If for some reason you do not like plastic, even though it is proven to be free of harmful substances, then you can prefer a glass bottle. In this case, you will certainly be pleased that Camelbak also produces the Eddy with the same mechanism in a glass version. The modern Eddy Glass 0.7 L has non-slip strips made of differently colored silicone on its surface, which look nice and are maximally practical.
Nalgene Wide Mouth 1 L
Dimensions: 21.6 x 8.9 cm
Smart and time-tested design
The multi-purpose Nalgene Wide Mouth 1 L bottle with a simple design is one of the top bottles whose durability will pleasantly surprise you. The bottle, which weighs only 179 g, consists of three parts – a cylindrical container made of Everyday™ Tritan™ plastic (BPA-free), a plastic cap with a thread, and a plastic ring with a strap connecting the cap to the bottle. Thanks to this feature, you no longer have to worry about losing the lid on your travels, while drinking, or when drawing water directly from a spring during a high-mountain hike or expedition. With the help of the strap, the bottle can be conveniently attached to a backpack strap, where it will be easy to carry and you won't lose sight of it.
Tritan copolyester is a very durable plastic that can withstand not only temperature extremes from -40°C to 100°C but also survives minor drops and impacts, after which only minor scratches remain on the surface, with which the bottle can continue to be used safely. Of course, it is better to watch out for the bottle always and everywhere; your reward will be not only its 100% functionality but also its nice appearance.
A disadvantage can also be an advantage
The Nalgene bottle is one of the few bottles on the market whose neck has a diameter of an incredible 63 mm. Especially for those of you who frequently use outdoor filters for bottles, this is great news. They will fit this bottle without any problems. The wide neck is also practical in other respects – it makes cleaning and filling the bottle with water or ice easier.
However, this type of neck also has its disadvantages. In this case, the number one problem is primarily that you cannot drink from the bottle while you are moving (riding in a vehicle, walking, sports). If you are not used to drinking from a wide opening, it will probably take you a few days to get used to the fact that you have to tilt the bottle gradually only a little bit at a time, otherwise you will get a small shower. However, the problem can be easily solved by purchasing a Nalgene Easy Sipper reduction. You can easily insert the reduction into the neck of the bottle, thereby directing the flow of water into a much smaller opening.
Thanks to the screw cap, you also have the certainty that not a single drop will leak from the bottle, which could cause trouble in your handbag or backpack. This bottle is therefore suitable for a number of sports, walks, but also for school or the office. If you are a mountain lover, you will surely find an alternative use for the bottle. For example, you can place small items in it that you want to keep dry at all costs while staying in nature. Since the bottle does not smell, it is possible to use it in an emergency as a portable box for dry food.
Given that the Nalgene Wide Mouth bottle has a larger volume than ordinary bottles, it does not sit as well in the hand as its smaller "colleagues", but you can easily get used to that too. On the other hand, you don't have to refill the bottle too often; a liter of water will last you for a while, even if you try to drink regularly and often. The built-in scale is a great helper not only for outdoor cooking but also when you need to follow a drinking regimen or diet.
Cleaning
Cleaning the Nalgene Wide Mouth bottle can be done by anyone. Either you can place the bottle in the top rack of the dishwasher, or you can wash it by hand. Just unscrew the cap and rinse the bottle either with just warm water or warm water with a drop of dish soap.
Bottom line
The Nalgene Wide Mouth 1 L is a multi-functional bottle that you can use for your activities all year round. Those who go on a trip to nature, climbing, or camping at least a few times a year will certainly not regret buying this handy, lightweight, and durable helper; on the contrary. And those who engage in any of the team sports, during which breaks for replenishing fluids are a matter of course, will not be left behind either.
However, if your passion is cycling or another activity where you need to drink even while you are on the move, then rather reach for the Nalgene On the Fly 0.7 L or Nalgene On the Go 0.7 L, which are equipped with a spout, or for a symbolic price you can buy a Nalgene Easy Sipper reduction, which will narrow the opening for drinking and elegantly solve your problem.
Translated from outdoorgearlab.com/ and supplemented with other findings from various user reviews.
Photo sources: Facebook Nalgene, Facebook CamelBak
