Best water bottles for hiking: from short walks to multi-day hikes

Heading out on a hike? Then one of the best water bottles for hiking should definitely be in your backpack.

Staying hydrated when you’re out walking is important, and reusable water bottles are ideal for short, long and multi day trips. Not only are they better for the environment, allowing you to refill as you go, but today's top buys also offer plenty of helpful features; some bottles keep water cold, whilst others have built-in straws or purification filters. 

Coming out top of our list of the best hiking water bottles is the Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth, a brilliantly simple option that holds plenty of water without leaking. If you prefer a water bottle to keep water cold, opt for the Hydro Flask bottle, which has double-walled vacuum insulation to keep your water fresh and cool. 

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Whether you want fresh-tasting water on the go or need a flask that will see you through long days in the great outdoors, we’ve got something that will cater to every hiker's needs and budget. But first, let's consider what to look for...

 How to choose the best water bottle for hiking for you 

Single-use plastic bottles are terrible for the environment, but luckily there are now loads of high-quality and great value reusable water bottles to choose from, in a choice of materials including plastic, metal or glass.

Plastic water bottles are the most popular and most plentiful on the market, and often have useful integrated features.  Meanwhile, metal bottles are sturdy and robust; look for double- or triple-walled insulation and they’ll help your cold water stay cold and your hot drinks stay hot whatever the weather. 

Glass water bottles are usually among the more expensive on the market. They won’t affect the flavour of your water, though they are obviously more fragile than plastic or metal. Many come with a cover or padding to help protect them from impact, though for obvious reasons these tend to be less popular for hiking. As such, our list only contains plastic and metal options.

Another thing to consider when looking for the best water bottle for hiking is what kind of features you might need. If you’re going to be out in the wild and away from sources of fresh water, consider getting a bottle with a high-quality filtration system which will allow you to safely refill from streams and springs. If you’re hiking in hot climates, choose a water bottle that keeps water cold and refreshing. 

Alternatively, you might want to consider a hydration pack or bag as an alternative; these have a removable water reservoir that sits in your bag and a hose with a mouthpiece that you can drink from on-the-go. 

Shopping for more than water bottles? Keep an eye on our guide to fitness gifts for Christmas, featuring trekking poles, other bottles and loads more gifts for walkers.

 The best water bottles for hiking you can buy right now 

The beauty of Nalgene bottles is that they are so  simple and so well made. A wide mouth makes it easy to gulp down water when you’re thirsty, and makes refilling it quick and less splashy. The generous one litre capacity in a compact design means you can take plenty of water with you, and the screw-on lid is secure which means no leakage. 

We love the fact the lid is kept attached to the bottle so you can’t lose it down the mountain side. What's more, there are plenty of colours to choose from, including a glow-in-the-dark option which makes finding your water in your tent at night a cinch. You can get replacement caps, plus the new Sustain model is made with 50% recycled plastic.

If your hikes regularly take you into the back of beyond, or you are a thirsty soul that often runs out of water, then the Lifestraw Go bottle is the water bottle for you. 

It contains a high-quality filtration system that removes and protects against 99.9% of bacteria and parasites, and filters out microplastics, chlorine, dirt and grit. That means you can refill from streams and springs as you go, secure in the knowledge the water you drink is safe to do so. 

The system consists of a membrane microfilter, good for up to 4,000 litres of water, and a carbon filter which is good for up to 100 litres of water, both of which are replaceable. 

Everything comes apart and is replaceable, and the bottle and cap can be cleaned in the dishwasher Plus there are two sizes available and loads of colours to choose from.

If you don’t like the taste of tap water, then the Brita Fill & Go Active will be right up your street. The 0.6 litre bottle contains a filter that slots into the lid section below the sports mouthpiece. As you drink, water is drawn through the filter and it traps substances like chlorine that can affect its taste. 

The filters are replaceable, and you can also use the bottle without them if you need to. However, they aren’t fine enough to filter out things like bacteria and protozoa, so we don’t recommend this system as a way of getting fresh water from outdoor water sources. 

The sports cap makes swigging while you walk a less risky affair, and there are several colours to choose from. It's a great value-for-money option for those who like fresh-tasting water while they hike, though you might want to take a spare bottle so you have enough water on longer walks. 

A sturdy steel water bottle will last for years, and Hydro Flask are the best of the best. Made from stainless steel, the double-walled construction provides vacuum insulation that minimises heat transfer in or out. This means that cold liquids stay cold for as much as 24 hours, according to the company.

It’s not all about col drinks, either; there’s nothing like a hot beverage on a chilly winter hike, and this bottle will keep your tea, coffee, hot chocolate or blackcurrant hot for up to six hours. The lid is constructed from BPA plastic and has a honeycomb construction that also helps prevent heat seeping in or out, depending on contents.

What else? There's a handy handle that makes it easy to carry or grab out of a well-packed bag. You can also choose a sports cap or hot drinks cap if you prefer, or get those as extras so you can up the versatility of this nifty bottle. 

And last but not least, it comes in a range of lovely stylish shades, so it looks as good as it performs. 

If you're travelling light or space in your backpack is at a premium, then this technically brilliant water bottle from Hydrapak is what you need. 

Constructed from TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), a high-elasticity plastic, it has a rigid top and bottle but flexible sides so you can twist it to collapse it to one-quarter of its size once empty. It’s also claims to be up to 50% lighter than other bottles of this capacity, so it won’t weigh you down once empty. 

It has a wide mouth with a sports drink mouthpiece, plus a carry handle and grip ring, and an external capacity gauge so you can keep an eye on how much you’ve been drinking. It’s also BPA- and PVC-free, making it a stable plastic to use, and has been designed to be abrasion resistant. 

Looking for a water bottle that can be frozen? This one comes up trumps, providing you with cool icy water on long hot days. It can also handle hot liquids up to 140°F / 60°C.