The 10 Best Collapsible Bottles
This wiki has been updated 17 times since it was first published in October of 2015. You already know you're supposed to drink more water, but getting the ideal amount doesn't have to involve expensive - and environmentally-damaging - disposable plastic bottles. Fortunately, you can stay hydrated without hurting the planet or your pocketbook, thanks to these collapsible options. They're normal-sized when extended, but can shrink to fit unobtrusively in a bag, purse or backpack. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki. Skip to the best collapsible bottle on Amazon.
10. Tap Antibacterial
9. Hydaway Travel
8. Jerrybox Collapsible
7. Survivor Filter Collapsible Canteens
6. Vapur Eclipse
5. Kemier S5-Pro
4. Platypus Platy 2
3. Baiji Bottle
2. SkyyHi Travel
1. Nomader 22oz.
You Need To Drink More Water
The problem many people run into is that they drink a lot of soda, coffee, or alcohol, and expect that to carry them through.
You've probably heard the statistic that sixty percent of your body is water, along with a lot of varying recommendations about how much you should be drinking. The idea of needing 8 glasses a day isn't very useful when glasses come in all sizes. People have even died from drinking too much water. So what is the real science behind this? How much water do we actually need, and why?
Water is a vital part of many body processes. It forms saliva, lubricates joints, and flushes out body waste. It's also a major component of organs like the brain and heart, acts as a shock absorber to prevent injury, and delivers oxygen all over the body. Without the water in your system, your body wouldn't be able to absorb the nutrients it needs in order to function.
Dehydration can have ill effects on your body. Cramping, fatigue, and headaches are just a few warning signs that your body isn't getting the help it needs. There are a lot of ways to check if you're consuming enough water, including looking at your urine. But if you need a general rule, an adult male should get 3 to 4 liters per day, and an adult female should get 2 to 3 liters per day.
It's possible to get what your body needs without drinking that much. You absorb water through food, and other liquids can also deliver the necessary H2O to your system. The problem many people run into is that they drink a lot of soda, coffee, or alcohol, and expect that to carry them through. Other beverages may have adverse health effects, and nothing will be as good as making sure you've always got a water bottle with you to keep your body hydrated.
Contamination Can Be Deadly
There are risks to drinking water from an untrusted source. Waterborne diseases account for 1.5 million deaths annually. You shouldn't just walk up to a creek and slurp down a handful of murky liquid. Microorganisms can cause disease, and pollution can introduce harmful chemicals to the water supply.
There are risks to drinking water from an untrusted source.
In 2015, it was discovered that the drinking water in Flint, Michigan, had been contaminated by high levels of lead, which can cause mental disabilities in young children. A state of emergency was declared, and citizens were unable to trust the water coming out of their faucets.
Though many cities have safe drinking water, consumers have a right to be skeptical. You can always buy bottled water, but that can be expensive and bad for the environment. Luckily, many types of water filters are available for the home. In addition to those that attach to your faucet, there are simpler versions in the form of a pitcher, as well as under sink units that can help you make sure that what's coming out of the kitchen faucet is safe for your family to drink.
Travelers Should Be Extra Cautious
If you're on the move, it's a good idea to keep a water bottle with you to stay hydrated, but you need to be conscious of what you're putting into it. The quality of tap water varies in different parts of the world, and parasites like cryptosporidium could send you to the hospital and ruin your trip. A lot of travelers like to have a filtration system handy, because bottled water can be expensive or unavailable, depending on how far you are from civilization.
You might not need it all the time, but when you get invited on a last-minute hiking trip, you'll be glad you brought it along.
For campers, there are camping water filters that you can use to protect yourself when getting water from a river or well. For the rest of us, there are bottles that have built-in filters. Just make sure you know what your bottle's filter does and doesn't remove before you use it outdoors.
If you're looking for something a little simpler that you can fill up at home and have with you on the go, there are a lot of choices. There are bottles designed for cycling enthusiasts, and even some just for dogs. There are options made of metal and some made from plastic, as well as models with straws and those with caps. Look for a choice that's BPA-free to avoid the possibility of chemicals seeping into your drink.
One drawback to standard options is that they can be quite bulky when carried in a purse or messenger bag. If you're flying or backpacking, you don't want something that's going to take up a lot of space. That's what makes collapsible bottles so handy. They can be packed away when not in use, but have many of the same features as other bottles. You might not need it all the time, but when you get invited on a last-minute hiking trip, you'll be glad you brought it along.
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A wandering writer who spends as much time on the road as in front of a laptop screen, Brett can either be found hacking away furiously at the keyboard or, perhaps, enjoying a whiskey and coke on some exotic beach, sometimes both simultaneously, usually with a four-legged companion by his side. He has been a professional chef, a dog trainer, and a travel correspondent for a well-known Southeast Asian guidebook. He also holds a business degree and has spent more time than he cares to admit in boring office jobs. He has an odd obsession for playing with the latest gadgets and working on motorcycles and old Jeeps. His expertise, honed over years of experience, is in the areas of computers, electronics, travel gear, pet products, and kitchen, office and automotive equipment.