Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Klean Kanteen TKWide Water Bottle > Test Report by Brian Hartman

KLEAN KANTEEN TKWIDE WATER BOTTLE
TEST SERIES BY BRIAN HARTMAN  
December 5, 2021

TESTER INFORMATION

I have been backpacking for over 20 years throughout Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky and most recently in the Western USA. In addition to backpacking I enjoy family camping with my wife and kids and being outdoors in general. I would describe myself as a mid-weight backpacker. I hike with fairly light weight clothing, equipment, and gear but still like to bring more than the bare essentials with me while on the trail.

INITIAL REPORT 

PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS

Manufacturer: Klean Kanteen
Year of Manufacture: 2021
Manufacturer's Website: http://www.kleankanteen.com/

Item tested: 64 oz TKWide insulated wide mouth bottle
MSRP: $59.95
Listed weight: 29.5 oz (836.3 g)
Measured weight: 29.5 oz (837 g)
Listed dimensions: 11.25 x 4.65 in (28.6 x 11.8 cm)
Measured dimensions: 11.25 x 4.65 in (28.6 x 11.8 cm)
Opening diameter: 2.6 in (6.6 cm)
Capacity: 64 ox (1900 ml)
Materials: 18/8 food grade stainless steel

FEATURES:
TK Closure internal thread design increases thermal performance and is compatible with TKWide caps
Climate Lock keeps contents hot up to 47 hours or iced up to 145 hours
Chip-resistant Klean Coat powder coat finish (no coating on stainless)
BPA Free
Won't retain or impart flavors
Leak proof vacuum insulated Wide Loop Cap creates a full stainless interior
Lifetime guarantee

The Klean Kanteen 64 oz (1900 ml) is certainly not a bottle that can be drank from or picked up with one hand, unless using the swivel loop on the cap.  Notwithstanding its size and weight, it was easy to fill with water thanks to its wide-mouth opening, and easy to drink from thanks to its rounded top lip.  In addition, the cap was easy to twist on and secure as well as remove from the bottle.  Finally, to check the bottle's ability to keep liquids at a constant temperature, I filled it with 38 F (3.3 C) water, tightened the lid, and left it on my countertop.  I'll check water temperature in three days, then perform the same test with hot water, and report my findings in my Field Report.  

SUMMARY

This enormous Klean Kanteen is well designed, well built, and has my wheels turning as to how I might use it.  If you've ever wondered how long a thermos can safely keep food cold or are just naturally curious, then check back in two months to find out if I really do eat chili that's been left out of the frig in this insulated bottle for three days.

This concludes my Initial Report.  

FIELD REPORT

FIELD LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

During Field testing I took the Klean Kanteen on two overnight backpacking trips for a total of five days and approximately 34 mi (55 km) of hiking.  Temperatures ranged from 10 to 31 F (-12 to -0.6 C), and my pack weight was 39 lbs (18 kg), which was heavier than normal but suffice it to say I was well stocked. I mainly hiked off-trail since whatever briars and tall brush were already knocked down were easy to avoid.

Charles Deam Wilderness, Indiana (IN): I spent three days hiking and camping in this locale, logging roughly 22 mi (35 km).  Nighttime temperatures dropped to 10 F (-12 C) while daytime highs reached the mid 20s F (-4 C).  The weather on this trip was sunny and cold with calm winds, as I was on the backside of a front that had just dropped several inches of snow.

Hoosier National Forest, IN: Daytime temperatures were a comfortable 31 F (-0.6 C) on my backpacking trip through this beautiful deciduous forest in Southern IN, which is lined with oaks, maples, and hickory trees.  I hiked approximately 12 miles (19 km) and crossed several frozen streams on this outing. Trails were hard packed, and the terrain was hilly with elevations ranging from 530 to 790 ft (161 to 241 m).
 

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

Before discussing Field performance, here are the results of the test I performed after finishing my Initial Report.  Note the air temperature in my house during this test was 68 F (20 C).  I first filled the Kanteen with ice water from my refrigerator and then added several ice cubes and let it sit for 15 minutes.  I then recorded the water temperature at 38 F (3.3 C), screwed on the cap, and let it sit on my countertop for 145 hours.  At the end of this time period the water temperature measured 55 F (12.8 C).  Next, I waited 24 hours for the Kanteen to warm up to room temperature and then started the second test.  In this test I heated water on my stove to just below boiling, then poured it into the Kanteen and waited 15 minutes for the temperature in the bottle to equalize before measuring it.  After 15 minutes I measured the water temperature at 182 F (83.3 C), screwed the cap tight, and let it sit on my countertop for 47 hours.  At the end of this test the water temperature measured 107 F (41.7 C). Kudos to Klean for some great numbers!  Now on to the empirical results from my Field testing.

Spoiler alert!  It's no secret here either, the Klean Kanteen excelled during Field Testing. Below are the details of my test results after using this remarkable stainless steel bottle for the past two months:

Durability: The Klean Kanteen held up well to trail abuse and finished the past two months of testing with no dings or dents.  This was despite several times when I accidentally dropped or knocked it over while trying to get these photos.  One of those times I set the Kanteen on a picnic table, which was on a concrete pad, and was maneuvering to set up my camera when my sleeping pad, which was strapped to back of my pack, swung around and knocked it over.  Thank goodness it didn't roll off the table as it was filled with water and surely would have dented.  If only I had a camera crew to film me on outings like Bear Grylls, lol.  

I've had no performance issues with the cap either.  It has remained easy to twist on and off just like when I first got it.  The cap seals tight, as well, so I've had no leaks whatsoever.  And any dirt or mud that I got on the bottle simple wiped off with a rag and some water.

Storage capacity: This thing holds 64 oz (1900 ml) of water, or your favorite beverage!  Need I say more.  Granted it's not lightweight, but I knew that going in.  I got this for its insulation capabilities, which is what I'll talk about next.

Insulation: What can I say, the Klean Kanteen does a great job of keeping hot things hot and cold things cold.  It doesn't perform miracles, but then again, it's bound by the laws of Physics and Thermodynamics.  Within these bounds though, Klean has done some really creative things, like making a cap with a full stainless steel interior that helps thermal performance.  The fact that this bottle does as good as it does is a testament to their engineering.  

Function: The Kanteen was easy to carry thanks to the swivel loop on the cap.  Granted it's big, but that's exactly what I wanted, something that can carry large amounts of water, when lakes and streams are frozen, or when traveling in the desert.  It was also easy to pour, but it does require two hands to hold onto, unless one's 'mitts' are the size of Brett Favre.  It works great for water, coffee, hot chocolate, and virtually every other liquid, but not so much for soup.  Especially when the soup has been sitting in snow for two days and has solidified to the point where it has the consistency of peanut butter.  So much for that idea.  I understand Klean has a food canister for this exact thing, which makes getting soup in and out much easier, and is easier to clean up.  Please stay tuned to BackpackGearTest.org and my page for a possible future test of this product.  

SUMMARY

Klean hit the nail on the head with their TKWide insulated bottles.  They're durable and do a great job of insulating liquids so they stay hot or cold, whichever is preferred.  The 64 oz (1900 ml) bottle served my needs well these past two months, and I look forward to more trips with it soon.

This concludes my Field Report.

LONG TERM REPORT

FIELD TEST LOCATIONS AND CONDITIONS

During Long Term Testing I took the Klean Kanteen on two overnight backpacking trips for a total of four days and approximately 21 mi (34 km) of hiking.  Temperatures ranged from 24 to 51 F (-4.4 to 10.6 C), and my pack weight was 34.5 lb (15.6 kg).  I hiked both on and off-trail as conditions warranted.

Hoosier National Forest, IN: Daytime temperatures were comfortable at 51 F (10.6 C) but the thawing ground, in combination with snow melt and recent thunderstorms, made conditions slick and muddy.  Because of that I mainly stayed on high ground, hiking ridgelines and overpasses.  The few times I ventured through low lying areas left me wishing I'd brought rubber boots.  I hiked approximately 11 miles (17.7 km) in what amounted to a large loop and essentially had the place to myself, as I saw nobody on the trails and only one other set of boot prints.

Franklin County, IN: During this two-day trip I hiked mostly on wooded trails and covered 12.4 miles (20 km) across moderately hilly terrain.  I had clear bright blue skies on this outing thanks to a high pressure system that moved through the region.  Daytime highs were in the low 40s F (5.6 C) and lows were in the mid 20s (-4.4 C).  And thanks to daylight savings time I gained an extra hour of sunlight each evening before bedding down.  Elevations in this area ranged from 570 ft (174 m) to 710 ft (216 m).

PERFORMANCE IN THE FIELD

The Klean Kanteen performed well, once again, this time during Long Term Testing.  My favorite things about it, in no particular order, were: 1) the swivel loop that's built into the cap, 2) the fact that it's vacuum insulated, 3) its size, 4) its internal thread design, called TKClosure, and 5) its stainless steel body.  The carrying loop was essential given the size of this behemoth, and it worked really well.  It made grasping the bottle with one hand simple, and I couldn't imagine not having it.  The vacuum insulation kept my beverages hot (or cold) for what seemed like days, and the Kanteen's 64 oz (1900 ml) capacity made me feel like I had an infinite drink supply.  The reason I liked the internal thread design was it made cleaning the inside of the Kanteen so much easier.  Regular threads are a pain to clean, at least for me, and the nooks and crannies that don't get scrubbed are susceptible to harboring germs.  And lastly, Klean's stainless construction, which is popular with everyone these days, is durable, BPA free, and food grade.  With all the talk in the news about plastics leaching chemicals into our foods and drinks, Klean's Kanteen gives me peace of mind, and that's invaluable.  The stainless steel also proved to be durable, as mentioned in my Field Report.  Of all the containers I've carried water in, be they plastic bottles, hydration bladders, or other stainless flasks, this one feels the most rugged and bombproof, and that's exactly what I want in the backcountry, in freezing weather conditions, when I'm carrying large quantities of water in the same pack that has all of my clothes and food in it.

Just like Field Testing, I spent the last two months carrying the Kanteen inside the top of my pack and alternated between standing it up and laying it on its side, to see what worked best.  My preference was to lay it flat which made it easier to grab and put away, versus having to clear a spot each time to stand it vertically.  The cap never leaked in all the times I laid it horizontally, so I was quite confident in its ability to seal tightly.

In the evenings, when carrying hot liquids, I stashed the Kanteen in the foot of my sleeping bag and felt like it helped keep my feet warm.  Whether that was the case I'm not sure, but it certainly didn't hurt anything and it kept the bottle from freezing.  The few times I carried cold water, I wrapped the Kanteen in clothing and stuffed it in my pack for the night.  Upon returning from my trips, cleaning and storing the Kanteen was always a breeze.  My typically way to store it is with the cap unscrewed so any moisture left in after drying has a chance to escape.

SUMMARY

The Klean Kanteen performed wonderfully during Long Term Testing, and I recommend it as one of the best insulated bottles I've tested.  

This concludes my Long Term Report and this test call.  Thanks to Klean Kanteen and BackpackGearTest.org for allowing me to test this item.

Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Klean Kanteen TKWide Water Bottle > Test Report by Brian Hartman