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Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Nalgene 32 oz Wide Mouth bottle > Test Report by Greg McDonald
NALGENE 32 OZ. WIDE MOUTH BOTTLE
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TESTER INFORMATION
I have been camping for 15 years, 11 of them have been spent hiking in the backcountry. My hikes are almost exclusively in Florida and generally range between one and three nights. My all-time favorite hike was a 10 day expedition in the Philmont Scout Ranch in Cimarron, New Mexico. I consider myself a lightweight but comfortably equipped hiker, with a pack averaging between 25 and 30 lb (11 and 14 kg).
INITIAL REPORT
Product Information and Specifications
Manufacturer: NALGENE Outdoor Model: 32oz Wide Mouth "Everyday" Year of Manufacture: 2008 Manufacturer's Website: www.nalgene-outdoor.com MSRP: US $11.50 Materials: Eastman Tritan Copolyester Color Tested: Red Colors Available: Spring Green and Blue Approved Temperature Range: -40 F to 212 F (-40 C to 100 C) Measured Total Weight: 6.2 oz (176 g) Measured Bottle Weight: 5.6 oz (158 g) Measured Cap Weight: 0.6 oz (18 g) Measured Length: 8.5 in (23.6 cm) Measured Diameter (Base): 3.5 in (8.9 cm) Measured Mouth Diameter: 2.25 in (5.7 cm) Manufactured in the USA Product Description
The short version is: it's a water bottle. What is BPA?
Since 1930 there have been questions about possible health issues that could arise from exposure to BPA. The debate has picked up a bit more over the past decade or so, but most of the real action has taken place in the last year. The concern with BPA is the possible increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer (among other things). This debate is not without controversy and disagreement of its own so I will merely present the facts, as I understand them. In April of 2008, Health Canada released an assessment that recommended that BPA be classified as a toxic substance to both humans and the environment and that it posed a significant risk to infants, although it is important to note that the report did say that average BPA levels did not seem to pose the same risks to adults. Immediately following the release of the assessment, the Canadian Health Minister called for the ban of BPA baby products in Canada. Meanwhile in the United States the Health Canada assessment fueled the fire of the BPA debate. In the end, the Food and Drug Administration assured the public that they had determined BPA is safe. Nalgene itself has opted to begin to phase out their BPA-polycarbonate bottles in "response to consumer demand" and they deny that the move has anything to do with concerns over the safety of BPA. There is a considerable BPA FAQ section on the Nalgene website that answers common questions on BPA and where visitors can find more information. Ultimately, Nalgene asserts that their BPA products are safe and healthy for human use. Nalgene cites the conclusions of the Food and Drug Administration (United States), the Environmental Protection Agency (United States), the European Commission Scientific Committee on Food (European Union), the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (Germany), and the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare (Japan) as evidence to support their position. Needless to say, the debate rages on… What Lies Ahead
A water bottle like this is pretty straight forward. The wide mouth has the advantages of being easy to clean and fill no matter what I'm putting into it. Thus far, I like how easy it was to hand clean the bottle before its first use (although this can also be done in the dishwasher). I also very much like that it is easy to fill with ice then with water (or Gatorade or whatever) which is very important for use here in Florida. Testing Locations and Conditions
The trail locations where I have taken the Nalgene include Jonathan Dickinson State Park, the Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, the rim trail of Lake Okeechobee, and the Ocala National Forest with overnight trips in the two latter locations. Temperatures have ranged between 33 and 80 F (0 and 27 C) with only very mild precipitation, if any. Winds have been especially high in the recent weeks with a sharp cold snap, and I have been trekking through winds ranging from about 10 to 18 mph (16 and 29 kmh) which have dropped the "feels like temperatures" as low as 23 F (-5 C). I would estimate that the bottle and I have covered a bit under 40 mi (65 km) of trail together. Field Performance
The Nalgene Everday has performed superbly over the course of the testing period, consistent with every other Nalgene bottle that I have ever owned. Aside from a few cosmetic battle scars, the bottle is in excellent condition. There are no cracks, discolorations, or chewing of the threads on the neck. The bottle has been dropped, stepped on, kicked, smashed, and took a nasty tumble down a climbing wall but it still shows no signs of giving up anytime soon. The bottle has been able to handle everything I've thrown at it within the parameters of normal outdoor activities. I was curious if the new BPA free materials would fare any differently than the older plastics that Nalgene used to employ and it seems to me that the new model lives up to the standards I expect from a Nalgene. Final Thoughts
This bottle has lived up to all of my expectations. There are some things with my gear that I would like to keep as simple as possible and Nalgene certainly takes care of that. The Everyday is lightweight, durable, and is everything that I need out of a bottle. I wouldn't change a thing and I can't imagine any reason why I will not continue to use it for years to come. I've actually purchased an additional one so that I can phase out my older Nalgene bottles that contain BPA. I figure I'd rather be safe than sorry. Read more reviews of Nalgene gear Read more gear reviews by Greg McDonald Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Nalgene 32 oz Wide Mouth bottle > Test Report by Greg McDonald |