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Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Nalgene Wide-Mouth Cantene > Owner Review by Nancy Griffith

NALGENE CANTENE BOTTLE
BY NANCY GRIFFITH
OWNER REVIEW
June 15, 2012

TESTER INFORMATION

NAME: Nancy Griffith
EMAIL: bkpkrgirlATyahooDOTcom
AGE: 46
LOCATION: Northern California, USA
GENDER: F
HEIGHT: 5' 6" (1.68 m)
WEIGHT: 130 lb (59.00 kg)

My outdoor experience began in high school with involvement in a local canoeing/camping group called Canoe Trails. The culmination was a 10-day canoe voyage through the Quebec wilds. I've been backpacking since my college days in Pennsylvania. I have completed all of the Appalachian Trail in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. My typical trip now is in the Sierra Nevada in California and is from a few days to a week long. I carry a light to mid-weight load, use a tent, stove and trekking poles.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Cantene
Photo courtesy of Nalgene
Manufacturer: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Year of Manufacture: 2009
Manufacturer's Website:http://www.nalgene.com/

MSRP: $9.80 US for 32 oz (1 L)
$9.93 US for 48 oz (1.5 L)

Listed Weight: Not Listed
Measured Weight: 2.3 oz (65 g) for 32 oz.
2.5 oz (71 g) for 48 oz

Available in multiple sizes: 32 oz (1 L), 48 oz (1.5 L) and 96 oz (3 L)
I own: 32 oz (1 L) and 48 oz (1.5 L)

Made in U.S.A.

The Nalgene Cantene is listed on the website under the 'shop' heading for 'hydration'. The Nalgene Cantene is a collapsible flexible fluid container with a plastic wide-mouth opening and screw cap. The loop-top plastic cap is attached to the container with a loop around the body of the container and tab that extends from the loop to the top center of the cap. The loop is free to rotate around the container and free to rotate around the center of the cap. The body of the container is a multi-layer film which withstands temperatures from -29ºC (-20ºF) to 104ºC (220ºF). The bottom of the container is gusseted to allow for it to stand upright when full of liquid. The material is BPA free.

FIELD USE

standingI bought these Cantenes to eliminate carrying a hard Nalgene bottle. I liked the lighter weight and ability to collapse it in my pack when empty while still keeping the wide opening.

I have used one or both of our two Cantenes on twenty-two trips for a total of approximately 68 days. Trips ranged in length from overnight to ten-nights.

Some examples of backpacking uses include:

Pacific Crest Trail, Sierra Nevada (California): 4 days; 29 mi (47 km); 7,820 to 9,000 ft (2,384 to 2,743 m); 45 to 75 F (7 to 24 C).

Bucktail Path, Elk State Forest, Pennsylvania: 2 days, 15 mi (24 km); 2,100 to 2,700 ft elevation; 55 to 70 F (13 to 21 C).

Wonderland Trail, Mount Rainier National Park, Washington: 10 nights; 100 mi (161 km); 2,600 to 7,200 ft (792 to 2,195 m) elevation; 32 to 62 F (0 to 17 C).

Point Reyes National Seashore, California: 2 nights; 21 mi (34 km); 0 to 1,407 ft (429 m) elevation; 40 to 55 F (4 to 13 C).

Sequoia National Park, Sierra Nevada, California: 6 days, 60 miles (97 km); 6,700 to 11,600 ft (2,000 to 3,500 m) elevation; 38 to 84 F (3 to 29 C).

This container with a wide-mouth opening is heavier than similar containers with a smaller opening, but I find it to be useful for adding ice or snow and for pouring in powdered drink mixes. It also makes it much easier to clean with a long-handled brush.

The size listed refers to the fill line marked on the outside of the container. The containers actually hold quite a bit more. I suspect that these markings are safe to use in the case that the fluid will be frozen.

Since the containers collapse it makes them easy to pack. I simply remove all of the air and roll or fold them and stuff them in my pack. I haven't been very careful about protecting them but I certainly am aware to not slide them against anything hard or sharp while stowing them.

sun teaI use them mainly in camp for making beverages with powdered drink mix and water. On the trail I have used them for making sun tea while hiking. In the morning I fill one with water and a couple of tea bags. I then secure it to the outside of my pack and by lunchtime I have tea ready.

The gusseted bottom allows the container to stand upright when it has liquid inside and works well on even surfaces. Naturally finding an even surface in the backcountry isn't always easy but it definitely helps to keep the container upright even when leaning against something. However, I don't count it and always screw the cap back on between sips.

The website claims that they are 'dishwasher safe - in top rack only' but I didn't find this to be the case. This only ended up in the dishwasher one time. The printing on the outside did not withstand the washing as is evident by the complete lack of markings on one of my Cantenes. I'm not sure how easily the dishwasher can clean inside this collapsible container anyway, so I find it easy to just wash it by hand.

I haven't had any problem with the material leaking or any holes developing through use. I did have a raccoon nibble a hole in the 48 oz (1.5 L) container while we were away from camp at Point Reyes. It had a sweet beverage inside at the time and I had left it sitting out. When we got home, we added some silicone to it and it kept it from leaking for an entire season before failing. I gave up and just ordered a new one but in a 32 oz (1 L) version. I now own two of the 32 oz (1 L) Cantenes and really like this size the best.

The durability has been outstanding so far. I have to admit that I'm still skeptical about how long these will last without developing a hole but I am amazed at how much use and abuse these have taken with no issues.

SUMMARY

The Nalgene Cantene is a flexible, collapsible fluid container with a wide-mouth opening.

THINGS I LIKE

Light weight
Large opening
Collapsible
Stands upright

THINGS I DON'T LIKE

Markings weren't dishwasher safe

SIGNATURE

Nancy Griffith

This report was created with the BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1. Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

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Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Nalgene Wide-Mouth Cantene > Owner Review by Nancy Griffith



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