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Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Nalgene loop-top bottle > Owner Review by Sheila Morrissey

NALGENE 32 OUNCE POLYCARBONATE LOOP-TOP WIDE MOUTH BOTTLE

Nalgene

OWNER REVIEW
Date: September 4, 2007

TESTER INFORMATION
Name: Sheila Morrissey
Age: 27
Gender: female
Height: 5 ft 8 in (1.7 m)
Weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
Email address: geosheila(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State, Country: Goleta, California, USA

BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
I enjoy hiking and backpacking in the Sierra Nevada and Los Padres National Forest with friends and my dog. Including consumables, my pack is usually around 25 lb (11 kg). I most often carry one Nalgene bottle in addition to several flexible plastic bottles when backpacking.

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.
Year: 2002
Manufacturer’s Website: http://www.nalgene-outdoor.com
Listed Volume: 32 oz (0.95 L)
Listed Weight: 0.33 lb (0.15 kg)
Measured Weight: 5 oz (0.14 kg)
MSRP: US$ 9.00

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION
The bottle is made of hard polycarbonate. According to Nalgene, the plastic can withstand temperatures from -135 to 135 C (-211 to 275 F). The screw-on lid is attached to the bottle by a piece of flexible plastic that also wraps around neck of the bottle. Measurements markings in ounces and milliliters are written in white lettering on one side of the bottle. The bottles are available in a wide variety of colors.

FIELD USE CONDITIONS
My trusty yellow Nalgene has survived years of my backpacking, geologic mapping, outrigger canoe paddling and working at temperatures ranging from 5 F (-15 C) to 110 F (43 C) and altitudes from 280 ft (85 m) below sea level to 11,000 ft (3,350 m) above sea level.

FIELD USE RESULTS
A second Nalgene that I bought at the same time as the reviewed yellow Nalgene didn't make it -- but through no fault of Nalgene. Despite my best efforts to "Leave No Trace", my blue Nalgene decided to roll off a cliff into a giant patch of poison oak a couple of years ago. It was never recovered and I haven't added a second Nalgene to my collection. I prefer to backpack with a few lighter weight flexible plastic bottles, but I also carry one of these heavier Nalgene bottles because they are more easily filled if I just need to carry creek water to douse a fire, because some water filters attach directly to the wide mouth of the Nalgenes, and because they have measurement markings on the bottle, which are useful for cooking. When participating in other activities where the weight of the bottle is unimportant, I prefer carrying a Nalgene bottle over the flexible plastic bottles because it is less likely to tip over when placed on the ground, and it is easier to open, carry and clean. One activity where I don't carry a Nalgene is while biking. The Nalgene bottle is incompatible with the water bottle holder on my bike and it is also too difficult to open with just one hand.

My yellow Nalgene has never cracked or split, even when it was filled with water that froze overnight. I should mention that a friend's Nalgene did crack on under these circumstances and he was able to get a replacement bottle from Nalgene with no problem. My bottle is covered in scratches from rolling it around with my gear and tossing it down on rocks. The white lettering of the measurements is rubbing off, but I can still see the lines and numbers well enough to estimate measurements. I'm sure I have also used a rough scrubbing sponge over the measurements frequently when I washed the bottle. Washing the bottle is quite easy because the mouth of the bottle is wide enough for me to reach my hand into. I have used many chemical water treatment tablets and powdered sports drink mixes in my Nalgene bottle. Rinsing the bottle has always removed any of the taste from previous tablets or powders and the bottle has never seemed stained at all, but it could be hard to tell against the yellow color. I have heard comments from several people that they wouldn't drink out of a yellow Nalgene because it looks like a bottle of urine. The positive part is that none of my friends have the same color bottle, so I can always tell my apart.

PROS
  • Very durable
  • Measurement markings
  • Compatible with some water filters
  • Easy to fill
  • Easy to clean
CONS
  • Heavy for backpacking
  • Measurement markings are getting harder to see after 5 years


Read more reviews of Nalgene gear
Read more gear reviews by Sheila Morrissey

Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Nalgene loop-top bottle > Owner Review by Sheila Morrissey



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