Looking for a water bottle that doesn’t take up much space? A vessel you can toss in your backpack or glove compartment or carry-on and easily take with you wherever you go? We thought you might be. Well, you’re in luck! ‘Cause we rounded up the best collapsible water bottles on the market specifically designed with travel and the outdoors in mind so you can easily find the perfect one for you. So fill ’em up, sip regularly, and wander on (fully hydrated, of course)!
Looking for a complete hydration solution for hiking and backpacking? Check out this article!
HydraPak Flux
Not all collapsible water bottles are created equal. Different designs have their place, but if there was a winner in the race when it comes to multi-functionality and ease-of-use, it would be the HydraPak Flux bottle. Available in multiple sizes, it feels more like a water bottle in your hand no matter how full or empty it is, stands upright no matter what, and stashed in a backpack pocket quickly and easily. That’s all largely because of the mouthpiece design: whether you sip or squeeze, once you remove your mouth, the empty space in the bottle will fill with air, making the bottle feel semi-rigid again and easier to handle. Huzzah! That functionality doesn’t work as well when using the available filter, but we still love the idea of a more useable collapsible bottle and the versatility of being able to filter drinking water on the go (like when traveling light).
- Pros: Fantastic usability as it functions more like a solid bottle but packs down when empty, plus can be used with a water filter.
- Cons: The filter makes it slightly more difficult to drink from, but still functions as a squeeze filter.
HydraPak Stow Bottle
The first of the outdoorsy collapsible water bottles is the HydraPak Stow Bottle. It’s ultralight and completely collapsible, but the soft-sided bottle conforms to oddly-shaped spaces like pockets and has a sports cap instead of a screw-top or pop-top. This does mean you have to give it a little squeeze to release the liquid inside, but it is compatible with threaded water filters that are designed to be used with squeezable purification systems like the Sawyer Mini, so that’s a plus. It’s made of durable TPU (a type of plastic) and HydraPak recommends sticking with cold or warm water, not hot, when filling it up. And yes, it’s more rugged than it looks, but if it does manage to spring a leak or otherwise malfunction, HydraPak offers a Beyond Lifetime guarantee, so rest easy. Order a HydraPak Stow Bottle here!
- Pros: Lightweight and smashes flat, plus can be used with a water filter.
- Cons: Difficult to smoothly slide into a traditional backpack water bottle pocket.
CNOC Vesica
One of our favorite water bottle brands that makes hydration solutions for backpacking is cottage brand CNOC. We love lots of their bottles and reservoirs, but our favorite for travel and backpacking is the Vesica. A firm top and bottom makes the bottle easier to shove in a pocket while a soft middle section makes them perfect for pairing with a water filter like a Sawyer Squeeze or Lifestraw. It requires two-handed operation to drink from (unless you pair it with our beloved One Bottle Hydration Straw), but when weight and packability are paramount, it’s a drawback we can live with. Score one here!
- Pros: Packs down small, can be used with screw-on water filter for reusable filtration.
- Cons: Requires two hands when drinking.
Vapur Element Water Bottle
Similar to the Platypus DuoLock SoftBottle, the Vapur Element collapsible water bottle folds flat, but it also rolls up into a neat little package, held in place with its own attached clip. Super convenient. Like the Platypus, it’s plastic and can be difficult to palm since it lacks structure, but is ideal for situations where you don’t have room/don’t want to make room for a bulky bottle. The flip-top keeps the mouthpiece clean, which is a definite bonus (though it doesn’t have a safety lock like the Platypus), and it comes in a small selection of colors. Get one here!
- Pros: Folds or rolls flat, plus the flip lid keeps the mouthpiece clean.
- Cons: Difficult to clean and get completely dry, plus the lid doesn’t lock (though it is fairly secure).
Katadyn BeFree AC 1.0L Water Filter Bottle
Another soft flask with a filter built right in is the Katadyn BeFree Bottle. Offered in a single or double-layer construction (double is slightly heavier but more durable), it’s easy to fill and drink from and filters fast. The hollow fiber membrane filter eliminates particles, bacteria and protozoa so you can drink from natural water sources with ease and confidence. Plus, it’s perfect for travel and backpacking. Buy one here!
- Pros: Filters fast to make drinking easy.
- Cons: Isn’t easily secured in a rolled-up position.
Bottom Line
Did we miss any exceptional collapsible water bottles? Which are your favorites? Share ’em so we can check ’em out!
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Looking for a way to purify the water that goes into that collapsible water bottle? Check out our post on backpacking water filters!
