Should I get rid of the soft nalgene bottles (on the left in the picture), the hard plastic bottles (in the middle) or the metal bottles (on the right)?

I'm trying to reduce piles of unused camping stuff that has accumulated over the years.  As I prepare to attack the large box of bottles I face the question: which kind should I get rid of? 

These are the kind of critically important questions I must address in the cold and dark of a Minnesota January.

Any thoughts?   

prouboy

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I vote for getting rid of the hard plastic bottle and the metal ones.

Lets start with the metal ones. I used to use metal fuel bottles. Even though I keep my fuel in seperate side pouches on my pack, I managed somehow to hit the bottle hard enough that it devoloped a pin hole leak which I didn't detect right a way :-?

Now I use the Naglene fuel bottles. Metal is also noisy. You spring a leak in the bush it's harder to repair unless you have the right stuff.

Hard plastic is a little better, but they don't have any "give" while empty and don't pack away as easy as the Naglene, which also tends not to roll or be a loud as either hard plastic or metal.

For car camping or workout bottles it's a personal preference.

Save the old BPA bottles for use as pee-bottles, handy for cold weather or mosquito swarms. Label prominently.

Old "BPA" ??  I thought BPA meant Bonneville Power Administration. 

I need to get out more...

prouboy

Dinosaur here.  I keep - and acquire at thrift stores and elsewhere - the Nalgene (BPA) pint size.  I have 6 now and could see a few more.  Die hard.

Prouboy,

I sympathize.  I have same predicament but then again I am a notorious hoarder of all sorts of camping & canoeing equipment.

My choice would be to keep the Nalgene for the same reasons ST has stated.

Also, I wholeheartedly agree with Solus re: the proper labeling of pee bottles.  However, this is less of a concern for us "hammock tent" guys as we typically do not use pee bottles.  Unless you are a truly talented individual, their hygienic use becomes rather problematic while lying on your back in your hammock. Trust me, it can lead to worse outcomes than simply dealing with skeeters....

Jimbo   8-)

Speaking of pee bottles.... I'm a hammock sleeper and wouldn't go to bed without it.  Sure, there is a certain risk but I just hate to get out of bed at night.  It's a simple roll on the side and plug in.  :)

I use hard nalgenes for my water and my pee bottle is an old soft rectangular one.

I appreciate all the excellent advice!! 

As for peeing, I still roll out of the sack and tent.  There are some advantages: 1) you can stretch your legs, 2) you occasionally see cool stuff, like mist rolling off the lake, and once I surprised a moose in camp, 3) no worries if you're not "plugged in" correctly in the dark, and 4) no chance of mislabeling! 

I'm going to give my old nalgenes and metal bottles to my local Goodwill, unless one of you QJrs want them.  My campcleaning has progressed, and now the Goodwill box in addition to the bottles, contains a small french press, about 8 or so knives of various shapes and sizes, and various plates and cups.  I'd rather give it to someone who might use it, so just PM me and it's all yours.  If not, I'll make another run to my favorite store, the  "GW."

prouboy

Obviously (or maybe not?) BPA (Bisphenol A) bottles are only good for peeing in.  You definitely don't want to store drinking water in them especially if they may sit out in the sun. Personally, despite the noise and the weight, my wife and I carry our water in large stainless steel(Klean Kanteen) bottles.  Stainless is inert and won't pollute or affect the taste of water.  For most other stuff I'm fine with hard or soft plastic Nalgene bottles as long as they are BPH free, which most are these days.  I find the hard plastic wide mouth Nalgene's don't really keep oil, ghee or maple syrup from leaking so I tend to use the soft plastic narrow mouth Nalgene's for stuff like that.

While I might not use BPA for a baby's bottle, I have no concern using the original nalgene bottles for myself.  Of course I don't plan to grind them up and eat them.

But if you have any of the small mouth pint ones - especially the yellow green color - they'll probably kill you so send them to me. :)

All this pee bottle talk I have to share a humorous aside.

Guess what marathon canoe racers do?

Well some start by drilling small holes in their canoe seats to aid drainage. Splash a bit of fresh water in their laps and keep going. I could never pull the trigger, tried, but I'm guessing it's an aging thing. Women seem to have an easier time of it, as some can even keep paddling while going. Another multitasking skill.

Back on topic.
The only nalgene bottles I've seen break are the milky white ones. They seem to get brittle with age.

My son-in-law competes in Iron Man contests.  Guess what he does while swimming in his wet suit?  Yup.

prouboy

Ditch the metal bottles!  Can't stand them.  Don't even like them before they have been dropped and completely deformed.   >:(

I agree Paddle_Guy.  They're in the GW box.

prouboy

Note to self:

Never buy a bottle you intend on drinking out of from GW. ;)

Not even with back-to-back treatments of bleach and boiling water?   But yeah, probably a good policy...