I’ve found that this Yeti (different sizes) is damn near indestructible. I have no idea what day to day situation you could be in to break this.

I don’t throw them around daily, but I have Contigo bottles with pop-up spouts from Costco, purchased in 2012, two of four still in daily use. Others lost not broken.

The original nalgene bottle is still a really good option.

Yeah I did see these when I was searching but came across a few reviews that said they were quite weighty and don't want to add too much extra to my childs back pack.

Thanks for the suggestion

Ya the yetis weigh a Lot when loaded.

Have not heard of these but will check them out. Good to know they last 10 years at least.

Thanks

Nalgene.

They're the gold standard for a reason. Been around forever and been good forever.

I watched a YouTube video and thought they looked pretty solid. Have you used one yourself?

If you want indestructible, gotta have some trade offs.

Cool thanks for this

Bottles tend to fail at the lid. Avoid lids/bottles with moving parts (like foldable handles, pop tops, etc.) - there’s just more to break. Either way, I’d go with something that sells replacement lids. Bottles with built in straws are no go for me - a pain to clean. Same with bottles with narrow necks. I like to be able to actually reach into the bottom of the bottle and scrub with my hand rather then a bottle brush that will eventually need to be replaced or any gimmicky cleaning tabs.

I like the Yeti Rambler series for insulated bottles - I like them for their simplicity. They are wide mouth (easy to clean & accept large ice cubes), the handle-like lid is nice to carry/hold, easier to open with a work glove or bulky winter/ski glove, nice to grab out of a tightly packed bag, and can also attach a carabiner if wanted for extra security (when I paddleboard I can easily leash bottle to board and enjoy ice cold water all day). No problems with lid leaking. I go stainless steel - no paint to chip. I’m active in the outdoors, and very tough on gear and haven’t had any problems but they do sell replacement lids if needed.

Good old Nalgene bottles if wanting something that’s not insulated. Go wide mouth (easy to clean, nice for large ice). replacement lids available. Use and abuse mine, shows wear but otherwise will last for years.

Ya absolutely. I've carried my 48oz at work for almost a.year.now. it's scratched and scuffed and uglied up but no leaks and no holes.

I left my Yeti on top of my car and drove away 3 different times over a few years, and it never ended up with more than a couple of dents. I retired it because I didn’t want the stickers I put on it to get ruined, but after 4 years of daily use and abuse it was still a perfectly working water bottle. They don’t weigh that much more than a plastic bottle. 10/10 recommend but buy from a reliable retailer so you don’t get a fake.

Brilliant this has been informative. Thank you.

Yeah seems to be he consensus that the Yeti is the way to go. Nice to know it survives being dropped

I had one for about 10 years I used camping, wade fishing, kayaking, etc. It got dropped on rocks, tossed around and never failed. Eventually I switched to camelback bladders for that kind of stuff but I have a buddy who still uses his nalgene bottle whenever we go kayaking or wade fishing together.

I’m not sure where you’re located, but the thrift shops around me usually have gently used Nalgene bottles for a couple bucks.

Nalgene seems pretty sturdy.

Actually camelback makes pretty good bottles too. I have a metal thermos type I got for free and use it when I'm working outside. Last year I forgot it'd left it on my truck, found it 200ft from my driveway. It's scratched up but still works fine.

Nalgene is the answer. One of mine is 20 years old now, and while the outside is scratched up, it’s works just fine.

$8 Nalgene should work. I have one that’s still around from 2001

Nalgene for uninsulated. It’s the go to for Scouting and If Scouts don’t tear them up it’s practically indestructible. For insulated I really like my Stanley bottles. They have taking a heck of a beating and are still good to go.

Nalgenes cost $20 or less and will survive that. My kids have been rocking the same pair of nalgenes for years now. One of the lids ended up getting melted by the dishwasher, but a replacement was $3.

​

I've personally used them for camping/hiking/work for about 25 years now and none of mine have failed....except for the one that we tried to destroy. Ran it over with a truck, froze it full of water, eventually it was the 12 gauge slug that did it in.

Haha brilliant, definitely sounds like this is the way to go.

Nalgene last forever and won't hurt as much when you lose them as a Yeti would

I'm extremely clumsy, and my Klean Kanteen Reflect bottle is a bit dented (dropped it down a flight of cement stairs and also off a cliff) but still works great! It's lightweight, easy to clean, and has replacement caps. It has a very simple cap which I prefer for easy cleaning although you can buy sport style ones too. I picked one without a coating so I wouldn't have to deal with scratches and peeling. I also prefer uninsulated because they handle drops better in my experience.

I have Yeti and Hydroflask bottles too, and they're nice, but I find the Klean Kanteen more comfortable to hold and use (I have tiny hands). I've never had a leak with the Reflect, but I suspect the Yeti and Hydroflask are slightly more water tight. The Reflect is entirely plastic free so I think the other Klean Kanteen designs with a rubber and plastic top would be comparable to Yeti and Hydroflask (but I don't know that for sure). If the bottle is in a designated backpack pouch for water bottles, any of these options would absolutely work great. If it's going to be tossed in a bag loosely with a laptop, I think I'd feel more secure with the Yeti or Hydroflask and accept the tradeoffs. Hope this helps!

It does, super appreciate the advice

Yeah have had a look and from a price point definitely seems like a good way to go

Metal is going to get dented.

my partner and I love our wide mouth stainless steel kleen kanteen bottles (one TK Wide and 2 very old classic styles) - they do get dented when dropped but they still insulate without leaks or drips and the no-plastic-touching-the-liquid-including-the-cap and insulating for hot and cold is great.

I like to put a silicone wristband/bracelets (often given out for free to promote events, like the yellow "live strong" ones that were popular a while ago) around the bottle to add some protection and grip!

I've had the same nalgene for the past fifteen years. Used daily. Only thing I've ever replaced is the cap because I'll drop it and it'll hit a rock just right and cut the connector thing that holds it to the water bottle.

Yup! Had a jackass at work cut mine with a box cutter as a joke and had to replace it but I don't really count that as anything against the product.

Definitely not anything against the product. If I've gone through three caps in fifteen years I'd call that a win. I'd consider the caps a wear product over time as it's the only moving part.

Plastic gets scuffed up also

I guess as long as it's all cosmetic it doesn't matter

Absolutely Nalgene. I left mine on the bumper of my truck once and drove off. Was super bummed about losing it, but spotted it on the side of the road on my way back to that job the next day. I know I was going at least 35mph where it was. Just a few scratches.

Yetis are great but they're not indestructible.

A good enough drop or toss can break the cap or dent the threaded part of the metal and render the seal unreliable.

I've had very good luck with my hydroflask. It's been with me hiking, archeological sites, and just about everywhere else. I've dropped it a few times and it's dented when dropped on a hard floor, but it's stuck by me and keeps water nice and cool. I'm also partial to yeti, but to me the design doesn't seem quite as sturdy when it comes to drops and dents

EDIT: I've had my hydroflask since 2016

Same is true with metal. I also prefer metal over plastic for health reasons.

I prefer all metal for health reasons too (also because I drink hot liquids I want to keep insulated)

Nalgene will last you decades and aren’t expensive.

Your budget needn’t be anywhere near £50. That’s ludicrous money for a water bottle.

If you’re interested in metal but want lightweight, I really like Sigg aluminium Traveller bottles. Had a couple for years before they eventually dented enough to leak

Specifically, the cheaper HDPE "cloudy" Nalgene bottles are BIFL. The clear ones will punch through if you drop em just right. HDPE bottles will bounce. Also widely agreed to be 100% food safe.

https://nalgene.com/product/32oz-wide-mouth-ultralite-bottle/

the unicorn: https://nalgene.com/product/32oz-wide-mouth-ultralite-bottle/

I have been using a Klean Kanteen literally everyday for about 15 years. It's just stainless steel with a thick plastic cap and a silicone O-ring for a seal. I think I've replaced the O-ring twice, and I think I'm still on the original cap. I've dropped it numerous times, so there are some light scratches and dents on the bottle and the cap. I put the bottle and cap in the dishwasher occasionally, and the cap doesn't seem to be affected by the dishwasher. I've probably drank several thousand gallons of water out of this bottle.

I tried the sport cap briefly, but I didn't like it. The regular screw cap with a loop on top is the way to go.

Edit: the cap has a 2009 date stamp inside it, so about 14 years

Im a yeti fanboy but what does your child like? Do they only drink cold water like me? Do they not care? If they dont care give them a Nalgene because if they lose it its very cheap. Its a child they probably wont care about losing a water bottle, if they like cold water definitely go a yeti.

I’m on year 8 of my hydro flask and still use it daily. They also have a new lightweight titanium version which is even more durable.

Yeti is the best when it comes to these items. I have tried many of the popular brands, and while they don't suck, Yeti has held up the best. Also, many talk about just getting the knock off version. I think they're missing a valuable part of BIFL. Yeti has replacement lids and nearly everything (and some form of warranty) where you can continue to use the item for a long time. Those Ozark trail ones have already changed designs on some of them I believe.

If you don’t mind weight. I really enjoy my Hydro Flasks. They do what i want. Comfortable to me and a good lid. They keep my water cold all day. However, i bet you can get similar performance from cheaper bottles. I’ve never used the lifetime warranty to see if they’ll replace a bottle but that could offset the price difference if they will easily.

You can get a similar performing at Walmart (ozark trails) though i don’t care for their lids. If you have something similar to TJ Maxx you can get a good deal on Hydro Flask at the cost of not many color options or you can buy a random off brand for a even better price and probably similar performance.

If weight matters, Nalgene. Great bottle. Cheap and lightweight. If you manage to somehow break it, buy another for cheap. It’s simple. But it won’t keep your water cold long and it will sweat.

If you have 15 min, watch this. Project Farm has a good video on bottle testing.

I have a few 20 year old nalgenes, and let me tell you, I abused the hell out of them. They were my main water bottle (also had a dromedary bag) on a cross country walkabout. Used them with Paracord to throw lead lines for everything from bear bags to climbing rope which basically meant me chucking them all over the place as a weight. Today, my 12 year old son took one to school with him.

I have never ever had one break, a lid break, and only once had the lid strap crack on one. Probably to most indestructible things I own.

My experience with Yeti products has been very positive. I prefer a tumbler to a bottle most of the time, but I've dropped mine a couple stories on multiple occasions without issue. Of course, the tumblers have plastic lids that can break if it lands top down. A bottle does have a plastic lid as well, but the construction is significantly more robust.

I've gone through a couple Nalgene bottles. Either melted them, broke the lid strap, or whacked them hard enough to crack. Plus they're uninsulated.

My kids have held up with hydro flask for 3 years. I got 16 ounce coffee cup and replaced it with a straw lid.

This is great and will have a watch of that video.

Nalgene 100% the right answer. Idk if they still do this but if you do manage to break the bottle they replace it for free if you can provide proof of it breaking.

Those yeti lids have a leaking issue tho. If you don’t screw well the lid can damage

Gotta screw well I guess

Agree with hydroflask. I've had mine...eight...nine? I use it every day, its been dropped on concrete, down cellar stairs, down hiking trails, its got some dents but its still going strong!

I’ve had very good luck with Kleen Kanteen. My almost-11 year old still has a bottle we bought her at age 2. It was her daily preschool and then school water bottle. It’s got some dents and scratched paint after 8-9 years, but it’s still in good working order. I think I had to replace the lid after she teethed on it way back when.

The only qualm is how badly it scares everyone every time it falls lol sounds like a dang piano falling

Dropped my Nalgene off the side of ship rock about 100 feet, just a small scuff when I rappelled down and picked it up.

Another vote for Nalgene.

It just needs some stickers!

^ This.

Used 4 x 1.4l bottles to store water in my ruck during field problems (military)

Carried a HDPE one for 6 years daily, running it through the washer with heated dry regularly… one day I dropped it without the top secured and it cracked.

They seal well so you can stow them in anything.

Maxpedition drop pouches fit them well if you ever need to secure it to a bike, backpack or belt.

Klean Kanteen

Here is mine: (turn sound on, and you'll be able to hear my dulcet tones giving a testimony.)

https://imgur.com/a/y3myx57

99% stainless. 1% silicone gasket. 100% indestructible. I have a couple of them. They are bombproof. The one in the imgur link I've had for almost a decade, and it's my daily driver.

The gasket on any bottle eventually gets gross. You jsut call Klean Kanteen and they send replacement gaskets to you for free. I've replaced the gasket once per year since I've owned this bottle.

Hahaha 100%, its definitely scared me a few times when its taken a dive

Steel Klean Kanteen bottles are indestructible, and will get some nice patina: https://www.kleankanteen.co.uk/collections/classic

I have two bottles I've been using frequently: Nalgene and my Modl. I found my Nalgene in my old apartment and basically what I use for everything. Mine has the bad habit of smelling kinda off despite washing it frequently but that's like whatever. If you want a cheep, do everything 1L wortor bottle, you really can't go wrong with a Nalgene.

However I will say if keeping anything cold for a while is something you want, probably look to a hydro flask. They are bigger and Def a lot heavier but work really well.

What I've been running recently is a modl. They are VERY expensive tbh but they are pretty cool. I got it bc I wanted a large bottle that I could take to the gym and kinda have a squirt cap. They sadly changed that cap and now it's a bite valve. However, this works pretty well. I like my nelgene and having a wide mouth bottle is great. However, we want the gym and my arms kind of hurt and I'm being shaky. I tend to spill water all over myself so I got the model with the hope that I would stop that and basically not the even more wet. The benefit also is that I now have a straw and mouthpiece as well as an open mouth whenever I want. It's also a lot easier to clean. It's a good bottle but i will say it's pretty expensive.

Klean kanteen!

true, a couple years ago i dropped my full nalgene and it cracked on the bottom. they replaced it for free! new ones been going steady ever since, just a shame about the stickers!

Is yeti or thermoflask available in the uk? Metal is definitely the way to go. My now 4 year old broke multiple supposedly unbreakable plastics (Nalgene, camelback, etc). Usually happened when he would drop the bottle and it would just hit a weak spot, I guess. He has not been able to destroy all metal insulated ones. Yeti (in the us at least) will personalize it with your name for a small fee (helps reduced lost bottles or “accidentally” walking home with other kids).

I’ve used yeti and hydro flask, my hydro flask got dented Super easily but my yeti is in perfect shape. I work outside and drop it quite a bit.

I've got a 20 year old nalgene I still use. I pick them up whenever I see them at the goodwill, I have quite a collection now...

I will say though, if your kid is young and taking them to school, you might want to look into other options that are low spill. If your kid leaves the lid off nothing is stopping it from leaking.

Camelbak Chute is my favorite.

LTTstore.com has a nice bottle . And a good customer support

I actually had one that ended up cracking after dropping it. Customer service replaced it for free.

My hydroflask I’ve had since 2015. There’s so many dents on it I’m surprised it’s still holding up. I don’t use it as much now, but it’s still in rotation from time to time.

Nalgene is great and light weight. I cracked one once, dropped it full of water, and they replaced it for free. I just sent photos of the cracked bottle.

Yeti 64oz is a beast and is my current daily driver. I dislike the taste of water in the office so I bring water to work every day.

Other bottles I’ve had along the way zojirushi thermos- got it in 09 for mixing baby formula. Keeps hot things hot too well IMO. My parents use it now. Camelbak chute- both plastic and stainless steel. Works well, insulation is pretty minimal for the SS one. Quality on par with naglene for plastic version

Also, I dishwasher all of my bottles except the zojirushi one and they’ve all held up well.

I have a YETI , Kleen Kanteen and a RTIC. All three are top quality

Zojirushi makes stainless steel water bottles within your budget. They should be basically indestructible.

If you can find a way to get Liberty Bottles shipped to the UK, they may also work for you. They make aluminum bottles that should be very strong.

I will explore domestic options for you and return to this comment.

I’ve bought Swell, been 6 years and still going. I’ve seen no obvious failure points on the bottle.

They’re awesome. They’re cheap. Damn near indestructible. Easy to clean. A multitude of aftermarket lids you can get to fit them to whatever preference you have.

This. Have had mine for 20+ yrs

Came here just to say this. The cloudy white ones with the blue caps that look like actual labware and not a spinoff from a company that originally made labware, are functionally indestructible. If you think they're ugly, put some stickers on them. If you're worried about the health effects from drinking out of plastic, take a moment to think about what most if your food and water already is packaged in/flows through, and stop worrying.

…that counts as a joke?

I recommend the “humangear” third party caps

SIGG aluminium water bottles.

I never broke any of mine.

I just use an easy sipper on my widemouth. Same idea different execution.

Oh I dumped the water on him and called him an asshole.

He told a supervisor on me but when I made it clear we could either both walk away or if happily get him fired for destroying my personal property he shut up fast.

Thanks for this recommendation. I still use my old ones (original logo), and they easily surpass the Yeti’s, Hydroflasks, etc of the world.

Hydroflask was doing a 40% off sale a few days ago. Mine is easy to clean and has last several years.

I love my Bindle - its stainless steel PLUS it has a storage compartment at the bottom!

Massive fan of my yetis, they have totally held up compared to my cheaper bottles of the past which are completely dead but the yetis look pretty much brand new. For coffee though the yeti with a hotshot cap is fantastic, totally leak proof like I can shake this thing and not a drop, 4 hours upside down in my backpack and still no leakage

We shot one with a .22 and ran it over with a car and it survived

You will lose your Nalgene before you can break it. Lol

My thermoflask seems pretty indestructible but it’s also heavy and somebody could get hurt if it gets tossed around.

Benefit of Hydroflask is they are double walled so liquids stay hot/cold a long time.

I unfortunately have destroyed one. Accidently ran it over with a utility trailer. It didn't break, but it was dented too badly to use. I decided that was more my fault than theirs though.

I've had my replacement for six years and keep it off my truck bumper.

This guy does great videos on all kinds of things!

I had a 25 year old nalgene and the gasket failed on the lid. They sent me a new one. The lid also broke off on my nalgene I bought in college, they sent me the specific lid for that nalgene despite it being discontinued over 10 years ago. I believe they’re owned by fischer thermoscience now. They’re such an amazing brand.

He really does. Even if you don’t use the item he tests, it is still interesting.

YETI. PERIOD

My 9 year old has a yeti , no issues while taking it to school for 2 years now. Definitely check them out!!

I'll throw my hat in for Hydroflask.

I had it gifted to me in 2014. One morning in 2020 I forgot that I had left it on the roof of my car before I drove off. I started to slow down for a yellow light at the intersection near my home (this was really early in the morning like 4 am, no traffic) and the bottle flew off my roof way out into the intersection and skidded across the asphalt.

I went and found it about 30 seconds later and there was only a small din on the bottom. That's it. No scratches and no other dents. High quality.

My hydroflask has been awesome. It was in my backpack when a car hit me doing 60mph, bounced across the street and still works haha. It’s got lots of dings and dents though. I’ve had it for like 5 years and find I replace the cap about every other year though.

My favorite is contigo. Order it online so you always have the receipt. With a receipt, they honor their lifetime warranty very readily.

We were gifted a Yeti water bottle worth my son’s name engraved on it and we love it.

I’ve found anything that is stainless steel. I have a hydro flask, and camelback that are stainless steel and have lasted for years.

My daughter just got a Stanley and it seems very durable and easy to clean.

I broke the lid retainer on my old cloudy one and it's scuffed after many years bopping around in a rucksack, but it's still useful enough.

Also highly recommend the sip insert

Came to say nalgene

If it breaks you send a picture and they send a new one. My friends and I were fucking around and destroyed one on purpose and I got my favourite colour way back. Completely different bottle. But one that I wanted

Do not wash it in the dishwasher, it fucks up the vacuum.

Like already said, either Nalgène container (plastic), or a Klean Kanteen (steel). I got a Reflect and I can hammer posts wihtout problems when it's full of water.

Definitely Yeti. Have had mine for six years and have dropped it on concrete/rock more times than I could count. Just one dime sized dent on it. The newer ones aren’t so heavy, but definitely more so than other options. Nalgene does not insulate so you can’t leave it in the sun or put hot liquid in it, which renders it useless imo. Hydro flasks dent all to hell, but I believe they’re cheaper than Yeti.

I'm currently drinking out of one from the 90s.

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Kleen Kanteen. I’ve had one for almost a decade, it’s survived countless hiking/camping trips, 8 years of construction work, and numerous drops. It’s a little dented, but still going strong. If I lost it today, I’d buy another tomorrow.

I too can vouch for Swell, their bottles have excellent durability. Had mine for about 8 years and it’s still going strong.

HDPE imparts a flavor in the water though

Same here that's my favourite

They are Stainless.... How does it Patina?

I was hoping the cap on the 64oz was not plastic, but it is :(

You have to buy a separate cap. As long as it's a narrow mouth. https://www.kleankanteen.com/collections/caps/products/stainless-unibody-bamboo-cap

A metal KleanKanteen. I have one for about 8 years, it is good as new. I disinfect it from time to time with boiled water, baking soda.

I expect to get burried with it in 40 years 😅

Scratches and dents. Maybe not the best word to describe that…

Ohhh OK! I was genuinely curious. That makes sense.

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Ah. Yeah. Nothing for that unfortunately.

They’re fantastic. I broke the lid on one of mine (after 4 years of college abuse), and they sent me 4 replacement lids for free, no questions asked.

Been using mine since Highschool sports over a decade ago, can't recommend nalgene enough.

The nalgene stainless is a great bottle, I have two that are in rotation.