Nalgene · Budget
The Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth is an uninsulated, BPA/BPS-free bottle made in the USA from Tritan Renew, with a wide 2.5-inch cap opening and a listed weight of 6.25 oz.
Expert pick · OutdoorGearLab, Jul 2026
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We have not tested it ourselves: strengths and weaknesses below come from the tests cited.
A day chasing trains is mostly standing, waiting and walking between platforms, and what you carry matters. Nalgene lists this bottle as lightweight, and OutdoorGearLab makes the same point against stainless steel: the lightweight plastic will not weigh you down as much as steel bottles do. The reviewers also describe it as reliable and non-leaking, easy to toss into a pack for a day of hiking or an extended backpacking trip, and Nalgene backs that with continuous, straight shouldered semi-buttress threads that keep the bottle sealed tight. For a railfan who already carries a camera, a scanner and a jacket, a bottle that weighs about six ounces and is built not to leak into the bag is a practical fit.
The opening is the point of the design. Nalgene says the wide mouth fits most filtration devices and ice cubes, and OutdoorGearLab calls the wide-mouth design easy to fill. A plastic loop attaches the lid to the bottle, so the lid is not lost between refills. The bottle is dishwasher safe, stands 8.25 inches tall and 3.5 inches across, and holds 32 oz. In the testers' hot-water check it imparted surprisingly little plastic taste, which they suspect comes from the recycled Tritan Renew copolyester, although they still advise keeping it out of the sun. Expect to stop to drink: the testers say wide-mouth bottles like this one are nearly impossible to drink from on the move without drenching the front of your shirt.
Expert pick · OutdoorGearLab: OutdoorGearLab names the Nalgene Wide-Mouth its budget-friendly backup bottle for travel or hiking, praising its light, leakproof, durable design while marking it down for having no insulation and for spills when drinking on the move. Read the review
Strengths
Weaknesses
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Height | 8.25 in (21cm) |
| Weight | 6.25 oz (177.25g) |
| Made in | USA |
| Capacity | 32oz |
| Diameter | 3.5 inches (89mm) |
| Lid type | Wide Mouth |
| Material | Tritan Renew |
| Cap diameter | 2.5 inches (63mm) |
Someone who wants a simple, light bottle for a long day out or a long trip and is happy to carry a drink at ambient temperature. It suits a pack more than a cup holder, and it is a sensible second bottle for anyone who would be upset to lose an expensive insulated one.
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth: OutdoorGearLab calls it the best insulated bottle for most people, but notes it is quite heavy for hiking use, which is the Nalgene's strength. Black+Blum Explorer Large: the testers suggest it as an insulated choice for anyone who prefers to avoid plastic.
Image: ALPS Mountaineering · source
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. How we pick our gear
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