Nalgene 32 oz Narrow Mouth Tritan

This is a simple, durable, relatively lightweight bottle. Among rigid plastic bottles, this is one of the best. The narrow mouth makes it easier to drink from but harder to fill.

If you want a rigid, transparent bottle, this is the one to get. It is strong, light, and fits into most bottle pockets. I would recommend this to almost anyone. This bottle has been "discontinued", but they really just added 50% recycled plastic and called it a new bottle (Nalgene Sustain).

Ease of Use: Intuitive to use.

This is an extremely simple bottle to use. You just unscrew the cap and drink. The lid never leaks if you close it reasonably tight. Compared to the wide mouth Nalgene, a narrow mouth is much less likely to spill, making it better for drinking in a car or bus.

However, it is very tedious to add ice or fill from a stream. I rarely do either of these, so it is a good tradeoff for me. It is slightly more difficult to clean the narrow mouth because you can't clean it with your hands. However, bottle brushes and dish soap are sufficient to clean the bottle, and it is dishwasher safe. The bottle fits very well into a majority of bottle pockets, and is easy to put in and out because of the smooth sides.

Capacity: Spot on capacity if using with a 1 or 2L softbottle.

I usually carry 2 to 3 liters when in the backcountry. In the areas that I hike, there are always streams to fill up from, but it is very warm and humid. I like having one Nalgene and the rest of my capacity is filled by softbottles. I like carrying one Nalgene because it is far easier to drink from or clean than a softbottle, and it is also my "insurance bottle" in case anything happens to my fragile softbottles. In this purpose, one liter is ideal.

Features: Few features, but nice cap tether and measuring markings.

The Nalgene has almost no features, which I appreciate. However, one important feature is the cap tether. There is a thick strip of plastic that connects the cap to the bottle, making it impossible to lose and providing a carrying loop. 

This also improves hygiene, since the cap doesn't touch the ground. This tether is not perfect, however. If heavily loaded, the plastic ring that connects the tether to the bottle may stretch, allowing the the tether to be pulled off.

This only occurs when I hang the bottle by the tether, and doesn't damage the tether, so it isn't a big deal. However, if Nalgene could use a non-stretchy plastic it would improve the design. There are also convenient measuring markings in both milliliters and fluid ounces. They have 200 mL increments and 2 fl oz increments. This can be helpful when preparing food (especially freeze dried foods) and is a legacy from Nalgene's lab origins.

Construction & Durability: Classic Nalgene durability.

This bottle only has 3 moving parts: the cap, bottle, and attachment loop.

As a result, it is an extremely reliable bottle. I've never broken any Nalgene, and this one is no exception. I really treat this as something that can't break; I'll use it as a stake mallet or drop it onto concrete without concern. The plastic doesn't dent, although it gets scratched and scuffed easily. My Nalgene does have a small melted spot on the lid, below. 

It was already there when I bought it (used), so I don't know how it happened. The markings on the side are painted on, not stamped into the plastic, so they wear off eventually. 

Health Risks: There are some health concerns with using plastic; while BPA free, this Nalgene (recycling code 7) is likely to contain toxic chemicals, such as PUR and bisphenols. For more info, here's an article from Consumer Reports. I don't think this reflects badly on Nalgene in particular, as the linked study also found some level of toxicity in almost all plastic products tested. I personally am in the process of switching to stainless steel in the backcountry, even though it is heavier.

Conditions: Pretty much everywhere above freezing for 2 years.

I've used this bottle on about half of the trips that I carry a Nalgene, and I've probably used it at least 100 days. I got it used, too, so it's probably been through a lot even before I got it. I usually use it above freezing. I only put clean, cool water into my Nalgene.

Background

I own at least 4 Nalgenes, 5 Klean Kanteens, 2 Hydroflasks, and a Platypus, Evernew, Contigo, S'well, and Thermos water bottle, as well as a few off brands.

Used on the trail for a long time, but there are many more lightweight options now so I use it at work and day-to-day now.

Their volume is OK, but narrow mouth is way inferior to the same volume with wider mouth bottles. Go for the wider mouth ones.

I liked it very much. It's really an excellent bottle for outdoor activities.