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Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Ultralite HDPE Bottle

rated 4.5 of 5 stars
photo: Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Ultralite HDPE Bottle water bottle

A wide mouth Nalgene at 3.8 ounces (instead 6 oz. for the regular, transparent ones). It's hard not to like this for backpacking.

Pros

  • Lighter!
  • Wide mouth opening that you do not get with "smart" water bottles.
  • Durable.

Cons

  • Smaller than other Nalgenes.

This is Nalgene's lightweight bottle offering, and it is much lighter than the regular, see-through Nalgene bottles we are all used to. Mine weighs 3.75 ounces, which is significantly lighter than my other Nalgene bottles that come in at 6 ounces. The weight savings are due to it being made of a different material. The material is not fully transparent but it is easy to see how much water is in them.

The shape of the bottle is 100% Nalgene. But it is slightly smaller - just a tad shorter. It still has the 32 oz capacity but some bottles only have graduation marks to 30. My guess is it will hold 34 or 35 ounces when filled to the brim. (Regular Nalgenes will hold 38 ounces filled to the brim).

Two of these lightweight Nalgenes will weigh 4.7 ounces more that 2 "smart" water bottles so if you are a serious gram counter you may want to pass.

These also will not work for you if like to attach a Sawyer filter to your bottle.

But I think there are some pros to the Nalgene:

  • Easier to add Aquamira drops because of the wide mouth
  • Bottle will not tip over easily
  • Easier to fill
  • Easier to add drink powders for protein shake powers
  • Hot water capable
  • More durable
  • Probably safer (see recent study of plastic in water bottles)
  • Less "disposable"
  • Can't lose the lid
  • Made in USA

Background

I only recently got the ultralite version, but I have been using Nalgene bottles for years.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $12

I switched to using these instead of the Lexan bottles because I decided it's better to be safe than sorry with the whole bisphenol A thing and HDPE has been around quite a while without apparent problems.

Overall I am happy with them even though they admittedly aren't as cool looking as the Lexan version. One advantage they have is that they weigh less than the Lexan. However, water stored in them for too long can start to taste slightly like plastic when the bottles are new; this seems to mostly go away after a few washes.

I am also not sure if it is OK to put boiling water in them like people do with the Lexan bottles (although given the questions about the safety of BPA it probably isn't such a good idea to do that) but for me that isn't a real issue since I have never been one to put hot water in the bottles.

Indestructible.

Pros

  • Cost

Best Nalgene bang for your buck and it is indestructible! I use this to carry water, make tea, as a counterweight, the list goes on forever. Love the wide because it is easier to make tea or filter water than the narrow mouth.

Source: bought it new
Price Paid: $5

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The 32oz Wide Mouth Ultralite HDPE Bottle replaced the Nalgene 32 oz Narrow Mouth HDPE.

Specs

Price MSRP: $11.99
Current Retail: $4.49-$15.99
Historic Range: $4.19-$15.99
Reviewers Paid: $5.00
Bottle Volume 32oz
Lid Type Wide Mouth
Diameter 3.5 in / 89 mm
Cap Diameter 2.5 in / 63 mm
Weight 3.75 oz / 106.25 g
Material High Density Polyethylene (HDPE)
Product Details from Nalgene »

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Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Ultralite HDPE Bottle Review