The Best Collapsible Water Bottle Brands for Hiking, Running, Traveling, and More 2024
September 29, 2024
Whether you're traveling, running, or backpacking, we’ve tested and selected the best collapsible water bottles to keep you hydrated on the go.
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A collapsible water bottle is one piece of gear I have tucked nearly everywhere to stay hydrated. There’s always one in my car, another rolled up in each daypack, with the dog gear, in my camp kitchen tote and, well, you get the point. Finding the best collapsible water bottle, or bottles, as they're becoming increasingly specialized, has been an evolving quest for me over several years now.
I got my first soft bottle, a Platypus, as a gift, and didn’t think much of it. Later that year I went on a months-long backpacking trip through Asia, and the simple, useful receptacle became essential. When you have everything you own on your back, any way to reduce space and weight helps. Plus, the lightweight bottle saved me from having to buy hundreds of 7/11 disposable water bottles.
In the adventures since that trip, I haven’t exclusively used collapsible water bottles (there's always a time and place for insulated water bottles), but it’s one of the few essentials that I always bring along.
Coincidentally, the new Platypus SoftBottle is our Best Overall pick. Simple and functional, its 1-liter capacity is perfect for most situations. Folded up, the 1.2-ounce collapsible water bottle is about the size of a deck of cards.
Our Testing Process
I’ve tested dozens of collapsible water bottle brands and iterations. These simple containers are staples in my gear kit. This summer, I tested a range of current and popular picks to find the best options for every adventure. Whether you’re an avid runner looking for a simpler hydration setup or a long-distance hiker in need of a lightweight container, the best collapsible water bottle is out there for everyone.
11 Best Collapsible Water Bottle Brands
1. Best Overall: Platypus SoftBottle
A time-tested classic, Platypus SoftBottle is simple and functional. Its one-liter capacity is perfect for most situations. Folded up it’s about the size of a deck of cards. Best of all, it’s only 1.2 ounces—about as light as it gets for carrying water. The push/pull closure cap can be screwed off for a more steady water flow. The material is simple and durable, though not particularly well-insulated. While the slightly narrow center can make it easier to hold, this bottle is likely on the wide side for smaller hands. Overall, this simple collapsible water bottle remains my favorite after five years of use.
Most of the time, I don’t need much water on a run, but more of a quick swig. Enter Hydrapak SkyFlask IT, an insulated, collapsible silicone water bottle that fits a half-liter of water and is ideal for such cases. The soft silicone design is super comfortable to hold, and the bottle features a cinchable strap on the back to lock it down to your hand. While Hydrapak makes an uninsulated SkyFlask, I prefer the insulated version for two reasons. First, it’s designed to keep water cooler for longer despite warmth from my hand. Second, the added insulation makes it slightly more rigid and therefore easier to hold as the bottle empties. The lid also features a lockable bite valve that hasn’t once leaked on me. Hands down, it's the perfect bottle for a quick hydration boost during runs.
Pros
Cons
Bite valve is lockable and does not leak
Small closure makes it somewhat difficult to clean
If you're looking for an upgraded soft bottle with a ton of features packed into a small setup, Amphipod Hydraform is worth checking out. The running water bottle has a complete handheld setup that includes a zipper pocket, a cinch strap, stretchy loops, and insulation. For those hikers or runners who prefer to go without a pack, this bottle provides pretty much all the utility in a compact, handheld package. Tuck your keys and valuables in the pocket, cinch the strap down to your hand size, and head off. Plus, the contraption helps keep the water cooler because the heat from your hand isn’t transferring directly to the bottle.
4. Best for Travel: Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle
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For those hesitant to switch to a super lightweight or oddly shaped collapsible water bottle, Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle is a perfect option. It's ideal for air travel and other situations that call for a solid, standard bottle while taking up minimal space and weight. The unique cinching system features a pull cord and a semi-rigid tube, offering some added protection when collapsed. Best of all, when full, this bottle retains a very familiar shape, size, and utility. The rigid tube lends itself to a more secure grip, compared to other collapsible water bottles that can feel precarious to clench while drinking.
5. Best for Backpacking: Vapur Wide Mouth Anti-Bottle
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While I love the Platypus bottle, it lacks some of the features that make the Vapur Wide Mouth Anti-Bottle slightly more useful for backpacking. They're similar in design and construction, but Vapur's sports a carabiner clip attached to its closure and is slightly narrower. This helps it fit in backpack bottle pockets, and also makes it slightly easier to hold. The lid has proven to be resistant to leaking, as the small gasket seal gives it a tight closure. The carabiner also serves as a cinch to hold the bottle in its smallest form when not in use. My only qualm is that the lid is sometimes difficult to open.
Pros
Cons
Built-in carabiner creates convenient attachment point and bottle cinch
My camp kitchen has evolved over the years, but for too long I’ve relied on those clunky blue plastic jugs for water. I used to sell these Hydrapak dromedaries at an outdoor store, and was jealous every time someone picked one up. Hydrapak Seeker 6L is the perfect hydration setup for the whole campsite. The soft sides are more durable than you might expect, and the roll-up closure helps it fold down surprisingly small. If you can handle an added 6.8 ounces of dry weight in your pack, this option is especially convenient in the backcountry—keeping those back-and-forth, fill-'er-up runs to a minimum. The spigot is much like a hydration bladder, and it's super simple to fill up other bottles or pots.
7. Best Filtration Bottle: Katadyn BeFree Water Filter Bottle
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I don’t usually bring a filtration bottle on adventures, but the most sensible version in terms of weight and space is clearly a collapsible one. At just 2.3 ounces for this 1-liter version, Katadyn's BeFree Water Filter Bottle is lightweight and can be easily stowed away in a pack or pocket. The 0.1 micron level meets EPA standards for bacterial removal. For long bike rides, backcountry runs, and other treks, here's your health-saving workhorse to pop in a daypack. Rated for 1,000 liters of filtration, it should go the distance several times over.
8. Best for Overlanding: LifeStraw Peak Series Gravity Purifier
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Though most overlanders usually have the extra space to carry a bigger jerry can of water for backup or immediate consumption, it's always good to have a way to quickly and easily generate clean, purified water without having to take a hit on storage space. The new LifeStraw Peak Series Gravity Purifier weighs just 26 ounces and packs up small, thanks to its thin but durable and flexible bladder construction. It's also a heavy hitter when it comes to removing nasties from any sluggish streams, as it has a superfine membrane that protects against 99.99 percent of viruses—and even higher values for bacteria, parasites, microplastics, and cloudiness caused by sand and dirt. Filtering water at backcountry campsites can be agonizingly slow with many purifiers, especially in larger groups. The Peak Series water purifier boasts a generous 8-liter capacity that flows quickly out of the attached water filter at an impressive 30 liters per hour while using gravity to minimize elbow grease. Speedy but robust, it's rated to safely pass through 18,000 liters over the filter's lifetime, estimated at five years for a family of five.
Have an overnight backpacking or car camping trip and want to enjoy happy hour with friends? For wine enthusiasts in the great outdoors, Platypus PlatyPreserve is an indisputably fun way to bring your favorite cab or syrah into camp without lugging heavy, breakable glass. Because wine spoils with too much air exposure, the ability to squeeze out excess air and seal as you drink helps maintain freshness. The flexible nature of collapsible water bottles means your favorite wine is now easy to fit in a tote bag or backpack. Pro tip: If you’re car camping, put your wine in the PlatyPreserve before sticking it in the cooler. The soft sides make it much easier to fit along with your other food and drinks.
Pros
Cons
Solid seal and squeezing out air maintains wine freshness
10. Best for Dog Owners: Vapur EZ Lick Portable Dog Bottle
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My three dogs tend to gulp down more water on hikes and runs than I do, which means I'm hauling for four. In addition to extra water for them, I need to shoulder a dog-friendly receptacle. Their portable bowl is pretty light, but it can be a hassle to get it out and set it up every time we have to stop for a quick drink. Vapur EZ Lick Portable Dog Bottle features a roller ball that slowly dribbles water as the dog licks. It’s not a perfect solution, and it took a little time to get my trio all accustomed to the delivery system. But, for quick stops, the bottle top provides an easy way for pups to get a drink. Pro tip: Vapur’s bottle tops are interchangeable, so if you want to just buy one bottle and an extra standard lid, you can switch them out for you and your pooches.
Pros
Cons
Quick way for dogs to get a drink
Some dogs might struggle to get the hang of it
Bottle top is interchangeable with other Vapur lids
Yeah, this isn’t technically a bottle, but Nathan Race Day Cups have proven to be super useful both on race day and beyond. Many races, especially trail races in the backcountry, are opting to go cupless to prevent unnecessary waste and make it a little easier on support crews. That’s great news, but I still love to grab a quick drink at aid stations. Here's the light, portable solution. These convenient 6.7-ounce cups fold down to almost nothing, and they create an easy way to fill up on the go. Races aside, I keep them in my camp kitchen in case anyone forgot a cup, or for mixing hydration powder without mucking up my main water bottle.
Collapsible water bottles come in a few different sizes, styles, and materials. Sizes range from 300 milliliters to well over a liter, but you'll generally be best served by something in the half- to 1-liter range. What you choose will depend on your specific uses.
Some, like Hydrapak, are a collapsible silicone water bottle that's flexible and comfortable to hold. Others, such as Vapur, feature a nylon/polyethylene blend that's more plastic-y and folds well. The latter tend to be thinner and lighter, but slightly more rigid. Again, opt for the material that serves your needs best.
Why Use a Collapsible Water Bottle?
You might be thinking, I have a water bottle—what do I need a collapsible one for? Sure, stainless steel or hard plastic bottles are fine much of the time, except when it’s annoying to tote around a clunky, rigid bottle. That's when you'll notice just how convenient it is to go with a softer, lighter, space-saving receptacle instead. I like to think of a collapsible water bottle as my on-the-go hydration solution—specifically in the outdoors.
The best collapsible water bottle brands have options that suit your every need.
Nathan Lemin
Backpacking
No matter how cool the color or trendy the style, a bulky, metal bottle just isn’t functional in the backcountry. While some backpackers opt for recyclable containers like Smartwater bottles, the potential chemicals leaching into your water just isn’t worth it.
The selected collapsible water bottles are perfect for backpacking because they're BPA-free, super lightweight (our top pick is just over an ounce), they fold down and can be stowed in a small accessories pocket (or even a pants pocket), and they often feature clips to hook them to the outside of your pack. Their features make them ideal for sticking a few in your pack—or, at the very least, as a backup stash for extra water.
Running
I live in Southern Arizona, where it can be hot pretty much any time of year. Whenever I’m trail running or going on long runs and don’t want to lug a daypack or a vest, I grab my handheld Hydrapak flasks for quick hydration. They're comfortable to carry, hold half a liter of water, and can be tucked in my pocket when empty for the remainder of the run.
Travel
Living out of a backpack introduced me to the benefits of a collapsible water bottle. To this day, I find them indispensable for air travel. Rather than trying to find a place to tuck my Hydroflask when going through security and having it clank around on the plane, I just opt to slide out a neatly folded collapsible bottle and fill it up at my gate. The best part is that it gets smaller as I drink, making it just as easy to find a place to tuck into when I get off the plane.
Prices are accurate and items in stock at time of publishing.
