Best 10 Backpacking Water Containers Of 2024

A very good backpacking water container can help you store water for drinking and for washing while spending time in the wilderness. Backpacking water containers are unique in a way since they will often be very compact and lightweight. They are also often foldable to save space in the backpack. I have listed some amazing backpacking water containers that can help people store water for outdoor and drinking purposes. Hopefully, one of them will be to your liking.

Best Backpacking Water Containers – Quick Chart

How To Choose A Backpacking Water Container

Types Of Water Containers

Water Bottles

Water bottles are the most common water containers for backpacking. These are used for drinking water and most of the time, they are not that big. The large water bottles often have a capacity of 2 Liters. There are many different kinds of water bottles as well like insulated, filtered, foldable and so on.

Water Jugs

Water jugs are big water containers. They are often used for cleaning water. If you need water to clean cookware, tableware, and so on, people would often put that water in a water jug. Water jugs are also used for drinking water. If you do not want to keep getting water from a river or water source, you will put them in a water jug.

Plastic Water Containers

Plastic water containers are water containers that are made out of soft plastic. These containers are often foldable and can come in a lot of sizes. These containers will often have a flat shape when they are empty. These are great for drinking water and cleaning water.

Hydration Bladders

Hydration bladders are great since people can drink water without stopping. They can keep walking while being able to sip the water from the hose and bite valve. Hydration bladders have different sizes. Usually, the capacity is around 1 liter to 3 liters.

Types Of Uses

Drinking Water

People use backpacking water containers so that they have a place to put their drinking water. Drinking water is very important since people will often need a lot of water whenever they are hiking for a lot of miles. Drinking water will allow the body to walk for a lot of miles and do a lot of strenuous activities.

Cleaning Water

Cleaning water is used to clean dishes, tableware and cookware. Cleaning water does not have to be purified or filtered. They are meant to be used to wash backpacking equipment. Cleaning water are often put in a water jug.

Backup Water

Backup water is often called dirty water. Dirty water is just water that is not filtered or purified. People will have backup water in case they will not be able to find a water source for lots of miles. This can be filtered to be used for drinking as well.

General Backpacking Features You Need To Consider

Lightweight

The water container that we are bringing to the backpacking trip should be lightweight. There are just so many items that we have to bring. We want to carry as much comfort to the outdoors as possible. Unfortunately, we all have a limited amount of weight we can carry. If we carry too much, we will get tired easily. So having a lightweight water container is ideal since the lighter our backpack becomes, the easier it will be for us to have fun.

Capacity

The capacity of the water container is important since you might be using the item to carry water back to the base camp. The water maybe used for cleaning, washing cookware, sponge bath and stuff. It is important to know the capacity of the item that you are bringing to make sure that you have enough water for your needs.

Easy To Carry

The item has to be easy to carry. One of the reasons is that if it is very hard to carry, you are going to have a terrible time. Have you ever carried a cooler in the beach? It is not a pleasant experience for me. The cooler was heavy and not that easy to carry. It is going to be the same with the backpacking container. The terrain and elevation can make your life miserable. It is important for the item to be easy to carry.

Compact

The more compact the container the better. We all have a limited amount of space in our backpacks. We cannot everything we want sometimes. However, a compact item can make room for others. It is ideal that the item that you are going to bring is compact or at least foldable. This will make it very easy to bring to the backpacking trip.

Non Toxic

If you are going to use the container for drinking water, you need to make sure that it is non toxic. Make sure that it is BPA free and does not have any toxins in them. You don’t want to get sick in the outdoors or have diarrhea. I got sick once, it was not a pleasant experience. So if you are planning on using the item for drinking water, always make sure that the company made it non toxic, BPA free and so on.

Best Backpacking Water Containers

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1. SUPANT Collapsible Emergency Water Jug Container Bag

Technical Specs
Weight: 2.24 Ounces
Material: Constructed of BPA-free, food-approved high grade polyethylene
Capacity: 5L / 10L
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Constructed to hold saltwater or fresh water or some other drinks, made of clear, non-toxic, food-grade safe plastic, screw-on cap provides leak-proof seal

Short Review: This water container made by SUPANT is amazing. This is constructed out of clear, non-toxic, food-grade safe plastic; Reusable, convenient, durable, space saving, and non-toxic. This item is one of the best that is available at this time which is why I am certain that you will be surprised at how amazing this is. This is a folding water bag that comes in a pack of four for a very cheap or affordable price. It is very durable also and can be used in a lot of ways. This is one of the finest items I’ve ever tried its no wonder that I love that this is exceptionally sturdy and works well. This is made out of plastic that is very safe and non-toxic which makes it good for drinking water and other types of beverages.

2. WaterStorageCube Premium Collapsible Water Container Bag

Technical Specs
Weight: 2.2 oz
Material: Environment-friendly premium PET PA PE plastics
Capacity: 1.3/2.6 Gallon
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Portable, lightweight & compact water carrier. Easily folds or stores flat taking up little space, can be frozen, food safe odorless plastic will not effect taste, freezer-friendly for cooling your favorite beverages

Short Review: You will be pretty satisfied using this water container for backpacking. This is very good and very affordable. You get 4 packs for a very cheap price. This is made out of plastic that is very durable and can hold a significant amount of water easily. The plastic is environment-friendly and they are premium PET PA PE plastics. The material is clear, soft, flexible, odorless, tasteless. The set is durable and reusable. This comes in two sizes. You can choose a 1.3 gallon capacity or 2.6 gallons. This is a multipurpose water container that can be used in a lot of ways. Definitely a great item for backpacking purposes.

3. MSR Dromedary Bag Water Reservoir

Technical Specs
Weight: 12 oz
Material: BPA-free food-grade lining
Capacity: 10L
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Designed to be compact to not take much room, collapsible water storage for expeditions of all kinds, laminated with an improved BPA-free food-grade lining for better-tasting water, tough 1,000-Denier exteriors can handle freezing

Short Review: I am recommending this backpacking water container considering that I am positive you will love it. This is laminated with an improved BPA-free food-grade lining for better-tasting water. A collapsible water storage for expeditions of all kinds. This is a pretty good item from MSR that works well at storing and carrying water from one place to another. The item is made out of very resilient materials that make it very tear resistant and puncture resistant as well. This is great for a lot of outdoor activities and perfect for backpacking trips. A pretty good and easy way to store water for later use.

4. WaterStorageCube BPA Free Collapsible Water Container

Technical Specs
Weight: 6.38 Ounces
Material: high quality PE plastic,Non-toxic,transparent
Capacity: 1.3/2.6/5.3 Gallon
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Foldable space saving design store away easily, thicker lid to withstand heavy pressure, easy on/off spigot with controllable flow, custom made lid and spigot with gasketless design means no leaks or parts to replace

Short Review: Among the finest things that you can get is this backpacking water container. This is constructed out of environmentally friendly non-toxic, no BPA PVC or DEHP, No plastic PVC odor and water taste will not be affected, and the plastic is also transparent. This is pretty good and pretty durable. It comes in multiple sizes also so you can pick the capacity or size that you want. The item is made out of plastic that can be folded and compacted to a smaller item. It is very durable also and good enough to handle large amounts of water. A pretty good item that works well for backpacking and camping purposes.

5. RELIANCE Fold-A-Carrier

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.65lbs
Material: BPA-free, food-approved high grade polyethylene
Capacity: 5 gallons
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Collapsible five-gallon/20 liter water container with sturdy fold-down handle, constructed of BPA-free, food-approved high grade polyethylene, flexible even in extreme cold

Short Review: You will be pretty happy with using this outdoor water container. This is made by the Reliance company which is known for their outdoor water containers. They have different kinds with different capacities. This one is a collapsible item from them that can hold up to 5 gallons of water. It has handle so that people will have an easier time transporting the water and the opening is also at the top part to prevent any spills from happening. A nice plastic container that is BPA free and food approved as well.

6. Coleman Water Carrier, 5-Gallon

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.6 lbs
Material: 50% plyethylene 50% EVA; FDA compliant
Capacity: 5 gallon
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Durable and very high quality, folds flat for compact storage and transport, heavy-duty polyethylene carrier resists dents and cracks, on/off spigot removes easily for quick refilling

Short Review: I am convinced that this is an amazing backpacking water storage container that you’ll ever find. This is constructed out of heavy-duty polyethylene carrier resists dents and cracks and features on/off spigot removes easily for quick refilling. This isn’t very high quality but it works well enough to storing and carrying water for backpacking trips. The price is also very affordable. This is made out of very durable plastic that won’t tear or rip for a long time. A very satisfying item to have and very useful one for backpacking trips and other outdoor activities. The price is also very affordable. It works well for its intended task which is the most important part.

7. Coghlan’s Collapsible Water Container

Technical Specs
Weight: 5.29 Ounces
Material: BPA-free, food-approved high grade polyethylene
Capacity: 5 gallon
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Portable, sturdy, collapsible 5-gallon plastic water container, leakproof, easy-pour spigot with on/off feature removes easily for quick filling, heavy-duty clear polyethylene carrier with integrated handles

Short Review: Among the best items which I have ever tried is this backpacking water container. Coghlan is a pretty popular outdoor company. The items that they have are often decent quality with a very affordable price. It is the same with this container. There are lots of high quality containers out there but for the price, this is the best. The water container can contain 5 gallons worth of liquid plus it has handles also for easy carrying. The item is made out of durable plastic and works well for a lot of outdoor activities. It is good enough and has a very affordable price.

8. Alexapure 5-Gallon Water Tote, BPA-Free

Technical Specs
Weight: 13.6 oz
Material: BPA-free water tote
Capacity: 5 Gallon
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: BPA-free water tote for storing or collecting water, 5-Gallon capacity with built-in comfort-grip handle for easy carrying, collapsible for easy storage, includes on/off spigot, designed for use with Alexapure water filtration systems

Short Review: This backpacking water storage container is one of the greatest that you can get. This has a 5-Gallon capacity with built-in comfort-grip handle for easy carrying and designed to work with Alexapure water filtration systems. This is another item that is made out of BPA free and very durable plastic material. It works well for the Alexapure water filtration systems and can be used to store water for backpacking purposes. This can also store water for at home use, for emergency purposes, car camping trips and other outdoor purposes. It is very lightweight and foldable which makes it amazing for outdoor adventures.

9. Platypus Water Tank

Technical Specs
Weight: 14.4 oz
Material: BPA Free Water Tank
Capacity: 6L
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Incredible compact design, gusseted bottom keeps it upright for easy filling, compatible with CleanStream gravity filter system, durable and BPA free

Short Review: The reality is that this water container is very wonderful. This amazing company consistently exceed my expectations due to the fact this item is amazing. This comes with a wide-mouth Big Zip opening is easy to fill and clean and features silver-ion antimicrobial keeps it fresh. This is a pretty durable water tank that can hold up to 6 Liters of liquid. The item is very durable and made out of BPA free plastic. This is very collapsible which makes it great for backpacking purposes. Fill up your the water tank and take it back to the campsite with relative ease. Works well with Platypus CleanStream Gravity Filter System also. The price is a little bit high though.

10. Premium Collapsible Bucket By Freegrace

Technical Specs
Weight: 0.5 lbs
Material: Premium 500D Tarpaulin
Capacity: 10L
Compact: Yes
Feature Summary: Practical way to hold water for washing hands, dishes or even laundry, bucket is extremely light, easily foldable and support its weight, free from any harmful toxins, so it is completely safe for farm animals feeding and pets water-drinking

Short Review: This is an amazing water container that can hold 10 Liters worth of liquids. This is constructed out of premium 500D Tarpaulin, state-of-the-art production procedures and a strong durable material with double-stitched, sealed seams. This can come with a lid also and you have a choice whether you want the capacity to be 10 liters or 16 liters. The material this is made out of is pretty resilient to tears and punctures which makes it very ideal for the outdoors. A good item to have for backpacking and for car camping purposes. Very easy to store water and transport it due to the handle. The design is very simple or standard but it is also very effective.