Nalgene  Ultralite Wide-Mouth Water Bottle - 32 fl. oz.

This is my only REI product review. Simply stated, after having tried many types of water bottles, this Nalgene bottle is superior to them all. I have had these Nalgene bottles for over 10 years and have taken them all over the world, and not once have any of them leaked or breaked. I have also never had to replace the cap and I always carry it by the loop. Due to this bottle being somewhat see-through, it is nice and very handy to be able to see the water level with marked graduations on the side. But the best part for me about this Nalgene bottle is that YOU CAN FREEZE IT! I like to fill it up halfway, to the 16 oz point and then stick it in the freezer at an angle with the lid cracked. Once it's frozen I fill it up the rest of the way with water and have ice cold water for hours. I tried doing this exact method with the Lexan version of the Nalgene's and they cracked after a few months. Because the lexan version is so rigid they can't stand up to repetitive expansion/contraction. This model is firm and holds its shape, but yet is flexible enough to be able to be frozen. Sometimes the bottom will bulge due to the freezing, but it doesn't crack the bottle and after it thaws it goes back to the original shape. FYI, you can't freeze stainless steel bottles because it will break the weld. I've used the bottles with iodine tablets and over the course of 6 weeks, the iodione did stain the inside of the bottle. However, it did not effect the taste of the water when I wasn't using iodine tablets after my trip. When I was in the mountains in Nepal I would fill it up with boiling water and sleep with it to keep me warm. Perfect. It didn't last all night, but it was great. I like that I can carry three bottles at the same time with one finger. Very handy if you're camping and you're filling up water bottles from a stream far away from your campsite. Water filters fit the big mouth perfectly. Also, the big mouth is nice becuase you can dip it down low to gather water from shallow sources. This task is sometimes impossible with narrow-mouth water bottles. I have a few older lexan Nalgens that I just threw out becuase they contained BPA (look for the triangle with the 7 in it to see if you have a BPA version). Now, all Nalgene's are BPA-free. This version has always been BPA-free, which is nice. It does not fit in a bicycle water bottle carrier nor does it fit in a cars cup holder. Also, when I have ice water in it, it sweats a good bit. I can't recommend this version of the Nalgene enough. Every few years I think "hey, it's been awhile I'm sure there is a better bottle out there somewhere." I need to just realize that this Nalgene bottle is perfect as-is. I'm grateful that Nalgene hasn't gone away from their original design as so many companies seek to "improve" their products. I have looked at many different brands and companies, and simply stated, there is no bottle out there that can do what this one can. It's not as sexy or pretty as other water bottles out there, but in my mind, it is most definitely the best.

I bought two of these bottles three days ago, and when I got home I filled them with a very weak, dilute solution of water and Simple Green. The intent, of course, was to be certain that the bottles' interior was clear of any residue or anything else that may have lingered from manufacturing. I shook them vigorously, and then over the next couple of days I poured out the contents during the course of washing dishes and a cast iron skillet. As the two bottles emptied, I rinsed them several times, and then filled them with filtered water and put them in the trunk of the car. I used one bottle this morning at the gym, and it tasted strongly of Simple Green and smelled strongly. I threw out most of the water, brought the bottle home and washed it again with very hot water, and put it on the sink with the cap open. The bottle literally STINKS of Simple Green, and I'm very discouraged with this purchase. I have a half dozen lexan bottles that I've used for years, washing them with Simple Green and a bottle brush. The lexan bottles are truly indestructable, but some of the plastic caps have begun leaking, and this is a problem when they fall over in the trunk and an ounce or two leaks out before I catch it. The lexan bottles retain absolutely no hint of Simple Green, but the writeups on these Nalgene bottles were so glowing that I thought it might be time to start buying replacements. I really regret buying these, and if the bottle now open & empty on the sink doesn't lose the smell by tomorrow, then these are going back to REI. At the moment, I cannot at all recommend them, but if the condition clears up, I'll amend this writeup. Ralph L. Seifer, Long Beach, California.