The best water bottles for hiking, trekking, surfing and bush walking
Hiking, trekking, surfing and bush walking involves great amount of effort and energy and your body is in a constant need of water to maintain your body temperature and blood circulation. In the middle of a hike or a bush walk you don’t want to end up exhausted and dehydrated, it is arguably the greatest risk faced by bush-walkers. Bush walking lovers know that there is no access to portable drinking water when you are out bush walking, same can be said for hiking and mountaineering. In a 4-5 hour walk or hike it is ideal that you consume at least two litres of water on to of your daily intake of two litres.
When it comes to surfing or doing any other water sports activities you often don’t realise how much you sweat and in addition the salt water can also drain water out of your skin. The truth is your body needs at least 300ml - 400ml of water every hour to maintain your body temperature. Being in and out of water can affect your body temperature and can have adverse effect on your body. Staying hydrated is important but one issue many surfer faces is that the water bottles fail to keep the water cold for long. That being said, it is important that you invest in a water bottle which will keep you hydrated no matter if you are surfing, hiking, trekking or mountaineering.
Finding the perfect water bottle to meet your outdoor and indoor needs can be tough if you don’t know what you’re looking for. For someone who is looking to buy a new water bottle, keep the following things in mind before you buy.
Material
The first thing to look for when buying a water bottle is material. Stainless steel water bottles are a perfect solution to finding right material when looking for a water bottle. Stainless steel bottles can be a bit heavier than the glass water bottles but when it comes to insulation and durability, stainless steel tops the lot. Glass water bottles can brake and cause damage not just to you but also to others while being outdoors. Stainless steel water bottles are odour free and long lasting, all you have to do is refill and reuse.
Insulated or Non-Insulated
Non-Insulated Bottles
Insulated Water Bottles
When your looking to buy a water bottle for outdoor activities such as surfing, hiking, trekking or mountaineering, insulated water bottle is a great companion. When doing bush walking no matter how warm it is if you have filled the water bottle with cold water that the water will stay cold for upto 24 hours and hot up to 12 hrs. On a sunny day when you're out in the surf for hours your cheeki insulated water bottle will keep the water cold for hours so you can stay hydrated for long time. When trekking or mountaineering on low altitude where temperature can reach negative insulated water bottles can keep your water hot for up to 3 hours, and as the insulated bottles are condensation free its less likely that insulated water bottle will slip from your grip.
Leak-Proof Design
When it comes to bush walking, hiking and mountaineering the water bottle you are carrying will move a lot, especially if you’re carrying it in your back pack you don’t want it to spill When buying a water bottle its important to look for a leak proof bottle, PLEASE NOTE: Spill proof bottles are not always leak proof so please avoid any water bottle that says spill proof only. Leak proof bottles are also spill proof hence it’s a 2-in-one feature.
BPA FREE
BPA stands for bis-phenol A. BPA is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics and resins since the 1960s. BPA is found in poly-carbonate plastics and epoxy resins. Poly-carbonate plastics are often used in containers that store food and beverages, such as water bottles. Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible health effects of BPA on the brain, behaviour and many other health complications. It is possible to have plastic in the Lid of the stainless steal water bottles, make sure the plastic is BPA free and also make sure that the plastic is not in contact with your water.
*Please keep the environment in mind when buying a water bottles don’t buy single use plastic bottle as they are not guaranteed to be BPA free and they are bad for the environment.
Packaging
Packaging is something that is always overlooked when buying a water bottle, according to national geographic, 91% for the plastic isn’t recycled and 40% of plastic produced is used in packaging which is just used once and then discarded. When buying water bottle it’s a good practice to look for environmentally friendly packaging.