Source Liquitainer

When it comes to carrying water on the trail we basically have a few options that will work for backpackers. Bottle or bag. Now among those two categories there are countless options and one that we recently had the chance to review is the Liquitainer from Source Outdoor.

1L  Weight – 28g
Size – 13 x 26cm

2 Liter Weight – 38g
Size – 18 x 28cm

This is a pretty cut and dry water bag that comes in either 1 or 2 liter fill sizes and not only collapses relatively flat (aside from the spout) but also has a based designed to stand when full. The Liquitainer is a great option for those hikers that are eager to save space once the water is gone. Featuring a twist top valve the bottle easily opens for filling. The Liquitainer also is designed to fold in such a manner when full so as to protect the cap and keep it from taking up more room than necessary.

This was one thing I was unable to perfect and could never actually get the cap to store as the diagram displays.

Unfortunately because the twist top cap looks like every other top it is easy to think it is another and recycle it…as I did. Yes you can order a replacement for $1…but the shipping is $15. Perhaps having a new color other than blue would help those of us that are not so attentive. The smaller opening and way in which the bottle folds when collapsed you have to be sure and air it out to keep bacteria from forming. Although the company boasts some sweet tech in their Taste-Free and Care-Free systems I never actually tried to get bacteria to grow and was able to clean it simply by rinsing it out.

Although the spout looks a lot like those you find on 1 liter drinks in the grocery the threads are a bit larger to keep this baby firmly in place even under the pressure of a full pack. And it never leaked.

I really like the collapsible nature of this bottle and after a fair amount of use I was never greeted with the dreaded plastic tasting water syndrome. Which is good since Source has a system to keep this plastic water flavor from occuring.

All in all I would say that this system is a great one that I had no issues with so if you are in the market for a collapsible water container I would definitely check this one out…just don’t lose the cap!