Lessons From The Outdoors: Hydration Contraptions: A History of Water Containers On the Trail

Ancient humans used a variety of ingenious methods to transport water. Indigenous peoples of upper North America fashioned water bottles out of birch bark and pine sap. Middle Eastern tribes used skins to fashion watertight bags. Polynesian voyagers stored water in hollow gourds for their long commutes across the ocean.

Today we have a plethora of specialized water containers to choose from. What did backpackers and campers rely on in past decades? The water container is one of the most overlooked pieces of hiking gear. It seems other pieces of gear always get the spotlight in adventure stories. But every adventurer must stay hydrated somehow. Water is, well, the water of life.

As recreational camping arose in the 19th century, campers used what they had on hand. Tin or aluminum canteens were common, especially among veterans. Wood canteens were also available. Canteens were often round with a shoulder strap. The lack of corners made them easier to carry under a cloak to prevent freezing. This design has been around for centuries. Others used more traditional water skins made of animal hide. At the end of the 19th century, this ancient technology was poised for a revolution in design.

Vacuum sealed insulated containers were invented in the 1890s. Long before Yeti or Stanley tumblers or Hydro Flask bottles, there was Thermos—the original vacuum sealed beverage canister. The Thermos was patented in 1903 and quickly found success among mountaineers and cold climate adventurers. Thermos flasks were crucial to the first successful summit of Everest despite the fact that they struggled to keep out the cold at the high altitudes of Earth's tallest peak.1 Climbers can survive a surprising amount of hardship, but even Everest mountaineers appreciate a hot drink.

Speaking of flasks, here’s an idea if you want to have a little fun. Take a clean pocket flask and fill it with water and then some appropriate time when you’re in public or if your coworkers aren’t complete sticks in the mud open it up and chug the whole thing. Stick the flask back in your pocket and carry on like nothing happened.

Pocket flasks also make surprisingly effective winter trail accessories. Filled with hot cider or hot chocolate, they provide a compact way to carry a warm drink into the backcountry. Place a hand warmer on each side and the contents can remain warm for an hour or more.

Metal canteens were the standard well into the 1960s and 70s. Sometimes people simply used what they had on hand. Mason jars were fairly standard in camp for storing food such as dry goods or even cold items like butter. To keep items cold they could be submerged in a creek until needed. Other times, people simply used the mason jar as their primary water bottle.2 Durable they were not. More than one jar probably completed its final hike after an argument with a rock.

An unexpected brand in this tale is Coca Cola. For many decades people have enjoyed taking Coke camping. Carrying an ice chest in a backpack is not practical though. So people would place their bottles in a cold creek once at camp to let them chill. Coca Cola capitalized on this trend and placed ads in camping related magazines promoting the idea.3 Once the soda was drunk, the bottle could be used to transport water from the creek back to camp with a cork in the top.

Rowdy teens also enjoyed target practice by trying to break the empty glass bottles with rocks. Thankfully, this practice has mostly ended due to glass bans and better education on low impact camping ethics. Glass never biodegrades and old bottles can still be found along trails. Glass was never a good material for camp.

The U.S. Government grew tired of the shortcomings of metal canteens and spent decades searching for a plastic substitute. They found a suitable plastic with the M1961 canteen which became standard. Surplus stores put them within reach of virtually every budget-conscious camper. These OD green plastic canteens were incredibly durable and popular on the trail too.4

Plastic replaced metal more slowly for the general public. One 1960s guidebook reports that plastic bottles, metal canteens, and animal skin water bladders (bota bags) were all commonly seen in use on the trail at that time. Each option had its proponents and detractors. At this time it was not clear which would win this intramural conflict.

The 1970s brought advances in plastic technology and plastic water bottles proliferated rapidly. Most took design inspiration from the new military canteen. Green and opaque white bottles with narrow mouths and ribbed walls kept many hikers hydrated. Some were made by Open Country, others by Nalgene, and still others by long-since defunct brands. Many hikers liked plastic for its durability, though these early bottles were still prone to leaking around the lid. Despite this, plastic had effectively won and become the dominant beverage container on the trail.

Nalgene traces its roots to 1949 when its parent company Nalge was making plastic laboratory bottles. Some scientists within the company realized their bottles made great hiking water containers. Company leaders soon realized there was a market beyond the laboratory. Their first recreation-focused product entered the market in the early 1970s and their reputation for leakproof lids helped convert many to plastic bottles. Nalgene has since become an unstoppable tidal wave. The company is so renowned that “nalgene” is synonymous with any water bottle regardless of brand, much to the frustration of every competing bottle manufacturer.

Nalgene has earned its reputation over the years. They are one of the most reliable when it comes to remaining leakproof. They are the only brand many trust to keep a sleeping bag warm in winter. To try this yourself boil a liter of water just before bedtime, then pour it directly into an empty Nalgene, close the lid tight and put it at the foot of your sleeping bag a few minutes before you crawl in and it will help keep you warm most of the night with no problems.

In 1988 one intrepid and parched mountain biker had a radical idea. He wanted to sip water without using his hands because they were preoccupied steering his bike and he needed all the fluid he could drink while racing the Hotter N Hell Hundred under the Texas summer sun. He MacGyvered an IV fluid bag so it was fastened to his back and the line slung over his shoulder near his mouth was fastened with a clothespin. His idea worked so well that he designed a more durable solution and began selling it under the name Camelbak. Initially, others were skeptical of this new hydration solution. To many observers, voluntarily hiking around with a water bag strapped to your back seemed slightly ridiculous.

The inventor hired an ad company that came up with the slogan “hydrate or die.” Suddenly, the dam holding-back sales burst. The Camelbak water bladder has had an influence on the outdoor gear industry unlike most other trendy water containers. Today, it is difficult to find a backpack that isn't designed around the concept.5

The SawyerSqueeze water filter has become very popular and was designed to fit most standard disposable water bottle tops. Any disposable plastic bottle can be used as Mike Clelland explains in Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips. SmartWater made its first splash in the late 90s as bottled water with added electrolytes. To most, it was just another bottled water in a disposable container. Through trial and error, backpackers came to rely on the SmartWater bottle as an ultralight option that paired well with their SawyerSqueeze water filter. SmartWater bottles were cheap, easy to replace, yet incredibly durable. Thru-hikers have reported a single bottle lasting for an entire season on the Appalachian Trail.

It is a strange outcome. After centuries of innovation, many modern hikers carry either a highly engineered hydration system or a disposable bottle purchased at a gas station. Concerns about pollution and threats to health have grown as plastic has coated the globe over the past 30 years. Plastic bottles are one of the major contributors to these problems. Kleen Kanteen began in 2004 to provide an alternative. Their stainless-steel bottles offer a safer, more sustainable water transport solution. They offer a major improvement in quality over the tin and aluminum canteens of past generations. They are also heavier than aluminum or plastic alternatives.6

Camelbak reinvented the water bladder for the modern age. It now has many competitors in the market though. Platypus and HydraPak are two highly competitive brands with a strong reputation. One reason they have returned is the modern inline water filter like the Sawyer Squeeze. The filter screws on to the opening and the flexible bladder allows for gentle pressure to force water through. This is not possible in more classic hard-sided containers.

Between metal bottles and bladders, it’s starting to feel like we are coming full circle. Few pieces of gear have changed as dramatically as the humble water container. Hikers have carried water in animal skins, tin canteens, glass bottles, insulated flasks, plastic military surplus canteens, hydration bladders, and disposable bottles. Every generation believed it had found the ideal solution. The next generation usually disagreed. Whatever you use, remember to hydrate well or you will certainly die.

By David F. Garner

Lessons From The Outdoors

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Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Hydration Contraptions: A History of Water Containers On the Trail

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