Why Are Hikers So Obsessed With This Disposable Water Bottle?

Further, beyond cost and weight, the 28-millimeter threading on Smartwater caps just so happens to fit perfectly with popular water filters like the Sawyer Squeeze, making the bottle not just a vessel but a vital part of a long-distance hiker’s water filtration system. You can also swap out the standard cap for a hiker friendly sport cap. “In a world of very expensive ultralight gear,” Vogel said, “when you have a super cheap option that works this well, it’s kind of a no-brainer.”

Geometry also plays a crucial role. Smartwater is “just the perfect shape for traditional backpack pockets” Vogel says. The tall, narrow silhouette of a Smartwater bottle is more better suited for pack side pockets—and can even be doubled up—unlike the shorter, wider bottles you might find from brands like Nalgene. While other brands like LIFEWTR have bottles with similar dimensions, Smartwater’s ubiquity has helped it become the de facto standard among thru-hikers.

Of course, there are tradeoffs. Vogel notes that Smartwater bottles won’t last as long as a titanium water bottle—and that plastic certainly isn’t the healthiest material to leave baking in the sun. But titanium bottles cost dozens of times more than the simple plastic solution, weigh five times more, and aren’t nearly as packable. “Most hikers just don’t prioritize the marginal risk of plastic leaching when weighed against cost, weight, and convenience,” Vogel admits.

Source: https://www.fieldmag.com/articles/why-thru-hikers-obsessed-with-smartwater-bottles