Plenty of people carry travel bottles these days. Itâs way more economical than buying a bottled water when you need a sip, after all. Problem is, it leaves you stuck carrying a sizeable bottle even when youâve emptied it out, which is far from the most convenient thing. If youâre not a fan of that, collapsible water bottles might make for a more practical alternative.
The best collapsible water bottles let you carry your own refreshments any time you leave the house, keeping you ready to hydrate any time you need a sip, much like any reusable bottle (yes, even that shaker bottle you use in the gym). Whether youâre going on your morning workout, doing some afternoon gallivanting, or watching a ballgame at night, these bottles make it easy to bring your own refreshments, which you can simply collapse and slip in your pocket once youâve finished off their contents.
Some of the best collapsible water bottles are made from soft silicone or PE plastic, allowing you to easily fold or roll them up into a smaller bundle when empty. Others are made from flexible plastics like PET or TPU, which are manufactured with built-in folds and creases that allow them to flatten into a smaller size. Obviously, these are not as hardwearing as the stainless steel construction of most travel bottles, but theyâre durable enough to withstand the hazards of daily use while being very lightweight.
The biggest downside of collapsible water bottles is the lack of insulation. That means, it wonât keep your drinks hot or cold the same way a traditional vacuum-insulated travel bottle or travel mug would. Basically, youâre trading being able to fold up your bottle in place of enjoying cold or hot drinks the whole time.
These are the best collapsible water bottles for your daily hydration needs.
Vapur Original Anti-Bottle
Pros
- Collapses very small
- Integrated carabiner
- Very lightweight
Cons
- Material flops around a lot when not full
Capacity: 0.7L (23 ounces)
Materials: PE, nylon
Weight: 2.0 oz
One of the most affordable collapsible water bottles you can find, this one holds nearly three-quarters of a literâs worth of refreshment, all while collapsing into a tiny bundle that should slip comfortably inside a jacket pocket. It comes with a flip cap, which holds the water with a spill-free seal while making it easy to get a sip, although it also creates most of the bulk when the whole thingâs folded up. The bottle itself is made from PE plastic, which doesnât hold shape as well as silicone when you sip. As such, it does tend to squeeze in the middle when you sip hard, so you have to stop and let some air in before taking another one. It comes with a carabiner, too, which you can use to clip it to your backpack, while also keeping the bottle folded when collapsed.
Platypus SoftBottle
Pros
- Most compact collapsed size
- Tight seal
- Very lightweight
Cons
- Cap isnât attached to bottle
- Flops around a lot
Capacity: 1L (33.8 ounces)
Materials: PE
Weight: 1.2 oz
This collapsible water bottle uses a small and simple screw-on cap, which allows it to collapse in a more compact size compared to other options that comes with wide mouths and bigger caps. As such, portability is the main draw here, as it folds small enough to comfortably squeeze into an erstwhile tight pants pocket without any discomfort. Only issue is, the screw-on cap isnât attached to the bottle, so thereâs a chance you can lose it at some point, so best be careful with it (if you do, itâs compatible with other Platypus caps). Despite accommodating a full liter of water, itâs even lighter than the Vapur above, making it very convenient to use. It does squeeze in as well when you sip hard, though, which is just part of the tradeoff for these super-lightweight PE bottles.
Camelbak Quick Stow Flask
Pros
- Compact size
- Self-sealing bite valve
- Wide mouth for easy filling
Cons
- Bite valve is hard to use when on the move
Capacity: 0.6L (21 ounces)
Materials: PU plastic
Weight: 2.4 oz
We love the bite valve on this collapsible water bottle, which automatically seals on its own after each sip, eliminating the need to fiddle with a cap every time you get a drink. Itâs very convenient, especially when youâve got your hands busy carrying stuff. Yes, the bite valve is similar to ones youâve seen in other hydration products from the outfit, so itâs a tested and proven design. When you take off the cap, it has a wide mouth that makes filling it up easy, while a hole at the bottom end lets you hang it for easy draining once youâre done. Itâs very compact when folded, fitting nicely into pants pockets, albeit with a slight bulge from the cap. We do wish they have something bigger, though, as this only accommodates 21oz and itâs the biggest offering in the line (they also have 17oz and 12oz).
HydraPak Seeker
Pros
- Available in large capacities
- Long carry handle
- Compatible with the outfitâs filters
Cons
- Only two colors available
Capacity: 2L (67.6 ounces)
Materials: Silicone
Weight: 2.0 oz
If you want a collapsible water bottle, but donât want those tiny bottles originally designed for runners, you might want to look at HydraPakâs offerings. This one, in particular, is offered in two-, three-, four-, six-, and 10-liter versions, making it ideal for folks who want to carry a lot of hydration on the go. Itâs perfect for taking on hikes, going to the gym, or playing sports, since you donât have to worry about running out of water any time soon. In fact, they market it as âcollapsible camping water storage,â which would make sense. We love the long carry handle on the side, the attached pop-off cap, and the sturdy silicone construction. Because itâs a larger capacity, it collapses a tad bigger, but still compact enough to fit into a backpack pouch or jacket pocket when emptied out. Itâs also compatible with the outfitâs filters if you ever need it.
Hydaway Collapsible Water Bottle
Pros
- Collapses into a puck
- Rigid and stands upright
- Feels like a real bottle
Cons
- Heavier than non-rigid alternatives
Capacity: 0.75L (25 ounces)
Materials: Silicone
Weight: 6.3 oz
Unlike all the previous collapsible water bottles weâve included so far, this one doesnât fold or roll up when collapsed. Instead, it comes with built-in grooves that you can use to turn it into a 1.5-inch diameter puck-shaped pile that squeezes neatly into a pants pocket. It is significantly heavier than soft collapsible bottles when empty, though, so it does put a little more weight in whatever pocket you put it in. When deployed, itâs fully rigid and can be set down a table upright, even fitting inside most vehicle cup holders, so you can keep it next to you in the car. We love the easy-to-use flip-up straw, the leak proof seal, and the dishwasher-safe build that makes it very easy to clean. It even has a small handle that you can use to hang it on a bag strap or carry it on your fingers. This 25oz version is the biggest one they have, by the way, with a 17oz also available if you want something even more compact.
DiFold Origami Bottle
Pros
- Rigid and stands uprigth
- Unique origami-inspired design
- Lightweight
Cons
- Metal cap and D-ring makes clanking sounds
- Leaves metal taste
Capacity: 0.75L (25 ounces)
Materials: Bio-based TPC
Weight: 4.2 oz
Probably the most unique collapsible bottle in the list, this one is made from a dense plastic material with grooves built into its body, allowing it to fold down in a funky-looking origami style. Itâs so fun to play around with when you first get it. The bottle itself is very rigid, so it can stand upright all on its own when set down on a surface, while coming in a size that comfortably fits in hand for comfortable use. We like that it uses metal for the mouth and the cap, so thereâs no hint of plastic any time you take a sip, although it does have some metal taste that will, hopefully, go away at some point. Do note, it comes with a metal D-ring on the cap, which is convenient for strapping it down to your pack, although it does make a clanking noise, which some people may not like. This bottle, by the way, has the same capacity as the Hydaway above, while being about two ounces lighter, although it doesnât quite fold as flat since the cap is more prominent on this thing.
LifeStraw Peak Series Collapsible Squeeze Bottle
Pros
- Built-in water filter
- Thick and durable material
- Perfect-tasting water
Cons
- Collapses bigger than others
- No handle
Capacity: 1L (33.8 ounces)
Materials: Unlisted
Weight: 3.9 oz
LifeStraw is one of the premiere names in portable filters, having made the original filter straw that changed the game for enjoying water in the outdoors. As such, itâs no surprise that their collapsible water bottle comes with a built-in filter that you can use to safely drink from water sources youâre going to come across while camping or hiking. If you like drinking water with zero taste transfer from the bottle, drinking with a filter will change your life, as the water absolutely tastes pristine every time. Just make sure to run one bottleâs worth of water through the filter first without drinking (just squeeze it out). Itâs made from a soft but thick plastic material that feels very durable, too, although the integrated cap and filter does limit how compact it can go when collapsing. Do note, it has a squeeze bottle design, which means you donât want to fill it to the brim, as it becomes impossible to take a sip when full. Thatâs not really an issue, of course, since it offers a pretty generous 1L capacity. The filter, by the way, is easily removable and replaceable.
