I just got an email from a friend asking about SIGG's Stainless Steel water bottles so I checked their site. I didn't even know these existed. They're called Steel Works by Sigg. The site shows all shapes and sizes, but I found even more from a few retailers online.

It looks like Kleen Canteen and others are still a few dollars cheaper though.

Siggs got a good size market share in bottles. Their Century bottle is really heavy. Not something I would want to lug around regardless of what i was carrying it in or on.

Better still go to the local supermarket and buy a bottle of fizzy water, I like Kiwi Strawberry, and drink it and then use the bottle for water. The plastic used is tougher then the plastic used in a bottle of water, as they have to hold some pressure. Then just clean as need.
cheers

Walgreen's is selling (here in NorCal) stainless steel water bottles with cheapie d rings and plastic caps for $3.99, I bought 10 of them for what 2 kleen kanteens would cost, but let's see how they hold up.

I have quite a few Nalgene bottles and Kleen canteens, some I've bought and never used. The ones I stick with now are 32oz clear Nalgene bottles and 18oz single-walled stainless Kleen canteens.

I like the Kleen canteens for belt carry, as they're a good size for that, and if it somehow ends up being the only water bottle I have, I can use it to boil water in.

The Nalgenes I like for general water carrying. Because they're clear with graduated markings it makes it easy to see exactly how much water you have left. This is great for cooking as well (measuring out water is easy).

I've also equipped the Nalgenes with Guyot designs "Firefly" lids. I find these seal better than the stock Nalgene lids and they have a neat little function of a built in flashlight that turns your water bottles into a dim lantern (or a so-so back-up flashlight if worst comes to worst).

I've tried camelbacks in the past, but I've never really had good luck with them, so I don't trust them.

Now, I also have a little 8oz single-walled stainless steel flask that I carry, usually filled with Booker's bourbon...but that's for another topic of discussion.

Hey Paul,

After a tragic inner-pack plastic bottle explosion about 15 years ago I have carried my whisky in an aluminum fuel bottle ever since. Lately I have noticed that the interior of the bottle is corroding and stuff is floating in my hooch; aluminum residue cannot be good for my memory.

Any problems with alcohol (the drinking kind, not stove fuel) being stored in a stainless steel bottle, because aluminum residue cannot be good for my memory?

Thanks,

Mike

Nope, nothing really. The steel can impart a slight metallic taste over time and it will build up pressure when it gets warmer (which is why I never fill it all the way up to the top), but otherwise it seems like alcohol can be left in there for a long time without ill consequences. I would say at least a few months.

With that said, if you plan on using a traditional flask, you do have to work to find a good one. Most of the ones you find in stores today are of poor quality. Either poorly soldiered/welded, poorly sealing (of the cap), or both. The better ones are less likely to leak and break, however they're tough to find and usually pretty expensive.

There is something about cleaning stainless steel thermoses and water bottles we should all know, but might want a reminder about.
NO BLEACH!
The bleach eats the steel and causes perforations in it, like pinholes.

I believe that Sigg, the maker of all those aluminum fuel bottles and now I guess water bottles used to recommend only using their anodized version for alcohol. The old rule was use the silver ones for your white gas and the red ones for your white lightning.

JohnE

Okay, I'll admit it. I had to Google "LAPHROAIG"

Laphroaig 30 Year Old Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky. The aroma, on pouring the 30 year old, gives an initial burst of sherry, the full profound depth and ...

Chris, I'll go camping with you any time. I'm not necessarily a scotch man, but I can recognize and appreciate style when I see it.