I just picked up another Aquatainer by Reliance - prompted by the 'What have you done for preparedness this month' threads. When I got it home, I noticed that the vent hole, which used to have a screw-top with an internal retaining device, is now just a plastic plug with a retaining device. I think this is a step backwards.

I store them upright, but in use they tend to leak unless you overtighten everything. The local Sportsman's Warehouse started carrying replacement spouts, for which I am grateful...

Anyway, anyone have an opinion on Aquatainer vs the jerry can style containers, or another style? I liked the spout for camping - you didn't have to lift the entire jug every time or tip it and try not to spill or overfill when you poured. The cheap vent plug has got me reconsidering, though.

I don't like the vent plug either, which is why I won't be buying any more Aquatainers. It is unfortunate too, because I thought they were about perfect for my needs. I guess the company who makes them thought they saw a way to save a whole nickel. Penny wise and pound foolish. <img src="/images/graemlins/mad.gif" alt="" />

They still have them with the threaded vents

http://www.earthquakesupplycenter.com/aquatainersevengal.htm

Did you happen to buy them from Walmart? I notice Walmart items sometimes has minor differences on their stuff compared to other stores.

There's always the coleman water containers

http://www.coleman.com/coleman/colemancom/detail.asp?product_id=5620B718G&categoryid=8510

Haven't tried it, but they seem a little more durable than the aquatainers. Unfortunately, I haven't found anything that is as cost effective as the aquatainers. Don't bother with the green Reliance Desert patrol water containers, I've heard nothing but bad things about them.

I picked this one up at a local Ace Hardware in the camping section. It's about the only product our WalMart doesn't carry.

I just found another type of water container today at Kmart that might be better than the aquatainers. The Blitz 6 gallon water containers.

http://www.amazon.com/Blitz-50863-Water-Container/dp/B000CINB42

They were about the same price as an aquatainer, but holds 6.5 gallons. They seem a lot more durable than the reliance ones, and the size and shape is a lot easier to manage than the 7 gallon aquatainers. Haven't tried it out yet, so I won't know how durable it is for a while.

I saw those at K Mart as well. I like everything about them but the shape. I prefer the Aquatainers "squared off" or blocky shape because I believe it makes them more stable to transport. The Blitz type seem like they would be more tippy. Not a concern for home kits though. Good find.

I love the Aquatainers. I have two of them for camping and keep them filled with filtered water that is also treated with bleach under our stairs for emergencies. I was at Walmart last night and they had them for $8.57 each. I should get a couple more.

As far as the vent plug; I have not had a problem but I can see how it could be a problem.

After using the blitz containers that I bought last month, my first impressions are that the spout on the aquatainer is much, much better than the one on the blitz. There's no on/off valve on the Blitz, so you can't leave the spout on without risking contamination or spills. Plus you have to really crank down the cap in order to get it to seal without any leaks. There's no vent plug on the Blitz either, I guess the nozzle is designed in such a way as to allow venting. This means the flow isn't as fast as the aquatainers, but for me that probably isn't going to be a problem. I prefer to have less sources for leaking.

Other than those issues, I actually like them a lot. The size is a lot more managable, I think mostly due to the narrower profile that allows you to carry it without it banging into your legs. I can probably carry one in each hand and walk, something I can't do with the aquatainers because of the boxy shape. Also, it takes up a lot less floor space than the aquatainers. This wouldn't be a problem if I was able to stack the aquatainers on top of each other, but that goes against the manufacturers recommendations, and I am pretty sure that would cause it to leak.

For long term storage, I'm probably going to pick up a few more Blitz containers. But for frequent use, like camping, the on/off nozzle on the aquatainers and the ability to lay it on it's side make it much more useful. If I could somehow adapt the nozzle of the aquatainer to the blitz, it'd be the best of both worlds.

I noticed the following aquatainer review at epinions.com:

http://www.epinions.com/content_156349795972

I saw this on Amazon, any opinions?

igloo 6 gal

Never seen that one before, looks pretty nice. It looks like it has the same type of vent plug as the aquatainers though. It's not a big deal, but they do leak a tiny bit if you're carrying it and the water is splashing around inside.

I got a chance to use the aquatainers again this weekend while packing for a camping trip. After having to haul them out of storage, I am definitely going to start buying smaller sized water containers, either the blitz (if it's durable) or more likely the coleman. The 7 gallon aquatainers are a bit on the heavy side, you have to be in pretty decent shape to carry it, and even then it's akward. If you have younger children or small spouses, it might be too much for them to handle in an emergency.

I still have a whole bunch of aquatainers that I have sitting on my floor at home, I might give a few to friends so I can go buy new gear.

Try just filling them up to the 5 gallon mark. That should help with the weight. I keep mine filled all the way in the summer but cut it back to the 6 gal mark in the winter to avoid freeze damage.

My beef with the vent plug is that it will never seal as well as a screw vent and it provides an entry point for bacteria and dirt. I guess if the contents are rotated frequently enough this shouldn't be too much of a concern.