13 Best Men's Rugby Socks

Bestselling Men's Rugby Socks in 2023

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Nalgene VS. Eddie Bauer Water Bottles

Nalgene water bottles do it all in the outdoors -- carry your water, cook your oatmeal, wash your socks, hammer your tent stakes. Should you save a couple of bucks on the competitive Eddie Bauer bottle?

The Nalgene brand has made polycarbonate bottles ubiquitous in the outdoor world. The Nalgene 32 ounce wide-mouth, loop-top bottle usually costs around $8.50 in outdoor stores, locally or online.

Target stores offer a similar Eddie Bauer polycarbonate bottle for around $6 (note that Target also sells bottles of a cheaper plastic for $4, which are not as strong and will crack in the dishwasher; avoid those). In addition to being 25% cheaper, the Eddie Bauer bottles have interesting variations, like indentations on the side walls for a better finger grip.

I purchased four of the Eddie Bauer bottles and shared them with my kids and friends alongside our Nalgene bottles. The two brands proved to be different in a number of ways. This review only considers the 32 ounce bottles in both brands.

Strength

The strength of a Nalgene bottle is legendary. Polycarbonate materials in general are extremely tough - tough enough to make bulletproof glass. A Nalgene makes a handy hammer for tent stakes, a grinder for acorns, a walnut cracker, a step ladder, and much more.

The Eddie Bauer bottles are tough as well. I have used them to hammer tent stakes, and haven't had one break yet. The Eddie Bauers feel somewhat lighter than the Nalgenes, and I suspect they may have slightly thinner walls. Nevertheless I've had no complaint about the strength of either bottle.

Plastic Smell

Both the Nalgene and Eddie Bauer bottles stink of chemical when they're new. Polycarbonates leach some nasty chemicals. I try not to think about it. Short of going to stainless steel bottles, I suspect polycarbonates are no worse than the other plastic alternatives. Neither bottle has an edge in this department.

Mouth Diameter

The mouth diameter of the 1 liter Eddie Bauer bottles I purchased is somewhat wider than the standard diameter of a 32 ounce Nalgene. This makes the Eddie Bauer bottles easier to use when dumping in some dehydrated camping food to steep. However, the larger mouth makes the Eddie Bauer bottles unuseable with some useful accessories available for a Nalgene.

For example, there are third-party mouth inserts for Nalgene bottles that allow for spill-proof drinking by forming a pour spout on one side and an air vent on the other. I was annoyed the first time I saw my mouth guard drop through the mouth of an Eddie Bauer bottle into my drink. I've been more annoyed every time since then that I've poured water past each side of my mouth every time I drink from the Eddie Bauer bottle. Granted, it gives my friends some joy, but when it's cold and I'm low on water it's just not funny. A Nalgene with a mouth guard is definitely the best bet for drinking.

Another handy accessory for a Nalgene is a third-party replacement lid with a built-in LED light. Some of these lids are battery powered and some have a small solar collector on the top. Either are terrific as a back-up light. If you've ever walked to your campsite by the light of a cell phone when your headlamp batteries die, you'll appreciate a Nalgene lid light. In addition, turning on the lighted lid in a ruby colored Nalgene at the camp site makes a cheery lamp that won't ruin your night vision. Unfortunately, you can't use the lighted Nalgene lid with the larger mouth on the Eddie Bauer bottle.

Leak-resistance

Never in twenty years of backpacking have I had a properly closed Nalgene leak. The Eddie Bauer bottle leaked on its first trip out, soaking my sleeping bag. After the first leak, I paid extra attention to screwing on the lids on the Eddie Bauers. Despite that, they have continued to leak on occasion.

Conclusion

The wider mouth on the Eddie Bauer, combined with its tendency to leak, makes it a poor choice, despite a savings of over $2 per bottle. Polycarbonate bottles last until you lose them, so the cost savings doesn't amount to much over the life of a bottle. One night in a wet bag was enough to cement my brand loyalty to Nalgene.