Great quality bag and volume (48 oz). Large opening makes filling and cleaning a breeze which is great because these types of bottles can get pretty filthy over time. I prefer the bladder-style bottles for traveling and camping because they roll up into a smaller footprint when empty. I have the wide mouth Nalgene and the Platypus.

Of the two, I prefer the Platy for drinking and condensed size when empty. I also like that it has a cary loop, but it holds less water. The Nalgene is prefered for public filling and easy cleaning. By public filling I mean from prefiltered supplies via nozzle distribution. When I travel to Africa we purchase and/or filter water for consumption and it's dispensed via pump or gravity nozzle from 5 gallon jugs. Because the openings are small in the Platy, it awkward when sharing a supply with a large group as the opening is only slightly larger than the nozzle - read people don't want your mouth germs on the nozzle. Ha. Even if you wash it in advance, you still draw looks and you can't be sure others have kept it clean as well. For gravity filtration in-camp where my gear is my own, this is great. I pre-filter 2 liters and then hang the clean bag and fill the Platy with the hose. Beautiful. The Nalgene is easy for this as well in-camp, and much better with the nozzle flow as it's got the same wide diameter opening as a standard bottle. Again, washing this out is a breeze and you can even use a dish wand which is helpful.

Pros:

- small when empty
- good quality
- easy to fill and clean
- stands up ok when filled above half way
- fits well in water bladder sleeve for storage (no straw)
- can be tucked around objects in a bag as it's malleable

Cons:

- doesn't stand up well when below half volume
- doesn't fit in expandible fabric backpack bottle pockets NEARLY as well as standard, rigid bottles (if at all)
- doesn't get as small as the Platypus version
- I prefer the smaller opening on the Platy for drinking, it's like the opening on a Smart Water bottle, etc. and you can drink it easily on the move without it spilling because the entire thing fits in the mouth easily.

I use this canteen on long hiking trips. Normally I cave a small steel cup and I drink my filtered water from a MSR Dromedary bag. However you always want a clear container like this one for just in case.

The main purpose I use this canteen for is to store filtered water and UV-Purify it. The filter can't solve everything there are still some bacteria and microbes that can make it through. In most cases a good filter will do the job no problem but it's always good to know what your against. (research your tip) there have been times were there is known bacteria or other issues with the water that would warrant use of tabs, sweat water solution, or UV-Purification. you always want a clear container separate from you main water storage to do this in.

Now this canteen is large with a huge mouth on it makes it very simple to collect water. the lid is attached to the mouth and have a good seal. IT is made of durable material despite how thin it is.

The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars is the "drinkability" the large mouth and water balloon body to it tends to make a mess when drinking directly from the mouth of the canteen.

We normally scoop spring water directly into a large flexible bottle, then purify in smaller rigid drinking bottles. We've been using 48-oz Platypus Traveler bottles, and I'd intended to buy two more of those, but I couldn't find them anywhere. Our old Travelers are very lightweight, and my only complaint about them is the small opening, which makes the bottle harder to fill and harder to clean and dry, especially in the field.

After unpacking the Cantenes, I washed them and hung them upside down to dry. The next morning, I was delighted to see that all the water had drained out and the bottles were dry inside.

The quality of manufacture looks excellent, with the bottle made of plastic similar to the Traveler, and with lids and loops like the ones on our rigid Nalgene bottles.

The Cantene feels heavier than the Traveler, though the product descriptions for the 32 ounce size for each bottle show a difference of only 0.1 oz. Maybe the large lid and tall, thin shape make the Cantene feel top heavy. I suspect that pouring from this bottle will be an awkward job. After I've actually used the Cantene, I'll let you know.

Bought this from a wish list for avid hiker who is hiking in the mountains this summer. Looks so tough and practical.

These are such a genius design. They pack flat and take up almost no room but they hold plenty of liquid. I bought two to take on a road trip around Iceland. I had a very strict carry-on limit to adhere to so a traditional bottle would have taken up too much space and weight. I also plan to use it in situations where I might finish my drink and have to carry the empty bottle around, like walking around a city for a day or attending a festival. Having a packable one is much less of a pain.

I used these bottles daily for about two weeks. Iceland is known for its delicious water and these containers did not seem to give the water an "off" taste. When filled with water, they are able to stand up on their own which was handy. I kept them in the pocket of the car door.

They are also fairly easy to clean, although personally I do not plan to use them for anything but water. The material is tough and seems like it will hold up for a long while yet. The wide mouth allows me to use my water filter too which will be handy for future adventures.