One of the most important item: your water bottles
Water is life! It is the one single element you and your family cannot live without.
Make sure your family always has drinkable water, no matter what. Store water at home, in your car and at your workplace and have bottles ready in your emergency kits including your kid and pet bags.
Consider the following criteria to select your water bottles:
Purpose
It is important first to determine what you’ll be using your water bottle for: water storage at home, in your car or in your emergency bags.
Size
How much do you need?
Water is essential to good health, yet needs vary according to your physical conditions, weight, physical activity, weather conditions. Consider about 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) of fluids a day for men, and 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) of fluids a day for women.
20 to 25 percent of daily fluid usually comes from other drinks and food but water will always be the best choice. How much can you carry?
Remember water weights approx. 8 pounds per gallon
You might have to carry your go bag, remember that water bottle is among the heaviest items in your bag.
The most common sizes are:
18 fluid ounces =0.5323 Liter or 1.125 lb.
22 fl oz = 0.65 L or 1.375 lb.
24 fl oz = 0.70 L or 1.5 lb.
32 fl oz = 0.95 L or 2 lb.
40 fl oz = 1.18 L or 2.5 lb.
64 fl oz = 1.89 L or 4 lb.
Material
Regardless the material your bottle is made of, always select food-grade water storage containers.
Plastics
You can find a lot of plastic bottles made of very durable high strength plastic on the market today. Make sure they are labelled as BPA free. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a concern because of possible health effects, it is a known endocrine disruptor.
Disposable plastic bottles are likely to end up in the ocean and are not the best option for our environment.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel is another option. It shields water from direct sunlight and some stainless steel bottles are insulated through double-wall construction. They usually dent more easily and are heavier than plastic bottles.
Stainless steel is very durable, but you won't be able to treat your stored water with chlorine, as it corrodes steel.
Glass
We don’t recommend glass bottle for emergency kits purpose, mostly because they are heavy and breakable.
Lid types
Lids are the most common source of leak.
Screw-top offers the best option against leaks and allows water to come out quickly.
Nozzles are made of a soft, flexible material. Your mouth will be in direct contact with the lid and make it harder to share your water (if needed).
Sports cap with spout have a flipping mechanism and a straw to drink without flipping over the bottle.
Nozzles and spouts are good options when you need to drink on the go but they are also breeding ground for germs from your saliva, something to consider if you have to share your water.
Other options of containers
Hydration packs are reservoir or "bladders" made of thick rubber which can be carried in backpacks designed with a specific interior sleeve. A drink tube is connected to the reservoir that allows to drink hands-free while carrying the backpack.
They come in different sizes, the most common varying from 1 to 3 liters (32 to 100 fl oz).
WaterBricks offer a good option for home storage. The are sturdy plastic bricks which come in 1.6 and 3.5-gallon containers. They are easy to store and to carry.
Storage
Store water in a dark, cool location.
Water should be stored away from direct sunlight. With time, sunlight and heat can potentially alter plastic containers and can lead to biological particle growth like algae.
The water should be rotated out about every six months.
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE WATER BOTTLES AND CONTAINERS TO CONSIDER
Nalgene Tritan Wide Mouth BPA-Free Water Bottle (48oz)
Suitable for both warm and cold beverages (-40 to 212 degrees Fahrenheit); wide mouth makes cleaning and adding ice cubes easy.
Free of BPA, BPS and phthalates, opening accommodates most water filters; marked with milliliters and ounces for easy measurement.
CamelBak Eddy Kids BPA Free Water Bottle
Lightweight, Durable, and Odor- and Stain-Resistant: Echo plastic is 100% free of BPA, BPS, and BPF. It’s dishwasher safe, and all parts are easy to remove for simple clean-up.
Triple Tree Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, Double Wall Wide Mouth Lids 34oz
TRIPLE TREE stainless steel water bottle is manufactured using durable premium stainless steel BPA free ,Food-grade material.Superior coating is both stylish and tough! Extra protection from scratches and bumps.
YETI Rambler Bottle, Vacuum Insulated, Stainless Steel with TripleHaul Cap, 36 oz
DuraCoat Color that is built to last - no fading, peeling, or cracking here
Leakproof TripleHaul Cap protects your truck cab or day pack from spills; complete with 3-finger grip
Takeya Actives Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Spout Lid, 40 oz
Actives insulated water bottle: Takeya actives stainless steel water bottle is a sleek and rugged sports water bottle with a powder coated finish. The 40oz water bottle’s unique double-wall vacuum insulation keeps drinks hot (12 hrs.) and cold (24 hrs.).
CamelBak Eddy+ Kids Bottle - Stainless Steel, 14 oz
Flip, Bite, Sip: Drink through straw.
Durable: 18/8 Single wall stainless steel
Leak-Proof: Leak-proof when closed, spill proof when open
CamelBak Crux 100 oz Hydration Pack Reservoir
Leak-proof cap is easier to open and close
On/off lever lets you seal your drinking tube shut with one hand
Hydro guard technology inhibits the growth of bacteria in the reservoir and tube
Big bite valve self-seals after each drink, eliminating annoying drips
Dimensions :46 x 23 x 8 cm / 18 x 9 x 3 in
WaterBrick Stackable Emergency Water and Food Storage Container, 3.5 gal of Liquid, 27 lb
Portable: comfort handle makes it easy to carry and secure in cars
Stackable: unique design securely stacks to maximize limited storage space
Customizable: perfect disaster relief container for storing food, water or anything you want to keep dry
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