Finding The Best Collapsible Water Bottle for Travel

The Vapur Eclipse Water Bottle has been one of the most recommended collapsible water bottles at Pack Hacker for years, and for good reason. It’s incredibly small when packed down, making it easy to stow it inside a sling, coat pocket, or travel daypack. The clip is handy for attaching it to the outside of your bag and helps collapse the bottle when you’ve finished your water for the time being. It can be challenging to get used to the lightweight materials; however, we feel that they’re worth the fuss, considering how small the bottle is when it’s collapsed.

Due to the lightweight materials that enable it to fold up so small, this bottle doesn’t do well on the floppiness test, scoring a seven out of ten. As mentioned, it can be hard to get used to, but we don’t find ourselves spilling as much when using this bottle as others with a similar score on the test. Still, it may happen occasionally, especially if the bottle is full and you’re trying to drink quickly. Regarding taste transfer, the Vapur does well, landing a four out of ten, which we find similar to other non-collapsible plastic bottles we’ve tested. It won’t be as pure as glass, but you aren’t far off with this bottle.

• You can stow up to a liter of water inside the bottle when expanded
• When collapsed, this is one of the smallest bottles on this list

• The lightweight materials are floppy and hard to get used to
• We’ve heard reports of the plastic clip breaking after repeated use

The DiFOLD Origami Bottle is one of the most unique bottles we’ve seen. As the name denotes, it folds up like origami when not in use. Essentially, it’s crafted from a dense plastic material that has folds built in, so you can collapse it into itself like a box that hasn’t been taped for shipping yet. The spout and cover are metal, which makes an unforgettable clanking noise when opening and closing. It has a small metal ring on the top, so you can hold it more easily or attach it to your bag with a carabiner. The bottle stands independently without issue, and the exterior feels durable enough for the bumps and knocks of travel.

The DiFOLD Origami Bottle scores very high regarding floppiness, landing a two out of ten. The plastic is dense and not very malleable, which adds structure to the bottle as you tip it back to drink drinking water. Paired with the origami design, the bottle collapses small without sacrificing stability. It didn’t handle the taste test portion as well, scoring a six out of ten. It is absolutely manageable; however, sensitive drinkers may want to stay away from the metal mouthpiece. Likely, it’s all in our heads, but why should that mean it is not real?

• It folds down small enough to fit in your coat pocket or sling
• The origami design is unique and fun to play with

• The metal spout may taste funky to those with sensitive taste buds
• It isn’t the largest capacity bottle on this list

When most people think about the best collapsible water bottles, filtering water likely isn’t on their radar. Enter the LifeStraw Peak Series Collapsible Squeeze Bottle. LifeStraw makes all kinds of water filter products and is one of few big-name companies that has dipped their toes into the collapsible water bottle game at the time of writing. The bottle is crafted from malleable plastic that resembles an icing tool for decorating a cake with a ketchup bottle top you’d see at an old-fashioned restaurant. The nozzle is removable, so you can fill up the bottle quickly and attach a water filter to the bottom of the cap to ensure that the water you’re drinking is crystal clear, no matter where it’s sourced from.

Though we love using a filter on a collapsible bottle, the floppiness test didn’t go very well, scoring an eight out of ten. Drinking from it is nearly impossible when it’s filled to the max fill line without spilling a little, even after a few practice rounds. We learned not to fill it as high, which would turn this from a 1-liter bottle into something like a 950-milliliter bottle. In terms of taste transfer, the LifeStraw does incredibly well, which isn’t a shock considering it’s filtered water.

• The filter ensures your water is clean and tasty no matter where you’re traveling
• You can remove and replace the filter easily

• It’s tough to drink from the bottle when it’s full without spilling
• The filter makes it challenging to fold the bottle up properly

CNOC 28mm Vesica 1L Collapsible Bottle has two firm plastic ends and a malleable material in between. The stiff base allows the bottle to stand firmly on a table or desk, and the other has a structured spout for drinking. It uncaps like a standard disposable water bottle, and the top is tethered so you don’t lose it while you sip. Near the top is a small paracord-like cable that functions as a handle and a way to hang the bottle off your pack with a carabiner (if you’re into that). The branding is pretty large and hard to miss; we aren’t a massive fan of it, though it’s not visible when the bottle is collapsed.

The bottle isn’t tiny when it’s collapsed, and there’s nothing to hold it together. Other bottles have a carabiner or strap to hold the bottle together, but the CNOC has neither. If you’re stowing it inside a smaller sling, this isn’t an issue, as the bounds of the bag will hold it together. However, if you’re throwing it in a larger daypack, nothing stops it from expanding.

In testing, the CNOC bottle performed okay. We scored it a seven out of ten on the floppiness scale, meaning it was one of the more jiggly models we tested. When full of water, it feels similar to one of those gel-like water-filled plastic tubes you’d find at museums and tourist shops in the 1990s. It’s manageable to drink from, but it can be challenging not to spill a little when totally full. The bottle does pretty well regarding taste transfer, scoring a five out of ten. If you regularly drink out of plastic bottles and don’t mind the taste, you likely won’t notice a difference.

• The bottle stands up on its own
• It has a paracord loop for hanging

• The middle section is hard to hold onto because it is floppy
• Though it stands up, it’s top-heavy enough that strong wind can knock it over

The CamelBak QUICK STOW Flask has a few things going for it. First, we love the nozzle. In the past, we’ve seen similar caps from CamelBak—manipulate the soft plastic end with your teeth or lips to get water out, preventing spilling, or twist the cap to stop water from leaking and to adjust how much comes out. This is handy for customization and ensuring your gear doesn’t get dripped on. The bottle is also incredibly lightweight and small when packed down, fitting into small slings or pants pockets. A small eye on the end enables you to attach a carabiner or string; however, we’re worried about the durability of this thin piece of plastic in the long term.

Though the bottle is tiny when not in use, the lightweight materials led to this bottle’s demise on the floppiness test, landing a nine out of ten. This bottle is usable; however, you must understand how and when to use it. If you’re on a bumpy subway ride in NYC (think when coming out from underneath the East River), it might not be the best time to use this bottle, as you might spill. Still, more experienced users can handle any terrain once they’re used to the nozzle, so keep practicing. This bottle scores well in terms of taste transfer, landing a three out of ten. This isn’t surprising for a company like CamelBak, one of America's most popular hydration brands for years.

• The nozzle is adjustable and easy to use
• When not in use, this bottle is tiny

• It can be challenging to use when full and on bumpy terrain
• We’re worried about the longevity of the eye on the end of the bottle

When collapsed, the HYDAWAY Collapsible Water Bottle became one of our favorite travel water bottles. It folds into itself, forming a disc-shaped puck. It’s tiny, easy to handle, and comes with a carrying case. Though the case adds bulk, it ensures the silicone-like exterior doesn’t get dirty in your bag or pocket. When expanded, the bottle has a unique shape. It’s small on the bottom, large in the middle, and trim on the top. This isn’t the best design for people often on uneven surfaces; however, it makes it much easier to grab than other silicone bottles we’ve tested that frequently buckle in the middle. There’s more for us to hold here, which we like. The nozzle is simple but effective, and we dig the small D-ring on the top of the bottle to attach it to a carabiner or strap on our bag.

Thanks to the unique design, the HYDAWAY Collapsible Water Bottle scores better than some other silicone bottles on this list, landing a six out of ten. It isn’t perfect, but you can handle it much easier than other bottles on this list. This bottle does well regarding taste transfer, scoring a three out of ten. The silicone and nozzle ensure you aren’t getting too much plastic taste in your mouth, even if it isn’t quite the same as drinking from a glass container. Plus, it has a carrying case; what else can you ask for?

• It collapses down into a manageably-sized puck
• The carrying case is handy for rugged adventures or dusty locations

• The large middle section and small base combo can cause the bottle to tumble over on uneven surfaces or when bumped
• Water comes out of the nozzle slower than most bottles we’ve used

The Stojo Bottle isn’t as tiny as some of the bottles on this list; however, we think it’s one of the most aesthetically pleasing, which should count for something, right? The pastel colorways and silicone exterior have an almost ceramic look, easily fitting into any stylish travel setup. It collapses down into a small package; however, it’s larger than many of the higher-capacity bottles on this list. Still, the design, sleekness, and feel you get holding it may be worth it to some travelers.

The Stojo Bottle handles life pretty well in the floppiness test, scoring a four out of ten. The middle section, where the folds in the silicone are, is easy to squeeze too hard and spill water on your face; however, if you hold it by the bottom or top, it isn’t as likely to spill. The bottle also does well on the taste transfer test, scoring a four out of ten. There’s some residual plastic taste; however, it isn’t any higher than other silicone bottles we’ve tested. Paired with the sleekness the design offers, this might be the best collapsible water bottle for your next trip. Plus, it’ll match any Stojo gear you already own!

• The colorways pair with the materials, giving the bottle a ceramic look
• It’s structured, making it easy to drink out of at any capacity

• It isn’t the smallest bottle when collapsed
• When expanded, it’s still one of the smaller bottles on this list

At first glance, the Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle looks like a standard bottle. If you grabbed it, you might not even know it was a collapsible bottle. However, it compresses into a significantly smaller package, which is handy for travel. The nozzle is similar to a standard athletic-style bottle you might find at Dicks or Walmart. The lower portion of the bottle has structure, though it’s pretty easy to manipulate, which is how you can make the bottle smaller. It folds up, and the strap on the top of the bottle is used to corral the folded materials. It’s far from the smallest bottle when collapsed; however, it has more features of a standard water bottle than most of the models on this list.

Regarding floppiness, the Nomader Collapsible Water Bottle handles very well, scoring a three out of ten on the scale. Though the materials are malleable, they don’t collapse when you don’t want them to, and the nozzle makes it easy to control spillage. The bottle doesn’t do as well regarding taste transfer, scoring a six out of ten. This is very manageable; however, more sensitive users may not like it. Still, this is likely the most similar to a standard bottle on this list, which is worth noting.

• It functions like a standard water bottle when not collapsed
• The materials are structured, which feels more comfortable than lightweight ones some collapsible bottles use

• The interior can be challenging to clean, especially with the light-colored models
• It feels athletic, which some users may not enjoy