I have been testing an Epic Nalgene OG Water filtration bottle. In brief, I have found the bottle to be:
- Solid and durable.
- Easy to drink from.
- Leakproof
- Free of plastic taste
- Easy to clean.
The bottle also has good eco-credentials and and a removable filter. You can buy a filter for ensuring tap water is safe to drink and an outdoor filter for making sure fresh water sources are safe to drink when out and about.
Where to buy?: Epic Water Bottles. Cost: £37.
More detail: Epic Nalgene OG | Water filtration bottle
The Original Nalgene 1 Litre Wide Mouth Water Filter Bottle is made of a 100% BPA-free BPS-free Tritan Material. It includes a filter for tap water that “eliminates up to 99.99% of the harmful contaminants other filters leave behind such as chlorine, heavy metals, industrial and agricultural pollutants and trace pharmaceuticals, as well as reduction of fluoride”.
There is also an Epic Nalgene Outdoor OG Woodsman bottle with a filter suitable for outdoor water sources.
About Epic Water Filters
The company, Epic Water Filters, was founded by Ash Heather in 2015. Having just moved to the US from Asia and witnessing first-hand the plastic bottle pollution on the beaches and in the rivers he decided he would like to find a solution to the environmental timebomb.
The facts are that bottled water isn’t good for the planet, nor our wallets.
Epic Water Filters is also a contributor and strategic partner of the Inland Ocean Coalition (IOC), which works to raise awareness of the impact that microplastics (single-use bottles and straws) have on rivers and oceans.
On test: Epic Nalgene OG with urban and outdoor filter
Since Scotland reportedly has high quality tap water I have not had a need to use the urban filter. I did try it with tap water and the water tastes good so this means the filter doesn’t cause an unpalatable taste.
However, I am aware that there are many places in the world where tap water is low quality and it has the risk of lots of contaminants so the bottle and filter system is the perfect solution for reducing disposable bottle waste and environmental damage.
Once you have bought a Nalgene bottle you can expect it to last for a very long time. The plastic bottle is very tough and durable. The lid system is also high quality and robust. There is a wide screw-top cap and that has a drinking spout (it reminds me a little of when my daughter was young and she had a no-spill spout drinking cup).
The filter system works through a multiple use plastic straw connected from filter to drinking spout.
Outdoor filter on test:
I have also tested the “outdoor filter”. While Scotland boasts many fresh water sources that offer risk-free drinkable water there are times when I am unsure about the pollutants. It is a no-brainer to have a water bottle that I carry with me for walks that is also fitted with a filter just to be on the safe side.
I looked for information on the website about how long the filter lasts and I could not see anything. However, when the bottle and filter arrived the label said 300 litres. I am not sure how you will keep track of the number of times you use it but I guess you could try to count the days that you use it. Each bottle is a litre so you can fill the bottle 300 times and be sure the filter is doing its job.
It’s hard to test a filter other than to say that when I have taken water from a range of different outdoor sources it has tasted fine and I have not become ill. There is evidence, too, of outdoor filter tests.
The bottle has a wider neck so it’s easier to keep clean than a bottle with a narrow mouth. You can pop the bottle in the dishwasher, for example.
I am not sure there are any negatives with this product. Sometimes I prefer a smaller and less bulky water bottle but this bottle is useful because it can be filled up wherever I find a water source and if using the filter it means I can drink safe water.
There are times when I prefer a much lighter weight design and a softer flask because I want to keep the weight of my pack down, for example, when running.
But for walking and camping, as well as general water bottle use at the gym, in the house, at work etc, this is a bottle that will be very long-lasting. There are cheaper bottles for sale but Nalgene is a high quality, long lasting bottle that is value for money compared to buying single-use bottles of water.