This Year’s Hottest Ultralight Upgrade Costs Just $13

Ultralighters and thru-hikers love cheap gear, and nothing represents that ethos better than the Smartwater bottle. Its appeal is trifold: First of all, it is very cheap. Depending where you buy it, the one-liter version costs between $3 and $5. It’s very light at just over one ounce. And most importantly, it works flawlessly with water filters like the Sawyer Squeeze and Platypus Quickdraw—no adapters needed. It’s flexible enough to squeeze, but robust enough to last hundreds of miles on trail.

CNOC, well known for its ultralight water bladders and soft-sided bottles, is the first brand to really take on the challenge of de-throning Smartwater as king of water carry for weight-conscious ultralighters and thru-hikers. The long-awaited ThruBottle shares the basic design that makes the Smartwater bottle so popular: Slim, tall, with a 1-liter capacity, and with a 28-millimeter thread compatibility for squeeze filters. It costs $13, or about the equivalent of four disposable bottles. So is it just a Smartwater clone, or a worthy upgrade? Let’s dig into the details.

Continue reading to learn more about CNOC's new ThruBottle, written by Nathan Pipenberg.

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

Smartwater bottles have a useful shape that fits well in skinny pack pockets and, more importantly, they're compatible with hikers' favorite water filter, the Sawyer Squeeze.

Danielle Vilaplana
Mwandishi

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

The simple design is easy to use and you’ll find it has a long life with reliable, high output.

Mikaela Ruland
Editor in Chief

Majina ya Vyombo vya Habari

It's fragrance-free and safe for use on the whole family, clothing, shoes, and gear.

Libby Sentz
Contributing Writer & Editor