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Outdoor Gear Reviews, Tips & Adventure Stories to Inspire an Outdoor Life
September 10, 2023

From Backpacks to Pockets: A Review of the Vapur Flexible Water Bottle

Written by Zack Newsome
Updated on September 12, 2023
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Woman drinking water from a Vapur collapsible water bottle while on a hike.

In a world where environmental sustainability is increasingly on our minds – reusable water bottles are everywhere. As concerns about single-use plastic waste continue to mount, the demand for eco-friendly alternatives has never been higher. Stainless steel and hard plastic water bottles dominate the reusable water bottle market.  These bottles are durable and will last for years, but are typically heavy and their rigid form leaves a bit to be desired for those who need more flexibility in their water storage.

Vapur logoAgainst a myriad of beautiful stainless steel and hard plastic water bottles, a different solution has emerged – the Vapur Water Bottle.  The Vapur Water Bottle is a flexible plastic water bottle that when filled can adapt to all sorts of spaces and when empty can collapse to a tiny factor for easy storage. It’s a completely different water to think about reusable water bottles and for those who spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities, we think it’s a game changer.

We recently purchased the Vapur Collapsible Water Bottle to put it to the test during a number of outdoor activities.  The increased flexibility of a collapsible water bottle intrigued us as a water bottle that we might use a lot more often when outdoors.  As with all of our reviews at Outward Spaces, we’re primarily interested in the value of outdoor products. Will they enhance the outdoor experience?  Are they priced in a way that makes them realistically accessible to the masses?  Are they a product that truly makes life easier for outdoor enthusiasts or are they just a unnecessary gimmick to be avoided?

Vapur Water BottleVapur Collapsible Water Bottle Specs

  • 23 Ounces (.70 liter)
  • 11.5″ tall
  • 5.75″ wide
  • Wide-mouth “Super Cap”
  • Foldable
  • Freezable
  • BPA-Free
  • Dishwasher safe
  • Attachable with included carabiner
  • Freezable

Putting the Vapur Collapsible Water Bottle to the Test

We originally discovered the Vapur collapsible water bottle when researching necessary gear for our kayaking trip down the Colorado River this past summer.  Planning to paddle in 100+ heat, we knew we needed to bring along a good amount of water for each person and worried about a large, inflexible water container to do the job.  We’d be in kayaks all day and wanted the security to know that our water storage containers wouldn’t roll around our kayaks uncontrollably while we ventured downriver.  Instead, we wanted water bottles that better adapted to the spaces we had. A quick search for “collapsible water bottles” on Amazon displayed a long list of untraditional water bottles, but the Vapur water bottle stood out as the most flexible, inexpensive, and interesting option. We ordered a couple (the Malibu Teal and Night Blue colors) and looked forward to seeing how they would perform.

Materials and Durability

Vapur Water Bottle PackagingWhen our Vapur bottles arrived, we were surprised at how well-built they seemed to be.  The plastic was indeed flexible – think of a super thick plastic bag – and the empty bottle could be rolled up into a size of only a few inches to pack away easily.  The Vapur bottle has a hard plastic flip-up top for drinking and includes a small plastic carabiner for connecting to a bag or hanging the water bottle.  The overall design is slick.  The Vapur bottle looks great with minimal, but clean branding.  We especially liked the dark “Night Blue” color variation with its orange accents – though out of concern for the extra heat the dark color may absorb, we purchased the lighter Malibu Teal variation as well.

The Vapur bottle is made of BPA-free polyethylene and its flexible plastic body is thick enough to give you confidence that it won’t puncture or leak easily.  It’s dishwasher-safe and freezable – proof of durability.  Its wide mouth “Super Cap” flips up to drink, but snaps back to seal the bottle.  It’s available in 23 different color variations to fit your unique style.  Vapur claims that the bottle’s matte finish will patina beautifully over time – though this sounds like clever marketing language to us.

On the Water

Beyond its ability to adapt and transform to constantly moving spaces like our inflatable kayaks, one great feature of the Vapur bottle is that it can be frozen.  On the night before our kayaking trip to the Arizona desert, we froze our Vapur water bottles and woke up to them frozen solid.  The ability to freeze our Vapur bottles provided cold drinking water through most of the day – a luxury that we’re sure a lot of our fellow kayakers didn’t have.  The Vapur bottles froze easily and did not leak once thawed – though we made sure to not fill them fully to leave some headroom for the expansion of the ice.

Throughout our trip, the Vapur water bottles performed as expected.  We could throw them in the front or backs of our kayaks without worry about damaging them.  The flexible plastic allowed for the water to move around keeping the water bottles in place even during times of instability.  When we took breaks on shore, we quickly stashed our Vapur bottles in our dry bags or clipped the carabiners to a ring on our backpacks.

The bottles are surprisingly easy to drink from – though the sensation of holding the flexible bag is strange at first when compared to drinking from a hard plastic or stainless water bottle.  The flip-up “Super Cap” is easy to flip up for drinking and stays securely in place when storing. When we finished our trip, we simply rolled up our empty Vapur bottles and slid the carabiner around the rolled bag keeping it all in a tight small bundle that can easily stowed in a pocket or thrown in a bag.

Collapsible water bottles compared
The Vapur Water Bottle (top right) compared to other collapsible water bottles

Lightweight and Space-Saving Advantages

The standout advantage of the Vapur Flexible Water Bottle is its feather-light weight and space-saving capabilities. When filled with water, it carries the fluid you need without adding unnecessary bulk to your bag. However, it’s when the bottle is emptied that its true charm emerges – it collapses down, allowing you to save valuable space for other essentials. This minimalist approach to design proves that efficient hydration doesn’t have to come at the cost of convenience or environmental responsibility.

Portability: From Backpacks to Pockets

In a fast-paced world where mobility is paramount, the ability to carry essentials without hassle is a top priority. The Vapur Flexible Water Bottle steps up to the plate with a design that seamlessly transitions from backpacks to pockets, making it an ideal companion for those on the move.

Backpack-Friendly Design

For avid adventurers, commuters, and travelers alike, the Vapur bottle presents superior convenience. Its collapsible nature allows it to conform to the contours of your backpack, optimizing space without compromising on hydration capacity. Whether you’re traversing rugged trails, navigating city streets, or embarking on cross-country journeys, the Vapur bottle effortlessly adapts to your backpack’s dimensions, ensuring that you stay hydrated without any added bulk.

On a recent camping trip, we brought our Vapur water bottles along for a hike.  When full, the water bottles could be thoughtlessly thrown into our backpacks of clipped on our front straps for easy access.  As emptied, the lightweight design of the Vapur bottles left our packs feeling feather-light as we hiked home.

Pocket-Sized Comfort

The pocketability of the Vapur Flexible Water Bottle is a marvel in itself. Gone are the days of bulky water bottles awkwardly jostling in your pocket. The Vapur bottle’s collapsible design ensures that it conforms to the available space, comfortably settling into pockets of varying sizes. This level of flexibility redefines on-the-go hydration, allowing you to quench your thirst without sacrificing mobility or comfort.

Vapur water bottle standing up
The Vapor Water Bottle stands when it’s full and can be stuffed in a pocket when empty.

Our Verdict

Our Vapur Collapsible Water Bottles have become our go-to water bottles for any outdoors adventures.  Since we purchased them for our kayaking trip, we taken them along on camping trips, hikes, fishing trips, sailing trips, and kids’ games.  They are more flexible than any of our other water bottles and we can throw a rolled-up empty bottle in our backpack or purse to always have a water bottle on hand.  We also often freeze our Vapur water bottles and use them as ice in our coolers during trips.  They help keep our cooler cold and as the ice melts, we have cold water to drink as needed.

Maybe the best part of the Vapur Water Bottle is the price.  At just $10, the Vapur water bottle is a fraction of the cost of expensive Hydro Flask water bottles while being much more flexible and lightweight.  We think they are perfect for outdoor activities including camping, hiking, fishing, paddling, skiing, boating, and more.

The Bottom Line

As we all become more conscious of the challenges of climate change, we increasingly feel the need to play our part in living more sustainably.  Cutting down single-use plastics is a major way in which we can alter our lifestyle choices to make a direct impact on the abundance of plastics in our landfills and oceans. Rather than continuing to purchase cases of plastic water bottles, we can (and should!) find reusable water bottles that fit our lifestyle while allowing us to do our part.  For outdoor enthusiasts, we think the Vapur collapsible water bottle may be the perfect solution.

The Vapur water bottle is convenient, flexible, durable, and inexpensive.  It can be frozen. It can be thrown around inside your gear without worry of spillage or leaks. And when empty it can be rolled up and stashed in a pocket.  When you aren’t using it, it’s small enough to live in your backpack or purse to always have a reusable water bottle on hand when needed.  At $10 a pop, the Vapur water bottle is a great gift for the outdoor enthusiast in your life and an even better gift for yourself.

Stay Hydrated!

 


Interested in other great gifts for outdoor enthusiasts?  Check out our Guide to the Best Gifts for Outdoor Lovers.


About the Author

Zack Newsome

Zack is a lifelong adventurer passionate about sharing the joy of the outdoors with others. He loves camping, fly-fishing, sailing, and exploring wild spaces. He launched Outward in early 2022 to inspire others to spend more time outdoors – improving mental health and more deeply connecting with the environment.

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