Copyright New York Magazine
Water-bottle trends come and go, but Nalgenes are, perhaps quite literally, forever. Made in the USA from impact-resistant BPA-free plastic, they’re simply designed, easy to refill, and fun to put stickers on. And they last for decades — you often come across people who are still using Nalgenes emblazoned with the logos of their childhood summer camps or Boy Scout troops. So even though I didn’t know about the brand’s refillable travel bottles until a couple of years ago, I wasn’t surprised to discover that they’re unusually durable. Not to mention far more affordable than fancier competitors like Cadence and GoToobs. Nalgene’s standard travel-bottle kit comes with four two-ounce square bottles, a one-ounce round jar, and a slim one-ounce vial. All fit into a transparent flat-bottomed zipper bag with room to spare for other toiletry items. They are lightweight, dishwasher-safe, and just as leakproof as your water bottle that has been kicking around since grade school. And the color-coded caps help differentiate the liquids inside. I’ve taken my Nalgene travel kit all over the world, even hiking with it at high altitudes, where changing air pressure can wreak havoc on bottle caps. It has never let me down, and I would feel completely confident throwing the individual bottles into my suitcase full of clothes without the insurance of a waterproof toiletry bag. Their plastic walls (made from rigid, chemical-resistant high-density polyethylene, which is the same material used in the packaging for household cleaning products) are extremely solid — I couldn’t dent or puncture one with my fingers if I tried. Even better, the wide bottle openings make them simple to clean and refill. Squeezable silicone travel containers with smaller mouths require a lot more time and effort, especially if they’re half-empty and you want to fill them with a different product entirely. Nalgene’s bottles require no fussing around with a funnel in the hours before my flight — I can pour liquids and glop gels in or out of them with ease. They can also handle slippery oil-based cleansers and serums that would leak from vessels with looser seals. I like the relatively small size of Nalgene’s bottles compared to other options, too. While the TSA technically allows you to carry 3.4-ounce containers of liquid onto the plane, most vacations won’t require nearly so much shampoo. Nalgene’s two-ouncers save luggage space and weight but will hold enough liquid for two-week trips. One complaint of course would be that Nalgene’s travel containers lack the fun color and design options that its water bottles offer. These little tubes are profoundly practical looking, which makes them sort of funny to decant luxury skin-care products into. But for the peace of mind, I’ll happily store my serums in what look like the scientific vessels you’d find in a testing lab’s storage cupboard. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Nalgene Travel Kit (Small) - 6 Pieces $22 now 9% off $20 The four color-coded square bottles in this standard-size kit are ideal for storing shampoo, conditioner, body wash, and facial cleanser. The jar can be used for moisturizer or pills, and the vial is designed to hold Q-tips and other sundries. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. Nalgene’s larger travel kit comes with more bottles and jars — as well as dispenser lids that screw onto them so you can squeeze out your shampoo instead of pouring it. Saved View Want to be emailed when products you’ve saved are over 20% off? Success! You'll get an email when something you've saved goes on sale. Yes New! You can now save this product for later. $8 You can also purchase the travel-kit items separately. If you travel with lots of creams and lotions, I’d recommend stocking up on the jars rather than bottles. More From The Strategist I’ve Been Sleeping So Well Since I Started Spraying Magnesium on My Feet The Best Clean Anti-Aging Skin-care Routine, According to Experts An Advent Calendar for Every Kind of Person The Best in Class Hall of Fame See All
