This article begins a new series called “Buy Once, Cry Once.” I’m going to feature some item that have performed far beyond their expectations. Today we are going to take a look at my favorite water bottles. They have put up with serious use and abuse in the 8 years I’ve owned them. They are Self Reliance Outfitters stainless steel water bottles. If you’re looking for the end-all, be-all water bottle, this is it!
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Self Reliance Outfitters Water Bottles
Dave Canterbury is (as far as I know) the owner and operator of Self Reliance Outfitters and the Pathfinder School. Canterbury is a survival expert, was on Discovery’s Dual Survivor, and runs an outstanding survival schoolhouse (I have attended his Basic Survival). Canterbury designed these bottles with certain features in mind. First, the bottles are constructed of single-walled stainless steel. The single wall allows you to boil water in them, something impossible in double-walled containers. Stainless steel is durable and tough.
Second, these bottles have a wide mouth. This allows you to fill them from shallow streams and puddles. The wide mouth also lets you put other objects in the bottle – we’ll get to that a little later. Finally, the bottles hold 32-ounces. Most water purification tablets are intended to be used in 32 ounces of water. Any more and you don’t get sufficient purification. Any less, and the purification table may not be diluted enough to safely drink.
The lids are plastic with a rugged gasket. The outside of the lid is textured to provide a solid purchase. I thought the lids would be the weak link for these bottles but they have survived with only a little cosmetic damage. You can purchase extra lids for $10 from Self Reliance Outfitters. I like this because the lids are not attached to the bottle in any way. I purchased a couple extra lids in 2017 along with my bottles, but the original lids are still holding up just fine.
My History with Self Reliance Outfitters Water Bottles
I purchased two Self Reliance Outfitters water bottles in 2017. Since then we have had a lot of adventures together. First, they rode in my APEC (EDC) Bag when I lived in the National Capital Region. They stayed very clean for several years, and only served as water bottles. While they did go on some hikes, get lugged to and from the office and used as drinking vessels at the gym, they didn’t suffer the abuse they would a few years later.
Hundreds of gallons have passed through these bottles. When I moved out of the NCR/DMV, they began to enjoy much more arduous hikes. When I began volunteering for a local Search & Rescue team, these were my water containers of choice. The serious use really set in when I began doing survival classes, however.
Field Survival and Basic Survival
I carried these bottles to Field Survival, taught at Randall’s Adventure Training. Field Survival is a 72-hour gut-check – very little food, very little sleep, and constant mental and physical challenges. The minimal equipment list allows only a knife, compass, ferro rod, hat or bandana…and a water bottle. I was allowed to carry this bottle in a Helikon Tek Essentials Kit Bag (side track: this bag is perfectly sized for this bottle, and makes an outstanding little grab-n-go survival kit).
I used my bottle to boil a lot of water. We also had the opportunity to cook a couple of eggs; I used my bottle to boil the eggs – another enormous benefit of the wide-mouth design. I had no doubts that the Self Reliance Outfitters bottle would see me through this course, and it didn’t let me down.
I carried both bottles to Canterbury’s own Basic Survival. During this course everyone’s water bottles saw a ton of abuse. We boiled a lot of water during the course. One of the most interesting things I learned was how to make char cloth in a water bottle. Insert a good chunk of cotton fabric into the bottle (another benefit of the wide mouth). Place the stainless steel, nesting cup over the mouth of the bottle.
Next, drop the whole thing in the fire. The cup prevents air from getting in, which for some reason surprised me. This was super cool – no special container necessary to make char cloth.
Other Adventures
My Self Reliance Outfitters water bottles have truly been there, done that. In addition to the two courses above, they were also with me through the Mountain Search & Rescue (MSAR) series of course. Gallons of water passed through them. Some of it was boiled, and during this class I had to store bottles upside down in my pack because they would freeze while on the move. Storing them upside down would allow me to get the lid off, unless they had frozen solid…which has also happened.
As the literature indicates, you can also use these with water purification tablets. I have used these with Katadyn MP-1 MicroPur tables many times while camping and hiking.
I also don’t think the cup is strictly necessary, but being able to make char cloth using your water bottle is a neat trick. Additionally, I have also eaten quite a few meals from it. Since it nests and doesn’t take up significantly more space, I almost always carry it.
My One Complaint
My biggest single complaint – really my only complaint – about these bottles is that they are not sold as a single item. When I purchased my bottles seven years ago, I was able to buy the bottles by themselves. Now they seem to be sold only as a kit with the cup, cup lid, and a stove (Amazon link, SRO link). I even reached out to customer service who informed me, “I am sorry, but the 32oz Bottle is not sold individually.” Frankly, this seems like a mandatory upcharge for an already in-demand item, which doesn’t feel great. Still, I can’t argue with the quality of the bottle itself.
I lost one of my bottles back in April. I dropped it while refilling water during an overnight Advanced Wilderness Rescue class. It floated downriver and eventually went over a waterfall. I was afraid I was going to have to purchase an entire kit to replace only the bottle. Fortunately, I found my water bottle later in the day as we set up to send a Stokes basket over the same waterfall. Aside from having to purchase the bottle as a set, this is a really, solid bottle. The other components in the kit are top-notch, too, and if it’s your first SRO bottle, it’s a meanwhile expense. This is truly a “buy once, cry once” item…even if it goes over a waterfall!
