Three Water Bottles That Belong In Your Bag

Staying hydrated is always a task, and on vacation, it can become an outright problem. Having your own water supply handy in an easily refillable bottle will make any trip, whether to the pool or to the forest, a much smoother one. Here's what to look for in a great bottle.

When it comes to materials, food-grade stainless steel will be your best bet. Stainless steel resists corrosion, which keeps your bottle in good shape and prevents any metallic taste from washing into your water. It also doesn't need any sort of coating, giving you one less thing to worry about when scrubbing it out, and it takes hard knocks better than most materials.

Double-walled insulation is also a must. "Double-walled" simply means that there are two walls in the cup, with a vacuum between them. Vacuum is the ideal cheap insulator, since it keeps heat from radiating out of or into your bottle, so you can throw in some ice-cold water and have a refreshing cool drink hours later. You can also find triple-walled containers, if you need a longer-lasting cool.

If you're not sure about the quality of the water where you're headed, a built-in filter is a useful feature. Look for filters that are simple to use, such as connecting to the bottom of the lid, and have a way of letting you know when the filter stops working. In some cases, this is that you can't get the water out, so be sure to test any filter before you go.