Carrying an appropriate amount of water when you exercise is a healthy practice that everyone should do. While you could simply purchase bottled water, and never worry about having your own water bottle, this creates unnecessary waste and costs more money. Purchasing a water bottle is a low-impact, inexpensive solution.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Step 1
Get the right size. Remember that the main purpose of buying a water bottle is to carry enough water to keep you hydrated during work-outs. If you have a water source nearby, such as in the home or at a gym, the size of the bottle isn't as big of a concern. However, if you're walking, running or hiking where you won't be able to fill your water bottle, you'll want to get a large enough bottle. Decide the size bottle you need based on the length and intensity of your average workout. Water bottles come in a variety of sizes including 1, 2, 5 and 10 Litres.
Step 2
Consider whether you prefer a squeezable water bottle or a rigid bottle. Squeezable bottles are good for activities like running and biking where you might prefer to squeeze the water into your mouth, but they can add a bit of taste to the water. They are durable when it comes to drops and the only worry is a potential puncture. Rigid bottles tend to add less taste to the water; however, they may dent or crack when dropped.
Step 3
Choose the right material. Rigid water bottles come in a number of different materials including aluminum, stainless steel, high density polyethylene (semi-rigid) and copolyester (Tritan). Avoid bottles composed of polycarbonate, which contains the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) i.e the Cool drink pet bottles. Some companies now label their bottles BPA-Free, so there's no mistaking them. Metal bottles are the most durable option but these can transfer the cold temperature of your water to your hand more than plastic bottles.
Step 4
Purchase a bottle that will be easy to carry. Whether you're using a backpack or carrying the bottle by hand, make sure that the shape and size of the water bottle make it convenient to carry.
Step 5
Consider if you'll want to pack the bottle with ice. If so, you'll want to make sure that the neck is large enough to fit ice cubes through. If not, you'll need to use crushed ice or forego ice altogether.
Step 6
Consider the drinking valve. A good, strong valve that securely locks will help prevent any leakage. Make sure the valve is wide enough and provides optimal flow. A bite valve is another option that is easy to get open on-the-fly. However, bite valves may experience leaking issues after time, if they don't include a locking mechanism.
Step 7
Check for any additional details. Having measurements on the side of your water bottle can be a handy way of tracking your water intake and measuring the water for other purposes like campground cooking.
Tips & Warnings
For longer hikes or trips where you'd need to carry a very large water bottle or risk running out of water, consider purchasing a hydration pack. Hydration packs generally carry much more water than bottles (as much as 25 Litre) and are easy to carry and use. Consider purchasing a backpack or belt pack with mesh water bottle holder(s) for easy carrying.
Instructions
Difficulty: Moderate
Step 1
Get the right size. Remember that the main purpose of buying a water bottle is to carry enough water to keep you hydrated during work-outs. If you have a water source nearby, such as in the home or at a gym, the size of the bottle isn't as big of a concern. However, if you're walking, running or hiking where you won't be able to fill your water bottle, you'll want to get a large enough bottle. Decide the size bottle you need based on the length and intensity of your average workout. Water bottles come in a variety of sizes including 1, 2, 5 and 10 Litres.
Step 2
Consider whether you prefer a squeezable water bottle or a rigid bottle. Squeezable bottles are good for activities like running and biking where you might prefer to squeeze the water into your mouth, but they can add a bit of taste to the water. They are durable when it comes to drops and the only worry is a potential puncture. Rigid bottles tend to add less taste to the water; however, they may dent or crack when dropped.
Step 3
Choose the right material. Rigid water bottles come in a number of different materials including aluminum, stainless steel, high density polyethylene (semi-rigid) and copolyester (Tritan). Avoid bottles composed of polycarbonate, which contains the chemical bisphenol A (BPA) i.e the Cool drink pet bottles. Some companies now label their bottles BPA-Free, so there's no mistaking them. Metal bottles are the most durable option but these can transfer the cold temperature of your water to your hand more than plastic bottles.
Step 4
Purchase a bottle that will be easy to carry. Whether you're using a backpack or carrying the bottle by hand, make sure that the shape and size of the water bottle make it convenient to carry.
Step 5
Consider if you'll want to pack the bottle with ice. If so, you'll want to make sure that the neck is large enough to fit ice cubes through. If not, you'll need to use crushed ice or forego ice altogether.
Step 6
Consider the drinking valve. A good, strong valve that securely locks will help prevent any leakage. Make sure the valve is wide enough and provides optimal flow. A bite valve is another option that is easy to get open on-the-fly. However, bite valves may experience leaking issues after time, if they don't include a locking mechanism.
Step 7
Check for any additional details. Having measurements on the side of your water bottle can be a handy way of tracking your water intake and measuring the water for other purposes like campground cooking.
Tips & Warnings
For longer hikes or trips where you'd need to carry a very large water bottle or risk running out of water, consider purchasing a hydration pack. Hydration packs generally carry much more water than bottles (as much as 25 Litre) and are easy to carry and use. Consider purchasing a backpack or belt pack with mesh water bottle holder(s) for easy carrying.
1 comments:
On Step 4, purchasing something that will be easy to carry, a good blend between convenience and comfort is the water bottle that straps to your bicep. They are called Body Bottles (http://www.bodybottle.com) and are very useful for trail running and hiking.
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