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GSI Glacier S/S Dukjug drink bottle
- Category: Gear reviews
- Published on Monday, 31 May 2010 18:38
- Written by Josh
The 32oz drink bottle (pictured right) that comes as standard with numerous Hobie kayaks is actually pretty good quality, made from BPA-free polycarbonate. They're tough, reliable, feature the industry-standard wide-mouth fitting and are safe to use - a lot like the Nalgene branded version found in most outdoor shops, of which they are directly descended. I've been using a Nalgene bottle for the past year, which I opted for over Hobie's smoke-tinted bottle in favour of a lighter yellow colour. My reasoning for that was to make for better illumination properties when used with a Firefly bottle cap, which effectively turned the water bottle into a LED-powered lantern. It seemed like a pretty good decision for a while, right up until the point where I discovered that the Firefly is hardly water-resistant enough to withstand the conditions I'd expose it to. So ever since I learned that the hard way I've been open to alternatives. Enter GSI's Dukjug range.
Specifically of interest to me are the Glacier stainless steel versions, available in 750ml and 1lt sizes (pictured left). OK... so being that stainless is in no way transparent, I can kiss the bottle-lantern concept goodbye. But I can also say hello to cooler, fresher and cleaner tasting water from a bottle that is much easier to keep clean and prevent from acquiring the taste of flavoured liquids previously used. Made from 304 chemically inert BPA free stainless, they also boast a strength in construction that even polycarbonate can't hold a candle to. Like all GSI products, the Dukjug bottles are very high quality and these Glacier bottles are no exception.
Featuring an identical footprint to the common Nalgene bottles and their Hobie branded dopplegangers, the Dukjugs fit into the bottle moulding perfectly. Note from the picture that there is flat grooved channel at the grip position of the bottle, which has a silicone gripping pad. I have removed this silicone grip pad and re-positioned it below the groove, which has given a much neater fit into the bottle holder. Secured better than before, I no longer feel a need to leash the bottle - the grip holds it in place beautifully. In the grooved position where the silicone grip was removed from has been replaced with numerous wraps of good quality duck-tape, which is a really handy place to store a couple of metres (you never know when this stuff might come in handy), it's edges protected from foiling by the groove itself.
Instead of being fully rounded like most bottle caps, this one has a pointed end that helps form the shape of a lever, making it really pretty easy to open. The Dukjug also comes with a little 'sip-it' lid, which nests into the mouth of the bottle and makes it much easier to drink from (anyone who has spilled water down their neck from drinking from a widemouth bottle knows how this might help). In short, the Dukjug is the ducks nuts of standard-sized drinking bottles and for what they offer, are excellent vale for money. Trust me on this... if you have a kayak that has a bottle holder large enough to support a standard wide-mouth shape bottle, do yourself a favour and look into them.
I'm converted. No more polycarbonate for me. With it's widemouth design, my Nalgene bottle will serve as an excellent portable urinal for those urgent midnight moments when crawling out of the tent for relief does not appeal. It's even the right colour! But from now on, my drinking - even of plain old water - shall be done in style.
39 minutes ago
