CANTEEN/BOTTLE

Must have. Please do not rely on plastic bottles when stainless steel canteens and bottles exist.

You want them to be single walled, as the insulated vessels take up too much space and weight for less function. You won't be worried about your ice water staying cold - you'll be worried about having water at all.

Here are some ways your canteen can be useful, besides the obvious:

- Put directly over a fire to boil and kill pathogens.
- When full of hot water, wrap in a cloth and keep in your bed/sleeping bag for extra warmth.
- You can get canteens with cups and nesting stoves, which make cooking a lot easier.

It won't fail you. It's lasting equipment.

Recommendations

Overall: Military Canteen and Cup
Also great: Basic Water Bottle
If you have the $: Titanium Canteen Mess Kit

Note: bottles for long term stationary situations, canteens for bugging out. Whichever you choose is mostly preference, and the best option depends on your needs.