Not long ago I bought an arctic canteen from my local Army/Navy store and added it to my winter bug-out bag. I use plastic Nalgene bottles, plastic military canteens (1 and 2 quart), and metal water bottles and they have all frozen up at one time or another during the winters I’ve used them here in Maine. You can buy an insulated sleeve for the Nalgene bottles, but if it gets cold enough it will still freeze up even during short hikes.
One of the metal bottles I had froze and ruptured spilling water all over the place once it warmed up. I knew it would happen, but during one of the cold snaps we had up here I didn’t bother to take it out of my truck. Oops.
Anyway, after using the arctic canteen this winter I’m happy to report that it only froze up once and even then it was only around the neck of the canteen, and this was during single digit weather with my pack left outside in the truck over night.
It’s a bit heavy because it’s a double-walled vacuum sealed flask and I doubt if I’ll carry it in the summer, but the fact that it will keep your water from freezing in cold weather is a real life saver. Also, the fact that it’s double-walled also makes it very tough. It has a plastic stop instead of a screw cap and even with the bulkiest gloves you can still pry it open to get a drink. It also has a rubber gasket that the plastic lid plugs into, so when you take a drink your lips won’t stick to the metal.
The canteen cup is purchased separately and fits the canteen nicely, but don’t expect it to fit your green plastic canteens! It’s shaped to fit the rounded bottom of the arctic style canteen (which is kind of a pain), but overall it’s a nice little system.
Dave Canterbury has a very good video of this canteen. You can check it out here.
4 1/2 stars out of 5 for this bad boy.
Anybody else out there had experience with it? Let me know in the comments below.
-Jarhead Survivor
5 comments
As you know I lived in Maine for a brief time , I moved there from AZ , the cold weather took some habit modification on my part . I remember the first thing I learned not to do is leave any liquid in your car overnight . They tend to freeze and burst their containers , leaving you with a big mess if you dont go back to your car for a day or so . That canteen would be a good thing to have in any cold climate when your out and about . Off topic , but one thing I also remember about the power outages back there , is the house down the street burning down because of a propane heater . Very sad for the family because it happened just 3 days before Christmas . One thing that was mentioned on another site and it was so rare , I feel it important to mention it here as nobody talks about firefighting gear as a prep . We should .
Ive also seen that canteen with the cup included , just shop around , you can get a good deal on the package sometimes .
These sometimes come up for sale at http://www.govliquidation.com/, which is where govt surplus comes from these days (the old DRMO is gone).
I bough 3 of these bad boys from eBay not long ago. Not for practical use but just the look of it. And of course military collectables…
It’s made in the year of 1962, a distance ago, but the rubber part still in good condition. A little bit strange smell but overall satisfactory. Do you know if there’s replacement available for that or even where to look for? Sincerely
This item is crap. typical DOD design by desk jockeys. at best difficult to fill, clean, top off on the move. go back to WWII mountain/arctic training. 1/2 fill, carry upside down (increase sloshing) hang two around your neck under outer layer. There is a reason it did not last long. Same goes for Nalagene bottles being used today. Efforts to make a USGI wide mouth canteen did not work out. Why, when Nalegene are COTS. Wide mouth is needed to allow filling with snow or ice for OTM top offs.
If you ever HAD to use one in the field, you would know.