Plastic or stainless canteen?

Since I never expect to have a ready supply of clean water in a SHTF then give me stainless every day.

Even Mil plastic seams can split and the only time I'd like plastic is when OPSEC means that you have to have slosh proof canteen. To me that means a fully collapsible plastic canteen. NOISE, boy does a slosh in a solid canteen ,of any type, make a lot of noise.

 

I use a hydration bladder when I hunt. Added a spun aluminum bottle in case I need to boil, and a full canteen makes no sloshing noises.
I remember reading that half empty canteens got men killed in war.

 

I would think it would depend upon the size of the canteen. With a water bladder and a canteen, there is no reason to ever be empty, unless you are using it to boil or collect for the bladder.
He article I read made it a big deal that soldiers should never leave a base with a half empty canteen. (Made too much noise) article was about Vietnam, I believe.

Several smaller canteens would make more sense.

 

Five years since I replied to this. Still using my plastic canteens, not a problem. I do use stainless steel canteen cups, as food doesn't stick as bad and no worries about the metal leaching into the food or hot drink.

 

It may be a matter of what is available at the time of need. There may not be a milsurp store available when SHTF. However, What you will find fairly readily are PET bottles.

PET bottles come in a variety of capacities, can be squashed somewhat to conform to the volume of water stored to reduce sloshing noises. In an emergency, A PET bottle can be used to sterilise water either by solar exposure to UV light (slow) or by heating by fire (quick but a one shot solution). PET bottles, particularly wide mouth bottles can be used to store dried powder and granular ingredients to keep them water proof. Probably best not to try boiling water in a PET bottle with the lid...the lid is not the same kind of plastic as PET plastic and may have a different melting temperature.

 

we used to boil water in a paper cup...as long as the flame/heat source is lower than the water it will work... not sure what chemicals you will get from the heated plastic....

 

@Witch Doctor 01 notice they didnt drink it. I think @chelloveck point and the point of the video's was... could you do it in an emergency? Its good info.

 

@Ganado I was questioning whether or not the use of a plastic bottle to boil water could be worse than the contaminants in the water due to chemical leaching... I'm not a chemist I do know that some toxic chemicals are bound in the manufacturing process.. I just don't know if they would be released due to heating... if the info is flawed is it any good?

I don't know YMMV...

 

It is a reasonable question to ask....it is not something I would do just to make a cup of coffee....however if the hazard to one's survival is greater of dying from cholera, dysentry, typhoid or some other biohazard than the toxic effect of chemicals leached from plastic, then the health risk of this process of sterilisation may be justified. Sterilisation can be achieved through exposure to UV rays of sunshine over an extended period of time. Also it is worth noting that the boiling water may be used for sterilising improvised surgical instruments.

 

If all I had was a single canteen, then I would go metal, otherwise I am fine with plastic and a metal cup.

 

Both, one is none and two is one.

I had both types in my GHB, filled with water, one of the kids decided to step on my bag to get out the other door, and they stepped just right, cracked the plastic canteen at the seem. a little heat and I sealed it, but now it's more of a backup to a backup. The metal canteen has been dented and scratched but never broken (yet).

Since I also tend to keep at least a 1/2 case of bottled water at home/work (1L size from SAMs), I found some nice straps that hook on to my GHB and will hold a bottle of water. I've got 3 of them so I can add 3 L to my pack when/if I need it.

 

I like metal unless stealth is required, then collapsable. Source Kangaroo is pretty good. As is the 3L for a hydration pack. But I still like the canteen system.