- Joined
- Sep 15, 1999
- Messages
- 3,319
For the last eight months, one of my favorite pieces of gear has been my GSI Lexan flask. Being lexan, it is light, unbreakable, and can survive both freezing and boiling water. It hold 16 oz and carries well in the front pockets of Carharts and BDUs. Because of its shape, its comfortable and hardly "prints" through the pocket. Since I've been using it, though, I've wished it was a little smaller in all directions, and thought a 12 oz. version would be perfect.
Yesterday, while wondering through my local outdoor store, I found a 12 oz. flask, this one made by Nalgene. It's a tiny bit flatter, a tiny bit wider, and two inches shorter. These two inches make a world of difference in how the flask fits in the pocket, and allows a wider range of leg motion. With the taller flask, when sitting, the cap tends to dig into my hip. Not a problem with the shorter one.
All is not perfect, though. The 16 oz. GSI flask has a wider mouth, making it easier to fill. It's also lexan while the Nalgene flask is made from PET, (the same plastic that is used in soft drink bottles, I believe.) Since it's PET and not Lexan, it will deform if I pour boiling water into it, so I can't use it as a sleeping bag warmer or emergency body warmer. To me, this is a big negative. While the Nalgene flask has a slight flask-shaped curve, the GSI flask is rounder and curvier. The Nalgene flask prints a little more the the GSI but it looks like you're carrying a fat wallet. It's not a big deal.
I'll probably carry the GSI flask in the woods, and will save the Nalgene flask for more urban wandering.
GSI Lexan Flask GSI Lexan Flask
Nalgene PET Flask
Yesterday, while wondering through my local outdoor store, I found a 12 oz. flask, this one made by Nalgene. It's a tiny bit flatter, a tiny bit wider, and two inches shorter. These two inches make a world of difference in how the flask fits in the pocket, and allows a wider range of leg motion. With the taller flask, when sitting, the cap tends to dig into my hip. Not a problem with the shorter one.
All is not perfect, though. The 16 oz. GSI flask has a wider mouth, making it easier to fill. It's also lexan while the Nalgene flask is made from PET, (the same plastic that is used in soft drink bottles, I believe.) Since it's PET and not Lexan, it will deform if I pour boiling water into it, so I can't use it as a sleeping bag warmer or emergency body warmer. To me, this is a big negative. While the Nalgene flask has a slight flask-shaped curve, the GSI flask is rounder and curvier. The Nalgene flask prints a little more the the GSI but it looks like you're carrying a fat wallet. It's not a big deal.
I'll probably carry the GSI flask in the woods, and will save the Nalgene flask for more urban wandering.
GSI Lexan Flask GSI Lexan Flask
Nalgene PET Flask
