Backpacker Magazine

March 4, 2013Backpacker Magazine: 2013's Best New Gear – VAPUR ELEMENT When space and weight are precious commodities, a bulky, hard-sided water bottle is a liability as soon as it's empty. The foldable, 1 liter Element solves that problem. Made from a soft, three ply, BPA-free polypropylene and nylon material, it rolls up like a tube of toothpaste. You can secure it with the plastic carabiner or stash it in a tiny crevice of your pack (it's no bigger than a stack of business cards). I feel in love with this bottle on a trip to Hawaii's Big Island. It was perfect for air travel because I could stow it empty in my crammed carry-on. On the trail, the screw-on cap makes refills easy, and I love the flip-top for splash-proof drinking. The Element is dishwasher safe and didn't adopt any funky smalls, even over four months of use. Gripes: The sharp corners tore a few holes in my pack's mesh bottle holders. And you won't get a lifetime of use out of it: Vapur expects these bottles to last three to four year. And filling it other than from straight above can be tricky.