The water canister is an important companion for many outdoor activities, as it provides you with drinking water at all times. A water canister is therefore often used when camping, trekking or fishing. We have taken a close look at the various models and compared them with each other. You can find out which canister is our favorite and what else you should know about water canisters in this buying guide.
The most important things first
- With a water canister, you can transport large quantities of drinking water and therefore have fresh drinking water available wherever you are.
- The canisters are available in various sizes with different volumes ranging from 3.5 liters to 30 or even 60 liters.
- Foldable water canisters are particularly suitable for camping as they don’t take up much space when empty.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
- The most important things first
- Ideal for camping: The editors’ recommendation
- Good & affordable: The price-performance winner
- What types of water canisters are there?
- Collapsible or rigid canister: advantages and disadvantages
- Material and chemicals: freedom from harmful substances is important!
- You should pay attention to these features when buying
- Particularly practical: water filter and water canister in one
- Cleaning: The shape of the water canister is important
- Water filter and pump as practical extras
- The most important facts summarized
- We compared these water canisters
- Frequently asked questions about the water canister
Don’t want to scroll? Click here to go directly to the water canister comparison.
Ideal for camping: The editors’ recommendation
- Outdoor: Faltkanister 4er Set zum Abfüllen von Wasser beim Camping, für Festivals uvm. – 15 Liter…
- Platzsparend: Leeren Wasserkanister einfach zusammenfalten – In Kofferraum oder Rucksack verstauen
The set includes 4 space-saving collapsible canisters, each with a capacity of 15 liters.
Good & affordable: The price-performance winner
- Sehr robuster Kanister mit Ausgießer
- Robuster Kanister mit starkem Henkel
Convinces as a stable, solid canister with a funnel and strong handle.
What types of water canisters are there?
Not all water canisters are the same. They are not only available in different sizes, but also in very different shapes. From round to square to foldable models, everything is included. So you’ll be perfectly equipped for your next outing.
Square water canisters
The most common are square water containers in the shape of a cuboid. They have a solid shape and are mostly made of polyethylene or a similar plastic. Most models have a practical carrying handle on the top and a screw cap. This means you can refill water at any time when you are at a suitable water source. The scope of delivery often includes a small tap that you can attach instead of the cap. If necessary, you can simply operate it and draw off the desired amount of water. There are virtually no limits in terms of volume. There are small, compact 5-liter canisters, larger 10-liter models and 20 to 30-liter versions.
- Bruchsicherer und platzsparender Kanister aus Polyethylen (HD-PE) mit praktischem fest montiertem…
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Round water canister
In addition to the square version, you can also opt for a round water canister. This resembles a barrel in appearance. You can also often find the round version as a water dispenser in stores. They are also made of BPA-free plastic and can hold between 5 and 30 liters of water, depending on the model. For ease of use, the round version also usually comes with a small tap.
- Flexibles Fassungsvermögen • Einfache Handhabung • Bequemer Transport dank Tragegriff •…
- Faltbares Fässchen mit 5,5 Liter Fassungsvermögen • Kleckert nicht: integrierter Zapfhahn •…
Foldable water canisters
Next, I would like to introduce you to the collapsible water canisters. As the name suggests, they are easy to fold up so that you can stow them away to save space. These can be divided into two groups: the water containers with an accordion system and the soft, completely collapsible ones. In the first variant, you can simply press the canister together to create small folds (similar to an accordion). If you want to fill the container with water again, simply pull it apart again. With the other variant, the plastic is so soft that you can simply fold up the unfilled water tank. This version is therefore also ideal for trekking tours, as the canister can even be stowed in a rucksack.
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XL water canister
If you want to collect and store a particularly large amount of water in the canister, you can also opt for an extra-large container. These are available with a capacity of up to 60 liters. If you are far away from civilization and a source of drinking water for several days, an XXL water canister can be really practical. However, you should bear in mind that such a large container also takes up a lot of space and is quite heavy when full.
- Brand: generisch
- kanister-vertrieb 60 L Getränke- Wasserkanister Blau mit Schraubdeckel (DIN 71) | Lebensmittelecht…
Collapsible or rigid canister: advantages and disadvantages
If you can’t quite decide whether you want a collapsible or a flat water canister, you can weigh up the various advantages and disadvantages. A rigid canister is generally more stable and somewhat more durable than a collapsible one. Most models are also equipped so that you can simply stack them on top of each other. But of course they take up considerably more space than a foldable model. Especially in a small motorhome or on a trekking trip, when size is particularly important, the foldable water canister is the only option.
Material and chemicals: freedom from harmful substances is important!
When choosing the right water canister, you should definitely pay attention to the material. As you are buying the water canister to have clean water for drinking and preparing food, it should definitely be made from a safe material. So when making your choice, make sure that the canister is declared as food-safe. Food-safe plastic, such as polyethylene, does not release any odor or taste into the water. It is also important that the water canister is free from the plasticizer BPA and other harmful substances.
You should pay attention to these features when buying
When buying a water canister, you should pay attention to a few points:
Kind
The first thing you should think about is what type of water canister you want. Would you like a solid canister for stacking or would you prefer a space-saving collapsible model? Of course, you can also opt for an XXL water canister with almost double the volume.
Material
As already explained, the right choice of material is particularly important. The plastic should definitely be food-safe and BPA-free so that you can drink the water without hesitation. There are also water canisters made of metal, but these are generally much heavier.
Volume
It is also important to consider how large the canister should be, or more precisely, how much volume it should have. There are small water canisters with 3.5 or 5 liters, medium models with 10 or 20 liter capacity or large containers with 30 or even 60 liter capacity. However, you should bear in mind that the larger the container, the heavier it is to transport.
Size
The dimensions of your new water canister are also important. After all, it requires a certain amount of storage space and should be able to be secured during the journey. Even with collapsible canisters, the filled size is not insignificant.
Particularly practical: water filter and water canister in one
There are also water canisters for camping and outdoor use that are water filters and water canisters in one.
These can also be filled with water from questionable sources such as lakes or ponds. The pump, which contains an integrated microbiological ultrafilter, removes bacteria, viruses and other impurities from the water. This means you get clean drinking water quickly and don’t have to buy an extra water filter.
- LIFESAVER filtert sofort Bakterien, Viren, Zysten, Parasiten und Pilze aus dem Wasser
- Filter 10.000 Liter / 2.650 Gallonen Wasser
Cleaning: The shape of the water canister is important
When selecting the canister, it is advisable to make sure that the water canister is easy to clean. Because even if you only fill it with water, a water tank needs to be cleaned properly after a certain period of time. If the closure is large enough, there should be no problems. A small cap like on a drinking bottle, on the other hand, makes it almost impossible for you to reach certain places. It is generally recommended to fill the water canister 2⁄3 full with water at around 60 degrees when cleaning. Citric acid is one of the cleaning agents that can be used. Leave the mixture to work for about a day. Alternatively, you can also opt for special water purification tablets.
Water filter and pump as practical extras
If you travel a lot with your camper and are abroad, you can’t always be sure that the nearest water source is safe to drink. In this case, you can either buy large gallons at the supermarket and decant them or you can buy a water filter for your motorhome. With such a filter, you can filter bacteria and possible pollutants out of the water and have permanently clean drinking water. A pump that you can place on the screw cap of the canister is also very practical.
The most important facts summarized
- A water canister gives you access to fresh drinking water at all times.
- They are available in different sizes and with different volumes from 3.5 liters to 60 liters as well as square and round versions, collapsible water canisters and XXL containers.
- Both the collapsible and the fixed water canister have their advantages and disadvantages. Collapsible canisters are particularly space-saving, but solid canisters are much more robust.
- When choosing a canister, make sure that the material is food-safe and BPA-free.
- Both citric acid and special tablets are suitable for cleaning.
- You can also equip your water canister with a water filter and a pump.
We compared these water canisters
Frequently asked questions about the water canister
How much does a water canister cost?
The price of a water tank depends primarily on the size and the material used. You can get a small 3.5 or 5 liter canister for less than EUR 10. For 10 to 20 liters you pay between 10 and 20 EUR, while larger models from 30 to 60 liters cost between 20 and 40 EUR. Please remember to make sure that the material is food-safe and BPA-free.
How do I clean a water canister?
Fill the water canister 2⁄3 full with water at around 60 degrees and add citric acid or special cleaning tablets as a cleaning agent. Leave the mixture to work for several hours and then rinse the canister thoroughly.
Which water canister for camping?
We recommend a collapsible canister as a space-saving option. The size depends on the intended use. Irrespective of this, a canister for drinking water must be food-safe and BPA-free.
Cover picture: © Nordroden / Depositphotos
Letzte Aktualisierung der Preise am 2025-09-06 / Affiliate Links / Bilder von der Amazon Product Advertising API
