Sigg Traveler Water Bottle Review

Overall Score

Last Updated November 15, 2021
  • Ease of Use 60% 60%
  • Durability 65% 65%
  • Seal 50% 50%
  • Maintenance 30% 30%
  • Insulation 30% 30%

Key Takeaways

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Iconic Design

The only water bottle tested that has a permanent display in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in NYC.

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Featherweight Bottle

The single walled aluminum build rivals the weight of a plastic bottle.

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Must Handle With Care

It is more susceptible to dents and scratches than other metal bottles.

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Overview

The Sigg Traveler is an iconic bottle that deserves recognition for being one of the original reusable bottles. It has been in production for over 50 years, long before the current reusable water bottle trend. It is also the only water bottle we are aware of that was inducted in the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) and is on permanent display. 

Sigg was founded in 1908 by Ferdinand Sigg and Xaver Küng as an aluminum ware company with a diverse product lineup including pots, pans, teacups and cutlery. Now, the company exclusively makes water bottles out of aluminum and steel. The bottle is designed and, for the most part, still made in Switzerland. 

The Sigg Traveler has a single aluminum wall with an “EcoCare” powder-based, co-polyester coating which is BPA free.The aluminum wall is the source of it’s best and worst attributes. It is lightweight, but somewhat fragile and does not control temperature well. 

The Sigg will hold a strong appeal to certain individuals desiring a lightweight and fashionable metal water bottle who appreciate the history and European manufacturing. 

Ease of Use

The Sigg Traveler was found to be a great alternative to plastic water bottles while hiking and backpacking. The one liter size is actually one ounce lighter than the Nalgene, a long time favorite among hikers. The narrow mouth was great for taking sips while on the move and did not require as much coordination as a wide mouth bottle. The bottle officially proved itself on a multi-day hiking trip through the mountains of West Virginia where it performed well despite the occasional drop. 

With that said, reviewers found fault with several aspects of the bottle when attempting to integrate the Sigg into their daily routines. The narrow mouth prevents adding ice cubes and it is not recommended for holding alcohol or milk according to the Sigg care instructions (the HydrationReview team took this to mean that only water should be used in the bottle). The cap is small and does not offer a good hand hold for carrying the bottle. It would be better off attached to a carabiner or lanyard for easier transport. The Sigg, while very capable in many categories, is not a “one size fits all” water bottle.

Durability

Durability could be considered a shortcoming of Sigg. As a single walled aluminum bottle, it is not prepared for constant abuse. It will easily acquire dents and dings if not handled with care. Some of our reviewers, though, found that the dents imbued their bottles with character and did not affect its function. For instance one reviewer pointed to a specific dent on their bottle and reccounted the time they dropped it down a rocky ledge while preparing for cliff jumping. 

Dents on the bottom of the bottle were more serious, unfortunately, as they prevented the bottle from standing upright on its own. No bottles were punctured or completely lost their functionality in testing but there was some concern that it could happen if handled roughly enough or dropped from high enough.

 

Seal

Despite advertising a “leak proof” cap, reviewers found the bottle was prone to leaks when not completely tightened. There was little chance to misthread the bottle but the cap did require a firm tightening to prevent leaks which did not come naturally to everyone. With a light tightening, the bottle may leak ever so slightly. This happened multiple times during testing though no personal possessions were damaged. 

Maintenance

There was no way around giving Sigg a low score in this category due to a number of factors. The one caveat to this is if the bottle is only used for water then maintenance is not as critical. A simple rinse and air dry will suffice.

Sigg is not dishwasher safe so handwashing is required. With a narrow mouth it is challenging to fit a normal brush or sponge in to apply any friction for loosening deposits. Further, the inside of the bottle is hard to get completely dry after use or washing.

The aforementioned factors considered, we recommend using this bottle primarily with water and picking a second bottle for your electrolytes or cocktails. Under this arrangement you will not be tempted to use the Sigg for anything besides water.

Insulation

As a single walled bottle, Sigg has very little temperature control. The temperature of the contents quickly reaches room temperature. During testing, cold water gained over 30°F. in the course of eight hours which is comparable to most plastic bottles that were tested. Further, hot liquids are not advised as the bottle could become dangerously hot to the touch.

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