Our family goes on a lot of outings and camping trips and carrying water is always  our first concern.  Water is said to be “life” and we find that so true.  We drink a lot of water and find a 5 gallon water jug to be the best option for us because of the multiple uses.  The 5 gallon water jug acts as a reservoir for us to fill up our personal water bottles.  We are really concerned about the quality of our water  source and the that the containers do not expose us to nasty toxins like BPA.  We use water all day long for drinking, cooking, washing dishes, and bathing.  We need a container that is easy to fill, easy to clean, and easy to dispense into our personal water bottles.  Space is a major concern and most of the high quality 5 gallon water storage containers fit snugly in most vehicles.

A 5 Gallon Water Jug Is Our Major Concern For Camping

When we are on one of our long camping trips, 5 gallons of water will last us approximately 4 days for all of our cooking and drinking needs  Water is heavy weighing in at approximately 1 pound per pint of water.  A 5 gallon water jug filled completely filled will weigh a little over 40 pounds.  This is about my limit for what I like to lift in and out of the back our camping vehicle.   We just purchased the 25 liter Dinuba stainless steel water dispenser from Amazon and it rocks!

BPA Free 5 Gallon Water Jugs

For years, our classic stand by has been a 5 gallon plastic BPA free water jug.  We have always been concerned about the toxins released.  BPA is the 3 letter abbreviation for “Bisphenol A” which is a dysfunctional building block of several important polymers and polymer additives.  Some of potential biological side effects have included developmental toxicity, carcinogenic effects, and possible neurotoxicity.  The best advice for avoiding any nasty chemicals is to go with a stainless steel 5 gallon water jug.  While stainless steel 5 gallon water jugs cost more up front, they will last a life time and always deliver  fresh tasting water that is near chemical free.  Stainless steel water containers do not have that fowl plastic taste that becomes evident after 2-3 days in a plastic water bottle.

Camping Uses For A 5 Gallon Water Jug

I usually drink a cup of fresh drawn water every morning.  It’s cleansing and refreshing.  A good quality 5 gallon water jug cooler will have a controllable spigot for ease of use.  The spigot on the water jug is great for washing and rinsing dishes too.  We use the spigot to wash and rinse our hair as well give sponge baths when showers are not available.  For those of you with concerns about space, a 2.5 gallon water jug is perfect for tight-fitting vehicles.

It seems like a 2.5 gallon  water container is just not big enough to do the job for an extended trip.   There are times  that you  may be away from any water source for 2-3 days and a large enough reserve  of water is critical.

Coleman 5 gallon water jugs are by far the most popular anywhere.  Let’s face it, we are drinking water all day, so you may as well get a good container that is practical for serving water, storing in tight spots, and practical enough to use for bathing and washing dishes.  Click on the 5 gallon water jug below to view several options available for sale.

Having the right camping equipment checklist will ensure that you pack everything for your trip including the best 5 gallon BPA free water containers.