Inspired by the boom in enduro racing and the trend within that scene for paring things down to a functional minimum, some companies are coming out with cunning storage solutions built in to items of clothing. Traditionally, many cannabis consumers hid their flower and accessories in less-than-ideal storage containers, like empty cookie tins and cigar boxes. While this may have ensured papers, baggies, and other paraphernalia were well contained, these were neither secure nor airtight.

Test the water bottle stash to ensure it can hold water without leaking and revealing its secret compartment. Replace worn-out lids and caps: The lids and caps of water bottles are prone to frequent use and may become loose or damaged over time. It’s advisable to replace them periodically to maintain a secure seal and prevent leakage. Many brands offer replacement lids and caps that are compatible with their bottles. Buying the best bottle cage for mountain biking isn’t just a matter of getting something your water bottle can simply sit in and be easily accessible mid-ride, although those elements are undoubtedly important. It’s also about how secure it is, and the best mountain bike bottle cages combine all those elements. Travel toiletries organizer: Instead of buying travel-sized toiletries, fill up your stash container with small amounts of shampoo, conditioner, lotion, or any other toiletry you may need. This saves space and reduces plastic waste.Opt for a water bottle made from durable and non-reactive materials, such as stainless steel or bpa-free plastic. For the second year running, this bottle takes the best filter prize. The Brita Stainless Steel Filter Bottle is sleek, leakproof, and very well-insulated. There are multiple color options, and the design of the lid makes it easy to clean. The silicone bite straw is a nice shape and texture that feeds oral fixation. The flip cap is the most effective and functional of any bottle with this feature. It's lightweight and light on the wallet compared to others in the category. Before testing, we didn't even realize how useful a filter bottle could be to everyday life. This is one of the smaller tool bottles, but it has enough space for a tube, albeit a standard sized one, a micro-tool or an iPhone. There’s even a small compartment inside for a patch kit. Three colours, one size. Bottle cages Freestyle: If you’ve got no eyelets on the bike for bottle cages (highly unlikely) or if the eyelets aren’t exactly where you’d like them to be, you can always go for a bottle cage that attaches to your bike using something similar to voile straps. Do bottle cages fit all the bikes?

Consider placing a small piece of tape over the hole to prevent accidental opening or revealing of the compartment.

Bottle cages

Ideally, you want something lightweight, sturdy and that holds your bottle securely. Other considerations include how it works with the suspension system on your full-suss bike since some bikes have limited internal space. Finding alternative ways to use your water bottle stash container can be a fun and creative endeavor. It’s not just limited to storing water anymore. The final point, of course, is the weight. The 1 L Flux weighs 2.7 oz (77 g). That’s still 1.3 oz (36 g) heavier than a Smartwater bottle, but 1 oz (28 g) lighter than the Stash. For some reason, that one ounce was just enough of a mental nudge for me to make the switch. Indicator marks for milliliters are another little benefit over using a single-use plastic bottle. The Hydrapak Flux Bottle: Cons

The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth with Straw takes home this year's Editors' Choice award. This honorary trophy is well deserved for a contender that is best in class across the board. It is impressively well-insulated and has one of the best feature sets of any bottle we've tested. Once the scores were in, it was clear that this bottle stood above the rest. The open mouth and simple construction make the Hydro Flask easy to clean. We love the easy breezy flip-up straw cap. And with a comfortable finger carry loop, you barely need to lift a finger to tote it around. I prefer 1 L bottles, and the 3.7 oz (105 g) weight was just a little too much for me to pull the trigger on. And like most ultra-lighters, I don’t use pump-style filters. The Flux ProsI can tell you that HydraPak has a hard-sized reusable bottle coming out this October. This bottle is Smartwater-shaped and made of 50% post-consumer plastic. Called the Hydrapak Recon, it might be a good middle-ground between Nalgene bottles and Smartwater bottles. I’ll post a blog about it later this fall once I’ve had a chance to test one out. Secret hideaway for valuables: Hide your valuable items, such as jewelry, usb drives, or spare keys, inside your stash container. Nobody would suspect that a harmless water bottle could be a hiding spot for your most important possessions. A final thought: It’d be nice if the Hydrapak Flux could handle boiling water for use as a hot-water bottle in extreme conditions, but it maxes out at 140 F (60 C). You could maybe get away with attempting to heat up water to just below that point, but that seems foolish, dangerous, and easy to get wrong. Conversation Ensure the water bottle is big enough to accommodate your stash, but not so large that it becomes cumbersome to carry. Emergency cash holder: Keep a few folded bills inside your stash container for emergencies. It’s a discreet way to carry some extra money without drawing attention to yourself.

The container should be periodically cleaned. The best results are obtained by using a mixture of water and bicarbonate of soda or washing up liquid. Rinse thoroughly afterwards.

Versatility: Water bottle stashes come in various designs and sizes, catering to different needs. Whether you require a small stash for storing cash or a larger one for holding emergency supplies, there’s a water bottle stash available to suit your specific requirements. Clean your water bottles regularly: Proper hygiene is essential when it comes to maintaining your water bottle stash. Ensure that you clean your bottles thoroughly after each use to prevent any bacteria buildup. Use warm soapy water or a gentle bottle brush to scrub the inside and outside of the bottles. Rinse them well and allow them to air dry completely before storing them. In its most basic form, a stash box preserves the integrity of your bud. An airtight seal and UV protection maintain the quality for cannabinoid and terpenes, even over the long term. The Flux retains the bail handle, my favorite feature for keeping my hands out of cold water and filling from ponds with ease. The Flux also keeps the strong yet flexible construction, welded seams, and compressibility; although it doesn’t compress quite as neatly as the Stash. And of course, you get HydraPak’s signature feature–that standing-up-when-empty ability. The bail handle is one of my favorite features of the HydraPak Flux 1 L. I hate getting my hands into cold water first thing in the morning.