Coghlan'sExpandable Water Carrier, 2-Gallon, Clear

This is about 3” wide when empty, 8” when full. Pretty cool. It won’t stand upright or on its edges - too wobbly. So, lay it horizontally on its flat side. The spigot works just fine that way. The plastic seems very sturdy. When collapsed it is very helpful for space saving. Also, 2 gallons of water is about 16 pounds so those who have a little less strength, or hand/arm/shoulder issues, can likely carry it. I know, I know, you could just fill a 5-gal container 40% for the same weight. But again I emphasize the great space-saving of this container. Finally, the handle is thick and sturdy. Oops one more thing - there are small holes in three corners if you want to hang it up.

This review is written based upon me using this water carrier the past couple of summers. I rented one from a canoe outfitter in northern Minnesota for a BWCA canoe trip. I have not used this particular one that I bought from Amazon yet, will be using it this summer. But I have use this exact model multiple times before. This is a great water container for light weight back country use. When it’s empty it’s about as thick as a paper back book, as large as a newspaper square. and can slip down along the inside wall of your pack very easily. It’s lightweight and flexible. When it’s filled with water it expands in the middle and looks almost like a pillow when filled. It’s a bit cumbersome, in that it’s easily dispensed from when laying on its side. But you can’t store it laying on its side because it slowly leaks. So you do have to set it up right when it’s filled but not in use. And then tip it on its side to dispense it. You can also dispense it in other ways such as holding it and pouring it like a pitcher, but that isn’t an option for everyone, as 2 gallons of water is very heavy. So I like to lay it on its side and just turn the tap on, which allows hands-free access to water. I have read that many people fill this and pack it in and out. I have found that it leaks from the spout collar, so I personally probably wouldn’t use it in this fashion. But I typically am not packing into areas where water isn’t readily available. I use it in the BWCA to Hold excess water that I have already filtered, so it is ready to use. The boundary waters is filled with unlimited amounts of clean, fresh water, so the most I have to carry this container is about 10 feet. (If I were backpacking I would probably fill and pack my water in Nalgene bottles.)As I said earlier, I have used this item before, and those I have used have been well broken in. So I have never experienced any kind of smell or taste taken on by the water because of the plastic. I will update my review once I’ve used the new one I’ve just purchased and let people know whether it has a bad taste or smell. The pros of this item is that it is very lightweight, made of soft, flexible plastic (but not as soft/flexible as the square gallon water carriers), easily packable, and holds a decent amount of water. Handle is sturdy, and for something so small it expands to hold a good amount of water. It also has a valve that allows for continuous flow which is nice for hands-free handwashing, dish rinsing, water bottle and pot filling, etc. Cons Are that it doesn’t stand up on it’s own (we prop it again at a rock or tree), But slowly leaks if you leave it lying down. All in all, the combination of how much it holds and how light weight it is is what sold me on it, Versus choosing some thing perhaps sturdier yet more rigid.UPDATE: have owned this item for more than 2 years. We have had to replace it at least once. While it was laying on its side, spigot being turned on and off to rinse camp dishes, it rubbed against the rock and got small holes in it. We field patched it with duct tape, but bought a new one when we returned home. So, it’s soft enough plastic to abrade when repeatedly rubbed against rough Boulder surfaces. But still the best option we’ve found for our use. We’ll just keep being careful with it, and know that camping gear needs to be replaced from time to time.still happy with it.

I wanted a carrier that didn't have to be folded for storage, because the last one I had started to leak where it was folded. One plus about this carrier is that the white spigot can rotate freely while the red cap stays tight. This lets you point it downward, no matter which side you lay it or stand it on. One negative is that it is not really free standing. That's the only reason I didn't rate it a 5 star. Another issue to be aware of is that if you are trying to 'waterfall' a drink from this like a drinking fountain, the water doesn't pour but instead it swirls outward and will probably get your face wet. It works just fine for filling bottles or cups though. The cord/hook holes in the corner are a nice touch.

I've had one of these for over twenty years but somehow managed to lose it, so I ordered a replacement without any hesitation. Please understand these aren't the best for some purposes, as the container takes on an awkward shape when filled, and wouldn't hold up well when full if packed with other cargo. There are other designs better suited to hauling your sole water supply for a weekend camping trip. You'd want a rigid container for something like that.Where this jug shines is a unique temporary use I have. I often take my pickup camper on long trips to places with no provisions to refill the water tank from a hose. Most places do have some sort of spigot, however, so I use this jug to transfer the water.It rests nicely on my shoulder as I refill my camper's tank. Thanks to the collapsible design, I can easily squeeze the sides to speed up the transfer. I added a short piece of hose to the jug's spigot to make the process easier.Best of all, when not in use, this jug collapses to about 2" thick for easy storage. A jug like this would also work well for tent camping, etc. if you had limited storage space and knew you could fill it upon arrival. As long as I don't lose this one, it should serve me well for many years to come.

I bought two of these. They are fantastic! I'm so happy I bought them. Perfect size for carrying one in each hand. The spout works nicely and doesn't leak. They collapse down and expand just by adding or removing water. Very convenient.

I have two of the Stansport Outdoor 291 2-Gallon Expand-A-Jug Water Carrier’s which have held up well for several years use. I recently decided to get another but, instead bought the Coghlan's Expandable Water Carrier, 2-Gallon because they are less expensive then the Stansport brand. After filling the Coghlan’s water carrier first time, it immediately leaked at the on-off valve. After attempting to find the reason for the leakage, I threw it away, ordered the Stansport and after several days use, no leaks.

These are the perfect size for me ( 60+ age female) to handle alone if necessary. They are sturdy when filled and collapse back to perfect size for storing in front compartment when empty

I love this expandable camping jug because it pacs flat when empty, which saves space. When full it expands but it's super easy to carry since it's only 2 gallons (doesn't get too heavy), which is great if you're car camping and near a water tap.

Works great, and expands.

Unless you fill it up under a faucet it will not fill up as you see in the pictures they have posted.It durable and the plastic faucet is good quality.

Super practical, no leakage, washrooms were far so we washed our muddy hands at our picnic site.On demand water with hands free flow.Stays in our car with a bottle of soap.

Was looking to save space, simplify and streamline my camping equipment. Compared to the larger bulbous Coleman version which cracked (under normal conditions) due to trying to fold it when not in use, THIS is flat to begin with. Fantastic! Gave it 1 star for flavour as I’ve not used it yet, it’s filled with water in the sink upon receiving, so don’t know if the water has residual flavour but I mostly use it for washing or boiling whilst camping. It’s great, buy it if you’re looking for a smaller setup.