The Right Water Bottle for the Range

Warm temperatures create ideal conditions for bacteria and mould to grow inside water bottles. If you refill the same bottle day after day without cleaning it properly, you’re not just drinking water anymore!

A few simple habits go a long way:

• Wash your bottle thoroughly after every range session.
• Use warm water with dish soap and clean the inside, the cap, and the threads with a bottle brush.
• Allow the bottle to dry completely before closing it.
• If the bottle develops an unpleasant smell or visible mould, replace it.

On shooting ranges, especially indoor ranges, lead dust can settle on equipment, benches and exposed surfaces. While good hand hygiene is essential, it’s also worth considering how your water bottle is designed.

Bottles with a screw cap or a covered flip-top lid help protect the drinking surface until you’re ready to take a sip. Once the lid is closed, the mouthpiece is shielded from dust and debris.

By contrast, bottles with pop-up sports nozzles often leave the drinking spout exposed. To drink, you typically pull the nozzle up with your fingers, which may already have picked up residue from pellets, bullets, firearms, floor, or other range equipment. That increases the chance of transferring dirt – or potentially lead-containing dust – to the part of the bottle that touches your mouth.