Rothco 2 Quart Striped Desert Canteen

Curated from 46 real Reddit conversations

Refreshed on: February 15, 2025

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Rothco 2 Quart Striped Desert Canteen

Brand: Rothco
Price: $17
Snoop Score:
4.7
Sentiment
5.0
Popularity
6.8
Technical
4.5
Buy on Amazon for $17See All Canteens Reviews
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Snoop's Take

The Rothco 2 Quart Striped Desert Canteen is designed to provide outdoor enthusiasts with a reliable water-holding solution. Made from sturdy plastic and featuring a tinplate outer body, this canteen is perfect for camping and outdoor adventures. Consumer sentiment highlights several strengths, including its lightweight and easy-to-carry design. Users appreciate that "it fit perfectly in my desk" and find the BPA-free material a significant advantage. However, some have expressed concerns about the canteen's comfort during long carries and difficulties in cleaning, with one user stating they couldn't eliminate a bad taste even after attempts to clean it. Overall, while the Rothco 2 Quart Striped Desert Canteen has its drawbacks, such as discomfort and cleaning challenges, it offers good value at its price point and is recommended for those seeking a lightweight option for outdoor activities.

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I highly recommend it

Positive Feedback

A Canteen is insufficient for summer ops at Polk, you want a bigger reservoir, on your back -MSR drom, Cambelbak, etc

Negative Feedback
Product
4.7
Rothco 2 Quart Striped Desert Canteen
Buy on Amazon for $17
Backpacking & Hiking
2 / 10
Camping & Picnics
3 / 10
Military & Tactical
3 / 10
Everyday Outdoor Use
4 / 10
See how this compares to all Canteens

What it does well!

Key strengths users can’t stop talking about.
Lightweight and easy to carry
“I highly recommend it”➕
“and it's pretty soft and bends easily, I've used it countless times shoulder mounted and I've never had any chafing on the side of my neck”➕
BPA free material
“It’s BPA free as well. That goes a long way in my book.”➕
“I'd prefer to have my Nalgene bottle and buy a molle multi cam pouch for it.”➕
Durable canteen cup
“it held up well.”➕
Good value for the price
“Considering its just stamped steel I'd get the one you posted.”➕

Where it needs some work!

Areas to watch—feedback on possible improvements.
Canteens are uncomfortable to carry
“A Canteen is insufficient for summer ops at Polk, you want a bigger reservoir, on your back -MSR drom, Cambelbak, etc”➕
Canteens are difficult to clean
“Tried bleach to clean. We all just bought new ones when we couldn’t make it not taste like a sewer.”➕
Poor quality materials
“Crap company. Crap quality. Crap materials.”➕

Compare On All Talked About Dimensions

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MASTIFF GEARS® 304 Stainless Steel Canteen KitMASTIFF GEARS® 304 Stainless Steel Canteen Kit$59
8.0
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Ammo Can Man USGI Camping Canteen SetAmmo Can Man USGI Camping Canteen Set$34
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BaHoki Essentials Aluminum Canteen with Cover and CupBaHoki Essentials Aluminum Canteen with Cover and Cup$11
7.0
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STANLEY Legendary Classic Canteen 1.1 qtSTANLEY Legendary Classic Canteen 1.1 qt$32
6.8
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Dumatc Survivor 3-in-1 Outdoor Canteen KitDumatc Survivor 3-in-1 Outdoor Canteen Kit$31
6.6
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Lixada Military Canteen Set 3pcs Portable Camping Cookware SetLixada Military Canteen Set 3pcs Portable Camping Cookware Set$24
6.3
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ELK Stainless Steel Military Canteen and Cup SetELK Stainless Steel Military Canteen and Cup Set$21
6.3
DetailsBuy
Peosaard Stainless Steel Military Canteen and Cup SetPeosaard Stainless Steel Military Canteen and Cup Set$24
6.2
DetailsBuy
Rothco Aluminum Canteen - Lightweight Water BottleRothco Aluminum Canteen - Lightweight Water Bottle$9
5.8
DetailsBuy
GRITR Titanium Canteen Mess KitGRITR Titanium Canteen Mess Kit$129
5.7
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Stansport 1 Quart Scout CanteenStansport 1 Quart Scout Canteen$17
5.6
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M-Tac Canteen Water Bottle - 1 Quart Tactical CanteenM-Tac Canteen Water Bottle - 1 Quart Tactical Canteen$11
5.4
DetailsBuy
BeGrit Military Canteen Kit with Aluminum Cup and SporkBeGrit Military Canteen Kit with Aluminum Cup and Spork$18
4.9
DetailsBuy
JFFCESTORE Military Canteen Carrier CoverJFFCESTORE Military Canteen Carrier Cover$23
4.8
DetailsBuy
Rothco 2 Quart Striped Desert CanteenRothco 2 Quart Striped Desert Canteen$17
4.7
DetailsBuy
Stansport Blanket Canteen - 4 QuartsStansport Blanket Canteen - 4 Quarts$23
2.2
DetailsBuy
JVNZAM Plastic Military Canteen - 1 Quart Portable Water BottleJVNZAM Plastic Military Canteen - 1 Quart Portable Water Bottle$12
2.2
DetailsBuy
COOK'N'ESCAPE Titanium Canteen Mess KitCOOK'N'ESCAPE Titanium Canteen Mess Kit$58
1.4
DetailsBuy

Core Power Plays

The specs and strengths that make it shine.
Discussion on brand quality and durability
“I don't get the disdain.”➕
“Still holds up.”➕
“Are their better options out there? Yeah maybe.”➕
Humor about canteen usage
“you still use canteens???”➕

Hidden Hero Hacks

Unexpected tricks and side‑door uses you’ll love.
Discussion about military training setups for canteens
“Are they issuing the old ALICE pouches for the 2QT canteens still? Or are they giving out some kind of MOLLE ones?”➕
“M50 uses Avon’s canteen lids this is a m1 canteen cap which only works with the m1 coupling so the M17A1 through A2 M40 series MCU series”➕
“We still have those in the CAF lol I had one issued to me that was made like 40 years ago”➕
Discussion on using canteen cups for cooking
“Can i use my canteen cup as a pot? I wanna know if i can use the cup that came with my military style canteen as a pot or if i should just use it as a cup.”➕
“With some canteen cups you can (and that’s even part of their purpose) and with others you can’t.”➕
“So I'm a little late in telling you yes you can. I don't know what kind of canteen cup you have but assuming you're using a GI style canteen and cup you can get lids for the cup.”➕
Discussion on using canteens for different liquids
“Back before we had camelbacks, I had two canteens on my field kit. One for water and one for bourbon.”➕

Buyer’s Cheat Sheet

What to check before you click ‘Add to Cart.’
Mention of other gear preferences
“I keep a 1 qt Alice’d to my bag or belt bc I like the cup and stove with it”➕
Concerns about canteen cleaning and maintenance
“Plastic is porous, we’ve all seen the soldier that puts their MRE mixes in there and regrets it later.”➕
“It's probably fine as long as your leadership doesn't give a shit and you clean it out well after each use.”➕
Discussion about canteen compatibility with various pouches
“Does a pathfinder steel canteen cup fit into a nalgene oasis and also will both fit into the classic rothco strap canteen”➕
Discussion about canteen cup recommendations
“nothing on amazon seems particularly trustworthy”➕
“most of them have a ton of these for cheap”➕
“Amazon has actual military cups for the same price as the one listed above”➕
“Make sure when you get a canteen cup that you get one with a solid handle”➕

Cautionary Callouts

Know the pitfalls before they catch you off guard.
Discussion about canteen brands
“I’d definitely go with them over anything else for canteens.”➕
“The transparency is not a desirable quality in a military setting, since it promotes the growth of algae and some bacteria.”➕
“I switched to the nalgenes cause they can hold boiling/very hot water, so if I'm boiling water for purification, I can pour it straight into my canteen and keep going, letting it cool down while I hike.”➕
“I have been using the surplus ones for a few years with no leaking issues.”➕

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