GSI Outdoors Microlite 720 Twist Review

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

At first glance, the GSI Outdoors Microlite looks just like the many other vacuum-insulated bottles we've tested over the past few years. But, a few specific features set this bottle apart from the rest. To start, the Microlite has a silicone pad on its base, which protects it from denting and gives it a bit of friction on surfaces, reducing its chances of spilling when lightly knocked. The bottle's plastic lid has a hinged handle that can be stowed along the bottle's side when it's not in use. We liked this aspect of the carrying handle, but we found that when it was deployed, it was too small to carry comfortably unless you want to hang the bottle from a single finger. Alternatively, this handle could be used as a clip-in point for a carabiner, but we don't often find ourselves clipping our stainless steel bottles to anything.

Cleaning the Microlite is a fairly easy and straightforward task. The wide mouth makes it easy enough to get a bottle brush down into its depths, but the lid proves to be a bit more difficult to clean thoroughly.

Durability

In our drop tests, the GSI Microlite showed no signs of damage after being dropped from a height of 3.5 feet. The silicone padding on the bottom of the bottle seemed to absorb quite a lot of impact when the bottle was dropped, protecting the stainless-steel body from damage. Other stainless water bottles we've tested have dented upon impact, but the silicone protected the GSI bottle significantly. Also, the cap design feels especially sturdy, as it is made of a softer, more malleable feeling plastic than other bottles we've tested.

Weight

Here, the GSI excels. The name Microlite is truly fitting — as this is the lightest of all the vacuum-insulated, stainless bottles we've tested. With a total weight of 10.5 ounces, the Microlight falls in between the vacuum insulated and non-insulated stainless bottles we have reviewed in the past.

Taste

Right out of the box, the Microlite had a bit of a plasticky, packaging taste to it, but this was quickly remedied with a few rinses. The simplicity of the lid and the rim of the bottle make it so that flavors do not linger in these areas. Stainless steel bottles, in general, don't hold on to flavors, so we were not surprised by the Microlite's performance in this category.

Should You Buy the GSI Outdoors Microlite 720 Twist?

The most notable aspect of the GSI Microlite is its weight. Hence the name. We were definitely impressed that GSI was able to make a vacuum-insulated bottle that functions well and is significantly lighter than most other options out there. Beyond that, the Microlite performed much like any other insulated bottle we've tested in terms of ease of cleaning, durability, and features. True ounce-counting ultralighters will probably stick with a Nalgene Wide-Mouth, but if you want to have an insulated bottle while backpacking, this would be our suggestion, as it's the lightest insulated stainless bottle in the fleet.

What Other Water Bottles Should You Consider?

If you're seeking a super light backcountry bottle, our recommendation is the Nalgene Wide-Mouth, perhaps in conjunction with the Platypus DuoLock SoftBottle. Otherwise, our favorite insulated bottles for urban use are the Yeti Rambler 26 and Simple Modern Summit options.