20 Best 5 Gallon Water (2023 Update)

I can't believe we ever camped without one of these! This definitely makes life easier especially with kiddos who are thirsty or need to wash their little hands after playing in the dirt. I also love that I can haul it with me to baseball games to refill water bottles for the team! The top is super easy to screw on and screw off. If you're in the market for a cooler look no further this is what you want!Av

This container certainly worked well for our purposes. We used it for a hand washing station while camping. For the most part, it worked perfectly. My younger kids struggled to turned the spigot knob at times. That is my only complaint. Otherwise, it is great. I think it will hold up well for a long time.Cherise

For the price this is tough to beat. We typically take a couple of the arrowhead disposable jugs with us on camping trips, but we have a reverse osmosis water purifier at home so it makes more sense to carry our own water with us. For a 5 gallon jug this is surprisingly easy to carry, and reasonably easy to find space for it inside the vehicle too. If it doesnt last more than a year or two thats ok, it was cheap enough Ill just replace it! Great for a makeshift faucet too.Nathan

This sure came in handy, as I rinsed it out, then filled it chock full, and shortly after had a plumbing issue. BUT i had 5 gallons of fresh water on hand until the plumber arrived – perfect timing! hahaha. This is a great product.Elaine E.

The first time I used this container it developed a crease in the corner and the cheap plastic cracked and leaked within the first 24 hours. I have this container in an earlier model from 2015 and it is going strong after lost of heavy use. The older model has thicker plastic. I can feel the obvious difference in thickness.Maximus67

Walmart gives you regular tap water. I always filled my bottles at Walmart due to the great taste of primo water, but lately the water doesn't taste of primo. There is so much chlorine in the water we couldn't drink the water. Shame shame shame. I will definitely be calling the news media on Walmart. We tested the water n it was tap water. It's the one on stonecrest in lithonia.Miriam

I used Primo for quite some time but got some nasty tasting chlorine or bleach in two of them so I decided to no longer drink their brand. I went to take the empty bottles back and put them in their reclamation machine which issues tickets for the size bottle you drop off. I attempted to take my tickets back into the store and get my deposit back and they reused to do so. I contacted Primo and they sent me the following letter. The bottles cost about 5 dollars each but they only will mail you back a grand total of 50 cents by mail for any ticket you send back. Basically once you buy into their program you own that bottle or if you turn it in you now own a ticket stub worth 50 cents if you mail it back. EMPTY BOTTLE CREDIT (US ONLY) Primo does not have a deposit program in the United States. When you make the initial purchase of a 3 or 5 gallon pre-filled bottle from Primo, you are also purchasing the bottle. We offer an exchange program in which you can place your empty 3 or 5 gallon bottle into our recycling center at your local store and you will receive a recycle ticket that provides you a discount on your next purchase of water. Primo also will accept any competitors 3 or 5 gallon empty bottle that you can place in the recycle center and a recycle ticket will be provided to you so you may receive an exchange discount on your purchase of Primo Water. Primo Water Retailers do not provide any credits for empty bottles. Empty Bottle Return Credit Policy & Procedures 1) Consumer is required to provide all the following information. a. Name, address, contact phone & email. Bottle recycle ticket(s)c. Retail location where bottle(s) were returned 2) Bottle credit amount will be $1.00 plus standard U.S. First Class Mail up to $0.50. 3) Requests are handled Monday-Friday 9a.m.-5p.m. 4) Consumer is limited to a lifetime maximum of 10 bottle credit(s). Other limitations may apply. 5) Standard processing time is 6-8 weeks, check will be mailed to address supplied by Consumer. 6) The Retailer does not process bottle credits, all credits must follow the guidelines set above. Follow these Steps 1) Return your empty Primo Water bottle(s) to your nearest Primo Water Recycle Center. 2) Retain your recycle ticket for each bottle(s) returned. 3) Fill out the Empty Bottle Return Form Oct 2016 online, then print 4) Mail form and tickets to Primo Water for bottle credit and processing. 5) Correctly submitted forms with tickets will receive a check from Primo Water in 6-8 weeksNospamsam

I went to replace a refill that I had bought and found a freeze pop in the bottom of the container. That REALLY makes me question the process that they use to sanitize bottles that are returned and refilled. I guess it's possible they heat them, but still unsettling. And no we didn't place it there….we are in our 50's and haven't bought those since our kids were little.kindagross

Walmart gives you regular tap water. I always filled my bottles at Walmart due to the great taste of primo water, but lately the water doesn't taste of primo. There is so much chlorine in the water we couldn't drink the water. Shame shame shame. I will definitely be calling the news media on Walmart. We tested the water n it was tap water. It's the one on stonecrest in lithonia.Miriam

I used Primo for quite some time but got some nasty tasting chlorine or bleach in two of them so I decided to no longer drink their brand. I went to take the empty bottles back and put them in their reclamation machine which issues tickets for the size bottle you drop off. I attempted to take my tickets back into the store and get my deposit back and they reused to do so. I contacted Primo and they sent me the following letter. The bottles cost about 5 dollars each but they only will mail you back a grand total of 50 cents by mail for any ticket you send back. Basically once you buy into their program you own that bottle or if you turn it in you now own a ticket stub worth 50 cents if you mail it back. EMPTY BOTTLE CREDIT (US ONLY) Primo does not have a deposit program in the United States. When you make the initial purchase of a 3 or 5 gallon pre-filled bottle from Primo, you are also purchasing the bottle. We offer an exchange program in which you can place your empty 3 or 5 gallon bottle into our recycling center at your local store and you will receive a recycle ticket that provides you a discount on your next purchase of water. Primo also will accept any competitors 3 or 5 gallon empty bottle that you can place in the recycle center and a recycle ticket will be provided to you so you may receive an exchange discount on your purchase of Primo Water. Primo Water Retailers do not provide any credits for empty bottles. Empty Bottle Return Credit Policy & Procedures 1) Consumer is required to provide all the following information. a. Name, address, contact phone & email. Bottle recycle ticket(s)c. Retail location where bottle(s) were returned 2) Bottle credit amount will be $1.00 plus standard U.S. First Class Mail up to $0.50. 3) Requests are handled Monday-Friday 9a.m.-5p.m. 4) Consumer is limited to a lifetime maximum of 10 bottle credit(s). Other limitations may apply. 5) Standard processing time is 6-8 weeks, check will be mailed to address supplied by Consumer. 6) The Retailer does not process bottle credits, all credits must follow the guidelines set above. Follow these Steps 1) Return your empty Primo Water bottle(s) to your nearest Primo Water Recycle Center. 2) Retain your recycle ticket for each bottle(s) returned. 3) Fill out the Empty Bottle Return Form Oct 2016 online, then print 4) Mail form and tickets to Primo Water for bottle credit and processing. 5) Correctly submitted forms with tickets will receive a check from Primo Water in 6-8 weeksNospamsam

I went to replace a refill that I had bought and found a freeze pop in the bottom of the container. That REALLY makes me question the process that they use to sanitize bottles that are returned and refilled. I guess it's possible they heat them, but still unsettling. And no we didn't place it there….we are in our 50's and haven't bought those since our kids were little.kindagross

I really like the Coleman 5 gallon water chiller. It’s dual purpose for me. I like using it for adventures and camping trips in the mountains. It’s great to use to transport water. It’s a great size. We use it for hand washing, drinking, and for using to extinguish a campfire. It’s pretty solid, super light when empty, feels like it’s good quality that will last for years to come. It is also great to store water in just in case of an emergency I have five gallons ready to go.Deliteful

I’m a prepper. This is kind of an absolutely necessity for someone who frequently stocks up on all the things. I keep this in my garage shelf full of water and have used it quite a bit. It holds enough water for 2 people for like 2 days and is awesome. Great for travel and for preparing for future weather challenges.Melissa6372

We brought this filled with electrolyte water to a day at the field. My whole family was able to stay hydrated with nice cold water. We had so many complements and it kept the water cooler than other jugs we have used in the last. It was easy to carry and didn’t spill. I would definitely recommend to othersAlmal

OK so this is awesome! We go through bottled water like crazy and I hate that it's so hard to recycle the plastic bottles. We have to pay to have recycling picked up. This solves that problem as we can refill our reusable bottles easily all day long! I love how easy this bottle pump is to charge and use. We use it with 5 gallon bottles of water but you can also use it with 2 or 3 gallon bottles. It pumps quickly and there is no funny taste to the water. It cleans easily as well.Leebear21

After seeing this on social media, I knew it was something I needed in my house. With 4 adults, a child and a baby, we used to go through a 40 pack of water bottles every few days! Now I'm saving money (and the environment) by getting the large reusable bottles and using this instead! Easy to set up and easy to use. I'm very happy!Alyssa

PUDHOMS 5 Gallon Water Dispenser for the WIN!!! So I read all about it before I bought it. I was thinking it would be great if it worked like described. Well it does for sure. I sort of giggled when I hit the button on mistake, as it came partially charged. Who ever heard of a USB charged water pump? Well, now that I have I won't go back. I have one in my office and in my Livingroom. I am going to buy one for my backyard. My thinking is that these are so handy and convenient that wherever I put them people will find it super easy to the right choice and drink water. So this one DOES NOT TASTE WEIRD! That is important!! I love the automatic shut off feature. Get your family healthy and grab a few. You will want to thank me later <3Elizabeth

I only bought this because once again CVS was OUT of distilled water which I need for my CPAP machine. Just arrived in town and needed distilled water.TERRY

It is an extremely fresh and light water, it helps the local economy and uses recyclable material in its container, easy to transport, very light and resistant. I'm lovin 'itveronica.t

Best water storage bang for the buck. Built sturdy. Already used two of these while my well pump was replaced and to have fresh clean water in the several days it took for well water to clear. Water stored for the week had no flavor or odor from plastic, unlike cheaper containers used in the past.Kris

The Water-Pak is the actual item. The photo shows the Aqua-Pak (ironically, Walmart's Aqua-Pak item shows the Water-Pak photo. Water-Pak stacks and is convenient for storage. I bought 8 of these. Love them.MarkInKona

The container is of a good quality and the size is great but the handle sucks, keeps flopping around. I have a different model with the handle molded in and I like it much better. Would not buy againCoyoteCaper

2/5 stars because: Does it hold water? Yes Does the spigot work? Yes But this thing is utterly impractical to use. It cannot be placed flat and stable on a surface because it flops around and rolls away. The only way we have been able to use it is to strap it into a rigid frame like in the photo, effectively making it only useful as a hard-body water container, in which case we would have been better to buy the hard one in the first place.JF__

Light, collapsible and strong with no plastic taste. -1 star since it droops when not full and becomes difficult to balance on a bench or table without flopping over. Also hard to get the water out when it's quite low.Kkgg

Works well, but it does flop around and frequently flops off the surface if is placed on. Fortunately it is durable and has never split open or leaked even after multiple falls off picnic tables and bear lockers. It would be very helpful if there was a portable base of some sort that it could fit into to hold it and keep it from slipping off a surface. Even after years of use, there is a little bit of plastic flavor sometimes in the water if this container has been in the sun with the water inside.Suzanne

No sturdy, they will start to leak after the first week. They were assembled with a tight seal but the nozzle starts dripping on both items i bought!Angel

it would have been awesome had there been water in the jug. they gave us an empty jug and charged for one with water in it.kim

Definitely worth the money compared to others online. You’ll get your money back by not having to buy bottled water within about 3 refills. The water is also good in southern Minnesota. Just find a jug in the store take the plastic off and fill up the jug, then scan the barcode on the jug. Next time when bringing it into the store just search the code for water refill. Only downside is it takes a little bit of time to refill the jugs in the store.Garret

I like the 5 gallon refills for the unit we purchased at Walmart but the bottles are never in stock no matter what day I go. I end up having to go to Wynn Dixie and spending money there because of it.Joe

We use these every day to take water to the horses. The size and shape makes them ideal for the job. That's why they got 2 stars. But despite the so called life time warranty, they start leaking after less than a month's use. The company does not respond to emails. I guess they would be OK for an occasional camping trip, but do not expect them to last.Patricia

I own a few of these and it's a crapshoot to find one that the spigot points in the proper direction. In my experience you cannot over tighten the spigots or they will snap off AND if you loosen them to point the spigot down they leak! It's a simple fix Reliance! Retool the factory machines so that the spigots always point down when they're tightened. You need to physically test each one in the store to find one where the spigot points in the right direction.Outdoors expert

Good container overall. Not particularly thick plastic but it's done good so far. 2 cons I found are the spigot is very tight and difficult to open with one hand and also it doesn't fully empty all the water out without tipping it up on an angle. Otherwise it's a good value and gets the job done.Tyler

So happy to see this available. I use this with one of the recommended countertop hot/cold water dispensers and it works perfectly. It fits well, fills the dispenser quickly, and most of all I don't have to fuss with buying bulky water bottles any more.amnaturelle

So convenient and easy to use. Just pour in water from your tap. Comes out tasting great. Using with my water cooler that I've had for years. Also makes great tasting coffee and I use the water in my ice maker. No more lifting heavy bottles or running to the store for water. Money saving!Louise

I drink more water knowing contaminants have been removed. When you go back and have a drink of city water, it about makes me gag. I am very particular about the taste of my coffee and the Zero Water scores high marks for the improvement made in that regard. Sometimes though it seems the filters flow way too slowly, even when just replaced. I do wish they would design an easier to use valve. Something that could lock in the open position, especially when you need to fill a pan with water would sure be nice to keep a hand from cramping while holding it open for so long.Coast Guard 73

We have a permanent camping spot in southern Ohio, and it was such a pain to take down gallons and gallons of our reverse osmosis water from him each weekend. So, she I was offered to try these jugs, I was THRILLED! I can pop one of these in the sink and walk away while it fills with fresh reverse osmosis water from out separate tap. We take them to camp, pop on into our XL cooler packed with ice and other drinks, we put one under the camper for emergencies and use one for cooking! I absolutely love them! With the thick plastic, I know the sun won’t penetrate the bottles. The water never tastes like plastic or anything either! Such an amazing product! Perfect for those die hard campers!!!Kmroch21

This is an amazing product. I have well water and when we lose power we have no water. I love that I can safely store water in this without having harmful chemicals in our water the next time we drink it. It’s thin so it’s easy to store in a pantry or basement shelf. The opening at the top is nice and large for easy filling. The handle feels sturdy and we weren’t concerned carrying it when it was full. We even talked about getting another one for our camper so we always have water no matter what the power situation is. Thank you for our piece of mind.Christy

It was important to us to be able to carry high quality drinking water on our car camping trip and this was the best option. We took 2 of them strapped to the roof of our Jeep, which we were constantly putting up and taking down, and we love how sturdy they are. One night got below freezing and we woke up to non-frozen water in the morning. and the water didn't get excessively hot on warm days (mid 80s – we'll see how it holds up in the true Texas summer!). I also love that these don't leach chemicals into the water like cheaper versions. I would highly recommend and look forward to trying the spout attachment, although, we managed to fill up our water bottles fine without it as long as we leveraged it on a table or bench.AHS718

I like it. Hot water is hot enough for tea and my granddaughter’s instant oatmeal. Cold water is cold. Quiet and looks nice in its spot!Kathleen

I sent my friend in Tanzania an Outback Plus filtration system since his water is seriously contaminated. He and his wife made a video comparing the water from his faucet with the water he dispensed from the Outback.Bruce G.

This is a revised review. Previously, I gave ESP 1 star because they didn't complete my order. I called them and they said they would ship it. After about a week I didn't hear from them or receive the part, I gave them 1 star and then sent them an email. I got a reply and said they shipped the parts about the time of the phone call. I received the parts today. I am upping my review to 4 stars because they are a stand up company. I did knock a star off because they could have been a little more communicative. If they sent an email when they shipped the parts, I would not have given them a 1 star to begin with.Scott R.

It is May 8th 2021 just returned from a two-week stay on a mountain lake in Arkansas. Springtime on the lake presents a lot of pollen issues. The water source is very clear but the pollen is very heavy. The Outback Plus had no problem with the pollen. I filtered at least 25 gallons of good drinking water. Yes the sock filter over the particulate filter in the top bucket needs cleaning no problem the Outback Plus served me very well. Customer service was great also. The bottom bucket lid did not fit when I received my unit. But upon notification one was shipped out with Expediance. I guess my only question would be what covers the holes where the spicket and the two buckets meet for long-term storage?John O.

Bought this SureCan before our Camping trip and I love it. So easy to use to wash hands or rinse dishes. Great for washing off fish. It is so simple to use with the spigot I don't have to hold a button to get water out . I can flip the spigot and have both hands free to wash, rinse or clean out my fish. It's awesomeMatt

I own both a 5 gallon and two gallon and they are perfect for washing up and filling up my water bottle. I mainly use them when camping and hunting but bring them to our family ranch as they are perfect for an easy cleanup of my hands after getting messy.knj15

We have a permanent camping spot in southern Ohio, and it was such a pain to take down gallons and gallons of our reverse osmosis water from him each weekend. So, she I was offered to try these jugs, I was THRILLED! I can pop one of these in the sink and walk away while it fills with fresh reverse osmosis water from out separate tap. We take them to camp, pop on into our XL cooler packed with ice and other drinks, we put one under the camper for emergencies and use one for cooking! I absolutely love them! With the thick plastic, I know the sun won’t penetrate the bottles. The water never tastes like plastic or anything either! Such an amazing product! Perfect for those die hard campers!!!Kmroch21

This 5 gallon water container is perfect for camping. We sometimes camp where water that is safe for drinking is not readily available. This water container comes in very handy for those situations. The container itself is extremely well made and sturdy. I like that there is two choices for an opening. A bigger size to put the water in the container and a smaller size opening to pour the water you need out. When I did first get the container it did have a strong plastic scent. I just had to rinse it out a few times and it was good to go. Overall this is a great water container to have on hand if you camp or want to have just in case of an emergency where safe drinking water may not be readily available.Ranman

Scepter is known as a leader in this market And they certainly haven't backed down with this product. I love the quality of the BPA free plastics that are used in this product because you know they are going to last for many many years. We have 3 of them that we use for back up water in our rv and tent camping. Some other things I really like about this jug is that the opening for the container is really big and allows you to put your whole hand in for cleaning purposes spell that makes it super easy to feel water cwater containers of smaller sizes Some other things I really like about this jug is that the opening for the container is really big and allows you to put your whole hand in for cleaning purposes. There's also a smaller spouse that makes it super easy to fill water containers of smaller sizes.Water Tank 2