Best Water Jerrycans for Overlanding and Camping

Whether you are overlanding, living out of a van, or simply car camping for a weekend, containers for storing water are essential for cooking and cleaning. There are so many jerrycans on the market now, including low-quality copycat brands, that it can be challenging to find a high-quality water container that’s good for rugged backcountry use.

In this guide, we’ll define the characteristics of a good water jerrycan, offer tips on how to choose one and highlight several types of cans that are popular among overlanding enthusiasts. First, if you are just looking for a quick recommendation, the Front Runner Plastic Water Jerry Can picture below is a great option.

Front Runner Plastic Water Jerry Can with Tap

Based in South Africa, Frontrunner makes a range of overlanding equipment, notably roof racks, cargo cases and water storage tanks. Their water jerrycans are made from sturdy BPA-free, food-grade polyethylene, in an opaque black plastic that discourages bacteria growth.

Recommended Water Jerrycans

There are many options nowadays for cans that can be used to store water while overlanding and car camping. Below are some options we recommend based on experience or what we’ve heard from others. 

Wavian Water Jerrycan

The Austrian company Wavian makes water cans designed for the Australian military. These cans, made in the classic jerry can style from BPA-free, food-grade, and UV-stabilized polyethylene, are made for extended outdoor use.

Wavian cans come with a plug near the bottom that can be removed to install a tap. This makes it easy to secure the cans while traveling (with the tap removed) and convenient for dispensing water in camp (with the tap installed). The optional tap is sold separately.

Other features include an opaque pigment that discourages bacterial growth, a textured surface that makes it easier to carry, and an air release that stops the water from “glugging” out.

Wavian makes several handy accessories for these cans, including a metal jerry can holder that holds standard NATO-sized water and fuel cans.

Scepter Water Jerrycan

The Canadian company Scepter was one of the first—if not the first—to start making plastic jerrycans. For decades, the company has been making fuel and water jerrycans for the military and outdoors enthusiasts.

Scepter’s 5-gallon water jerrycan is arguably the most durable can featured in this guide. It is rotomolded with thick plastic walls. We own a military surplus version of the can and can attest that it holds up to abuse.

The wide mouth of the can is closed with a wide twist-on cap that has a small pour spout integrated into it (which can in turn be closed with a slight twist cap). My only complaint is that these don’t have an easy-to-use tap, so you must tip the can when you want water. For that reason, I have another jerrycan with a tap that I refill from this can so that it’s easier to dispense. These jerrycans fit into standard NATO-size mounting brackets. The cans come in green and beige.

Front Runner Water Jerrycan

Based in South Africa, Frontrunner makes a range of overlanding equipment, notably roof racks, cargo cases and water storage tanks. Their water jerrycans are made from sturdy BPA-free, food-grade polyethylene, in an opaque black plastic that discourages bacteria growth. These have some of the thickest plastic of the jerrycans featured here.

One notable design feature of these cans is that the tap at the bottom of the can is recessed so that the spout is tucked within the outer edges of the can. This allows you to put the can into a jerry holder without the spout getting in the way.

Even without a dedicated can holder, it makes the tap less likely to become damaged. Frontrunner makes single and double jerrycan holders designed to work with their proprietary rack systems.

Reliance Aqua-Tainer

Reliance, a manufacturer based in Canada, is another company that makes durable water containers that are popular among overlanders, RVers, and van-life enthusiasts.

While not your typical jerrycan-style containers, their 4-gallon and 7-gallon Aqua-Tainer water cans are shaped like a cube and a good size to fit in many storage areas in vehicles and expedition trailers.

The cans have a built-in tap that tucks away inside the cap when not in use, protecting it from damage. Because they are shorter than more traditional jerrycan-style water containers, they will fit into places where those other cans might be too tall.

You can probably tell from the weight that these are made of thinner plastic than the other jerrycans reviewed here. While they are pretty sturdy, they aren’t as strong as the Wavian, Front Runner, Scepter, and other heavy-duty jerrycans. As a side note, Reliance also makes a handy portable toilet for camping.

Rotopax Water Packs

Rotopax made its name making plastic fuel cans designed for attaching to vehicles. Their unique mounting system allows for quick removal and storage of the fuel cans. Their water packs also fit with their attachment system, which is convenient if you plan to use them for fuel and water, as you can use the same mounts for both types of cans.

The cans have a spout that is integrated into the main cap and hidden inside the can during storage. The downside to the spout is that you have to lift the can to pour out water, in contrast to cans with taps that can dispense water while sitting on a tabletop. If that isn’t an issue for you and the Rotopax mounting system is appealing, these might be a good choice. Their water containers come in three sizes: 1 gallon, 1.75 gallon, and 2 gallon.

Why use Jerrycans for water storage?

While larger RVs and modified vans will often have large, built-in water tanks, smaller, more portable containers known as jerrycans are more affordable and practical for most people.

While the term “jerrycan” has long been used to denote a specific type of water and fuel can that has been in use since World War II, we use it here to refer to any sturdy, small, and portable can used for storing water.

How to Choose a Water Jerrycan

There are various jerrycans available on the market, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Metal jerrycans are more durable than plastic ones, but they are also heavier and quite a bit more expensive.

When choosing a water jerrycan, consider the material, size, and whether or not it has a tap.

Food Grade Material

The most important factor in choosing a jerrycan for storing water is that the water will be safe to drink. Because you will be drinking and cooking with the water stored in your cans, they must be made of food-grade materials.

For metal cans, stainless steel is ideal – but there are very few of these available on the market and they are pricey. For plastic cans, which are more common, look for cans made with BPA-free, food-grade polyethylene.

Many countries require that fuel cans be produced in a different color (often red) than water cans so that they aren’t confused.

Size and Volume

It is important to choose a container big enough to store the amount of water you need but not so big that it is difficult to transport or secure to your vehicle. There are several holders available for attaching jerrycans to vehicles, some of which are generic, designed to fit the classic NATO-size cans, and others that are custom-built for specific brands and sizes of cans. While not necessary, finding a can that will fit in a standard-sized holder can be convenient.

Durability

There are a few metal jerrycans on the market, but for a small water can (around 5 gallons) that can be carried by a single person, plastic cans offer just as much durability (perhaps more) and are much cheaper. All things being equal, a thicker plastic will be more durable than a thinner plastic but will weigh a bit more.

Closure System

Most jerrycans on the market have wide mouths that make it easy to fill them and screw-on lids. Some will integrate a removable/stowable tap into the lid.  

Dispensing Method

Some jerrycans have a built-in tap for dispensing water, while others require pouring water out of the container using a separate spout. Taps are convenient but can make securing a can difficult and present a potential point of failure. We recommend that if you plan to purchase more than one can, consider getting one with a tap and one without.

Price

Jerrycans vary in price, so it is important to choose a model that fits your budget. Plastic cans are less expensive than stainless steel cans, and in our opinion, they are a better option for most people’s needs.

Accessories

While all you may need is a stand-alone can for storing water, purchasing a can from a manufacturer that offers accessories such as can holders and replacement spots and parts provides more flexibility and, potentially, longevity in how you use your can. 

FAQs

You can keep water in a jerry can indefinitely as long as the container remains sealed and the water is not exposed to sunlight or other contaminants. If you are using a plastic jerry can, make sure that it is made with food-grade materials, as some cheaper plastics can leach harmful toxins into water over time.

The word “jerrycan” is a generic term that refers to any minor, portable can to store water. The term originated during World War II, when the German Army used gas cans they called Wehrmacht-Einheitskanister, which translated as “Armed Forces Unit Canister. Americans began calling the cans “jerrycans” based on the slang for German soldiers, “Jerry.”

BPA-free plastic is made from polycarbonate materials that do not contain the harmful chemical bisphenol A (BPA). BPA is a hormone-disrupting chemical that has been linked to health problems such as cancer, infertility, and diabetes. All plastics that come into contact with food or drink should be made from BPA-free materials.

Food-grade plastic is safe to come into contact with food. It is usually made from BPA-free materials and does not leach harmful toxins into food or water. In the United States, food-grade is defined by the FDA, and plastics are identified as food-grade based on their Resin Identification Number—which most people will be familiar with as their recycling number—which is surrounded by a triangle of arrows. Generally, numbers 1 through 7 indicate food-grade plastic.

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