Nalgene Outdoor started off as the Nalge Specialty Department of Nalge Nunc International, a company that produced laboratory equipment, and grew into one of the top manufacturers of camping bottles and containers. Currently, it is a part of Thermo Fisher Scientific. In the late 1970s, then-president of Nalge Nunc International, Marsh Hyman, discovered that scientists working with the plastics were using containers on weekend hiking trips and, after a trial-run with his son's Boy Scout troop, Hyman announced that the company would start marketing products to all the "outdoors people all over."

And over time, those outdoors people came to adopt Nalgene as one of the top companies for camping equipment, as it had been for scientific and laboratory equipment. But while Nalgene's products are virtually indestructible, how does the company's website hold up to the pressure? Will it crack or keep the company's brand intact online?

The website, Nalgene-Outdoor.com, is basically separated into two sections: one that gives all the information about the products and company, and the other that provides e-commerce capabilities. Visitors can purchase Nalgene products online, or see a list of retailers and distributors in their area. Nalgene engages its customers through the Private Label Program, which allows customers to customize bottles for special events, sports teams, or competitions. Additionally, the website encourages users to get even more involved with the company and submit their own new product idea.

The informational pages combine the scientific aspect of Nalgene bottles with the fun, colorful characteristics of the Nalgene brand in a few ways. The site displays the colorful bottles and new designs, as well as gives all the technology background any Nalgene geek would enjoy. It explains all the characteristics of the different kinds of plastics, answers questions about how to care for Nalgene products, and shows pictures of new products, like the N-Gen bottle and the company's first opaque bottle, the N-Gen Platinum.

Nalgene caters to a certain kind of person, namely, one that is young, enjoys being outdoors, and usually is environmentally conscious. The site fulfills this aspect of the brand to a T. Not only can customers buy anything they would need for their next camping trip or five-mile hike, they can also keep up to date on the latest products designed to enhance their outdoor experience.

Along with its eco-friendly reputation, Nalgene partnered with Brita to sponsor a program called "Refill Not Landfill," which encourages customers to reuse their Nalgene water bottles and reduce disposable water bottle waste. The website also focuses on this campaign, linking through to a separate webpage that gives facts about disposable water bottle waste and what the public can do to help.

Nalgene Outdoor grew out of a company that created and produced scientific and laboratory equipment, and its scientists were always on a mission of discovery. The website's "New & Featured" page exclaims, "We never stop innovating here at Nalgene!" and shows off designs and products ranging from hands-free hydration packs to bottles made especially for toddlers.

Overall, Nalgene-Outdoor.com is a high-quality website, just like the strong, durable, and reliable products the company produces. It reinforces the company's missions about the environment, discovery, and technology, and is even fun. I really liked the site, right from the homepage featuring a wave of water bottles. It has even inspired me to replace my old, beat up and scratched Nalgene bottle I've had since college.