Nalgene Narrow Mouth Strap TPU

thingiverse

I absolutely adore my Nalgene, it's been my go-to water bottle for years! However, disaster struck when the strap broke on mine and I was devastated :-(. So, I took matters into my own hands and decided to create a replacement strap using Fusion360. First, I experimented with CPE because it seemed like a sturdy option, but I quickly realized it didn't want to bend much at all. TPU became the next logical choice for me. While I've always been a bit apprehensive about printing TPU, I found out that it's actually quite easy. I even added my G-code file to this post in case anyone wants to give it a try - it only takes 18-20 minutes to print, and my Prusa Slic3r ver 2.0.0 win 64 generated the code. I used a Prusa i3 MK3S with a 0.40mm nozzle and 0.20mm resolution (z-height) to get the perfect result. The new strap fits like a glove on my Nalgene, and I even printed an extra one as a spare just in case! I did some research and found that another kind soul on Thingiverse has also uploaded a similar design, but theirs is specifically for the WIDE mouth Nalgene bottle. Here's a link to the Nalgene this strap fits perfectly: https://www.nalgene.com/product/2078-2029/ I used Sainsmart TPU, which I love because it comes in a gorgeous shade of pink that matches my water bottle color almost identically! If anyone wants the CPE file for the PETG version, I can definitely share it with you - just be aware that you'll need to use a heat gun to soften the material and stretch it over the water bottle opening and then the cap post. And according to the ASTM resin code on my water bottle strap, it's a "3" which is PVC, so be careful when heating it up as it can release toxic fumes. I highly recommend getting TPU in your preferred color instead and printing it - if you have a Bowden tube on your printer, don't worry, there are plenty of resources online to help you overcome the challenge! I'm not an expert in FDM printing by any means, but feel free to drop a comment if you encounter any difficulties printing this strap. I'll do my best to help out! I hope this file can be helpful for someone with a narrow mouth Nalgene bottle - and don't hesitate to reach out if you'd like me to upload the Fusion360 file so you can customize it to your liking!