Best 500ml Collapsible Dog Bowls for Travel
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A 500ml collapsible dog bowl is about 16.9 fluid ounces, or just over 2 cups, which is a handy size for a water stop on a hike or a small meal in the car. None of the seven listings below is titled 500ml, so this guide treats each as a close alternative and compares the capacity the seller actually states: 12 fl oz, 20 fl oz, 34 fl oz and a 750ml bottle. Pick the one nearest your target.
Quick answer
- Closest in size to 500ml: the PetBonus silicone bowls at 20 fl oz each, and the SLSON spill proof bowl, whose listing recommends not going past the 20 oz full line.
- Smaller than 500ml: the SLSON 2 pack, at 12 fluid ounces each.
- Much larger: Guardians and Kytely, at 34 ounces each.
- If you would rather carry water than a bowl, the SÄKER bottle is 750ml and turns into a bowl.
How to choose a collapsible dog bowl
Capacity
For reference, 500ml is about 16.9 fluid ounces. The listings use fluid ounces, cups or milliliters, so convert before you compare. SLSON’s two-pack bowl holds up to 12 fluid ounces of water or 1.5 cups of pet food. PetBonus lists 2.5 cups (20 fl oz). The SLSON spill proof bowl holds up to 33 oz to the lip, but the seller recommends not exceeding the 20 oz full line. Guardians and Kytely both state 34 ounces, or 4.2 cups of food. SÄKER’s bottle is 750ml.
Material
Silicone is the most common. PetBonus lists 100 percent premium food-grade silicone. The SLSON spill proof bowl lists silicone, and Kytely lists TPE materials. Guardians lists a TPE material and states it is lead-free and BPA free. The cermug bowl lists food-grade PP and TPR, and the SLSON two-pack lists soft plastic. SÄKER lists silicone.
Folded size
The whole point of a collapsible bowl is that it packs flat. The SLSON two-pack lists 0.5 inch tall when folded. PetBonus also lists 0.5 inch folded, with an expanded size of 6.4 by 4.1 by 2.4 inches. Kytely says only 0.7 inch when folded. SÄKER folds down to about the size of a banana when empty.
Attachments
Carabiners or clips let you hang the bowl from a belt loop, backpack or leash. SLSON’s two-pack comes with two carabiners, as do the PetBonus and Guardians packs. The cermug set includes a lanyard.
Cleaning
PetBonus is listed as dishwasher safe on the top rack, as is Kytely. The SLSON spill proof bowl is said to be easy to clean and dishwasher safe. Guardians lists hand wash only, and the SLSON two-pack care field reads dishwasher safe and hand wash only, so follow the seller’s instructions. Whatever you choose, rinse it after each use.
Comparison at a glance
| Bowl | Stated capacity | Material | Folded size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SLSON 2 pack | 12 fl oz each (1.5 cups of food) | Soft plastic | 0.5 in | 2 carabiners |
| cermug 2-in-1 | Not stated in ml or oz | PP and TPR | Not stated | Divided bowl with snap-on lid |
| SLSON Spill Proof | 33 oz to the lip, 20 oz at the full line | Silicone | Not stated | Wide lip for car travel |
| Guardians 2 pack | 34 oz each | TPE | Not stated | Carabiner clips |
| Kytely 2 pack | 34 fl oz each | TPE | 0.7 in | Dishwasher safe |
| PetBonus 2 pack | 20 fl oz each | Silicone | 0.5 in | 2 carabiners |
| SÄKER Slurpy Sack | 750ml | Silicone | About the size of a banana | Bottle that forms a bowl |
The seven options
1. PetBonus 2-Pack Silicone Collapsible Dog Bowls
The nearest match to a 500ml size, with a stated 20 fl oz per bowl (2.5 cups). The listing gives the expanded size as 6.4 by 4.1 by 2.4 inches and the folded height as 0.5 inch, and says it suits small to medium dogs, cats and puppies. The silicone is described as premium, food-grade, BPA free and non-toxic. It collapses flat, comes with two carabiners and is dishwasher safe on the top rack. The spec fields list the colors turquoise and tan, and the dog breed size as medium. Choose it if you want two bowls in the 20 oz range.
2. SLSON Spill Proof Dog Water Bowl for Cars
This is a single silicone bowl built for cars. The tapered lip and wider trim are meant to catch splashing water and guide it back in. The listing says it holds up to 33 oz to the lip, but recommends staying below the 20 oz full line, which is the nearest to 500ml in the group if you want a bowl that rarely sloshes. It has a heavy-duty base so it is harder to knock over, it is made as one molded piece with no floating center part, and the listing says it is dishwasher safe. The seller says it is suitable for small to large dogs but not for chewers, since a dog could chew it like a toy. The product dimensions are 7.3 by 7.2 by 2.8 inches and it weighs 9.1 ounces. Choose it for road trips.
3. SLSON Dog Bowl 2 Pack (Small)
These are the smaller option. Each bowl is 5.1 by 3.5 by 2.1 inches when expanded and 0.5 inch high folded, and holds up to 12 fluid ounces of water or 1.5 cups of food. That is roughly 355ml, below 500ml, so it suits small dogs or a quick drink rather than a full serving. They are made of soft plastic, come with two carabiners, and are described as folding to two different heights. The listing gives a 2-year warranty. Choose it if you want light, easy-to-clip bowls for a small dog.
4. Kytely Large Collapsible Dog Bowls 2 Pack
Kytely is a large bowl in a two-pack. The listing says each holds up to 34 fluid ounces of water or 4.2 cups of food, with a 7 inch width and 2.75 inch height, folding to 0.7 inch. It is TPE, BPA free and lead-free, and can go in the dishwasher. A clip is included. The spec field lists large breeds and all breed sizes. It is double the size you need for 500ml, so choose it for bigger dogs or multiple pets.
5. Guardians Large Collapsible Dog Bowls 34oz
Guardians offers the same 34 ounce size (4.2 cups of food) in two pieces, 7 by 5 by 2.75 inches, with carabiner clips for a belt loop, backpack or leash. The material is lead-free, BPA free TPE, and the care field says hand wash only. The listing says it suits small to medium dogs and cats and the spec fields say small breeds, which does not match the other fields exactly, so check the page. It states a 30 day warranty. Choose it if you need 34 oz bowls and want clips included.
6. cermug 2-in-1 Collapsible Dog Bowl
The cermug is a different idea: a divided bowl with a leak-proof, snap-on lid for carrying two servings of food. The listing calls it food-grade PP and TPR, BPA free and thickened, and says it suits cats and other small animals too. It includes a lanyard. The dimensions are 5.6 by 5.4 by 2.75 inches and the weight 6.7 ounces. The capacity field says 1.7 pounds, which is not a volume, so the listing does not give a usable milliliter figure. Care is hand wash only. The breed field says small breeds. Choose it for dry food on a day hike.
7. SÄKER Portable Dog Water Bottle (750ml)
This one is a bottle first and a bowl second. The 750ml silicone sack folds over its lip to form a bowl, quick-release buttons control water flow and let unused water flow back, and the 1.5 inch neck fits ice cubes. When empty it folds down to about the size of a banana. It is listed as BPA-free, designed for active dogs and weighs 7 ounces. It is more than 500ml, so you can give a dog a drink and still have water left. Choose it if you want a bottle instead of a flat bowl.
The BAGLHER travel backpack in the data includes two silicone collapsible bowls, but it is a bag, so it is not ranked here.
Which size is right
Match the capacity to the job. A 12 oz bowl is fine for a small dog’s drink. A 20 oz bowl, near 500ml, suits a medium dog or a meal of dry food for a small dog. A 34 oz bowl is for large dogs or bringing food and water for two. The listings give size ranges in different ways, and some are inconsistent, so treat the stated capacity as the main number rather than the breed label.
For a more detailed look at bowl capacities, read our collapsible travel dog bowl comparison by capacity. For crate use, see water bowls for dog crates.
Bowl or bottle: a practical comparison
A flat bowl is the simplest tool. You clip it on, unfold it, pour from your own bottle and fold it away again. The trade-off is that you need a separate container of water. A bottle-and-bowl design such as the SÄKER carries the water itself, so there is one item to pack, and the listing says unused water flows back into the bottle instead of being wasted. The downside is that a bottle sack is harder to fill and clean than an open bowl, and it holds a fixed amount, so it is less flexible for feeding.
The divided cermug bowl sits between the two. It is a food carrier with a lid, so it suits trips where you pack a measured meal. If your dog eats fast, a flat travel bowl will not slow the meal, and our guide to slow eating bowls for small dogs covers options for home.
Think about where the bowl lives between trips as well. A folded bowl that sits in a coat pocket or a car door should clean up with a quick rinse, because it will see dirt, grit and crumbs. Silicone and TPE bowls with dishwasher-safe listings make that easier at home, while hand-wash-only listings need a minute at the sink. Neither is a problem, but know which you are buying before the first muddy hike.
Care and travel tips
- Rinse the bowl after each use. Food residue on a folded bowl can smell.
- Follow the care instructions. Some of these are dishwasher safe and others are hand wash only.
- Check the clips before hanging a full bowl.
- Do not leave a bowl with a chewing dog. The SLSON listing says its bowl is not for chewers.
- Offer water often on hot days, and ask your vet if your dog drinks unusually much or little.
FAQ
How many ounces is 500ml?
About 16.9 fluid ounces, or a little over 2 cups.
Is any of these exactly 500ml?
No. The nearest stated capacities are 20 fl oz (PetBonus and the SLSON spill proof full line) and 12 fl oz (the SLSON two-pack). The SÄKER bottle is 750ml.
Are silicone bowls dishwasher safe?
PetBonus, Kytely and the SLSON spill proof bowl are listed as dishwasher safe. Guardians and cermug list hand wash only. Check each listing.
Do they fold flat?
PetBonus and the SLSON two-pack fold to 0.5 inch, and Kytely folds to 0.7 inch. Guardians and cermug do not state a folded height in the information we have.
Which is best for the car?
The SLSON spill proof bowl, since it has a wide lip designed to catch splashing on bumps and turns.
Can a collapsible bowl be used for food?
Yes, according to the listings. SLSON, Guardians and PetBonus mention food, and cermug is designed to carry two servings of food.
Bottom line
For a 500ml collapsible dog bowl, aim for a stated capacity near 20 fl oz: PetBonus if you want two flat silicone bowls, SLSON spill proof if you will mostly drive. Choose 34 oz bowls only for large dogs, and the SÄKER bottle if you would rather carry water in a sack than a bowl. For more bowl styles, read about slow feeder dog bowls.
