Are Cirkul's Bottles Good?

Cirkul (32oz)

Cirkul

Highlights: Built-in flavor pods, dial to control intensity

What you'll learn:

Why are Cirkul bottles popular?
What makes Cirkul good?
What is not good about Cirkul?
How good is Cirkul's insulation?
How durable are Cirkul bottles?
Are Cirkul bottles dishwasher safe?
Do Cirkul bottles fit in cupholders?
What are alternatives to Cirkul?

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Cirkul Review

Overview

Cirkul burst onto the scene through social media, particularly on TikTok, and high-profile sponsorships like with Mr. Beast helped introduce this bottle to many new customers.

The main differentiator is that the lid has a built-in flavor pod, which includes a dial to control the intensity of the flavors. This makes it really easy to add different flavors to your water without adding calories.

Because it's so easy to use and makes water more interesting, plenty of people have flocked to this bottle as a way to improve their hydration habits and avoid other drinks like sugary sodas.

Why Buy?

Easy to Add Flavor: The pods screw into the lid, and when you suck on the mouthpiece, it draws water through the pod. This infuses your drink with flavors.
Dial to Control Flavor Intensity: Most infusers don't let you control the amount of flavor, but Cirkul is different. You just twist a dial, and that closes or opens up the flavor pod more to control how much flavoring is released.
Anti-Slip Base: The built-in grip pad helps limit scratches and small dents on the bottom, but notably it doesn't cover the outside rim.

Why Avoid?

Long-Term Cost: The cost of buying flavor pods really adds up over time.
Long-Term Waste: If you're looking to buy a reusable bottle for environmental reasons to limit waste from disposable bottles, Cirkul is not a good option. The flavor pods are not reusable, and while technically the plastic is recyclable, there are major challenges in the recycling industry as a whole that mean realistically most items you put in the recycling bin are not recycled. To truly limit your carbon footprint, it's often better to limit how much you throw away at all instead of relying on recycling.
Bad Handle: The handle is small and uncomfortable.
Finish Marks: We found that the finish on our light blue stainless steel Cirkul marked very easily.
Harder to Sip: Because you're sucking water through a pod, that creates more restriction and sometimes weird noises. If you're looking for a smooth sip, Owala is a great option.
Artificial Sweeteners: While they do not have calories, there is mounting evidence that artificial sweeteners like those used in Cirkul's flavor pods are not good for your health.

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Cirkul FAQs

Are Cirkul bottles dishwasher safe? | No, Cirkul recommends handwashing their stainless steel bottles.
Are Cirkul bottles good? | They are good at adding flavors to your water, so they can help improve your hydration habits by making water more fun and interesting.
Do Cirkul bottles fit in cupholders? | Their 32oz bottles will not fit in most cupholders, so consider buying an adapter like our BottlePro Max.
Are Cirkul bottles leak proof? | Yes, Cirkul bottles are leak proof as the seals are clean and correctly installed, and the lid and spout cap are closed tightly.
Are Cirkul bottles easy to clean? | Yes. The flavor pods are meant to be disposed, so while you still need to wash them when using the bottle, they don't have the same kind of long-term concerns you have with bacteria and mold buildup like you see with other lids (like flip-up straw spouts in particular).
Are Cirkul bottles insulated? | Yes, their stainless steel bottles are vacuum insulated. However, their plastic bottles are not.
Are Cirkul bottles stainless steel? | Yes, but they do have other plastic bottles so check the listing to make sure you buy the correct one.
Are Cirkul bottles durable? | Cirkul's bottles are not as curable as other similar bottles. The stainless steel is similar to what you'll see with competitors, and it will dent if you drop it (though the anti-slip grip pad helps some). However, the finish on the bottle we tested marked very easily compared to other bottles with powder coating. Also, the lid is made of plastic that could break very easily if you dropped the bottle on its top.

How Do You Clean a Cirkul?

Video coming soon!
For now, check out our general cleaning guide for large stainless steel bottles.

Sip or Skip Stat Sheet

Our Sip or Skip stat sheets combine all the information above in one easy-to-use format to make comparing bottles easier.

Cirkul Stat Sheet

See our Video Review

Video coming soon!

How to Buy Cirkul

Cirkul (32oz)

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Popular Alternatives

Before you buy, it may be worth looking at these other options.

Steepware

Steepware (22oz)

To add tea for flavor, Steepware's design is a good option with an ideal strainer-to-bottle size ratio.

See on Amazon

airup

airup (22oz)

Airup bottles also use pods, but they work through scent to trick your brain into tasting flavors.

See on Amazon

Vesmoon

Vesmoon (32oz)

Vesmoon is a great option for fruit infusing because it has one of the largest strainers we've seen.

See on Amazon

Helpful Resources

Compare

See what else is out there

Clean

Learn how to properly maintain your bottle

Adding Flavors

See a wide range of options to add flavor

Recommended Accessories

Bottle Brush Kit

Great for your regular cleaning every 2-4 days.

This kit includes a large brush to clean in the bottle, a detailing brush to clean the threads and lid, a straw cleaner, and hangers so you can stay organized.

See on Amazon

Cleaning Tablets

Recommended to use these once per month.

In additional to regular weekly cleaning, deep-cleaning your bottle once per month is usually a good idea to prevent germs and buildup, especially around seals.

See on Amazon

Cup Holder Adapter

Usually needed for bottles over 3" diameter.

Our BottlePro Max has a twist-to-expand base, removable centralizing tabs, and a grip pad to help keep your bottle secure and by your side.

See on Amazon

And Just for Fun (and Healthier Flavors)

Fruit Infuser

As a bonus, check out our FlavorFuze Pod drop-in fruit infuser to make your water fun! Skip the soda or flavor pods with artificial sweeteners (like Cirkul) and add healthy flavors with natural fruit each day. The pod is easy to remove when you're done thanks to a big handle on top, making for a healthy mid-day snack.

It comes with two lids. One is a splash-guard style lid that fits in wide mouth Hydro Flasks, and the other is a drop-in style lid that fits in nearly all wide mouth bottles (including Owala FreeSips, YETI Ramblers, Stanley Quenchers, Hydro Flasks, and many more).

See on Amazon