(10 minute read)

​Owala recently released their FreeSip Sway tumbler, but is it good and how does it compare to Owala's Original FreeSip bottle?

This post will review the main differences and similiarities to help you find the best bottle for you so you don't waste your hard-earned money and you can make an informed decision.

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​​​​​​​​​​​We also cover this info in a YouTube video if you'd prefer to watch the recap that way.

Owala's FreeSip bottle took over 2024, mainly because of its wacky, fun color combinations and the FreeSip lid, which is a combination straw and chug spout.  This bottle remains very popular and is an excellent straw lid (though using it like a chug lid feels weird at first and can take some getting used to).  Given Owala's incredible popularity and viral success, it's no surprise that the new FreeSip Sway tumbler did not stray far from Owala's winning formula, so there are a number of similarities between the two.

We poured over the two bottles and found 12 main differences between Owala's original FreeSip bottle and the FreeSip Sway tumbler.  Some are certainly more significant than others, but they're all notable.

Owala's original FreeSip bottle has a relatively small handle that only fits two fingers for most people, and it's not particularly comfortable.  Owala's Sway has a much wider handle that can fit a full-hand grip and is more comfy.

The original Owala FreeSip bottle used its handle to double as a lock to prevent you from accidentally opening the lid.  Because of Sway's redesigned handle, Owala also changed the way the lock works by making it a switch you toggle back and forth behind the flip-cover.  While we're concerned this may add more small plastic parts that could break, the benefit is that you can now use the handle or clip it to a bag while the lid remains locked.

This is the reason why the new Sway is technically a tumbler, not a bottle.  The Original FreeSip is a traditional bottle with straight-vertical walls.  Tumblers are known for having tapered (angled) walls that get smaller towards the bottom, making them much more cupholder friendly.

The original FreeSip bottle has a 2.5 inch wide mouth opening.  Owala widened the FreeSip Sway to 3.2 inches.  This makes the bottle easier to clean, and you may not even need a bottle brush with Sway's larger design because your hand can fit inside much more easily with a sponge.

The original FreeSip bottle has external threads, while the FreeSip Sway has internal threads.  What this means from a practical standpoint is that FreeSip Sway is easier to deep clean because the seal on the lid is easier to remove.  The downside is that you have to be more careful when filling up the Sway because it's easier to over-fill and have water spill when you screw on the lid.

Both bottles have a spout seal in the flip-up lid that's easy to remove for cleaning, but they look a lot different.  The seal with the Original FreeSip is actually a little easier to remove because the pull-tab is easier to grab, and I found Sway's a little more difficult to remove when my hands were wet.  But it's not a big difference, and both are still pretty easy to remove.

The bigger deal is how the new design seems to fit better.  The Original FreeSip spout seal seemed to fit more tightly, and you had to press down harder on the spout cover to get it to close.  The Sway seems to fit better while still proving a water-proof seal, and you don't have to press down as hard to close the cover.

The older design takes roughly a full turn to close the lid.  However, the new Sway tumbler takes roughly a half-turn to close.  This is a very minor difference, but it makes the new one a little easier to clean and use.

Maybe the smallest change that could grow on you the most deals with those small springs. My Original FreeSip bottle  has started having occasional issues where the flip-cover did not open as reliably when I pressed the button.  Well, it looks like Owala may have tried to fix this because the springs now have 6 rotations on either side instead of 4.  This makes the Sway feel like it opens with more force.

If you've used the Original Owala, maybe you've noticed that the button can wiggle quite a bit.  It feels like the button in the new Sway tumbler has been fine-tuned to fit better within the lid, and this also helps make opening and closing feel better and easier overall.

It's difficult to show this in pictures, but you can see it more easily in the video.

The Original FreeSip has a bottle with a smooth, uniform, cylindrical design, much like you find with 99% of other bottles on the market.  However, with the Sway tumbler, Owala added in little grooves on opposite sides of the bottle.  This gives it a slightly different look, and it makes it a little easier to pick up.  I didn't think much of this change when I first used the Sway tumbler, but I'm starting to like this tweak more and more as a very small but noticeable improvement.

Sway's 30oz tumbler holds less water than the Original FreeSip's 32oz bottle, but it weighs roughly 20% more.  It's bulkier too because of a much larger lid design.

However, this is countered by the larger handle and cupholder-friendly tapered base, which both make the Sway tumbler easier to get around with in most cases despite the added weight and bulk.

Both bottles have triple layer insulation, which includes a dual-wall vacuum insulation construction with a layer of copper to limit heat transfer through radiation.  However, they do NOT have the same insulation results.

I did a hot water test using wireless thermometers, and Sway was about 16% worse than the Original FreeSip.  But honestly, both Owala bottles performed poorly against other dual-wall vacuum insulated bottles, so if insulation is your top priority, then Owala is probably not a good option.

Though to be fair, Owala still has good insulation compared to any uninsulated bottle like a plastic Nalgene for example, and it's good enough for most people most days.  So for most people, Owala's insulation is good enough, and people should decide whether to buy an Owala based on the other factors, like the lid, color options, and handle design.

When you add all of these changes up, honestly they're almost all improvements or at worst the same or not a big deal. 

If you're into taking your bottle with you on hikes or long walks, Sway's larger handle may help.  And if you like to sip while driving, Sway's tapered cupholder-friendly base can help it fit in more vehicles.

Yes, the insulation for the new Sway bottle is significantly worse, but Owalas in general aren't exceptional when it comes to insulation anyways so if that's a primary decision factor for you, other brands like YETI or S'well might be better.  Also, Sway is bulkier and heavier, but the big handle and cupholder-friendly design more than make up for it.

Everyone is different, so it's ultimately up to you.  But if I were to buy one Owala today, I'd go with a Sway tumbler instead of a FreeSip bottle. It just seems like Owala really listened to the feedback from customers and made some good design choices that improve the overall experience.

If this review helped, consider using one of the links to buy whichever bottle is the best fit!  We may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

We always recommend getting a good brush kit and cleaning tablets to help keep your new bottle in great (and safe) condition for many years to come.  Here are the ones we use.

(10 minute read)

Stanley just released their Protour lid, but is it good and how does it compared to Stanley's other tumblers, the Quencher and Iceflow?

This post will help you find the best bottle for you so you don't waste your hard-earned money and you can make an informed decision.

We'll look at the main differences between Stanley's Quencher, IceFlow, and ProTour bottles, including which ones are:

• leak-proof
• easier to clean
• have better insulation
• easier to carry
• more durable
• and whether the lids are interchangeable

​BottlePro is part of the Amazon Associates Program.  If you make a purchase using a link, we earn a small commission at no cost to you.  It really helps, so thank you!

​​​​​​​​​​We also cover this in a YouTube video if you'd prefer to watch the recap that way.

One of the most common complaints about Quencher is that it leaks like crazy, even when you have it set to closed, which has led to a lot of damaged electronics and unintended baths over the years.  The good news is, and we've confirmed it here, the Protour lid is leakproof.  The IceFlow bottle also uses a similiar flip-up spout, so it's leak-proof too.  Just make sure you close the spout completely both both.

So if you're looking for a leak-proof bottle, avoid Quencher and go with IceFlow or ProTour.

Most straw lids are notoriously difficult to clean because they always have some kind of seal under them that's difficult to get to without damaging the lid.  Quencher avoids this problem altogether.  The straw comes out easily, and you can pinch these prongs to remove the dial to clean underneath it.

Iceflow's flip-up spout is not removable to my knowledge, so you have to rely more on cleaning tablets, soap baths, and small brushes to clean it the best you can.

Protour has a removable spout and this removable seal underneath.  It's a little more difficult to pop out the spout than the directions make it sound, but it can be done.  You angle it at about 45 degrees like this, then pull it out.  I've done it a few times and the spout has loosened up a bit, but it still fits together and works nicely.  The seal is a bit of a pain to get back into place, but you can use the straw to push it through.

Overall for cleaning, Quencher is definitely the easiest, Iceflow is the worst, and Protour is somewhere in the middle, though it should get easier the more you do it.

I did a standardized hot water test to compare the bottles relative to each other.  I use wireless thermometers and measure the amount of time it takes the hot water to drop from 165 to 150 degF then average two tests for each bottle. 

The results showed the Quencher and Protour are essentially the same, while Iceflow is roughly 35% better.

Insulation works similarly for both hot and cold drinks, so these rankings should also apply if you're using ice water too, which is how the vast majority of people use these bottles.  I'll be doing a big ice test shortly, so follow our YouTube channel to see that video when it posts.

Overall, if insulation is your most important factor, Iceflow is the best option.

The answer to this question is more based on your own personal preferences, but here's a good rule-of-thumb.

Iceflow's top-mounted handle can be more comfortable for longer durations, so it might be a better choice for hiking. 

Quencher and Protour have the same side-mounted handle, and this can be better for more casual everyday use, like around the house, at work, or when driving and doing errands.

The bottles all weigh roughly the same for a given size, so there's not a major difference there.  But it's worth considering the bulkiness of the bottle too, and Iceflow's rotating handle certainly helps limit the overall size.

And for taking quick sips, the Quencher is the best choice because you don't have to flip up a spout.
​
Overall, each of these bottles is pretty easy to use.  I wouldn't say one is really better, so think about how you'll use it  most often and decide based on that.

When it comes to durability, none of these bottles really stand out from the others.  They're all made with stainless steel which will dent and scratch if you drop it, and they all have plastic parts that can break.

​If durability is your most important factor, consider getting a bottle boot or carrying pouch which doubles as a protective sleeve.

​Or it honestly could be worth looking at a brand like YETI because their bottles are made with a thicker steel that can resist dents more easily.  But as far as the Quencher, Iceflow, and Protour go, there's not a major difference here.

nd if you're wondering whether the lids are interchangeable, there's good news good news and bad news.  The good news is that the Quencher, Iceflow, and Protour lids are all interchangeable.  Just make sure you get it for the same size bottle because for example a 30oz lid won't fit with a 40oz one.

The bad news is only the Quencher and Iceflow lids seem to currently be available by themselves.  The new Protour lid is not available individually yet, at least not from Stanley (though you can find similar lids from other knockoff brands).

These three bottles play an interesting game of rock-paper-scissors.  Quencher is easier to clean and is popular, but it leaks.  IceFlow doesn't leak and is better for hikes, but it's more difficult to clean.  ProTour is easier to clean than IceFlow but not Quencher.

This is one scenario where it's hard to pick a best bottle because each one has its own strengths and weaknesses, and each person has his or her own priorities.  But for my money, ProTour seems to be the best all-around option because it solves two of the most glaring issues of the Quencher leaking and the IceFlow being difficult to clean.

For those reasons, I'd choose ProTour over Quencher or IceFlow.

If you're in the market, here are links to each bottle.  Big "thank you" if you use one to buy!  We may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you, and it really helps our channel.