We've seen a lot of questions like:

• How good is Hydro Flask's Flex Straw lid?
• Is Hydro Flask's Flex Straw lid worth it?
• What's different about Hydro Flask's Flex Straw lid?
• Should I buy a Hydro Flask Flex Straw cap?

​With all of Hydro Flask's cap options (not to mention 3rd party versions), it can be a little confusing.  To help keep things straight, we're reviewing Hydro Flask's new Flex Straw cap and will let you know if it's worth a buy.

At first the new lid may not seem very different, but there are a few key changes.

The previous straw lid had a hard plastic handle on one side that was basically a finger-loop.  Some common complaints were that it was uncomfortable, especially when you're juggling holding other items too.

The Flex Straw cap solves many of these criticisms.  The handle is the same style as their Flex Cap and Flex Sip lids.

This is a much improved handle design that we are totally on board with.

Another common complaint of the previous straw lid was that it could leak fairly easily.  The spout wouldn't "snap" into place, so it if wasn't pushed all the way down by accident, then you could experience some leaking if your bottle tipped over.

Based on our initial tests, the new Flex Straw lid seems to be less likely to leak.  The main reason is that the spout "snaps" into the locked position.  Once you hear the click, then you should be good to go and not have to worry about leaks.

We really like this change.  The lid just feels a lot more secure and better-engineered than before.

The old cap really didn't insulate very well at all, but the new Flex Straw cap changes that.  Hydro Flask added their Honeycomb(TM) insulation to the design, and the silicone insert also helps.

One of the main reasons you probably have a Hydro Flask is to have an insulated bottle, so this is a welcome improvement.

Try out our FlavorFuze Straw fruit infuser.  It's a clip-on infuser that is compatible with both the old and new Hydro Flask straw lid designs.

Many people search Google for things like:

• How to make loose leaf tea in a Hydro Flask?
• Can you make hot tea in a Hydro Flask?
• Tea infuser for Hydro Flask
• Tea strainer for Hydro Flask
• Tea steeper for Hydro Flask
• Making tea in Hydro Flask
• Hot tea in Hydro Flask
• Loose leaf tea Hydro Flask
• Brewing tea in a Hydro Flask

We get a lot of questions about this too.  Hydro Flasks are primarily used for water, but plenty of people would love it if they could have different flavors, like fruit infused water, coffee, or tea.  In particular, tea is what we're focusing on today.

And unlike some concerns with plastic and even aluminum, from what we have found, stainless steel won't leach chemicals or pollutants into your beverage.  Flaske has a great article covering more details about the question of "Are Stainless Steel Water Bottles Safe to Drink From."  So does Elemental Bottles, where they recommend looking for bottles that are either made from #304 or 18/8 stainless steel (Hydro Flasks are made from 18/8).  We highly recommend checking these articles out if you have any other questions or concerns.

You should also consider what type of Hydro Flask you want to use, since that can have an effect on which type of tea infuser will work best.

Now that we know putting hot tea in stainless steel bottles like Hydro Flasks is safe, let's look at the best ways to do it!