What is the Best Travel Mug?

What is the Best Travel Mug for Coffee and Tea?

What's Next?

Video Review: What is the Best Travel Mug?

Good Accessories for Most Travel Mugs

Brush Kit

Bottle Brush Kit ​There are a lot of brush kits on Amazon at this point, so feel free to shop around.  This is the one I have, and it has a range of brush sizes that work with any bottle. It's worth noting that some bottles with wider openings like YETI's Rambler tumblers may be wide enough for your hand to fit, so you may not actually need a brush kit like this (see the cleaning section below for more details). See Brush Kit

Cleaning Tablets

Cleaning Tablets I've tested these, and they work really well when cleaning out coffee and tea stains.  I also recommend using them roughly once per week during your deep cleaning routine. Bottle Bright tablets are the big name, and it's hard to go wrong with them.  Alternatively, you could choose denture or retainer tablets to save some money.  They all work pretty similarly. See Cleaning Tablets

Part One: Recommended by Use

Owala SmoothSip's Slider Lid Owala SmoothSip Ergonomic sip opening (feels weirdly better) Tapered for cupholders Easy to clean all surfaces​ See Owala

Zojirushi's Spring-Loaded Lid Zojirushi Ridiculously good insulation Cover keeps the drinking surface clean Easy to clean all surfaces See Zojirushi

YETI Magslider's Slider YETI Magslider Easiest travel mug to clean Very durable Popular gift, particularly for men See YETI

Fellow Carter Move's Traditional Lid Fellow Carter Move Comfy curved rim design Avoids plastic contact with your mouth and drink Great insulation See Fellow

Weto Weto Tumbler Weto Weto Capable alternative to more expensive tumblers like YETI's Magslider Tapered for cupholders Harder to clean around the slider​ See Weto Weto

Contigo Byron Contigo Byron Inexpensive and from a well-known brand Steel base to prevent scratches, and silicone grip around the middle. Unable to fully disassemble the lid for cleaning See Contigo

Simple Modern Voyager's Push Button Simple Modern Voyager One big button that's easy to push to open and close Sip from any side Tapered for cupholders See Simple Modern

YETI Magslider YETI Magslider Easiest slider-style lid to open/close Tapered for cupholders Notably, it's leak-resistant but not fully leak-free See Contigo

Fellow's Ceramic Coating Fellow Carter Move Has an off-white colored ceramic coating, which makes it easy to see your drink level​ See Fellow

Simple Modern's Ceramic Coating Simple Modern Voyager ​Has a clear ceramic coating, so it looks like the same color as the mug​ See Simple modern

Zojirushi has the Best Insulation Zojirushi Top-ranked insulation for both hot and cold tests​ Insulation is helped by the narrower mouth opening and seal design Narrower neck makes it harder to clean or add ice See Zojirushi

Fellow has Great Insulation Fellow Carter Move 2nd-ranked insulation The insulated standard lid (screw on and off to sip) and seal design are great for insulation​ See Fellow

Zojirushi's Narrow Design Zojirushi Narrow design takes up less space on a desk Great insulation Easy to clean See Zojirushi

YETI Magslider's Durable Base YETI Magslider Very durable Easiest travel mug to clean Great slider (but notably not 100% leakproof)​ See YETI

YETI Magslider's Removable Slider YETI Magslider Magnetic slider easily pops off for cleaning Wide rim means you likely don't need a bottle brush No hidden or hard-to-reach seals or areas See YETI

Owala SmoothSip's Removable Slider Owala SmoothSip No hard-to-reach or hidden spots, other than needing a straw cleaner for the spout opening Wide rim, so no big brush needed External threads makes the rim seal easy to clean Handwash recommended, but technically dishwasher safe See Owala

YETI Hotshot / Commuter's 2-Piece Lid YETI Hotshot / Commuter Simple 2-piece lid is easy to clean You'll likely just need one brush (a big one for the bottle) If you get the newer Commuter, you may not need a bottle brush because the bottle has a wider opening See YETI

Healthy Human's Simple Lid Healthy Human Cruiser About as simple as you can get with no moving parts, so it's easy to clean No hard-to-reach or hidden spots, other than needing a straw cleaner for the stainless steel straw Wide rim, so no big brush needed See Healthy Human

Magnetic Slider Avoids Plastic Connections that can Break YETI Magslider YETIs are known for being overbuilt and durable Stainless steel bottom prevents scratches Magnetic slider avoids plastic connections that can break See YETI

Fellow's Rounded Edges Help Prevent Dents Fellow Carter Move Simple design avoids small plastic parts, springs, and connections Rounded edges can scratch, but they avoided dents better compared to other options See Fellow

Owala...So Hot Right Now Owala SmoothSip Trendy, particularly with younger consumers Fun color options are appealing to many See Owala

YETI's Magslider is Very Popular YETI Magslider Popular gift, particularly for men Classic, simple design that's easy for most people to get used to quickly See YETI

Fellow's Sleek Minimalist Design Fellow Carter Move Sleek design and solid construction make it a great gift for both men and women See Fellow

Zojirushi's Well-Designed Lid Zojirushi The well-designed lid and ridiculously good insulation has earned a devoted following See Zojirushi

Fellow's Stainless Steel under the Lid Fellow Carter Move Avoids plastic contact with your mouth or drink Stainless steel drinking surface Stainless steel under the lid Note: There is a small bit of plastic on the handle for the splash guard, so remove that to completely avoid plastic contact See Fellow

Healty Human's Stainless Steel Straw Healthy Human Stainless steel drinking surface Stainless steel straw included Note the lid is plastic, so it can come into contact with your drink and mouth if you don't use the straw See Healthy Human

Healthy Human's Straw for Iced Drinks Healthy Human The only option I have that comes with a straw, which many people prefer using with cold brew See Healthy Human

Zojirushi's Insulation for Keeping Ice Zojirushi Top-ranked insulation if you want to keep your cold brew ice-cold for as long as possible See Zojirushi

Hydro Flask's Comfortable Handle

Hydro Flask The only option reviewed for this list that includes a handle, but it's a good one Comfy, flexible 3-finger design that rotates out of the way so it's not cumbersome ​As mentioned before, this list did not include many popular mugs with side-mounted handles because those are more difficult to travel with (not cupholder friendly) See Hydro Flask

YETI Magslider's Easy-to-Open Slider Lid

YETI Magslider Easiest slider-style lid to open/close Easiest to clean because the slider is magnetc and comes off Durable to prevent major damage if dropped Tapered, so it's easier to hold on the outside See YETI

Frank Green's Complex Lid (7 Parts, Many are Small)

Frank Green The lid is incredibly complex and difficult to disassemble and put back together compared to the other options.  I cannot stress this enough. The button does not work reliably, or at least it did not for me after extensive testing Most expensive option tested​ See Frank Green

Part Two: Rapid-Fire Review of All 12 Travel Mugs Tested

YETI Magslider Magnetic slider comes off easily

YETI's Magslider is a relatively simple design that does a lot of things very well. ​It's a slider-style lid, and you simply push the slider back and forth to close the sip opening.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe. ​Of all the travel mugs I tested, this one is the easiest to clean because the slider is magnetic, the rim seal is easy to remove and put back on, and there are no hidden or hard-to-reach spots.  Most people won't even need a brush and can handwash it for deep cleaning with just a sponge (it's also dishwasher safe). It's also very durable, partially because YETIs seem to be more dent-resistant than many competitors, but also because the slider is magnetic.  This means it avoids problems like with Weto Weto or Owala's SmoothSip where the plastic connections with the slider might chip or break over time. Couple these benefits with YETI's popularity as a brand (particularly for men), and there's a reason why YETI's Magslider is one of the most popular gift options. YETI Magslider's only real downsides are the high cost and that they're leak-resistant, not fully leak-proof. See YETI Magslider

Owala SmoothSip Slider Trickier than YETI's Magslider, but the Slider Comes Out

Owala is the trendiest bottle brand on the market today. ​It's a slider-style lid, and you press down on the back side of the slider then push it backwards to open it.  The lid is explicitly dishwasher safe, but the bottle is handwash recommended to preserve the finish (though technically it's dishwasher safe too). Like their FreeSip lid on their popular bottles, the drinking spout is ergonomic so it feels strangly good to sip from.  It's also raised, to the middle of the lid is less likely to bump against your nose when taking a sip. Disassembling the lid for cleaning is pretty simple, but it can take some getting used to.  Just open the slider completely, pull up on the slider to pop it off, then you can twist the seal to remove it.  If you're having issue twisting the seal, give it a nudge to move it completely to the "open" position and you should be good. The external lid threads also make cleaning the rim seal much easier compared to recessed seals that are harder to remove or put back into place. Owala SmoothSip's main downside is that the slider is more difficult to open and close than other options like YETI's Magslider and you may find your finger slipping off the slider, especially if you just washed your hands.  Though in my experience, you get used to it and opening and closing this tumbler gets easier over time. See Owala SmoothSip

Zojirushi's Spring-Loaded Lid Zojirushi's Removable Spout

Zojirushi's travel mug has the best insulation by a significant margin, so if keeping your drink hot or cold is a priority, this is your best choice. ​It has a spring-loaded lid cover that opens by pressing a button on front.  The bottle and lid are not dishwasher safe. Zojirushi has a lot of other great things going for it.  For a complex lid, it's incredibly well-designed for thorough cleaning and ease-of-use.  The lid cover goes over the spout to keep it cleaner throughout the day.  Also, the spout pops out so you can clean around it more easily, and the spout seal is also easily removable. The lid cover includes a lock, and it's all very easy to use with one hand.  That along with the lightweight and narrow body makes this one of the easiest bottles to use for many people. Zojirushi's main downsides are that the finish scratches easily and the bottom is more prone to denting if dropped compared to more durable options like YETI's Magslider.  The lid cover is also quite bulky, which can block your view more when driving, and while it's well-designed and easy to take apart, the lid still consists of many parts and surfaces that make cleaning more of a chore. See Zojirushi

Fellow's Sleek Minimalist Design Stainless Steel under the Lid

Fellow's Carter Move travel mug is one of the more attractive options on the market because of the aesthetic, minimalist design.  But besides the sleek look, it also has a range of other features that make it stand out. It's a standard lid that you screw on-and-off to use, and it also comes with a splash guard that snaps into the rim and helps prevent spills.  The bottle and lid are not dishwasher safe. This is one of the best travel mugs I've seen if you're goal is to avoid plastic contact with your mouth or drink because the rim is stainless steel as well as the bottom of the lid.  The splash guard handle has a bit of plastic, but you can use the bottle without the splash guard if you'd prefer. Fellow Carter Move's main downside is that it's not a great travel mug for driving and commutes.  The standard lid is one more thing to juggle and potentially drop, leading to a dirty lid or worst-case causing a distraction.  And while the splash guard helps, this bottle still has the fastest flow and is most likely to accidentally splash in your face.  It's also not tapered and is one of the wider options I tested. See Fellow

Hydro Flask's Flex Sip Flex Sip's Lid's Interior Seal

Hydro Flask's Flex Sip is the only option from this list that includes a handle, but it's a really good one because it's Hydro Flask's classic, comfortable 3-finger design. It has a twist-style lid where you turn the top to open and close the sip opening.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe. Hydro Flask designed this lid so it's relatively easy to disassemble for cleaning.  It involves a few parts and requires decent hand strength, but at least the parts are all a good size and durable (MUCH better than Frank Green).  Here's our Youtube Short that shows how it works. Hydro Flask Flex Sip's main downside is that it has internal threads and the rim seal is recessed and difficult to remove and put back on for deep cleaning. See Hydro Flask

Stanley Aerolight Transit Transit's Plunger-Style Lid

Stanley's Aerolight Transit is a jack-of-all trades travel mug that does a lot of things well without any major benefits or drawbacks. It has a plunger-style (or lever-action) lid, and you pull up on the lid cover to drop down the seal.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe. Transit has good insulation, only trailing Zojirushi and Fellow and ranking similarly to YETI's Hotshot.  It also has a lightweight construction and narrow design that makes it easy to hold.  The lid doesn't take up much space or block your eyesight, just make sure to push the lid cover/lever all the way until it snaps back into the lid so it doesn't bump up against your nose when taking a sip. Stanley Aerolight Transit's main downside is that the lid can be tricky to deep clean if you prefer to remove all of the seals.  The lid cover/lever is removable and that helps drop down the plunger seal more so the silicone seal is easy to remove, but it's a tight fit and tricky to put back on. See Stanley

Simple Modern Voyager's Push Button You Can't Disassemble the Bulky Lid

Simple Modern's Voyager is one of the best options for driving and would be a top-tier bottle if not for one glaring issue, but first we'll look at the positives. It has large button that you push to open and close the seal, and it worked reliably with a lot of testing.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe. You can also sip from any side, so you don't have to worry about lining up your mouth with a spout.  This along with the narrower design compared to other tumblers makes this a great option for when you're driving. It also comes with a grip-pad ring on the bottom to prevent scratches. Simple Modern Voyager's only real downside is a big one.  The lid is very bulky and not meant to be disassembled, making it nearly impossible to manually deep clean with brushes.  You'll rely on the dishwasher or soaking it with soap or Bottle Bright tablets, and then make sure it has time to properly air-dry.  But the fact that you can't disassemble it to check everywhere for mold or other buildup is a major drawback. See Simple Modern

YETI Hotshot Hotshot/Commuter's Two-Piece Lid

YETI's Hotshot is essentially their standard Rambler bottles but with their Hotshot lid. It's a twist-to-open lid, and you're able to sip from any side.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe. The lid is fairly easy to deep clean because you just twist the middle part until it pops out, and there are just two durable pieces involved. YETI Hotshot has two main downsides. First is the overall weight and bulkiness compared to many other travel mugs without a handle to compensate, which makes it not a great option for driving or making it easy to bring with you. Second is how you have to cram your fingers into a tight space to twist the lid opened and closed.  It's a pretty snug fit that requires some decent finger strength, and popping out the middle piece for deep cleaning takes even more effort.  This makes it a poor choice for most people with limited finger strength due to conditions like arthritis. See YETI Hotshot Worth noting is that YETI seems to be moving away from their "Hotshot" lid by taking the same design, rebranding it as the "Commuter" lid, and pairing it with a tumbler-style bottle similar to YETI's Magslider.  That last change makes it a better overall product, particularly for driving. See YETI Commuter

Healthy Human Cruiser Cruiser's Stainless Steel Straw with Silicone Tip

Healthy Human's Cruiser is one of those travel mugs that doesn't try to do too much, and that makes it a decent option primarily for at-home use. It has a press-fit lid with a permanent opening, so the lid is not intended to be leak-resistant or proof.  The bottle and lid are not dishwasher safe. The main draw is that each Cruiser comes with a stainless steel straw, making it a great option for avoiding plastic contact with your drink, particularly for iced coffee.  The straw also comes with a silicone end to avoid that stainless steel taste some people experience. Besides that, the rim is also stainless steel so you can sip there and avoid plastic contact, though that assumes you aren't using the plastic lid. Healthy Human Cruiser's main drawback as mentioned is how you can't close it, so you're one accidental bump away from the tumbler tumbling off a desk and spilling your drink. See Healthy Human

Contigo Byron The Plunger/Lever Style Lid

Contigo's Byron is a budget-friendly option from a big-name, classic brand that can be serviceable for a daily-use travel mug. It has a plunger-style (or lever-action) lid, and you pull up on the lever on top of the lid to drop down the seal.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe. The bottle includes a stainless steel bottom to prevent scratches, which is a good thing because the black finish scratches off very easily.  There's also a silicone grip around the middle of the bottle to keep your grip from slipping. Contigo Byron's main downsides are that it has unremarkable insulation, the paint scratches easily, the lever action lid is not able to be fully disassembled for deep cleaning, and the interior lid threads make the rim seal more difficult to remove and replace for deep cleaning. The lever-action lid also has a tight fit.  While good to prevent accidental opening, this can make it more difficult to open one-handed and you may need to turn the bottle first to line it up a certain way, particularly if you're driving.  And when you do that, you'll also likely find yourself pressing the palm of your hand against the sip opening and making that part more dirty. See Contigo

Visible Moisture Under the Slider Chipped Plastic from the Slider when Removed for Cleaning

Weto Weto is the least-expensive option reviewed and is a capable travel mug.  It maintains a high ranking on Amazon because it's a budget-friendly alternative to YETI's Magslider in particular. It's a slider-style lid, and you simply move the slider back and forth to open it.  The bottle and lid are both dishwasher safe. Overall the design is quite simple and this travel mug is decent at most things, so it can be a good option as an every day mug. Weto Weto's travel mug does come with a few significant drawbacks though.  I noticed visible moisture building up under the slider during regular use and cleaning.  However, the slider is not meant to be removed, and the small plastic connections can chip if you force the slider out of the lid. ​Also, the lid did not leak during my intial testing, but it started leaking after the drop test.  Not much, but it was dripping consistently possibly because the bottle or lid warped slightly. See Weto Weto

Frank Green's Push Button Lid Very Complex Lid Disassembly (7 Total Pieces)

Frank Green's travel mug was easily my least favorite option tested. A few positives are that the push-button lid is a good concept when it works, and the bottle itself has a nice sleek, minimalist design.  The lid is dishwasher safe, though the bottle is handwash recommended (likely to preserve the finish). However (deep breath).... The button did not work consistently, often getting stuck and seeming to depend on how I pressed the button, like how many fingers I used and where exactly I pressed it. The lid is ridiculously complex to disassemble and reassemble, involving 7 different parts (many of which are very small plastic parts that could easily be broken or lost). The very thin metal rim may dent or warp more easily if dropped. It's the most expensive option, at least in the US. See Frank Green

Best Bottle Rankings (Preview Showing Durability Criteria)

What's Next?

Video Review: Best Everyday Insulated Water Bottle Rankings

Bottles Considered

Good Accessories for Most Large Bottles

Bottle Brush Kit

Bottle Brush Kit ​There are a lot of brush kits on Amazon at this point, so feel free to shop around.  This is the one I have, and it has a range of brush sizes that work with any bottle. See Brush Kit

Cleaning Tablets

Bottle Bright Tablets ​I've tested these, and they work really well when cleaning out coffee and tea stains.  I also recommend using them roughly once per week during your deep cleaning routine. For a less expensive option, consider using denture or retainer tablets.  But Bottle Brights aren't that expensive in the grand scheme of things if you're using one per month for your deep cleaning. See Cleaning Tablets

Part 1: Best Bottles, Ranked by 9 Criteria

Which Bottles are Leak-Free? (Rankings)

Leaking while "Closed" Stanley Quencher Easily the worst, and even leaks when "closed" See Quencher

Leaking through Straw and Vent Hole Hydro Flask Tumbler Leaks less, but the press-fit lid may pop off if dropped See HF Tumbler

Leaking Through Straw Simple Modern Tumbler Leaks some, but not as much as Quencher See Simple Modern

Brumate's Era is Leak-Free See Brumate

Stanley's ProTour Lid is Leak-Free See ProTour

Which Bottles have the Best Insulation? (Rankings - Cold Water Test)

Camelbak ​Classic and reliable See Camelbak

Ozark Trail Cheap but great insulation See Ozark Trail

S'well Routinely tests well See Swell

Hydro Flask Tumbler Consistently poor compared to other similar insulated bottles See HF Tumbler

Stanley Quencher Surviving a car fire doesn't mean it's the best See Quencher

Stanley ProTour Same body design and mouth diameter as Quencher See ProTour

Test Setup Filled this YETI cooler with ice water. Filled up each bottle using the cooler drain as a strainer to keep the ice out.  That way all the bottles started with water that was pretty much the same temperature, and we don't have to worry about variables like the amount of ice which are harder to control. Measured the temperature of the water in each bottle at the beginning, waited 24 hours, measured how much the temperature had risen, and recorded the difference. Repeated the test (once outside and once inside) and averaged the results.

Filling Each Bottle with Cold Water while Straining Ice

Which Bottles are the Most Durable? (Rankings)

YETI Rambler Thicker steel makes it more dent-resistant Simple lid without small breakable pieces Classic steel finish is even better (fewer scratches) See YETI

Nalgene This post is primarly about stainless steel bottles, but if you REALLY want a dent-resistant option, consider going with Nalgene​ See Nalgene

Cirkul, Marks

Cirkul, Cheap-Feeling Lid

Drop Test Dent Resistance Tailgate drop tests to see which bottles, boots, and bumpers prevent dents the best.

Scratch Test Scratch Resistance Four light passes on 100 grit sandpaper to see how well the bottle's finish holds up.

Lid Designs with Breakable Parts Lid Design More smaller plastic parts and components like springs means more things that can break.

Boot or Grip Pad Bottle Boot / Grip Pad Included? These offer protection, both from dents and scratches (boots protect the bottom rim better).

Removing the Spout with Flip-Up Straw Lid Flip-Up Spout Good: This common spout design is convenient Bad: The spout can be difficult to remove for cleaning. They often rely on plastic connections that can wear out over time, making the spout fit more losely.  If it gets too loose, the spout might not close reliably and could leak. Best Bottles with the Most Durable Flip-Up Spouts Not as tight of a fit, so it may not get as damaged as you pop it in-and-out. See Ozark Trail The newer removable spout with ProTour and IceFlow 2.0 is beefy. See ProTour

Fixed Spout Fixed Spout Good: Avoids the problem of plastic connections for the spout wearing out.  Instead of the spout rotating down to seal, a cover goes over the top of the spout. Bad: While these avoid the problem of flip-up spouts, lids like these tend to have springs and other parts that are more likely to break. Best Bottles with Fixed Spouts Both of these are great for easy cleaning and avoiding flip-up spouts wearing out, but the lids have small parts and springs that can break if you drop your bottle. See Owala See Sway

Bottle Boot (EcoVessel) Bottle Boots ("Bumpers") Bottle boots are silicone covers that fit over the bottom of your bottle. Don't fully prevent dents if you drop your bottle, but they can reduce the severity of them. Prevent scratches, dampen noise, and protect surfaces your bottle is routinely on like a desk. Bottles that Come with a Bottle Boot See Takeya Actives See EcoVessel

Grip Pad (Ozark Trail) Grip Pads Typically built into the base of the bottle, so they're not removable. They also don't normally extend to the outer rim, so they don't offer as much protection as full boots. However, they can still prevent some damage and scratches, dampen noise, and protect your desk. Bottles that Come with a Grip Pad Base See Fjbottle See Ozark Trail

Which Bottles are Easiest to Clean? (Rankings)

Hydro Flask Tumbler (Exposed Straw) Simplest lid design and a wide mouth make cleaning easier Just a regular sponge and straw cleaner needed See HF Tumbler

Nalgene (Standard Lid) Maybe the simplest lid design you can dream up makes it straightforward to clean But you'll need a bottle brush See Nalgene

Takeya Actives (Chug) Chug lids are a little more comples, but some are pretty easy to clean Takeya's Actives comes with pull tabs on the seals See Takeya

Sway (Leak-Free Straw) Easiest leak-proof straw lid to deep clean I've tested Technically dishwasher safe (though rec'd hand-wash) See Sway

Stanley IceFlow 1.0 Non-removable spout makes this bottle difficult to clean HIGHLY recommend going with their newer 2.0 version instead, so that's the one linked (has a removable spout) See Iceflow 2.0

Brumate Era and Revomax Both of these have cool well-designed lids, but they are more complex More intricate parts that are more tedious to clean See Brumate Era See Revomax

S'well (Original) Extremely narrow neck helps with insulation, but it's too narrow for most bottle brushes (including the one I recommended) Lid has a very narrow gap near threads, detailing brush needed See Swell

Deep Cleaning How easy is it to reach every surface? How easy to completely disassemble and reassemble? Wider mouth opening is easier to clean than narrow

Dishwasher Safe? Are the bottle and lid dishwasher safe? Not dishwasher safe? Recommended handwash but technically dishwasher safe?

Pull Tabs The seals are often tucked away and more difficult to clean, but some bottles like Takeya Actives and EcoVessel include pull tabs to make it easier

Mouth Diameter Wider means it's easier to clean, while really small mouth openings might not even let a bottle brush fit (looking at you S'well).

Cleaning Big Bottles (Ultimate Guide) See Cleaning Guide

This is something most people don't do, and I'd bet 99% of people don't do as often as they probably should.  If you use a reusable bottle every day, there's a good chance it's one of the dirtiest things you own, on par with your cell phone.  And bacteria and mold can build up over time, typically in the form of a thin, slimy biofilm.  Enough buildup and exposure over time could potentially leading to negative health effects. That's why we generally recommend deep cleaning your bottle at least once every 2-4 weeks.  Ideally you'd do it even more often, but this timeline seems to be more achievable for most people and can prevent more widespread buildup of bacteria, mold, and biofilm.

3-Brush Set (Bottle, Straw, and Detailing for Lid) See Brush Kit

Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets See Cleaning Tablets

"Standard" Lid on HF Trail Standard Lids I call "standard" lids ones you have to screw all the way on-and-off, and they're the most traditional Typically the simplest lids, so often are the easiest to clean

Hydro Flask's Flex Chug Lid Chug Lids Like standard lids, but with a narrower spout that makes sipping easier Adds a spout cap and additional seal, so a little more complex to clean than standard lids

Seal under Flip-Up Spout on Straw Lid

Leak-free straw lids with flip-up spouts are often the most difficult bottles to keep clean. ​There's always a seal under the pivot point that's notorious for building up bacteria and gunk.  For many people it's out-of-sight, out-of-mind. You ideally should remove that spout to clean 100% of surfaces periodically, but as mentioned in Durability, that can lead to damage over time by wearing out plastic connections.

Owala's Removable Seal Owala (any one with "FreeSip") Easiest straw lid to deep clean Avoids the flip-up spout problem Removable seal for the spout cover See Owala Bottle See Owala Sway

ProTour's Removable Spout Stanley ProTour and IceFlow 2.0 Removable spout and seals Much better than IceFlow 1.0 See ProTour See IceFlow 2.0

Hydro Flask Flex Straw's Removable Seal Hydro Flask Flex Straw Removable insert makes it easier to clean around the pivot point, which helps a lot However, the spout is still difficult to remove for 100% cleaning See HF Flex Straw

Which Bottles have the Best Handles? (Rankings)

Stanley Quencher Side-Mounted Handles Convenient and comfortable, there's a reason why these became so popular Stanley's Quencher popularized it, but nearly every major brand has a tumbler like this today, including Hydro Flask, YETI, Owala, Simple Modern, Brumate, and many more See Quencher

Stanley IceFlow Top-Mounted Handles ​Takes up less space than side-mounted handles while still offering a full-hand grip These aren't as widespread as side-mounted handles, but some brands like Owala and Stanley are great options See IceFlow See Owala Sway

Fjbottle Carrying Strap Fjbottle is unique because it has a rigid handle as well as a carrying strap The strap is particularly helpful at times, like when your hands are full and you just want to loop a pinky through it See Fjbottle

S'well (Original) No handle at all (they do have other bottles with handles though) See S'well

Nalgene Technically you can use the lid tether as a handle, but it's not exactly comfortable See Nalgene

Cirkul Very small and cheap, uncomfortable plastic design See Cirkul

Owala Sway, Full-Hand Grip How many Fingers Fit? More is better

Cirkul, Tight and Uncomfortable with 2 Fingers How Comfortable is It? Like contoured plastic vs cheap sharp edges Roomy vs crammed fingers?

Side-Mounted Rigid design that's typically more convenient for use around the house or office Also easy to grab in the car

Top-Mounted​ Can be fixed or rotating Better for longer walks or hikes, or if you want to clip it to a bag

Which Bottles are the Least Cumbersome? (Rankings)

Hydro Flask Standard Hydro Flask's "standard" mouth is really their version of a narrow mouth bottle This 24oz is slim and doesn't take up much space See HF Standard Mouth

Revomax This 20oz bottle has a slim design and a handle that's pretty small and doesn't take up much space See Revomax

S'well While not having a handle is a downside in my opinion, there's no denying that S'well's Original bottle is very slim and great for use at a desk See Swell

Tumblers w/ Side Handles While convenient, there's no denying that these large, rigid, side-mounted handles popularized by Stanley take up A LOT of space Of the ones like this in this list, Simple Modern is the slimmest and lightest design so it's linked here See Simple Modern

YETI The price of having thicker, more durable steel is (a) actually having a higher price but also (b) being heavier and bulkier See YETI

Klean Kanteen TKWide Has an "impact base cap," which is a metal cap on the bottom that gives more space between the bottom rim and the vacuum insulation The idea is that large dents are less likely to break your bottle's insulation Unfortunately, this also makes the bottle bigger and heavier See TKWide

Which Bottles are Most Affordable? (Rankings)

Fjbottle Smaller brand, but a very functional bottle See Fjbottle

Nalgene ​Classic and reliable if you're OK with a plastic bottle See Nalgene

Ozark Trail Walmart's private label, so no wonder it's so cheap See Ozark Trail

Cirkul Not as expensive at first, but it has the on-going cost of flavor pods See Cirkul

Brumate The only leak-free lid with an exposed straw on top, but you'll pay for it See Brumate

Hydro Flask Trail Lighter design, but typically more expensive than their standard bottles See HF Trail

YETI Set the bar with expensive coolers, and their bottles aren't cheap either See YETI

Which Bottles are Most Car Friendly? (Rankings)

Stanley Quencher Most Straw Tumblers Tumblers are bottles with tapered sides that get smaller towards the bottom, letting them fit in cup holders As long as the handle doesn't get in your way, it's hard to go wrong with these Options in this list include Brumate, Hydro Flask's Tumbler, IceFlow, ProTour, Quencher, Simple Modern, and Owala's Sway See Quencher

Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Flex Straw Hydro Flask's Standard Flex Straw Narrow enough to fit in most cup holders Straw lid that won't obstruct your view as much when taking sips Doesn't have a large side-mounted handle that can get in the way To clarify, Hydro Flask uses the term "standard" to refer to their narrow mouth design, while I typically call a "standard lid" any one that you screw all the way on and off See HF Standard

YETI Rambler Detatched spout cap is one more thing to juggle Heavy, bulkier bottle can obstruct your view more Larger diameter than similar sized competitors, so it's more likely you'll need an adaper See YETI

Hydro Flask Trail Wide mouth bottle that  come with a "standard lid," meaning one you screw all the way on-and-off That combination makes it more likely that you could drop the detached lid and/or spill water in your face See Trail

Nalgene This wide mouth bottle can also splash water in your face easily, but at least the lid is tethered to the bottle See Nalgene

Owala Sway's Tapered Base Adapter Needed? Most big bottles need adapters to fit in most cup holders Smaller diameter bottles or tumblers (narrower towards the bottom) fit in a lot more cupholders without needing an adapter

Owala FreeSip Straw Lid Lid Type Straw lids are typically the safest options for driving because you can take a sip without raising the bottle, keeping your vision less obscured and more focused on the road Wide mouth bottles with standard lids (screw all the way on and off) are the worst because they are most likely to lead to spills

Takeya's Tethered Hinge Spout Cap Tethered vs Non-Tethered Lid Bottles with connected lids and spout caps are generally safer because it's fewer things to handle when driving There's less potential to drop something that would get dirty or become a distraction

BottlePro Max Our company started by releasing the first adjustable cup holder adapter for big bottles in 2015 BottlePro Max is our newest version with a twist-to-expand base and centralizing tabs More affordable option See BottlePro Max

Swigzy This is the premium option on the market, and as much as it pains me to admit it, they have a really good adapter The top can be extended, and there are more centralizing tabs which can help with a wider range of bottle sizes See Swigzy

Which Bottles are Most Popular? (Rankings)

YETI Rambler They've built overengineering and durability into their brand Has very effectively kept its bottles as a premium option, while many other brands tend to have a couple years in the spotlight then fall off Sterotypical Customer: Leans towards men See YETI

Stanley Quencher Still massively popular and high sales on Amazon Most other brands have begun offering Quencher-inspired bottles (tumbler base with a large, rigid, side-mounted handle) Sterotypical Customer: Leans towards women See Stanley

Owala FreeSip Overtaking Stanley on Google Trends in 2024 Colorways with quirky, fun combos, and at this point most other major brands have begun offering similar non-traditional color combos Stereotypical Customer: Leans younger See Owala

Fjbottle Not a big-name brand, just one I stumbled across See Fjbottle

Ozark Trail Recognizable brand as Walmart's private label, but I don't think many people buy it specifically for the branding See Ozark Trail

Revomax Great insulation and a cool lid, but not as widely-known See Revomax

Google Trends How are they trending over the last few years? This can be tricky to account for everything, like "Stanley Cup" in hockey

Amazon Sales Looking at the listing ranking or using an online tool like Junglescout to estimate total monthly sales

Social Media Looking through the number of subscribers and level of engagement

Part 2: Get Your Personalized Recommendations

Rank Your Criteria (Tab 1)

Converting Tiers to Numbers

Recommended Bottle List (Tab 2)

Part 3: Deep Dives

Our Biggest Bottle Comparison Yet

Best Bottles Comparison This is our post that focuses more on details about each bottle instead of rankings and the Best Bottle Spreadsheet, so it's a great place to learn more about each individual option.  It includes the 22 bottles you saw in this post, as well as some others like filter bottles and infuser bottles. See Post

Brumate Era 40oz See on Amazon

Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz See on Amazon

Cirkul 32oz See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Walmart

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

See on Amazon

How to Clean Stainless Steel Mugs and Bottles

Best for Stains and Rainbowing (Not Rust)

Cheapest (harder to use in narrow bottles)

Step 1: Pour some baking soda on the stain. Step 2: Add hot water and mix it into a paste. Step 3: Spread the paste around on on the stain and let it sit for ~10 minutes. Step 4: Scrub it around, wipe it off, and rinse. See on Amazon

Fastest (harder to use in narrow bottles)

Step 1: (for their Soft Cleaner formula) Read the instructions on the bottle first, because you need to be a little more careful compared to just using baking soda. Step 2:  Pour some Bar Keepers Friend onto the stain. Step 3: Immediately start scrubbing and wiping it around with a paper towel or rag. Step 4: After 30 seconds, wipe it off and rinse.  Don't let it sit for more than 60 seconds. See on Amazon

Easiest (easy for any mouth diameter)

Step 1: Fill up your bottle with hot water (ideally close to boiling) Step 2:  Add one Bottle Bright tablet, and let it sit for 30 minutes.  Note that the bubbles may cause the water and foam to spill over some at first if you filled your bottle to the rim. Step 3: After 30 minutes, use a long-neck brush like this one to scrub around inside the bottle, then rinse. See on Amazon

​Video: How to Remove Stains, Rust, and Rainbowing from Stainless Steel Mugs and Bottles

Stains vs Rust vs Rainbowing

Coffee and Tea Stains (in 16oz Hydro Flask)

Rusting

Rainbowing in a Corkcicle Mug

What We're Testing

Corkcicle (Rainbowing) Corkcicle Mug (Rainbowing)

Contigo (Staining) Contigo Mug (Staining)

Hydro Flask (Staining and Rainbowing) Hydro Flask (Staining and Rainbowing)

Camping Stove (Rusting) Camping Stove (Rusting)

Test 1 Setup: Corkcicle (Removing Rainbowing)

Taping Off 4 Sections

Baking Soda

Vinegar

Lemon Juice and Salt

Bar Keepers Friend

Test 1 Results: Corkcicle (Removing Rainbowing)

Baking Soda and Vinegar Results

Bar Keepers Friend and Lemon Juice and Salt Results

Bottle Bright Results (Half Full, Warm Water, 10min)

Bottle Bright Results (Full, Hot Water, 30min)

Test 2 Setup and Results: Contigo (Removing Stains)

Baking Soda Results

Vinegar Results

Lemon Juice and Salt Results

Bar Keepers Friend Results

Bottle Bright Results (Half Full, Warm Water, 10min)

Bottle Bright Results (Filled to Top, Hot Water, 30min)

Test 3 Setup and Results: Hydro Flask 16oz (Removing Stains and Rainbowing)

Bottle Bright Results

Test 4 Setup and Results: Camping Stove (Rust)

Rusted Camping Stove

Baking Soda Before/After

Vinegar Before/After

Lemon Juice and Salt Before/After

Bar Keepers Friend Before/After

Bottle Bright Before/After

Conclusion

Baking Soda Lemon Juice

Bar Keepers Friend Salt

Bottle Bright Retainer Tablets

Mosolan 3-Brush Kit I've used this kit for years.  It's not that expensive, and it has a good range of brushes that help with just about any bottle (including a small detailing brush that helps with threads and hard-to-reach spots with many brands). It's the one accessory we typically recommend everyone has for ANY bottle because it's so helpful.  There are plenty of other brands on the market though, so feel free to shop around. See on Amazon

What about Bleach, Abrasives, and Cleaning Beads?

Why You Shouldn't Use Bleach on Stainless Steel

Why You Shouldn't Use Steel Wool on Stainless Steel

Do Cleaning Beads Work?

Cleaning Guide

And Remember... Regardless of which bottle you get, always clean it regularly.  Here's our latest guide on the best practices and cleaning schedules for stainless steel bottles so you can keep your bottle in great (and safe) condition. See Our Cleaning Guide

What is PFAS, and Which Filters and Bottles Remove It?

What are PFAS Chemicals, aka "Forever Chemicals?"

What is PFAS?

​What are the Current PFAS Regulatory Limits and Thresholds?

Copper contamination threshold (1.3 ppm) compared to the distance to the Sun

Lead contamination threshold (150 ppb) compared to the distance to the Sun

PFAS contamination threshold (4 ppt) compared to the distance to the Sun

Are PFAS Chemicals Harmful?

Google Trends search volume for "pfas" from 2020-2025

How does PFAS get into your Water?

Are PFAS and Microplastics the Same?

Google Trends search volume for "pfas" and "microplastics" from 2020-2025

Which Regions of the US have the Worst PFAS?

PFAS contamination map of the US (Environmental Working Group)

Wilmington, NC and the source of contamination (DuPont / Chemours plant near Fayettville, NC)

Can You Remove PFAS, and Which Home Filter Systems Work Best?

APEC 5-Stage Under-Sink Reverse Osmosis

APEC Under-Sink System ​I have this 5-stage system by APEC, and it's worked well so far.  They're certainly not cheap, but they're not a huge investment either if you're just getting an under-the-sink system for drinking water and cooking. It takes a bit of effort and technical ability to install, so if you're not comfortable with doing that then add in the cost of a plumber.  But once it's set up, you just change some of the filters on a schedule.  Some are every 6-12 months, and others are every few years. ​If you have the budget, space, and technical ability to set this up, this kind of filter system is probably your best option. See on Amazon

Aquasana 2-Stage Under-Sink Filter

Aquasana Two-stage filters are also good, and they are less expensive and bulky compared to APEC's 5-stage system.  That makes them a better fit as a budget or limited space option.  I'm assuming Duke's test referred to filter systems like this one by Aquasana. It's worth noting that the article also mentions how they didn't test too many of these types of systems, so they didn't seem as certain about it.  But according to Aquasana's listing on Amazon, it does specifically mention that the filter works to remove PFAS. See on Amazon

Travel Berkey Filter

Travel Berkey  The Environmental Working Group which made that map from before also has a few filters they've tested that reduced PFAS completely or close to that. They list this system by Travel Berkey as a good high-end option​ that removed 100% of PFAS in their tests. See on Amazon

Zerowater Lower initial cost See on Amazon

Epic Water Longer filter life See on Amazon

Which Bottles Filter Out and Remove PFAS?

Brita Filter Bottle

Brita's Insulated Bottle Brita is one of the most well-known water filter companies, and they have this bottle with a built-in straw filter.  It uses activated carbon, so it potentially does help with PFAS according to the Duke University article. ​However, even if it does help some, it's unlikely to be as effective as other systems like reverse osmosis or some bottles you'll see next. I reached out to Brita, but as of today I have not heard back.  I'll update this post when I do. See on Amazon

Simple Modern Filter Bottle

Simple Modern's Insulated Bottle This bottle is essentially the same as Brita, but in a more stylish design  I reached out to Simple Modern to ask if the bottle has been tested to remove PFAS.  They responded within a day of my message and mentioned how the filter removes chlorine and particulates up to about 15 to 30 microns in size, but they "don't have any other information...regarding PFAS or microplastics." So it was helpful and quick response in some ways, but ultimately inconclusive for PFAS.  Though based on the Duke University article, it's possible this may remove some PFAS. See on Amazon

GRAYL's GeoPress Filter Bottle

GRAYL's GeoPress GRAYL has this press-style filter where you push down like a French-press and it forces water through a filter cartridge. From their website FAQ section, it uses activated carbon like Brita and Simple Modern, but it also included non-woven ceramic fibers that have a high electropositive charge. GRAYL responded within a day of my inquiry and provided the cover letter from a test.  I can't see the details like how much PFAS was filtered, but it says their UltraPress bottle passed the test for two of the most common PFAS chemicals. ​(UltraPress and GeoPress use the same type of filter) See on Amazon

Vitaloop's Filter Pump Bottle

Vitaloop Last but not least is this bottle by Vitaloop.  This bottle has a built-in filter pump, so it's a little easier to use than straw filters that can be restrictive and GRAYL's design that you have to press down on. ​They sent me a testing report that shows an almost full reduction in the two most common PFAS chemicals (PFOA and PFOS). This bottle would certainly be easier to use discretely compared to GRAYL, which requires pushing it against the ground. See on Amazon

What is the Best Water Bottle?

What is the Best Bottle?

What's Next?

Video Review: What is the Best Water Bottle? (31 Tested!)

Good Accessories for Most Large Bottles

Brush Kit

Bottle Brush Kit There are a lot of brush kits on Amazon at this point, so feel free to shop around.  This is the one I have, and it has a range of brush sizes that work with any bottle. See Brush Kit

Cleaning Tablets

Bottle Bright Tablets I've tested these, and they work really well when cleaning out coffee and tea stains.  I also recommend using them roughly once per week during your deep cleaning routine. See Cleaning Tablets

BottlePro Max Adapter

BottlePro Cup Holder Adapter Bottles that are 24 ounces or less can fit in the majority of cup holders.  Bottles that are larger than that typically need an adapter, like our BottlePro Max. A key difference is if you purchase a tumbler-style bottle, like a Stanley Quencher.  Tumblers are known for having tapered sides that are better able to fit in more cup holders. See BottlePro Max

Part One: Recommended Bottles by Use

Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal Owala FreeSip Dual straw/chug lid Easy sipping for a straw lid (less air constriction) Ergonomic (actually feels weirdly better) Cover keeps the mouthpiece clean See Owala

FJbottle 32oz FJbottle Has both a rigid handle and a built-in carrying strap Magnets keep the spout cap out of your face when sipping Silicone grip pad on base Comes with a brush to help you get started (though you'll probably want to upgrade to a different kit) See FJbottle

Ozark Trail 32oz Ozark Trail Least-expensive stainless steel insulated bottle Good handle No-slip base See Ozark Trail

Iron Flask Lids Iron Flask 3 lids included See Iron Flask

ThermoFlask 2-Pack ThermoFlask One of the few brands that regularly offers 2-packs 2 bottles and 4 lids included See ThermoFlask

Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Nalgene One of the least-expensive bottles Extremely durable and won't dent See Nalgene

Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Nalgene Extremely lightweight Durable and dent-resistant Best if used with a carrying pouch or stashed in a bag because the lid tether isn't much of a handle See Nalgene

Hydro Flask Trail Series Hydro Flask Trail Series Lightest vacuum insulated bottle Good handle See Trail Series

FJbottle 32oz FJbottle Having both a rigid handle and a carrying strap makes it easier to bring with you on long hikes Silicone grip pad on base (If you'd like to add flavor and love the carrying strap, see Vesmoon in Part Two below) See FJbottle

GRAYL Filter Bottle GRAYL Filter Bottle This is a good option if you're going on a very long hike or backpacking trip and want to refill from a stream or other questionable water source I tested this bottle, and it was one of the best options to filter out visible particulates See GRAYL

Takeya Actives Takeya (Actives Series) Good handle Attached spout cover Recommended: This lid style has a built-in ice blocker See Takeya Actives

Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal Owala FreeSip Dual straw/chug lid, so you can sip or chug depending on how much water you need Easy sipping for a straw lid (less air constriction) Ergonomic (actually feels weirdly better) Cover keeps the mouthpiece clean See Owala FreeSip

Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip Hydro Flask Flex Sip Sip-style lids are the best for coffee or tea during a commute, and this is one my favorites Good handle Easy to know when the lid is opened or closed See Hydro Flask

Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal Owala FreeSip Straw lids are great for driving because it's easier to keep your eyes on the road Owala's FreeSip is one of my favorite straw lid options You will likely need a cup holder adapter like this one with 32oz or 40oz sizes See Owala

Stanley Quencher Handle Stanley Quencher Straw lid Tapered base fits in more cup holders Side-mounted handle makes it easy to grab See Stanley

Hydro Flask Growler

Stanley Quencher Handle Stanley Quencher The big side-mounted handle makes it easy to grab when you're just walking from one room to another The always-open straw makes it really easy to quickly take a sip (though be careful of it getting too dirty) See Stanley

Brita Bottle Filter Brita Filter Bottle I haven't tested many filter bottles yet, but of the ones I have, this is by far the easiest to use as an every-day bottle It's a good option for extra assurance that you're drinking as clean of water as possible See Brita

YETI Rambler Lid YETI Rambler Extremely durable Good handle See YETI Rambler

Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Nalgene Extremely lightweight Durable and dent-resistant If you somehow break it (not likely), this is an inexpensive bottle to replace See Nalgene

Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal Owala FreeSip In general, straw lids are good options if you love sipping ice-cold water from your bottle without having to worry about any ice coming out Owala is one of my favorite straw lid options right now See Owala FreeSip

EcoVessel Strainer EcoVessel One of EcoVessel's key features is a built-in strainer that serves as an ice blocker Vesmoon is another option with a strainer, or you can look at Takeya's ice strainer lid See EcoVessel

Vesmoon Infusers Vesmoon This has the largest built-in strainer of any bottle I've tested Good option to avoid plastic infusers See Vesmoon

FlavorFuze Pod This is our design, and we sized it to fit in nearly any wide-mouth bottle Each comes with two lids.  One is sized to fit snugly in Hydro Flask wide mouths and act as a splash guard.  The other has a larger handle and is meant for drop-in infusing See FlavorFuze Pod

Steepware Infusers

Healthy Human Lid Healthy Human (Stein or Curve) Healthy Human is a great option to avoid plastic because their standard lids have stainless steel underneath, making sure your water touches as little plastic as possible See Healthy Human

EcoVessel EcoVessel is unique in that it's the only chug-style lid I've seen that avoids plastic contact under the lid Both parts of the lid have either silicone or stainless steel contact points with your water, but not plastic See EcoVessel

Zulu Ace Zulu Ace One of only a few bottles I'm aware of that has a removable bottom so you can clean it from both sides See Zulu Ace

Owala FreeSip Owala FreeSip Easiest straw lid to clean all surfaces where water touches the lid Does not have a rotating spout, which is common in most other straw lids and is the most difficult part to clean Easily-removable seal See Owala FreeSip

Stanley Quencher Stanley Quencher Largest opening on top, making it easier to clean without needing a bottle brush kit See Stanley

Brita Bottle Filter Brita Filter Bottle I haven't tested many filter bottles yet, but of the ones I have, this is by far the easiest to use as an every-day bottle​ See Brita

LARQ UV Bottle LARQ UV Bottle Easy to use, but expensive Requires charging The UV kills bacteria and viruses, but it's not a filter bottle so it won't remove particulates See LARQ

GRAYL Filter Bottle GRAYL Filter Bottle Not convenient for an everyday bottle Good for filtering particulates, ideally when hiking or backpacking See GRAYL

Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal Owala FreeSip Dual straw/chug lid Easy sipping for a straw lid (less air constriction) Ergonomic (actually feels weirdly better) Cover keeps the mouthpiece clean See Owala FreeSip

Hydro Flask 32oz Flex Straw Hydro Flask Flex Straw Removable insert that lets you clean around the spout more easily Good brand with other interchangeable lids Good handle See Hydro Flask

Takeya Actives Takeya (Actives Series) Good handle Attached spout cover Actives series comes with an insulated lid See Takeya Actives

FJbottle 32oz FJbottle Magnet keeps the spout cap out of your face Has a rigid handle and a carrying strap See FJbottle

Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip

Part Two: Rapid-Fire Review of All 31 Bottles

Owala FreeSip Lid Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal

Let's start with the most popular brands by looking at a bottle that's quite possibly overtaking Stanley as the most trendy option on the market today, Owala. Owala's FreeSip is good because it has an ergonomic combination straw and spout lid that's honestly pretty nice to use.  It's also a reasonably priced bottle. Cons with Owalas are the handle and at least for me, the colors (though some people love the funky combinations). ​I recently made a dedicated post about this brand, so check out this link if you'd like to learn more. See Owala FreeSip

Stanley Quencher Handle Stanley Quencher Lid

Stanley's Quencher tumbler has been atop the social media mountain for a few years. Stanley's Quencher is good because it has a large handle that's easy to hold because it's side-mounted.  It also has a tapered base that lets it fit cup holders. Cons with Stanley Quenchers are that the lid is not leak-proof.  Also, the large handle makes an already-bulky bottle even bulkier See Stanley Quencher

YETI Rambler Lid YETI Rambler Spout

YETI's Rambler series is incredibly popular and includes a wide range of different products, but I'm just referring to their bottles like these. YETI Rambler pros are the durability and the wide handle with their chug and straw lids. Cons with YETI Ramblers are the high cost and the handles or lack thereof with their other lids. I recently made a dedicated video about this brand, so check out this link if you'd like to learn more. See YETI Rambler

Cirkul Flavor Pod Cirkul Flavor Dial

Cirkul took social media by storm a few years ago, and it's known for having flavor pods with a dial so you can control how much flavor you get.  While an interesting concept, I really don't like this bottle. Cirkul bottles are good if you'd like to easily add flavor to your drink, but that's about it. Cons with Cirkul bottles are: that the flavor pods are disposable so they add a lot of waste while also costing you a lot more money in the long run the handle is also truly awful the bottle finish scratched easily the straw lid makes weird noises and takes a lot of sucking compared to Owala's design and there are legitimate questions and concerns about about how artificial sweeteners affect your health and you're essentially drinking non-carbonated diet soda. If you'd like to add flavors to your water bottle, a more natural option is our FlavorFuze Pod drop-in infuser. See Cirkul

Hydro Flask 32oz Flex Straw Hydro Flask 32oz Flex Straw

Next is Hydro Flask, and our company really got started by making accessories for these so I have a few of their bottles.  Hydro Flask's 32oz wide mouth style bottle was the social media darling a few years before Stanley, and even though they've dropped off the radar some, they're still great bottles. Pros about Hydro Flasks are the lids, which all have great handles (other than the original straw lid).  They also have a wide range of color options. ​Cons are the high price, though they do seem to be on sale pretty often nowadays to compete more with Stanley and Owala. See Hydro Flask 32oz Flex Straw

Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip

Hydro Flask Flex Sips are great bottles for coffee and tea. Pros about the lid are the wide handle and that it's easy to take apart for cleaning. Cons are the high price and that taking the lid apart takes quite a few steps (though it's not particularly difficult). See Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip

Hydro Flask Narrow 21oz Hydro Flask Narrow Flex Straw

I typically don't like narrow or standard mouth bottles as much as wide mouths because they're more difficult to clean, have smaller lids and handles, and aren't as easy to add things like ice or flavorings. ​But a positive of bottles with narrower mouths like this are that they typically have better insulation than their wide mouth counterparts. See Hydro Flask Narrow 24oz

Hydro Flask Trail Series Hydro Flask Trail Series

Another good variation to know about is their Trail Series.  This style is lighter and actually tested a little better in an insulation test I did recently compared to their original wide mouth. ​Cons of this series is that they don't have many color options, though they do all share a cool metallic look that is different from the market-standard powder coating with most bottles. See Hydro Flask Trail Series

Hydro Flask Growler Hydro Flask Growler

Hydro Flask's 64oz Growler is a good one to have for situations like long road trips when you can use the growler to refill a smaller bottle that's better to use when driving.  But for most people, growlers are too big to be the main bottle they drink water from and are better used for refills. ​It's also worth noting that I have Hydro Flask's standard style growler, not their beer growler, which is another 64oz bottle with a different lid that's specifically designed to handle carbonation. See Hydro Flask Growler

S'well 25oz Narrow Mouth S'well 25oz Narrow Mouth

S'well is one of the original trendy brands, and for good reason. S'well is good for its sleek look, which is more aesthetic than most other brands.  The narrow mouth one I have also had one of the best insulation test results of any bottle from my collection. A con is that it's too narrow to easily get ice into it so there's a bit of a tradeoff, and this makes it more difficult to clean too.  The bottle also doesn't have a handle so it's not as easy to carry with you, and they're pretty pricey. See S'well

Klean Kanteen Classic 40oz Klean Kanteen Classic 40oz

​Klean Kanteen is another premium brand, and I have two of their bottles. The good things about Klean Kanteen's non-insulated bottles like this 40-ounce single-wall are that they're lightweight, reasonably priced, and have stainless steel under the lid. The bad side is that it's not insulated and the handle is truly awful, though their updated loop style lid is much better.  The lid shown in these pictures is an older style. See Klean Kanteen Classic

Klean Kanteen TKWide 32oz Bump-Style Threads

I also have their 32-ounce TKWide, which is their insulated series. These bottles have pretty good lid options, and the bump-style threads are easier to clean compared to traditional threads. Some downsides with TKWides are that some people find the thin metal handle uncomfortable, and they are very bulky, especially because of the bump cap which is essentially a bumper on the bottom that's intended to save your insulation if you drop your bottle. The problem I have with that is that is that I found in a recent test that most dents don't affect insulation anyways and if the dent is bad enough to affect insulation then your bottle is probably too wobbly and ready to be replaced anyways, so that extra cap on the bottom just seems to add more to the bulk of this already bulky bottle. See Klean Kanteen TKWide

Takeya Actives Takeya Actives

Now we're getting into some mid-range brands that are still great options but may not have the prestige of a brand like YETI or Stanley.  First is Takeya. Pros are the reasonable cost and the great chug lid, which has a connected spout cap and a wide handle design. I honestly don't have many negatives to say about this brand, but some people do prefer a rigid handle like YETI's over Takeya's hinged design. ​If you get a Takeya, go with their Actives series listing because it'll come with their insulated lid and a protective bottle boot. See Takeya Actives

Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth

Nalgene is the only plastic bottle in this video, and yes, I realize it's not stainless steel, but I'm grandfathering this bottle in because it's a cult classic with a place in history as the first popular reusable bottle for outdoors and hiking. Good things about Nalgenes are that the plastic construction is really lightweight and inexpensive Bad things are they don't have a great handle and are not insulated. See Nalgene

Healthy Human 32oz Stein Healthy Human Lid

If you avoid Nalgene because of the plastic, then a good alternative to consider is Healthy Human.  I have two of their bottles, a 32-ounce classic design and a 21-ounce from their Curve series. Both have stainless steel under the lid so you can avoid plastic contact with your water.  They also come with a lid that has a wide handle and a light-duty carabiner so you can clip it to a bag The Curve series is more ergonomic for some people. ​One downside is the lack of a sip style lid for coffee in their bottles, though they do have tumblers and cups that are a better fit for that. See Healthy Human Stein

Healthy Human Curve Healthy Human Curve

The Curve series is more ergonomic for some people, and it has some other color combinations and gradients. Other than that, it's very similar to the Stein and use the same style lid. See Healthy Human Curve

Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz

Next is Camelbak's Chute Mag.  Camelbak is one of the brands that's been around the hydration world for a long time, so their bottles are very common and well-known. Good things are that the lid has a magnet in the spout cap that helps keep it out the way when you're taking sips.  They're also some of the least-expensive insulated options out there. Bad things are that I'm personally not a huge fan of the offset handle, but some people prefer that style.  The magnets are cool, but I'm not a huge fan of the all-plastic hinge design because it is tricker to link up the cap with the spout compared to bottles with fixed hinges like Takeya and FJbottle. Overall, this is a pretty middle-of-the-road bottle in my opinion that does a lot well but doesn't excel at anything in particular in my opinion. See Camelbak

ThermoFlask 32oz ThermoFlask 2-Pack

ThermoFlask is another solid mid-range brand that doesn't have much that really differentiates it in either a good or a bad way. But one good thing that you don't see with many other brands is that ThermoFlask regularly offers two-pack options for additional savings, so if you're already thinking about buying two bottles then it's a good option. ​Fun fact, this brand is owned by Takeya, so they have a lot of similarities. See ThermoFlask 2-Pack

Iron Flask 40oz Iron Flask Lids

​Next is Iron Flask, and you can probably guess what this brand is going for. They have done a good job establishing their footing on Amazon as a lower priced alternative to Hydro Flask.  Pros are the value, as you'll get three lids included for a reasonable price. ​The downside is that the lids feel cheap compared to what you get from Hydro Flask itself. See Iron Flask

Ozark Trail 32oz Ozark Trail Lid

Ozark Trail is Walmart's bottle brand, and as much as I hate to admit it, this is a pretty solid bottle. Pros are that it has a grippy base and a good lid that has a connected spout cap and wide handle.  And surprisingly, Ozark Trail has also consistently had the best insulation tests out of all the wide mouth bottles that I have compared it against. Cons are that you can't buy it on Amazon, so if you're looking to use Prime shipping then you're out of luck.  The handle is also just a touch small for comfortably fitting three larger fingers like mine. See Ozark Trail

FJbottle 32oz FJbottle Strap

FJbottle is a brand most people haven't heard of, but if you saw my comparison video last year then you know I really like their bottle. What I love about FJbottle is that it has both a fingerhold handle and a built-in carrying strap, which is something most bottles don't have.  The strap is something I didn't expect to like as much as I did, and it makes it a lot easier to carry your bottle when your hands are full with other things.  It's also reasonably priced, has a no-slip base, and has a magnetic spout cap that I honestly prefer over Camelbak's design. A downside is that the spout opening is a little too small, but for the most part I'm easily able to overlook that inconvenience because of everything else this bottle has going for it. See FJbottle

EcoVessel 32oz EcoVessel Strainer

EcoVessel is another reasonably priced bottle for what you get. Pros are that it comes with a bottle boot and has stainless steel under the lid to avoid plastic contact with your water.  It also has a built-in strainer that can be used for tea or blocking ice. Unfortunately, the strainer is too small to hold fruit, and the bottle doesn't have a true handle, though you can use the cap tether. See EcoVessel

Steepware 22oz Steepware Infusers

Steepware is one of the first bottles I am aware of that had a built-in strainer, and it also has a larger section here that screws into the strainer.  This makes it a better option than EcoVessel for loose leaf tea or even some smaller fruits. Other than that, I don't really like Steepware though.  It was an outlier on the bad side on an insulation test, and the lid isn't that great. See Steepware

Vesmoon 32oz Vesmoon Infusers

Vesmoon is a new brand that has the best built-in infuser in my opinion.  It's a larger infuser than Steepware's, and the chug lid is a really good design that includes a carrying strap. ​The downside is that it's a smaller brand, but if that's not a problem for you and you're looking for a good infuser bottle then this is one of the best options I've seen. See Vesmoon

RevoMax RevoMax Threadless Lid

RevoMax has a really unique feature in that it's the only bottle in this video that is completely threadless.  You pull on this part here to lock the lid into place, and to unlock it you pinch the side buttons and press this button on top.  The main pros and cons are really opposite sides of the same coin.  The lid is easy to open with one hand, but because this lid is separate it makes it difficult to use this bottle when driving unless you put the lid down somewhere. And the lack of threads makes it easier to clean in some ways, but the lid itself is trickier to disassemble than other lids when you need to do a deep clean. ​It's a narrow mouth bottle, and it tested really well on an insulation test I did last year taking the top spot in essentially a tie with my narrow mouth S'well. See RevoMax

Zulu Ace Zulu Ace Removable Bottom

​Zulu Ace is a great bottle to consider if you're a clean freak because you can open the bottle from both sides.  This is a good option if you don't want a tumbler like a Stanley Quencher, but you also don't want to deal with a bottle brush kit. The downside is that there are more threads where it could potentially leak if a seal is misaligned, and it doesn't have a built-in handle. See Zulu Ace

Stanley Thermos Stanley Thermos

Stanley's Thermos is certainly not a new design, but I'm including it in this part of my review because it's so much different from all the other bottles I've mentioned. This bottle has great insulation, but you wouldn't want to use it as a main water bottle.  It's best used in situations like outdoor events to store and distribute hot coffee or tea while you drink from other cups. See Stanley Thermos

Otiem Copper Bottle Otiem Copper Bottle

Copper has been used for thousands of years as a drinking container and vessel, but it's good to know what you're getting into before you buy one. Most brands heavily market health benefits associated with using copper bottles, though I personally have not seen trusted sources or scientific research that definitively backs this up (at least not to the degree that the benefits are marketed). They also take a lot more regular maintenance compared to stainless steel and plastic bottles because the copper tarnishes over time. But there's no doubt that they look really cool! See Otiem

Brita Bottle Brita Bottle Filter

Brita's bottle stays true to their roots by focusing on filtration because the bottle has a built-in filter.  This is a great option if you're traveling and are not sure about the water quality.  If you're familiar with LifeStraw, just think of this bottle like having a built-in accessory like that. I'm not a fan of the handle though, and the bottle itself isn't as aesthetically pleasing as many others on this list. See Brita

GRAYL Filter Bottle GRAYL Filter Bottle

GRAYL is a different take on the filter bottle.  Instead of sucking water through a filter straw, you use this bottle like a French press. It looks really cool and rugged and helps clean water when you're camping or hiking and need to get water from a stream. But this isn't a convenient bottle for every-day use because it's a lot of effort to go through if you already have good water and the handle isn't much to write home about.  And these bottles are crazy expensive, with this version costing $100 and their titanium version costing $200. See GRAYL

LARQ UV Bottle LARQ UV Bottle

And last we have LARQ, which is the most high-tech bottle I own.  You may have seen them on Shark Tank, and this bottle's main calling card is the built-in UV light that sanitizes your water. The pros are that UV light is proven to make water safer to drink by killing bacteria, and it's a cool concept that you can show off. The cons are the high cost, having to recharge the battery, and they only have a narrow mouth design. See LARQ

What are the Best Bottles and Accessories for Infusing Water with Fruit, Tea, and Coffee?

What are the Best Bottles for Infusing?

Video Review: Which Bottles are Best for Infusing?

Adding Fruit Directly into Your Bottle (No Infuser)

EcoVessel (Steel Bottle with Strainer) EcoVessel (Stainless Steel) $28 for the 32oz (as of 6/2/2024, on sale) Small strainer included - snaps into neck of bottle All stainless-steel interior 20, 24, and 32oz size options Reasonable prices for a stainless steel insulated bottle Triple-layer insulation Spout lid to prevent spills Includes a bottle boot See EcoVessel

Sunkey (Glass Bottle with Strainer) Sunkey (Glass) $19 (as of 6/2/2024) Small strainer included - snaps into neck of bottle All stainless-steel interior Carrying sleeve included (for easier handling and protection) Not insulated See Sunkey

Bottles with Built-In Infusers

Hemli Hemli Bottle with Infuser See Hemli ($28)

Akvati Akvati Bottle with Infuser See Akvati ($40)

Stanley Bottle with a Fruit Infuser

Fimibuke Fruit Infuser Bottle

Fimibuke  Side-handle Straw lid Built-in fruit infuser (not good for tea or coffee grounds) See Fimibuke

Best Bottle Infusers for Fruit Infusing

FlavorFuze Pod Fruit Infuser FlavorFuze Pod Fruit Infuser

FlavorFuze Pod This was our first infuser, and it's personally still my favorite.  Originally I just sold it with a splash guard style lid for wide mouth Hydro Flasks, but then I added a second lid with a handle on top that makes it a great option for drop-in infusing in any wide mouth bottle.  Honestly, I like the new lid more because it makes it more universally useful.  I sized it as large as possible to still fit in bottles like 20 ounce Hydro Flasks, but that also means it can have a tough time giving you enough flavor in really large bottles like 64oz growlers.  But in general, it's a good all-around option for most wide mouth bottles, and I'm really proud of how this product turned out.​ 2 lids Drop-in style with a large handle on top that fits most wide-mouth bottles. Splash-guard style that fits snugly in wide-mouth Hydro Flasks Sized to fit the most fruit in a drop-in infuser in bottles like 20oz Hydro Flasks. Can be too small to flavor very large bottles like 64oz growlers. See FlavorFuze Pod

FlavorFuze Straw Side Channel for Straw

FlavorFuze Straw If you have a Hydro Flask or Iron Flask with a straw lid, you can try our FlavorFuze Straw version that snaps onto the straw.  It's even easier to use, it just doesn't work with as many bottles like Stanleys or Owalas because those have thicker straws. It doesn't have as good of reviews as FlavorFuze Pod, but some of those are from people trying to use it with different bottles.  So just make sure you have the intended bottle so it'll work correctly.  If you do, you may find this is even easier and faster to use than FlavorFuze Pod for your situation. Snaps onto Hydro Flask straws and similar brands (like Iron Flask). Does not fit straws from some other brands like Stanley or Owala. See FlavorFuze Straw

Prodyne Ice Mold Fruit Infuser

Prodyne Ice Molds for Fruit Infusing ​This one takes more advance planning, but it's pretty cool, literally and figuratively.  Just add fruit and water to the mold and let it freeze overnight.  Then in the morning, pop the fruit-cicle into your bottle. See Prodyne

Best Bottle Infusers for Tea and Coffee Infusing

FlavorFuze Steel Infuser

FlavorFuze Steel Our FlavorFuze Steel is sized for wide mouth Hydro Flasks, and it comes with two sizes.  It's ideally used when you're getting ready for your day and have time to leave your bottle on the counter while it's brewing because it can be difficult to add the lid on top of our infuser.  But brewing tea doesn't take that long so it's usually still a great option. Like with most of our infusers, we designed them primarily around Hydro Flasks, so it likely won't fit other bottles with different diameter openings. See FlavorFuze Steel

RumbleGo Portable Coffee Infuser

RumbleGo Portable Infuser RumbleGo is a drop-in style stainless steel infuser that's sized for wide mouth bottles like Hydro Flasks.  It's designed primarily for coffee, but you could use it for tea (or fruit) as well. See RumbleGo

FinalPress Infuser

FinalPress Portable Coffee and Tea Infuser FinalPress is a portable french press you could use with any wide mouth bottle, but keep in mind it's not a drop-in style infuser so it's not good to use when actively driving or moving.  But if you have time in the morning at your hotel room, campsite, or wherever you are, this is a good option to consider. See FinalPress

Bottles with Flavor Pods (Cirkul and Air Up)

Cirkul's Flavor Pod Cirkul's Flavor Dial Cirkul's Handle

Cirkul Cirkul's pod screws into the cap, and there's a packet of flavor that is slowly released with your water.  Just know that with Cirkul, you're essentially drinking fruit-flavored diet soda without carbonation. Good Control how much flavor your bottle releases Easy to change out flavor pods Bad High cost over time More waste because the pods are disposable The flavor tasted fine enough, but it didn't last as long as I would have expected Lid and bottle look and feel cheap in my opinion One of the worst handles I've ever used on a bottle Contains sucralose Harder to drink from than most straw lids, and it makes weird bubbling noises before and after you take a sip The outside of the bottle I purchased feels plasticy even though it's a steel bottle, and it scratched very easily I personally don't prefer to use Cirkul, but if you'd like to give it a try, here's a link to check out. See Cirkul

air up air up Knockoff on Amazon

air up To be up front, I haven't tried air up in person yet, so I'm willing to give it a try eventually before completely discounting this one.  I certainly like the idea of using scents to trick your brain into tasting flavors instead of relying on sugar substitutes, but I've also read a bunch of reviews commenting about how the flavors taste weird and the straw doesn't work well because it causes you to suck in more air for the scents to work as intended. Good Uses scent instead of added flavors from potentially harmful additives like sugar or replacements like sucralose Bad High cost over time Aesthetics (my opinion) Reviews I've read say it's harder to drink from than most straw lids because you have to suck air and water through the flavor pod for it to work. There's apparently not an option to drink from the lid normally without flavors to avoid the more difficult drinking. ​I didn't actually see a real listing on Amazon for air up.  Instead, there are some listings from other companies who are being sneaky by calling their bottles names like Air Water Up Bottle to trick Amazon's search results while still technically being legal. See air up's Website See air up Amazon Knockoff