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What is the Best Water Bottle? (our Biggest Comparison Yet!)

9/30/2024

1 Comment

 
What is the Best Water Bottle?
What is the Best Water Bottle?

What is the Best Bottle?

If you're wondering what is the best water bottle on the market today, you're not alone.  The water bottle market is incredibly saturated (pun intended), so there's a lot to consider.  Well, I've collected 31 bottles over the years for this business, so today I'm going to reveal my full collection to help you find the best bottle for your situation.

What's Next?

  • Video review
  • Good accessories to have regardless of which bottle you go with
  • Part One: Giving my recommendations for the best (and worst) bottles for different uses, like value, hiking, and overall.
  • Part Two: Rapid-fire review of each bottle, including the main pros and cons.

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

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

Good Accessories for Most Large Bottles

Whether you go with Owala, Hydro Flask, YETI, Stanley, or anything else, these are our three most popular recommended accessories for any large reusable bottle.
Brush Kit
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
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 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

Different bottles are better for different situations, so here let's take a look at various uses to see which bottle is the best option.

Scroll down to Part Two to read more about any particular brand or bottle.
Best Bottle for Everyday, All-Around Use
These are the two bottles I find myself going back to most regularly when I'm not deliberately testing a different one.  They each have a great combination of features that make them amazing choices for everyday use.
Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal
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 32oz
FJbottle
  • Has both a rigid handle and a built-in carrying strap
  • Magnetics 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
Best Bottle for Value
Ozark Trail 32oz
Ozark Trail 32oz
Ozark Trail
  • Least-expensive stainless steel insulated bottle
  • Good handle
  • No-slip base
See Ozark Trail
Iron Flask Lids
Iron Flask Lids
Iron Flask
  • 3 lids included
See Iron Flask
ThermoFlask 2-Pack
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 32oz Wide Mouth
Nalgene
  • One of the least-expensive bottles
  • Extremely durable and won't dent
See Nalgene
Best Bottle for Hiking
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth
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
Hydro Flask Trail Series
  • Lightest vacuum insulated bottle
  • Good handle
See Trail Series
FJbottle 32oz
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
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
Best Bottle for Sports
Takeya Actives
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 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
Best Bottle for Driving
Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip
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 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 Handle
Stanley Quencher
  • Straw lid
  • Tapered base fits in more cup holders
  • Side-mounted handle makes it easy to grab
See Stanley
Best Bottle for Road Trips
Any of the bottles listed under "Best Bottle for Driving" are good options here, but I'd also consider having a 2nd larger bottle on hand for refills.
Hydro Flask Growler
Hydro Flask Growler
Hydro Flask Growler
  • The large 64oz size makes it a good option for refilling a smaller bottle that you keep in your cup holder
  • However, this bottle is too large to be used as a stand-alone bottle for most people and most situations, especially when driving
  • YETI and other brands also have comparable "growler" sized bottles, so feel free to check those out
See Hydro Flask Growler
Best Bottle for Home or Office
Stanley Quencher Handle
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 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
Best Bottle for Clumsy People
YETI Rambler Lid
YETI Rambler Lid
YETI Rambler
  • Extremely durable
  • Good handle
See YETI Rambler
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth
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
Best Bottle for Iced Water
Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal
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 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
Best Bottle for Fruit Infusing
Vesmoon Infusers
Vesmoon Infusers
Vesmoon
  • This has the largest built-in strainer of any bottle I've tested
  • Good option to avoid plastic infusers
See Vesmoon
Picture
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
Best Bottle for Tea Infusing
Steepware Infusers
Steepware Infusers
Steepware
  • This bottle does do a good job at what it was designed for, which is brewing tea
  • The bottle is the right size, and the infusers are also a good size to keep your loose-leaf tea contained while giving it more surface area to diffuse into your water
See Steepware
Best Bottle for Limiting Plastic Contact
Healthy Human Lid
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
Picture
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
Best Bottle for Easy Cleaning
Zulu Ace
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
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
Stanley Quencher
  • Largest opening on top, making it easier to clean without needing a bottle brush kit
See Stanley
Best Bottle for Sanitizing Water
Brita Bottle Filter
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
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
GRAYL Filter Bottle
  • Not convenient for an everyday bottle
  • Good for filtering particulates, ideally when hiking or backpacking
See GRAYL
Best Straw Lid
Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal
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 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
Best Chug Lid
Takeya Actives
Takeya Actives
Takeya (Actives Series)
  • Good handle
  • Attached spout cover
  • Actives series comes with an insulated lid
See Takeya Actives
FJbottle 32oz
FJbottle 32oz
FJbottle
  • Magnet keeps the spout cap out of your face
  • Has a rigid handle and a carrying strap
See FJbottle
Best Sip Lid
Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip
Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip
Hydro Flask Flex Sip
  • Good handle
  • Easy to know when the lid is opened or closed
  • Easy to disassemble (though it does take a few steps and has more parts than some other brands)
See Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip
Many people prefer YETI's Hotshot because it has fewer pieces and you can drink from any side, which are both good points.  But it's not my personal favorite because it does not have a handle and is more difficult to open and close because of how the piece you twist is recessed below the rim of the lid.  With Hydro Flask's design, you can grab the outside of the lid and twist it which is just easier, and this is one of those small differences that you probably wouldn't notice unless you tried both side-by-side.

Part Two: Rapid-Fire Review of All 31 Bottles

Most are vacuum insulated stainless steel around 32 ounces in size, but there are some different types of bottles and sizes mixed in.

​They're in no particular order.
1 of 31: Owala FreeSip
Owala FreeSip Lid
Owala FreeSip Lid
Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal
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
2 of 31: Stanley Quencher
Stanley Quencher Handle
Stanley Quencher Handle
Stanley Quencher Lid
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
3 of 31: YETI Rambler
YETI Rambler Lid
YETI Rambler Lid
YETI Rambler Spout
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
4 of 31: Cirkul
Cirkul Flavor Pod
Cirkul Flavor Pod
Cirkul Flavor Dial
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
5 of 31: Hydro Flask 32oz Flex Straw
Hydro Flask 32oz Flex Straw
Hydro Flask 32oz Flex Straw
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
6 of 31: Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip
Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip
Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip
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
7 of 31: Hydro Flask 24oz Flex Straw
Hydro Flask Narrow 21oz
Hydro Flask Narrow 21oz
Hydro Flask Narrow Flex Straw
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
8 of 31: Hydro Flask 32oz Trail Series
Hydro Flask Trail Series
Hydro Flask Trail Series
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
9 of 31: Hydro Flask 64oz Growler
Hydro Flask Growler
Hydro Flask Growler
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
10 of 31: S'well 25oz
S'well 25oz Narrow Mouth
S'well 25oz Narrow Mouth
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
11 of 31: Klean Kanteen Classic 40oz
Klean Kanteen Classic 40oz
Klean Kanteen Classic 40oz
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
12 of 31: Klean Kanteen TKWide 32oz
Klean Kanteen TKWide 32oz
Klean Kanteen TKWide 32oz
Bump-Style Threads
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
13 of 31: Takeya 32oz
Takeya Actives
Takeya Actives
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
14 of 31: Nalgene 32oz
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth
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
15 of 31: Healthy Human 32oz Stein
Healthy Human 32oz Stein
Healthy Human 32oz Stein
Healthy Human Lid
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
16 of 31: Healthy Human 21oz Curve
Healthy Human Curve
Healthy Human Curve
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
17 of 31: Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz
Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz
Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz
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
18 of 31: ThermoFlask 32oz
ThermoFlask 32oz
ThermoFlask 32oz
ThermoFlask 2-Pack
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
19 of 31: Iron Flask 40oz
Iron Flask 40oz
Iron Flask 40oz
Iron Flask Lids
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
20 of 31: Ozark Trail 32oz
Ozark Trail 32oz
Ozark Trail 32oz
Ozark Trail Lid
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
21 of 31: FJbottle 32oz
FJbottle 32oz
FJbottle 32oz
FJbottle Strap
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
22 of 31: EcoVessel 32oz
EcoVessel 32oz
EcoVessel 32oz
EcoVessel Strainer
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
23 of 31: Steepware 22oz
Steepware 22oz
Steepware 22oz
Steepware Infusers
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
24 of 31: Vesmoon 32oz
Vesmoon 32oz
Vesmoon 32oz
Vesmoon Infusers
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
25 of 31: RevoMax
RevoMax
RevoMax
RevoMax Threadless Lid
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
26 of 31: Zulu Ace
Zulu Ace
Zulu Ace
Zulu Ace Removable Bottom
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
27 of 31: Stanley Classic Thermos
Stanley Thermos
Stanley Thermos
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
28 of 31: Otiem Copper
Otiem Copper Bottle
Otiem Copper Bottle
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
29 of 31: Brita Filter Bottle
Brita Bottle
Brita Bottle
Brita Bottle Filter
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
30 of 31: GRAYL Filter Bottle
GRAYL Filter Bottle
GRAYL Filter Bottle
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
31 of 31: LARQ UV Bottle
LARQ UV Bottle
LARQ UV Bottle
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
1 Comment

What is the Best Water Bottle, and Which One Should You Get? (The Ultimate Guide)

7/7/2023

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What is the Best Water Bottle, and Which One Should You Get?

What is the Best Water Bottle?

It’s 2023, and there are literally hundreds if not thousands of water bottle brands to choose from that initially can appear very similar.  With such a saturated market you might be wondering, what is the best water bottle today?  But really, that’s an impossible question to answer since different bottles are better for different situations.

The better question to ask is, which water bottle is best for you based on how you plan to use it?

Content Overview:

Heads up, this is a pretty long post with a lot of information.  Here's what we'll cover in case you'd like to skip ahead to a certain point.
  • Link to our video review (covers the same info as this article)
  • Part 1: Questions you should ask yourself before your start searching for a bottle
  • Part 2: Review of popular and notable water bottles and brands
  • Part 3: Our recommendations for best water bottles by category (hiking, commutes, tea, value...)

Our Video Review

Our YouTube video covers the same information in this post, so click the link if you'd rather see the video.  Otherwise, keep reading the full post below!

First, a few things to note.
  1. We’re reviewing a fairly arbitrary selection of 13 brands and 15 bottles.  It’s a decent number of options, but there are way more out there that could be compared.  We can only do so much in one video, and this is meant to be a good starting point.
  2. We’re primarily focusing more on the more established brands.  And we are exploring a few non-mainstream brands, but for the most part, we’ll stick to the big dogs.
  3. We also mostly stick to insulated stainless steel bottles with wide mouth openings, with a few notable exceptions.  Dual-wall vacuum insulated bottles are very popular in today’s market, and we generally like wide mouth bottles more than narrow mouth ones.  See our other video for more about why.
  4. Two of the bottles we’ll talk about have triple-layer insulation.  Many people think this means three layers of stainless-steel, but it actually refers to a layer of copper.  We won’t go into much detail about that distinction in this video, but we have another video in the works that focuses entirely on insulation where we’ll test them to see if these triple-layer bottles really hold up.
  5. And lastly, our recommendations are mostly based on our own opinions.  Let us know in the comments if you agree or disagree, and especially if you have any other thoughts or considerations that could help other buyers hone in the best bottle for them.

Part 1: What Questions to Ask Yourself before Looking at Bottles

What Type of Water Bottle Do You Need?

Before you even look at any bottles, ask yourself these questions.
  1. WHERE: Where will you primarily use it?  Around the house or at work?  On your commute so you need something that’s easy to use in the car?  On hikes?  There will always be some crossover use, but think about how you’ll use your bottle most of the time.
  2. WHAT: What will you be drinking?  Water bottles don’t need to just be used for plain water.  Many people use them for tea, coffee, fruit infusing, or adding ice, and some bottles are better for these than others.
  3. BRANDING: How important is branding to you?  This is directly related to cost, since most of the prominent brands like Hydro Flask and YETI come with higher price points than brands like Nalgene and Iron Flask.
  4. LID: What type of lid do you prefer?  Most lids fall into four basic categories: standard, straw, spout, and sip.  Standard lids that you screw on and off completely are a good starting option that comes with most bottles, but they don’t offer many additional advantages.  Straw lids are the easiest to drink from but are typically harder to clean.  Spout lids are pretty good all-around options and are generally an improvement over standard lids.  And sip lids are best when used for coffee, tea, or other hot drinks.
  5. VOLUME: And finally, think about how much volume you will need.  According to the University of Missouri, a good rule of thumb is to take your weight in pounds, divide it in half, and the result is how many ounces of water you should drink per day.  Use this to calculate how many ounces you should drink per hour, and then consider how easily you can refill your bottle.  When taking all of these factors into account, you should be able to get a good idea of which volume water bottle makes sense for you.
And if your main use will be hiking or some other physical activity, there are some other factors to consider, like heat and elevation gain.  Check out our video where we do a deeper dive into this topic.

Part 2: Reviewing Popular and Notable Bottles and Brands

Popular and Notable Water Bottles and Brands

​Now let’s look at some of the more popular bottles and brands.  We'll cover:
  • Nalgene
  • Klean Kanteen Classic
  • Klean Kanteen TKWide
  • Hydro Flask
  • Hydro Flask Trail Series
  • YETI Rambler
  • Takeya
  • Iron Flask
  • ThermoFlask
  • Stanley
  • Camelbak
  • S'well
  • FJbottle
  • Steepware
  • EcoVessel

Nalgene

Nalgene Water Bottle Review
Nalgenes are lightweight, inexpensive, dishwasher safe, and they come in many color options.  And while all of the bottles in this review are pretty durable overall since most are made of stainless-steel, Nalgenes are also much more dent resistant because of the plastic construction compared to stainless-steel bottles which can dent more easily.  Nalgene is also the only bottle brand we looked at that is made in the USA.

​​Some drawbacks are that they only come in plastic, they don’t have a built-in handle if you don’t count the tether for the lid, they don’t have an insulated version, and there aren’t many options to choose from for lids.  It doesn’t feel like the brand has innovated like others have, which has left Nalgene struggling behind other bottles in many aspects. But they still make a great, dependable bottle at an affordable price point, which makes it a good option for many people.
See Nalgene Listing

Klean Kanteen Classic (Non-Insulated)

Klean Kanteen Classic Review
Klean Kanteen has a mix of insulated and non-insulated bottles.  Non-insulated Klean Kanteens are lighter than dual-wall bottles, and they have a simple design that is very easy to clean. They’re also notable for how the standard cap has steel on the bottom, so your water never touches plastic. Most other stainless-steel bottles on the market, including Klean Kanteen’s own TKWide Series, have plastic under the lid.

​Some drawbacks are that we don’t like the standard loop caps very much, and they aren’t insulated.
See Klean Kanteen Classic Listing

Klean Kanteen TKWide Insulated

Klean Kanteen TKWide Review
Klean Kanteen recently came out with their TKWide insulated bottles.  They have a range of well-engineered lid options that feel unique compared to other brands.  The rigid handle feels very sturdy, and one unique benefit is the Impact Base Cap on the bottom.  This is a hollow cap that absorbs an impact if you drop your bottle, which lessens the chance that a dent could affect the vacuum insulation.  This is one of the easier bottles to clean because the threads on the bottle are made of small bumps in the stainless-steel instead of traditional thread grooves.

​Some downsides are the overall bulk, both in terms of weight and size for a 32-ounce bottle.  We also wish the spout cap was a little easier to keep out of the way.  You have to snap it onto the metal handle, which isn’t as easy as some other bottles like Takeya, Camelbak, and FJbottle.  There aren’t too many color options for Klean Kanteens, so keep that in mind if you’re looking for your own style.
See Klean Kanteen TKWide Listing

YETI Rambler

YETI Rambler Review
​YETI is in the top-tier for brand prestige, and therefore cost.  They are notoriously expensive, but their products are generally very high-quality, which has led to a devoted following of fans and supporters.  There are six lid options for their Rambler series wide mouth bottles, so you can pick what’s best for you.
​
​
Downsides are definitely the cost, but also that these bottles are heavier than some comparable ones on the market.
See YETI Rambler Listing

Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask Review
Hydro Flask is the brand that really catapulted dual-wall insulation into the mainstream, and they’re also a top-tier brand on par with YETI.  Their bottles come in a wide range of colors, and they have a good range of well-engineered caps and accessories to choose from, though some are better than others.  We love the Flex Straw, but we’re not huge fans of the Flex Chug.

​You can expect to pay a premium for any Hydro Flask, but the customer service is very good and the company stands behind their products.
See Hydro Flask Listing

Hydro Flask Trail Series

Hydro Flask Trail Series Review
​Another Hydro Flask bottle that’s good to know about is their Trail Series lineup.  These bottles have the same great insulation, branding, and look, but Hydro Flask really focused on reducing the weight of the bottle so it’s easier to hike and get around with.  This makes it one of the best insulated bottles for hiking compared to really heavy options like Klean Kanteen’s TKWide and YETI’s Rambler.
See Trail Series Listing

Takeya

Takeya Review
Takeya is a good mid-range alternative to Hydro Flask, and their Takeya Actives bottles in particular are a great all-around option.  The spout lid is a really good design with a wide handle, a spout cap that locks out of the way for when you need to take a drink, and a nice textured grip.  It also comes with a matching bottle boot to protect your bottle from dents and scratches.

​There aren’t many downsides and this is a jack-of-all-trades kind of bottle, but some people do prefer rigid handles instead of the hinged Takeya design.
See Takeya Listing

Iron Flask

Iron Flask Review
​Iron Flask is an Amazon-focused knock-off of Hydro Flask, but they’re notable for a few reasons.  They come with three cap options, so that helps you figure out which style you like without having to buy more lids.  Iron Flask is definitely a good brand to consider if you’re looking for unique color options, including gradients.

One downside is that the caps are good, basic options, but they do feel more standard and less engineered than Hydro Flask’s lids.  
See Iron Flask Listing

ThermoFlask

ThermoFlask Review
ThermoFlask is a bottle brand that we’ve always thought was a ripoff of Takeya, but while editing this video we found out that’s because ThermoFlask is a brand registered by Takeya.  So if you notice a lot of similarities between the two, that’s why.  But one difference we’ve noticed is that ThermoFlask seems to have more 2-pack options available on Amazon, which means you can get an even better value.

One downside is that there don’t seem to be as many color options.
See ThermoFlask Listing

Stanley Quencher

Stanley Quencher Review
Stanley has been around a long time, but in recent years it has had a major resurgence thanks to their Quencher Series insulated tumblers.  The main difference between this bottle and every other bottle on this list is the built-in handle on the side.  Most of the other bottles have handles on the lid, but Stanley’s side-mounted handle, while not our personal favorite, is a big hit with many people.  It’s also more tapered at the bottom like a classic tumbler-style, so it fits in more cup holders without needing an adapter.

​The biggest downside is the overall bulky design.  Yes, this is easier to manage because of the handle and the tapered base, but it’s still a very bulky bottle. 
See Stanley Listing

Camelbak Chute Mag

Camelbak Chute Mag Review
Camelbak is a well-known brand that really made a name for themselves with hydration bladder packs for biking and on longer hikes, but they have also released some solid bottle options as well.  They are more reasonably priced than the other well-known brands like Hydro Flask and YETI, and the Chute Mag bottles in particular are very popular because of the magnets that lock the spout cap back when you go to take a sip.

​We’re not huge fans of the hinge design though, as it doesn’t flip open as smoothly as other spout caps like Takeya and FJbottle.
See Camelbak Listing

S'well

S'well Review
Many bottles on this list can be difficult to distinguish at first glance, like Hydro Flasks, Iron Flasks, Takeyas, and ThermoFlasks.  On the other end of the spectrum, you have S'well, which is another high-end brand on par with Hydro Flask and YETI.  The aesthetic design and sleek look are the main selling points, and they’ve also come out with many narrow mouth lids, including a filter cap that’s unique to this list.  They are also the first brand we’ve talked about that has triple-wall insulation.

​However, they are pretty expensive, and there aren’t many lid options for their wide-mouth Traveler series bottles.
See S'well Listing

FJbottle

FJbottle Review
The next brand is FJbottle.  Quick disclosure, they reached out to us and sent us a bottle to test.  We told them we would only cover the bottle if we liked it, but after using it for a few weeks, we can honestly say that we like this bottle way more than we thought we would.  It’s right up there with Takeya for our favorite spout-style lid.

Like Camelbak’s Chute Mag, it uses magnets to keep the spout cap out of the way when you’re taking a drink, but the hinge design is much better and is easier to open, especially if you’re just using one hand like when you’re driving.  The spout cap also takes the least amount of turning to unlock compared to any of the other spout lids, which is also helpful when driving.  There’s a silicone grip pad on the bottom that keeps your bottle from sliding around and protects against some scratches, though not on the outside edges.  There’s also a strap on the side, and we’ve ended up using this strap all the time.  They also include a brush with each bottle to help with cleaning right out of the gate.

​One downside is that the spout cap doesn’t flip out of the way as much as Takeya’s version, but you can either tilt your head more or angle the bottle to get around this issue.  Also, the rigid handle on top is a little small, but in our opinion the strap on the side more than makes up for this.

​Overall, we honestly do like this design, and it might become our go-to bottle for a while.
See FJbottle Listing

Steepware Everest

Steepware Review
​Steepware’s Everest tumbler was made primarily for one thing, and that’s brewing tea.  And they really do have a good product for this purpose.  There’s a built-in tea strainer that you can use for loose-leaf tea, or you can use it as an ice strainer if you’re looking for a cooler drink.  The strainer is pretty big too, so there’s quite a bit of surface area for your loose-leaf tea to steep.  You could always take out the strainer and use it like a regular bottle, but the larger strainer is really the feature that sets this bottle apart.
See Steepware Listing

EcoVessel Boulder

EcoVessel Review
The last brand we’re discussing is EcoVessel.  Their Boulder series bottles might have the most features and accessories packed into one bottle that we’ve seen yet.  It has a strainer for ice and fruit, comes with a silicone bottle boot to protect the base of the bottle, and has triple-layer insulation.

​Some drawbacks are that the strainer is smaller compared to Steepware’s version, so it’s not as good for loose leaf tea, especially in larger 32-ounce bottles.  We’re also not a huge fans of lid tethers that double as handles in general, but that’s more of our personal preference and at least EcoVessel has a wider tether compared to Nalgene.  It’s hard to put our finger on it, but the construction feels cheaper in a way compared to some other bottles we’ve reviewed.  But with so many extra features and a reasonable price, this bottle has a lot going for it.
See EcoVessel Listing

Part 3: Our Recommendations and Favorite Bottles

Our Recommendations for Best Water Bottles

Now let’s move on to our recommendations by category.  We’ll give you a few of our favorites, and we encourage you to check out each one to decide which is the best fit for you.

Best Water Bottle for Hiking

Best Bottle for Hiking
​For hiking, we like Nalgenes because they are lightweight, but we highly recommend getting a carrying pouch like this one because the lid tether isn’t much of a handle.  For insulated bottles, FJbottle is a great choice because it has both a rigid handle and a strap, and the lid is the spout style that we prefer when hiking.  Hydro Flask's Trail Series bottles are also worth a look because they are the lightest insulated design.
Nalgene
Lightweight and durable
See Nalgene Listing
Nalgene Carrying Pouch
Recommend a pouch for bottles without good handles
See Nalgene Pouch Listing
Hydro Flask Trail Series
Lightweight and insulated
See Trail Series Listing
FJbottle
Carrying strap and good lid
See FJbottle Listing

Best Water Bottle for Sporting Events

Best Bottle for Sports
​When it comes to sporting events, there are some different considerations compared to hiking.  You don’t have to worry as much about the weight of the bottle, and you don’t have to carry it around for long distances.  Because of these reasons, it really opens the door on the number of bottles that we recommend, and we really think you should just get a bottle with a spout cap.  This cap style lets you get a good amount of water quickly without it all splashing in your face.  Our favorite spout cap bottles are Takeya and FJbottle, and keep in mind that ThermoFlask has a 2-pack option with a lid that’s nearly identical to Takeya’s.


Hydro Flask and YETI have pretty good spout cap design options that many people love, but they’re not our favorites for varying reasons.  Honorable mention in this category goes to EcoVessel’s Boulder series bottles because they have spout caps and you can use the strainer for ice.
Takeya Actives
Good spout lid
See Takeya Listing
ThermoFlask
Good spout lid
See ThermoFlask Listing
FJbottle
Good spout lid
See FJbottle Listing

Best Water Bottle for Road Trips

Best Bottle for Road Trips
​For road trips and driving in general, we like straw lids because you don’t need to tilt your head back and potentially take your eyes off the road.  Stanley’s Quencher is a good choice because it has a large volume but still has a better chance of fitting in your car’s cup holder.  We also like Hydro Flask’s Flex Straw more than most other straw lids because it’s easier to clean thoroughly without popping off the spout.  We don’t recommend using standard lids when driving because it’s so easy to splash water all over your face.

Spout or sip caps are OK if you’re not into straw lids, but we recommend getting one that’s easier to use one-handed.  For example, FJbottle and Takeya’s spout lids are a lot easier to open one-handed than Camelbak’s design, and the spout caps are attached so you can’t accidentally drop it like you could with YETI or Hydro Flask.
Hydro Flask Flex Straw
See Hydro Flask Listing
Stanley Quencher
See Stanley Listing
Bottle doesn't fit in your cup holder?
Picture
If you want a bottle that doesn’t fit in your car’s cup holder, like a large Hydro Flask in most cases, consider buying our BottlePro Max cup holder adapter, which fits any of the bottles on this list.  ​
See BottlePro Max Listing

Best Water Bottle for Commutes

Best Bottle for Commutes
​For shorter commutes to and from work, we’d wager you’re probably drinking coffee or tea.  Any sip-style lid is pretty good for this, but we really like Hydro Flask’s Flex Sip Lid in particular because, like with their straw lid, their sip lid is easy to disassemble for cleaning.  YETI’s Hot Shot Lid is another good option too because you can take a sip from any angle.  And you’re probably OK with a smaller bottle like a 16 or 20 ounce, which means you’re less likely to need a cup holder adapter.
Hydro Flask 20oz with Sip Lid
Easy to disassemble for cleaning
See Hydro Flask Sip Lid Listing
YETI 18oz Hot Shot Lid
Can sip from any side
See YETI Hot Shot Listing

Best Bottle for the House or Office

Best Bottle for Around the House or Office
​For general use around the house or office, it’s really up to you.  Any of these bottles can be a good option since you probably can refill it easily, and the lid style doesn’t need to factor as much in your decision compared to other situations like driving.  The Stanley Quencher is a good one to consider though because of the big handle.
Stanley Quencher
See Stanley Listing

Best Water Bottle for Tea

Best Bottle for Tea
​The best bottle for loose-leaf tea or coffee infusing is without a doubt Steepware’s design, with EcoVessel coming in second because the strainer is much smaller and is really better for blocking ice or fruit instead of brewing tea or coffee.  For wide mouth Hydro Flasks and similar bottles like Iron Flasks and ThermoFlasks, you can also look at our FlavorFuze Steel infusers.  They come with a small and large size infuser, and they are specifically designed to fit wide mouth Hydro Flasks.
Steepware Everest
Biggest built-in strainer
See Steepware Listing
Picture
Has strainer, but smaller size
See EcoVessel Listing
FlavorFuze Steel
Sized for wide mouth Hydro Flasks
See FlavorFuze Steel Listing

Best Water Bottle for Ice

Best Bottle for Ice
​For ice, EcoVessel is a good option because of the built-in strainer.  Other spout lids can have ice cubes sneak out once they melt down some.  Straw lids are also a good option, and as mentioned before, we really like Hydro Flask’s Flex Straw.  If you have a Hydro Flask with a standard Flex Lid, you can also use our SplashPro splash guard.  We designed it specifically for Hydro Flask lids so it fits around the insulation.
Picture
Built-in strainer
See EcoVessel Listing
Hydro Flask Flex Straw
Straw lids are good for ice
See Hydro Flask Listing
SplashPro Splash Guard
Sized for wide mouth Hydro Flasks
See SplashPro Listing

Best Water Bottle for Fruit Infusing

Best Bottle for Fruit Infusing
​For fruit infusing, you can also go with Steepware or EcoVessel and add the fruit so it’s loose behind the strainer.  Alternatively, try our FlavorFuze Pod fruit infuser.  Just add your fruit into it, pop on the lid, then drop it into any wide mouth bottle.  Our FlavorFuze Straw infuser is a really good option too for Hydro Flask straw lids.  Just slide and snap it onto the straw.
Steepware Everest
Built-in strainer
See Steepware Listing
Picture
Built-in strainer
See EcoVessel Listing
FlavorFuze Pod Fruit Infuser
Drop-in lid fits in any wide mouth
See FlavorFuze Pod Listing
FlavorFuze Straw Infuser
Snaps on Hydro Flask straw lids
See FlavorFuze Straw Listing

Best Water Bottle for Limiting Plastic Contacting Water

Best Bottle for Limiting Water Contacting Plastic
We also wanted to highlight which bottles do the best job limiting how much plastic touches your water.  Nalgenes are the only all-plastic bottles in our video, but most of the other bottles also have exposed plastic under the lid that can touch your water.  The only bottles that have all-stainless-steel interiors, including under the lid, are Klean Kanteen’s non-insulated classic bottle and EcoVessel’s Boulder series.
Klean Kanteen Classic
Stainless-steel under the lid (classic, non-insulated only)
See Klean Kanteen Classic Listing
Picture
Stainless-steel under the lid
See EcoVessel Listing

Best Spout (Chug) Lid

Best Spout Lid
​For spout lids, we love Takeya and FJbottle.  They’re a little different from each other, but they both do several things well.  The spout cap is easy to open, stays attached so you can’t drop it, and locks into the open position easier than some other designs.  They are also easier to carry around because of Takeya’s good handle and FJbottle’s strap. 

ThermoFlask has a spout cap that is essentially the same as Takeya, and you can get them in 2-packs for a better deal.

Klean Kanteen's TKWide has a few novel features as well.  The threads on the bottle are rounded metal bumps that are much easier to clean thoroughly than traditional threads, and impact base cap can absorb dents that may otherwise have affected the dual wall insulation.
Takeya Actives
Wide handle, connected spout cap
See Takeya Listing
FJbottle
Handle and strap, connected spout cap
See FJbottle Listing
ThermoFlask
2-packs for better value
See ThermoFlask Listing
Klean Kanteen TKWide Chug Cap
Easy-to-clean threads and impact base cap
See TKWide Listing

Best Straw Lid

Best Straw Lid
​For straw lids, we really like Hydro Flask’s Flex Straw because it’s the easiest straw lid to clean more thoroughly without having to pop off the spout.
Hydro Flask Flex Straw
Easier to clean thoroughly than other straw lids
See Hydro Flask Listing

Best Sip (Cafe/Commuter) Lid

Best Sip Lid
​For sip lids, we also like Hydro Flask’s version, the Flex Sip, because it’s easy to disassemble for cleaning.  YETI’s Hot Shot is a good one to consider too because you can sip from any angle.
Hydro Flask 20oz with Sip Lid
Easy to disassemble for cleaning
See Hydro Flask Sip Lid Listing
YETI 18oz Hot Shot Lid
Can sip from any side
See YETI Hot Shot Listing

Best Value Water Bottle

Best Value Bottle
​The best value bottles in our opinion are Nalgene, Iron Flask, ThermoFlask, and FJbottle because they’re more affordable but they are still great at what they do.
Nalgene
Lowest cost bottle in this article, and most durable
See Nalgene Listing
Iron Flask
Includes three lid styles
See Iron Flask Listing
ThermoFlask
2-packs available
See ThermoFlask Listing
FJbottle
Inexpensive, and many features other bottles don't have (carrying strap, good spout cap, no-slip base)
See FJbottle Listing

Best Looking Water Bottle

Best Looking Bottle
​The best aesthetic design goes to S’well, and brands like Iron Flask and Hydro Flask are great options too with so many color choices.
S'well Bottle
Sleek design and prints
See S'well Listing
Iron Flask
Many colors, including gradients
See Iron Flask Listing
Hydro Flask Flex Straw
Many colors
See Hydro Flask Listing

Best Water Bottle Brand

Best Bottle Brand
​The best brands in terms of brand power in today’s market are YETI and Hydro Flask, with an honorable mention to Stanley and S’well because of their unique designs really being core to their brand.
YETI Rambler Bottle
See YETI Listing
Hydro Flask Flex Straw
See Hydro Flask Listing

Best All-Around Bottle

Best All-Around Bottle
​We thought about giving our recommendation for best all-around bottle, but we decided against it because of the countless variations for each person, like budget, preferences, lifestyle, and plenty of other factors.  For us, we will probably use the FJbottle because it impressed us so much, but we encourage you to make your own decision.  If you’ve made it to this point in the video, you’ve already heard more than you ever thought you ever needed to know about water bottles so hopefully you have a better idea of which bottle will work best for you.

​And that’s it!  Hopefully this helps you figure out which bottle works best for you.  Again, we'd love it if you could use our links to purchase since we get a small referral fee, but either way we hope this information helps you on your path towards better hydration habits.  Thanks again!

Buying a Large Bottle?  Keep Us in Mind!

Check out our Amazon store for fun and helpful accessories, like fruit infusers, cup holder adapters, and carrying slings.
BottlePro's Amazon Store
BottlePro's Amazon Store
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3 Reasons why you SHOULDN'T Buy a Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley

3/18/2023

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3 Reasons why you Shouldn't Buy a Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley Bottle

Content Overview:
  1. Intro - Hype Articles
  2. Link to our Video Review
  3. Reason #1 - Affiliate Marketing
  4. Reason #2 - Cost
  5. Reason #3 - Environmental Cost
  6. ​Summary and Link to our Store (Thank You!)

Products Mentioned in this Post:
  • Hydro Flask 40oz
  • Iron Flask 40oz
  • YETI 36oz
  • Stanley 40oz
  • BottlePro's Amazon Store

Counterpoint - Why you should Think Twice before Buying a Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley Water Bottle

​YETI recently released a new bottle with a straw lid, and it’s their answer to Stanley’s Adventure Quencher bottles that took the internet by storm.  You may have noticed articles like these predicting that the new YETI straw tumbler will go viral.  These kinds of articles come up seemingly every week describing the next big Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley product that you should buy. 
YETI Hype Article NY Post
YETI Hype Article NY Post
YETI Hype Article Yahoo
YETI Hype Article Yahoo
YETI Hype Article SF Gate
YETI Hype Article SF Gate
​But we’re here to give the counterpoint with three reasons why you shouldn’t buy a Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley.

Our Video Review

Our YouTube video covers the same information in this post, so click the link if you'd rather see the video.  Otherwise, keep reading the full post below!

Reason #1 Why You Shouldn't Buy a Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley - Affiliate Marketers

​Here’s the deal.  The people and companies writing these articles are affiliate marketers.  They get paid if you click a link and make a purchase, so it’s in their best interest to promote the most popular and expensive items.
Example of Affiliate Marketing (bottlepro.net)
Example of Affiliate Marketing (bottlepro.net)
​And look, we’re fine with people giving reviews and recommendations, and in fact that’s mostly what we do on this channel.  These reviews and summaries by experts and knowledgeable consumers can save you a lot of time so you don’t have to sift through all the junk on Amazon’s bloated marketplace.

The problem is that many of these affiliate marketers don’t really have your best interests in mind.  They’re just trying to ride the hype train with the most popular, expensive products that they can post links to and earn their cut.  Many don’t care about giving you a true all-around representation of the product they’re promoting.
​Always remember that there is no such thing as a perfect product for every person and situation.  Every single product has a drawback or something that can be critiqued.  If the article you’re reading doesn’t list at least one negative to be aware of, then you might want to get a second opinion elsewhere.

Reason #2 Why You Shouldn't Buy a Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley - You're Mostly Paying for the Logo

​We run a business selling products on Amazon and ordering items from China.  Our manufacturing and shipping volumes are obviously not nearly as high as Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley, but we can take what we’ve learned and use that to take our best guess at what kinds of costs they have.
Our Estimates for Hydro Flask's Costs
Our Estimates for Hydro Flask's Costs (click to see Amazon listing)
For this analysis, we’re going to look specifically at a 40-ounce Hydro Flask. The standard retail price is $49.95, so that’s what we’ll base this analysis on.  Manufacturing costs are probably around $4 per unit.  This includes the bottle, printed inserts, and the label wrap.  Freight costs have been more difficult to predict within the last few years since COVID, but bulk sea freight from China to the west coast of America probably comes out to around $1 per bottle.  Amazon usually has a 12% referral fee for sales on their platform so that’s what we’ll use here, though we wouldn’t be surprised if Hydro Flask has negotiated that down or partnered with Amazon somehow.  The Amazon fulfillment charge, which is separate from the referral fee, is probably around $7.

​Together, these costs total $17.99, which gives a gross profit per unit of $31.96.  That’s a 64% profit margin, which is pretty high.
​Now obviously there are many other costs that will bring down Hydro Flask’s true net profit, including customer service, marketing, facilities costs, and employee wages.  We’re not going to try to guess what Hydro Flask’s costs are in these categories, but it’s clear to see that a minority of what you pay for with a Hydro Flask bottle is in the bottle itself.  If you think of customer service, marketing, the facilities, and the employees as essentially being the brand, then this little logo basically costs you around $30 per bottle.

Most of the price you pay is for the brand, not the bottle.

And though there are surely some differences between brands, we wouldn't be surprised if YETI and Stanley bottles are in this same ballpark.

Let’s compare these costs with Iron Flask, which is a well-established knockoff brand on Amazon.  They were close on our insulation test, and they’re almost exactly the same size and shape.
Our Estimates for Iron Flask's Costs
Our Estimates for Iron Flask's Costs (click to see Amazon listing)
​You can get a 40-ounce Iron Flask for $28.95, or $21 dollars less than a comparable Hydro Flask.  Iron Flask’s direct product costs will be a little lower on the Amazon referral fee since it’s tied to the price point, but they will have mostly similar costs compared to Hydro Flask, including manufacturing, freight, and the Amazon fulfillment fee.

​Our best guess is that Iron Flask’s total direct product costs are around $15 per 40-ounce bottle, leaving ~$13 profit, or 45% margins.
You'll spend less money overall, and most of the price you pay is for the bottle, not the brand.  And considering that you get 3 lids instead of just 1 and that they have ~30 color options, it seems like an even better deal.  We've used Iron Flasks quite a bit, and honestly we can't tell much of a difference between them and Hydro Flasks.
​Now some of Hydro Flask’s higher costs are well worth it.  They have great customer service, and they make really good products that last a long time.  But in our opinion, it’s still a lot to fork over for the logo and we’d rather have a greater percentage of the price we spend go into the product, not the company.  YETI’s branding-related costs are possibly even more excessive.  Stanleys aren’t quite as extreme, but you're definitely still paying for the logo.

Reason #3 Why You Shouldn't Buy a Hydro Flask, YETI, or Stanley - The Environment

It's a little counter-intuitive at first because one of the most important reasons why you should get a reusable bottle is for the environment.  Disposable water bottles are terrible, and upgrading to a reusable bottle is one of the best things you can do on an individual level to reduce plastic consumption.

But the reality is that most people only really need one or two bottles to get them through the day.  This why we really don’t like how viral bottles and excessive marketing budgets always push customers to get the next best bottle or color.  It's one thing if you if you want a different type of bottle for specific reason, like a smaller one with a sip lid for coffee.  But do you really need a 6th color of a 40-ounce bottle when you already have 5 similar bottles?
Diminishing Returns with Plastic Reduction and # of Bottles
Diminishing Returns with Plastic Reduction and # of Bottles
There’s a type of diminishing returns when it comes to the number of bottles you own and how much you’re helping reduce overall environmental waste.  The first bottle you get cuts down a lot of your plastic consumption, but each additional bottle you buy doesn’t help as much.

And every bottle has an environmental cost related to manufacturing and shipping the product.  And remember that shipping doesn't just mean from the warehouse to your door.  Shipping also includes getting supplies and materials to the factory, and then freighting the finished products in bulk to a fulfillment warehouse. 
​Sooner or later, the total environmental cost related to manufacturing and shipping your next reusable bottle will be greater than the environmental benefit from the reduction to your plastic consumption.

So before you buy your next reusable bottle, take a second to think about whether you really need it.

​And that’s it!  You might find it a little weird for our company to tell you to not buy a water bottle given that we’re in the business of making accessories for these bottles.  But like always, we try to give our honest thoughts and recommendations that will actually help.  And we know we railed on affiliate marketers before, but we did include links to the products we talked about.  If you make a purchase after clicking one of the links, then we get a small commission.  It helps our small business out, and we appreciate the support so we can continue making unbiased posts and videos like this one.  Keep BottlePro in mind for accessories for your large bottles, and happy hydrating!

Buying a bottle?  Keep us in mind!

Check out our Amazon store for fun and helpful accessories, like fruit infusers, cup holder adapters, and carrying slings.
BottlePro's Amazon Store
BottlePro's Amazon Store
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Which Water Bottle Has the Best Insulation? (Updated for 2023!)

1/2/2023

3 Comments

 
Which Water Bottle has the Best Insulation? (Updated for 2023)

Which Insulated Bottle is the Best?

Insulated water bottles have been around for a long time, but in the last decade or so their popularity skyrocketed with brands like Hydro Flask and YETI.  There’s no doubt that the dual-wall insulation technology in these bottles is a wonderful quality of life improvement compared to non-insulated bottles, especially if you live in a hot region.
​
But if you look on Amazon today, you can find dozens if not hundreds of brands selling similar insulated bottles.  So many people ask, which water bottle has the best insulation?

We tested 10 popular water bottles to see how well they hold ice.

The Best Insulated Bottle - A Video Review

If you'd rather watch the results, then check out our YouTube video below!​

The Contenders

We primarily focused on 32-ounce bottles because that size tends tend to be very popular, but we did use some other bottle sizes for certain brands based on what was available.  We also included a couple non-insulated bottles as a baseline, a Stanley classic thermos to see how the older style compares, and a triple-wall bottle because we hadn’t tested one before and we were curious if it’s the next best thing.
  • ​Nalgene with the Classic Lid (32oz)
  • Klean Kanteen Classic, Non-Insulated, Loop Lid (32oz)
  • Hydro Flask with a Flex Straw Lid (32oz)
  • ThermoFlask with a Chug Lid (32oz)
  • Takeya with a Chug Lid (32oz)
  • Iron Flask with a Straw Lid (40oz)
  • Klean Kanteen’s TKWide with a Chug Lid (32oz)
  • YETI Rambler with Classic Lid (36oz)
  • Luxe with Chug Lid (22oz)
  • Stanley Original (1L / 34oz)
(click an image below to see the bottle on Amazon)
Nalgene with the Classic Lid (32oz)
Nalgene with the Classic Lid (32oz)
Klean Kanteen Classic, Non-Insulated, Classic Lid (32oz)
Klean Kanteen Classic, Non-Insulated, Classic Lid (32oz)
Hydro Flask with a Flex Straw Lid (32oz)
Hydro Flask with a Flex Straw Lid (32oz)
ThermoFlask with a Chug Lid (32oz)
ThermoFlask with a Chug Lid (32oz)
Takeya with a Chug Lid (32oz)
Takeya with a Chug Lid (32oz)
Iron Flask with a Straw Lid (40oz)
Iron Flask with a Straw Lid (40oz)
Klean Kanteen TKWide with a Chug Lid (32oz)
Klean Kanteen TKWide with a Chug Lid (32oz)
YETI Rambler with Classic Lid (36oz)
YETI Rambler with Classic Lid (36oz)
Luxe with Chug Lid (22oz)
Luxe with Chug Lid (22oz)
Stanley Original (1L / 34oz)
Stanley Original (1L / 34oz)

The Test

Our Setup for the Test (Minus the Strainer and Ice Mold)
Our Setup for the Test (Minus the Strainer and Ice Mold)

Because the main purpose of an insulated water bottle is to maintain a temperature for longer periods throughout the day, we measured the weight of ice before and after the test as our main metric.  We purchased an ice mold that creates larger sticks to limit the effect that surface area variations in different pieces of ice might have on the melting rate.  Then we added one ice stick to each bottle and no water.  After four hours, we poured the contents of each bottle into a strainer, then the remaining ice was dumped onto a scale.  By comparing the weights of each ice stick before and after, we were able to get an idea of which bottle keeps ice the best.  We then repeated this test three times and calculated the cumulative results.
Picture
The Ice Mold
This is the ice mold we used to create the larger sticks of ice.  In general, less surface area leads to slower melting, so the larger the ice cubes you use, the longer your ice should last!
See Pricing on Amazon
Keep in mind that this experiment was intended just to give an idea if there are any major variations in insulation effectiveness.  In an ideal experiment, we would have used a more accurate scale, used similar lids on all of the bottles, measured out the water into each ice mold to ensure the same volumes of ice were made, and used the same volume bottles across the board.

With the disclaimers out of the way, here are the results!

The Results

The cumulative results are summarized in the table below.  You can see the percentage of ice that melted in the fourth column.  A few things jumped out at us.
Picture
The Luxe and Stanley Original bottles are in a league of their own with 36% ice loss.  One factor to keep in mind with the Luxe bottle is that it’s only 22 ounces, and the smaller volume of air likely made the result look better than it really was.  We also haven’t tested or used this bottle at all other than with this insulation test, so we’re not quite ready to recommend it yet.  Regardless, this initial test of the triple-wall insulation showed promise, and this type of bottle is worth looking into more.  The Stanley result was interesting too, given that this type of bottle has been around for a long time and is basically the OG of insulated bottles.

After that, we have the Klean Kanteen TKWide, the YETI, Takeya, and Hydro Flask with between 49 and 52% ice loss.  These results are very close and are certainly within the range of potential error, so there’s not much difference here.

​Next is the Iron Flask at 55% ice loss.  But keep in mind that we only had a 40oz Iron Flask to test, and the larger volume of air likely made the ice melt faster.  Based on this consideration, we feel comfortable assuming that the Iron Flask’s insulation is essentially the same as the previous group.

ThermoFlask was the one outlier of the dual-wall insulation bottles.  At 59% ice loss, ThermoFlask seemed to consistently test worse than the other similar bottles.

And the Nalgene and Klean Kanteen classic had the worst results, but given that these are single-wall bottles and not insulated, this result was to be expected.  We mostly just included them in the test as a baseline because we could see when the ice had finished melting in the Nalgene, and we were curious if the single-wall stainless-steel design would do any better.

Conclusions

​When we take a step back to think about these results overall, we can reach a few conclusions.
  1. Triple-Wall - This was our first test of a triple-wall insulated bottle, but these might be the real deal and are worth testing more.
  2. The "OG" Thermos - While this type of Stanley bottle is not as convenient to drink from for every-day hydration, the Stanley Original is great at what it was primarily designed for.  This is the best option to keep your drink hot while you’re camping or watching a sporting event.  Just pour the drink from the Stanley into the cap or another container to drink from.
  3. Dual-Walls - For most people, any of the dual-wall insulated bottles from this test will be good enough to get them through the day, particularly when considering that you’ll probably use more ice than we did.  Our results showed some brands are slightly better than others, and in particular the ThermoFlask seemed to be the worst of the group.  But in our opinion there’s not enough of a difference to base a buying decision entirely on the insulation.  Instead, take other factors like the price, color options, and lid types into account to get a bottle that’s best for you.

Buying a large bottle?  Keep us in mind!

Check out our Amazon store for fun and helpful accessories, like fruit infusers, cup holder adapters, and carrying slings.
BottlePro's Amazon Store
See BottlePro's Store
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Why are Hydro Flasks so Popular And Expensive (And Are They Still Worth It in 2023?)

11/24/2022

1 Comment

 
PictureWHY ARE HYDRO FLASKS SO POPULAR AND EXPENSIVE (AND ARE THEY STILL WORTH IT IN 2023?)

What's the Big Deal with Hydro Flasks?

Today we’re answering the question, why are Hydro Flasks so popular and expensive, and are they still worth it in 2022 and 2023?  Are Hydro Flasks good, and are they worth the price?

At BottlePro, we’ve been involved in the niche world of large water bottles since we released our first cup holder adapter in 2015, so we’ve seen and tested our fair share of bottles.  Here we’ll give you a quick history of Hydro Flask, and by the end of it you’ll know more than you thought you ever needed to know about water bottles.  Then we’ll give our thoughts and recommendations about Hydro Flasks in particular, and we’ll also let you know some good alternatives to Hydro Flasks in 2022 and 2023, especially if you’re looking for a gift for the Holidays.

Quick Summary

We know you're busy!
If you're looking for less expensive alternatives to Hydro Flask, here are some of our favorites.
​Keep reading the rest of the post or watch the video for more details.
Recommended less expensive alternatives to Hydro Flasks
Recommended less expensive alternatives to Hydro Flasks

Click the links below to see these products on Amazon
Takeya Actives
Iron Flask
ThermoFlask

Why are Hydro Flasks so Popular and Expensive, and What are Good Alternatives? (A Video Review)

If you'd rather watch a video than read a post, you're in luck!  In this video, we review the history of Hydro Flasks and give our recommendations on whether it's still worth buying one in 2022 or 2023.  We'll also let you know some good alternatives.  The video mostly reviews the same info as the blog post below.

What's with big water bottles?

For most people, water bottles are not a huge part of their life or their daily routine.  But many people won’t leave their house without their favorite water bottle by their side, and this group of people is growing every day.  Large reusable water bottles are winning over an increasing number of people for many reasons, with the most common being to improve hydration habits, to limit plastic waste, and to keep a cool drink nearby on a hot day (or vice-versa).

Even if you don’t think much about bottles, we bet you’ve noticed more and more people carrying around awkwardly-large water bottles, particularly in the last 5-10 years.  The bottle brand with the most meteoric rise in popularity during that period is without a doubt Hydro Flask.  But when you first look up Hydro Flask, one of the first things you’ll notice is the price tag.  And today, with high inflation and an economic downturn, budgeting is becoming more essential for many people and families.

Which makes many people ask, why are Hydro Flasks so popular and expensive?  And are Hydro Flasks still worth buying in 2023?

When did Hydro Flasks Become Popular?

Before Hydro Flask, the most common reusable water bottles that focused on the outdoor recreation industry were plastic bottles, like Nalgenes, or single-wall stainless steel bottles like Klean Kanteens.  Both bottle types have their own benefits and drawbacks, which we go into more detail in our previous post.  There were also some insulated bottles like Stanleys, but they had a mostly rugged design that focused on utility.  Each bottle brand had a loyal following in the outdoor recreation community, and to many outsiders it seemed like the market was saturated.
​
But then came along Hydro Flask, and everything changed.  The company was founded in 2009 and quickly began building a cult-like following of devoted users in the outdoor recreation community, particularly in Hawaii and on the western US coastal states.  The company moved to Bend, Oregon, which is where Hydro Flask is still headquartered today.
Searches for Hydro Flask (Google Trends)
Searches for Hydro Flask (Google Trends)
Hydro Flask, Interest by Location (Google Trends)
Hydro Flask, Interest by Location (Google Trends)
By 2012 as Hydro Flask really started gaining popularity, you may have started noticing people, usually Gen Z’s or Young Millennials, carrying these bottles.  Popularity continued to steadily increase until it peaked in 2019, when the Gen Z the subculture known as “VSCO girls” received a lot of press and attention.
VSCO Girls Articles in 2019
VSCO Girls Articles in 2019
​Since peaking in 2019, Hydro Flask’s search popularity based on Google Trends has fallen significantly.  But the trend curve has mostly leveled off and continues to be significant, vastly out-performing previous market leaders like Nalgene and Klean Kanteen.
Google Search Comparison, Hydro Flask vs Klean Kanteen vs Nalgene (Google Trends)
Google Search Comparison, Hydro Flask vs Klean Kanteen vs Nalgene (Google Trends)

Why did Hydro Flasks Become so Popular?

Even when you know that Hydro Flasks are popular, that still doesn’t answer the question of why they became popular.  So how did Hydro Flask become such a staggering success as a brand and company?  There are a few reasons, including having a high-quality product, marketing very effectively, and honestly, having some lucky timing.
Why Hydro Flask became so successful
Why Hydro Flask became so successful
Hydro Flask had a great product, but so did many other similar bottle brands at the time.  Nalgenes had color options and are very durable.  Klean Kanteens had the easy-to-clean, plastic and BPA-free stainless steel option covered.  Stanleys and other thermos-style mugs had insulation.  But Hydro Flask was the first company to effectively combine all those benefits into one bottle.  ​
Hydro Flask's benefits
Hydro Flask's benefits
Even still, the rise of Hydro Flask cannot be fully explained without also considering the rise of social media, particularly Instagram.  Instagram was launched in 2010, and it quickly became the must-have app for younger generations.  With Hydro Flask starting around the same timeframe and targeting similar customers, they were a natural fit.  Hydro Flask began gaining traction from influencers, followers, and fans posting pictures of their colorful bottles, and with a healthy dose of FOMO, Hydro Flasks quickly became the go-to water bottles for eco-conscious Gen Z’s and Millennials.

​There is no doubt that Hydro Flask would not have become as widespread and popular without Instagram.

​Of course, all those factors don’t matter without execution, and you really have to hand it to Hydro Flask with what they accomplished.  The company is a great example of what effective planning and execution can accomplish with a little bit of luck and timing. 

Is a Hydro Flask Worth Buying in 2023?

So now you know more than you ever thought you needed to know about the history of Hydro Flask.  The original question remains: is a Hydro Flask still worth buying in 2023?  With a price tag of roughly $50 for their 40oz, it’s a sizeable purchase for most people and families.
​
The answer is a little subjective and depends on your situation.

If you’re doing OK financially and you want to buy a great product that will last for many years, it’s hard to go wrong with a Hydro Flask.  They make great products, and we’ve been using Hydro Flasks for over a decade.  Invest in a 32oz or 40oz bottle and you’ll find it much easier to stay hydrated wherever you go, and you’ll look great doing it.  Or if you really want a well-known bottle brand but aren’t into Hydro Flasks, consider YETI, which also makes a great range of bottles that are at similar price points.

But it’s almost 2023, not 2012.  Back in 2012, there weren’t many other alternatives for insulated, colorful water bottles.  Nowadays, we see new bottle brands pop up every month.  And honestly, many of them are just as good as Hydro Flasks and come with more accessories, all for a lower price.
Amazon Search Results, Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Amazon Search Results, Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Cost for the Logo

​Based on what we’ve seen, you can just think of Hydro Flask’s logo as $10-$20 of your purchase. For many people, why spend that extra cost when you can get a great bottle from a company like Iron Flask, ThermoFlask, Takeya, Simple Modern, COLDEST, RTIC, or Hydro Cell (and on and on and on).
Estimated cost of the Hydro Flask logo
Estimated cost of the Hydro Flask logo

What are Good Alternatives to Hydro Flask in 2023?

With the ever-expanding list of companies selling Hydro Flask ripoffs, we recommend sticking to the established competitors to make sure quality is up to par.  Here are a few of our favorite alternatives to Hydro Flask in 2022 and looking ahead to 2023.  We stuck to 40oz bottles for consistent comparisons.

Mid-Range Alternative

Takeya and Takeya Actives Bottles
Takeya and Takeya Actives Bottles
Takeya
  • Available now for $27.99.
  • This is a great mid-range alternative to Hydro Flask.
  • Spend an extra few dollars and get the Takeya Actives bottle, which comes with a matching silicone bottle boot to help prevent dents and dings.
Takeya 40oz
Takeya Actives 40oz

Budget-with-Accessories Alternative

Iron Flask 40oz
Iron Flask 40oz
Iron Flask
  • Available now for $28.95.
  • Each Iron Flask comes with three lids, which can seem useful or wasteful depending on your point of view.  We recommend getting an Iron Flask if you’re not sure which lid you’d prefer yet.
  • Many unique color options, particularly gradients.
Iron Flask

Gift for Two (or a Spare for You!)

ThermoFlask 40oz 2-Pack
ThermoFlask 40oz 2-Pack
ThermoFlask
  • ​Available now for $44.99 as a 2-pack.
  • Each bottle comes with two lids (just make sure you pick the correct option on Amazon).
  • If you’re looking for to give a gift to a couple, consider getting ThermoFlasks because they seem to sell 2-packs more regularly.
  • If you get one of these we recommend the newer design with the wide loop handle (pictured here), which looks similar to Takeya’s design.
ThermoFlask

In Conclusion

There are a lot of water bottle options in 2022, with more certainly coming onto the market in 2023.  Many of these are great alternatives to expensive Hydro Flasks.  But while each person may have their own reasons to buy from one brand or another, we believe the best water bottle is the one you’re using (as long as it’s reusable).  Get a bottle for yourself, a friend, or a family member, and it’ll help improve hydration habits while also minimizing plastic waste from single-use bottles.  And those are both wonderful reasons to invest $20-$50 in a new bottle that you can reuse for years to come.
See Hydro Flask's Current Lineup

Want to take your favorite bottle to the next level?

Check out our Amazon store for fun and helpful accessories, like fruit infusers, cup holder adapters, and carrying slings.
See BottlePro's Store
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How I Kicked My Soda Habit (And You Can Too)

4/27/2022

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How I Kicked My Soda Habit, and You Can TooPicture

My Soda Habit Story

I'll be 35 years old tomorrow, and I've had a soda habit since I was a kid.  Growing up, it wasn't uncommon for me to drink 2, 3, or even 4 sodas per day.  As you might guess, I've also been overweight most of my life too, which is certainly not a coincidence.  But at 35, I finally kicked my soda habit.  I'm down almost 10 pounds this year, and best of all, I feel like what I'm doing is sustainable.

​Here's what's working for me, and hopefully it'll help you on your journey too.

Step 1: Know the Problem

​If you're reading this, then you've likely already heard or read about the major health issues that can result from regularly eating or drinking high levels of sugar.

And a lot of other people have too, judging Google Trends.  The interest-over-time for "Low Sugar" has been slowly-but-steadily increasing over the last several years.
Google Trends - Searches for "Low Sugar" for the Previous Five (5) Years

Of all the ways that consumers regularly ingest sugar, sugary beverages are the primary culprits.  These include:
  • Sodas 
  • Sports drinks
  • Fruit juices
  • Energy drinks
  • Coffee or tea with added sugar
20oz Coke Bottle
20oz Gatorade Bottle
12oz Minute Maid Orange Juice Bottle
16oz Rockstar Energy Can
18.5oz Pure Leaf Sweet Tea Bottle
According to the American Heart Association, the maximum recommended sugar intake is 36 grams of sugar per day for men.  For women, it's 25 grams.  Each one of the drink examples above is either right at those limits or way above them, all from one drink.

Seeing how bottle and can sizes vary, it's also interesting to look at the sugar concentration as shown below.

​One of the more surprising realizations for most people is how most fruit juices really aren't good for you.  Sure they provide some benefits like vitamins and other nutrients, so in that way they are better than sodas.  But the sugar content per ounce for Minute Maid orange juice is essentially the same as a Coke!
Grams of Sugar per Fluid Ounce
There are plenty of people smarter than me that study this topic for their day jobs, so I'll leave it to them to provide additional details and research about sugar and health.  Here are some of the more helpful articles we've read.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Guidance on Added Sugars

WebMD: How Sugar Affects Your Body

American Heart Association: How Much Sugar is too Much?

Healthline: 11 Reasons Why Too Much Sugar is Bad for You

And keep in mind that diet sodas aren't free-and-clear of problems either.  There is growing evidence that drinks with artificial sweeteners like aspartame and sucralose are bad for you as well, as discussed here.

Step 2: Find Your Real Motivation

Picture
Many other articles online start with the facts about sugar and then move onto discussing strategies for reducing sugar intake, but that's not what we recommend.

Knowing how to cut back on sugar won't help you change your habits if you don't also figure out your reasons for why you're seeking change.

***Notice that I underlined "your."  Once you find out what really motivates you, that's when you can achieve sustainable change.  Some motivations that may work for you include:

Losing Weight

Weight loss can lead to many measurable and immeasurable health benefits.

Feeling Better in General

Studies indicate that cutting out sugar can lead to better focus, more energy with less crashes, and reduced muscle aches and joint pain.

Better Sleep Habits

Limiting sugar intake, particularly at night, can improve health sleeping habits and quality of sleep.

Long-Term Health

Reducing sugar is proven to help prevent chronic diseases such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, non-alcoholic liver disease, cancer, among others.

Saving Money

Many sugary drinks are expensive, and the costs add up over time.  Water is usually much less expensive.

Peer Pressure (Secondary)

Normally I would say that peer pressure is bad.  But constructive and positive peer pressure can be very effective motivation.  This can come from friends, family, or a group of health-focused people who can help keep you on track and accountable.  But the key is for this to be a secondary motivation.  Find a primary motivational focus that works for you first, and use positive peer pressure to help stay on course.  And if your group of people uses negative peer pressure or makes you feel bad about yourself, get out.
You can always have a combination of motivations, and many of these are related (like weight loss and long-term health).  ​But whatever the situation, the key is to figure out what primary focus and goal really motivates you.

A Personal Story - My New Motivation

After reading articles about how sugar essentially acts like a poison and how sodas in particular are "empty calories" that provide no nutritional benefit, I knew it was in my best interest to quit.

Each time I tried to change, I would start off a few days or weeks without sodas, but then I would slip and start drinking them again.  The most common backfiring strategies I used were:
  • Comforting: "I had a rough day.  A soda will make me feel better."
  • Celebrating: "I had a good day.  I'll have a soda to celebrate." (ironic, right?).
  • Rationalizing Now vs Future: "I'll have one soda today and get back on the soda diet starting tomorrow."  Or, "I have many more years to develop better habits, so one soda today won't kill me."

The reason that these backfiring strategies worked on me was that I hadn't determined what my real motivation was yet.  I said I wanted to lose weight, and that can work for many people.  But the problem, for me, is that I'm fairly comfortable in my own skin already.  Also, I have always been overweight so it's not easy for me to truly realize how much better I might feel to achieve a healthy weight.  It was more abstract.

But as I got older, something happened.  I started thinking more about how little time we truly have, and how chronic diseases that we always read about and learned of back in school are very real.  And then someone very close to me passed away.  He smoked most of his life, and though he was finally able to quit a few years ago, by then the damage was done.  He developed cancer and passed away earlier this year.  He urged me to improve my habits now and to learn from his life experiences.  This changed my motivational focus.
Instead of just wanting to lose weight, my new focus became achieving better long-term health.  This seemingly small change in my focus and goals made all the difference for me.

Step 3: Strategies for Change

Once you know what really motivates you, it's time to start thinking about how you'll make changes.
​There are many strategies that you can use to cut out soda from your diet.  Here are a few.

#1: Drink More Water

If you start feeling the urge for a soda, drink a glass of water first.  Many times that can satisfy or delay a soda urge.

#2: Don't Bring It with You

Keeping sodas at home or work with you is just asking for trouble.  Don't make it easy to get a soda.  Make it take more effort.

#3: Take a Walk

Make yourself take a walk before grabbing a soda, especially if your soda craving might be happening because you're feeling stressed or tired.  Many times you'll feel better after your walk and won't want a soda when you get back.

#4: Find a Healthy Flavored Alternative

If you're used to drinking sodas like I was, then sometimes plain water just won't cut it and you need flavor.  Find a healthy flavored alternative that you can sip on, like unsweet tea, fruit infused water, or one of many popular flavored seltzers on the market today.

#5: Enable Healthy Peer Pressure

We're counting this as both a motivational factor and a strategy for change.  As mentioned earlier, healthy peer pressure from friends or family can be a fantastic way to help change habits.  Just make sure it stays positive.

#6: Measure the Results

This can be a wonderful tool to stay engaged with new habits.  Measuring weight loss is easy, but the key is to find ways to measure whatever your primary motivation is.  If you're motivated to cut out soda so you'll have have better sleep habits, then keep a sleep journal.  If you want to save money, then calculate out how much you expect to save each week and set yourself regular reminders on how much you're saving each week.  Whatever your motivation is, make it measurable.

A Personal Story - My New Routine

Honestly, I've used all of the strategies listed above to varying degrees.  But the ones that helped me the most are #1 and #4.  By drinking more water, I've been able to feel fuller and am less likely to drive to the store for a soda.  And by using a flavored drink alternative, I can still take a break from "boring" water each day and satisfy my need for flavor.
This is what's working for me.

40oz Hydro Flask and 40oz Iron Flask

Bringing Two Bottles to Work

In the past, I would bring one 40oz Hydro Flask to work.  I would often finish that by noon, and that'd leave the door open to my brain saying "go get yourself something to drink like a soda" in the afternoon.

Now, I bring two 40oz bottles: my old reliable  Hydro Flask and a new Iron Flask.  I typically finish one before noon, and the other before I leave work.

By always having enough water nearby, I'm able to reach for that first instead of going for a soda.
Need another bottle?  Check out Hydro Flask's Amazon store.
Visit Hydro Flask Store

FlavorFuze Straw in a 40oz Iron Flask

Finding a Healthy Alternative

Without a doubt, this has been the #1 most effective strategy for me.

I've always had a craving for flavor instead of just plain water.  Besides, what good is bringing more water to work if I still need to get flavors somehow?

To satisfy my flavor cravings, I started using our FlavorFuze Straw Kit every day.  Today, I cut up some strawberries and kiwi.  It was delicious.
Buy a FlavorFuze Straw Kit

SplashPro Splash Guard in a 40oz Hydro Flask

Having a Cool Drink on a Hot Day

It gets hot here in western Colorado.  We actually broke our all-time record in 2021 and reached 107 degrees!

In the past, I would get a soda on hot days.  Something about Coke's ads from back in the day would trigger me into getting a "refreshing" soda (though in reality, sodas dry you out more than they hydrate).

Insulated bottles like Hydro Flasks and Iron Flasks are key to helping with this.  I just add some ice to my Hydro Flask in the morning and use a SplashPro splash guard as an ice stopper.
Buy a SplashPro

40oz Hydro Flask in a HikerPouch and a 40oz Iron FlaskPicture

Carrying My Bottles

Bringing two large bottles with me to work each day was a pain in the butt because they're so bulky.  I quickly realized it would be a lot easier if I started using a bottle sling to free up some hands.

My go-to nowadays is a HikerPouch, but there are plenty of these on the market today.  See our other post here for a few suggestions.
Buy a HikerPouch

Step #4 (If Needed): Don't Be Afraid to Reset

Stopping any habit can have its ups and downs.  It took me over a dozen attempts over the years before I reached sustainable change.  Don't feel ashamed if you don't succeed initially.  Re-evaluate your motivations and strategies, and keep trying.
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Hiking the Colorado National Monument, Independence Monument (And What we Used for hydration)

3/30/2022

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The Colorado National Monument is a relatively lesser-known park, at least compared to nearby Arches and Canyonlands in Moab, Utah.  But as Grand Junction locals know, that almost makes it better.  You won't get the massive crowds like you do around Moab, and the scenery is out of this world.  Here's our recap of our hike on the amazing Independence Monument hike, starting from the lower trailhead.

Location, Parking, and Services

  • 5 miles R/T with approximately 700 ft of elevation gain.
  • The trailhead starts off of Broadway (Rt 340), roughly 9 miles west of downtown Grand Junction.  And only 12 minutes from our warehouse!
  • There are a couple porta-potties at the start.
  • No water fill-ups, so bring your own (it gets VERY hot in the summer).
  • We were the first ones there at 7am on a Monday in March.  But it isn't unusual for the parking lot to fill up on weekends and during the summer.  This is a pretty popular hike for locals.

Hydration Products and Accessories We Used while Hiking

1) Iron Flask 40oz Wide Mouth (Fire): See on Amazon
2) BottlePro Cup Holder Adapter: See on Amazon
3) FlavorFuze Straw and Straw Lid Kit: See on Amazon
4) HikerPouch Leather Bottle Sling: See on Amazon
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