Best Bottle Rankings (Preview Showing Durability Criteria)

What's Next?

Video Review: Best Everyday Insulated Water Bottle Rankings

Bottles Considered

Good Accessories for Most Large Bottles

Bottle Brush Kit

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

Cleaning Tablets

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

Part 1: Best Bottles, Ranked by 9 Criteria

Which Bottles are Leak-Free? (Rankings)

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

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

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

Brumate's Era is Leak-Free See Brumate

Stanley's ProTour Lid is Leak-Free See ProTour

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

Camelbak ​Classic and reliable See Camelbak

Ozark Trail Cheap but great insulation See Ozark Trail

S'well Routinely tests well See Swell

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

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

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

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

Filling Each Bottle with Cold Water while Straining Ice

Which Bottles are the Most Durable? (Rankings)

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

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

Cirkul, Marks

Cirkul, Cheap-Feeling Lid

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which Bottles are Easiest to Clean? (Rankings)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cleaning Big Bottles (Ultimate Guide) See Cleaning Guide

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

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

Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets See Cleaning Tablets

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

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

Seal under Flip-Up Spout on Straw Lid

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

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

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

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

Which Bottles have the Best Handles? (Rankings)

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

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

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

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

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

Cirkul Very small and cheap, uncomfortable plastic design See Cirkul

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

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

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

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

Which Bottles are the Least Cumbersome? (Rankings)

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which Bottles are Most Affordable? (Rankings)

Fjbottle Smaller brand, but a very functional bottle See Fjbottle

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which Bottles are Most Car Friendly? (Rankings)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Which Bottles are Most Popular? (Rankings)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Part 2: Get Your Personalized Recommendations

Rank Your Criteria (Tab 1)

Converting Tiers to Numbers

Recommended Bottle List (Tab 2)

Part 3: Deep Dives

Our Biggest Bottle Comparison Yet

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

Brumate Era 40oz See on Amazon

Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz See on Amazon

Cirkul 32oz See on Amazon

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See on Target

See on Walmart

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What is the Best Water Bottle?

What is the Best Bottle?

What's Next?

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

Good Accessories for Most Large Bottles

Brush Kit

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

Cleaning Tablets

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

BottlePro Max Adapter

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

Part One: Recommended Bottles by Use

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

FJbottle 32oz FJbottle Has both a rigid handle and a built-in carrying strap 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

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

Iron Flask Lids Iron Flask 3 lids included See Iron Flask

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hydro Flask Growler

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Steepware Infusers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Hydro Flask 16oz Flex Sip

Part Two: Rapid-Fire Review of All 31 Bottles

Owala FreeSip Lid Owala FreeSip Lid and Removable Seal

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

Stanley Quencher Handle Stanley Quencher Lid

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

YETI Rambler Lid YETI Rambler Spout

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

Cirkul Flavor Pod Cirkul Flavor Dial

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

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

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

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

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

Hydro Flask Narrow 21oz Hydro Flask Narrow Flex Straw

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

Hydro Flask Trail Series Hydro Flask Trail Series

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

Hydro Flask Growler Hydro Flask Growler

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

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

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

Klean Kanteen Classic 40oz Klean Kanteen Classic 40oz

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

Klean Kanteen TKWide 32oz Bump-Style Threads

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

Takeya Actives Takeya Actives

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

Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth

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

Healthy Human 32oz Stein Healthy Human Lid

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

Healthy Human Curve Healthy Human Curve

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

Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz Camelbak Chute Mag 32oz

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

ThermoFlask 32oz ThermoFlask 2-Pack

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

Iron Flask 40oz Iron Flask Lids

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

Ozark Trail 32oz Ozark Trail Lid

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

FJbottle 32oz FJbottle Strap

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

EcoVessel 32oz EcoVessel Strainer

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

Steepware 22oz Steepware Infusers

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

Vesmoon 32oz Vesmoon Infusers

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

RevoMax RevoMax Threadless Lid

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

Zulu Ace Zulu Ace Removable Bottom

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

Stanley Thermos Stanley Thermos

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

Otiem Copper Bottle Otiem Copper Bottle

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

Brita Bottle Brita Bottle Filter

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

GRAYL Filter Bottle GRAYL Filter Bottle

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

LARQ UV Bottle LARQ UV Bottle

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

Are YETI Ramblers Overrated?

Are YETI Rambler Bottles Overrated?

Video Review: Are YETI Rambler Bottles Worth It?

What is a "YETI Rambler?"  What isn't?

All of these are technically "Ramblers"

YETI Rambler Bottle Sizes

YETI Rambler Chug 18oz See Pricing

YETI Rambler Chug 26oz See Pricing

YETI Rambler Chug 36oz See Pricing

YETI Rambler Chug 46oz See Pricing

What's Good about YETI Rambler Bottles?

YETI's durability

YETI's branding

Color Options for YETI Rambler Bottle (18oz)

YETI's lids

Insulation Results from my Dual-vs-Triple Insulation Test (click image for link to that post)

What's Good about YETI Rambler Bottles?

YETI's cost

SmartKap YETI Rambler Lid

SmartKap (3rd Party Lid) Good handle Good spout cap Not as heavy (though admittedly this probably makes it less durable in the long-run) See Pricing

YETI's Magdock lid (no handle)

YETI's Chug lid (plastic underneath both lid pieces)

YETI's Marketing (Over-The-Nose Technology)

Summary: Who Should Buy a YETI Rambler Bottle?

What are Good Alternatives to YETI?

SmartKap Spout Lid for YETI Rambler Bottles

Spout Lid Upgrade for YETI If you already have a Rambler, the 3rd party chug lid I mentioned is a good upgrade over YETI's Chug or Magdock lids that gives you a good handle, an attached spout cap, and pull tabs on these seals that makes them easier to clean. See SmartKap

Owala (32oz)

Straw Lid Alternative For a straw bottle, Owala has probably the best lid on the market.  It's an ergonomic combination chug-and-straw spout that makes it really easy to use and good for a range of situations, though Owala's color schemes are probably a turn-off for many YETI fans who are used to a more rugged, classic look. I just posted a deep dive about them that you can check out here. See Owala

Hydro Flask's Flex Sip Lid

Sip Lid Alternative (Coffee & Tea) ​For a sip-style bottle for coffee, I still really like Hydro Flask's Flex Sip design because it's easy to use and take apart, and it has a handle. See Hydro Flask Flex Sip

Buying a YETI? ​Keep us in mind! ​See our Amazon store for helpful accessories, like fruit infusers, cup holder adapters, and carrying slings. See Our Store

See BottlePro's Amazon Store

Top 3 Questions to Ask before Buying a Water Bottle for your Child

Question #1 - Is Your Water Bottle Safe?

I recently posted an entire other video where I did a deep dive into this topic to find out what are the safest water bottle materials.  That video is over 20 minutes long, so I’ll give you the cliff-notes version here. ​Here's a link to the post if you'd like to learn more. Link to Post

The Safest Water Bottle Materials for Children

STAINLESS STEEL

FJbottle, 14oz Why it's good: Carrying handle Graphics  themes for bottles No-slip base Comes with a brush See on fjbottle.com

Pura, 18oz Why it's good: 100% plastic-free, including the lid. Silicone grip sleeve See on Amazon

Hydro Flask Kids, 12oz Why it's good: Big-name brand Many color options Straw lid can be easier to drink from Bottle boot prevents slipping See on Amazon

YETI Rambler Jr, 12oz Why it's good: Big-name brand Many color options Wide handle Straw lid can be easier to drink from See on Amazon

SILICONE

Pura, my-my bottles Why it's good: 100% food-grade silicone Straw for small children ​*Some buyers comment that they leak a lot. See on Amazon

Makersland Why it's good: Collapsible and lightweight Colorful design ​*Please note that this bottle is not 100% plastic-free (in the lid) See on Amazon

Cascade Kids, 6oz Why it's good: 100% food-grade silicone 2-pack Straw See on Amazon

GLASS

Lifefactory with Nipple, 9oz Why it's good: Silicone protective sleeve Many colors ​*Contains plastic in the lid See on Amazon

Lifefactory with Spout, 12oz Why it's good: Silicone protective sleeve Many colors Wide handle *Contains plastic in the lid See on Amazon

Takeya with Straw, 22oz Why it's good: Good for older kids (larger) 2-finger handle Straw lid for easier sipping *Contains plastic in the lid See on Amazon

SPONSOR

Question #2 - Which Bottles are Easiest for Children to Use?

Question #3 - Will Your Child Like It?

FJbottle, 13oz Many themes to choose from See on fjbottle.com

Klean Kanteen Kids, 12oz Many themes to choose from See on Amazon

Hydro Flask Kids, 12oz Many colors to choose from See on Amazon

YETI Rambler Jr, 12oz ​Many colors to choose from See on Amazon

Buying a water bottle?  Keep us in mind! See our Amazon store for helpful accessories, like fruit infusers, cup holder adapters, and carrying slings. See our Store

What is the Safest Water Bottle Material?

Don't Forget to Clean your Bottle Regularly

Bottle Brush Kit See on Amazon

Bottle Bright Tablets See on Amazon

Leaching

Are Plastic Bottles Safe?

Nalgene 32oz

​When talking about BPAs in water bottles, the most well-known example is Nalgene.  After pressure continued to build from Nalgene’s customers and retailers, they changed their formulation in 2008 to phase BPA out of all of their plastics. Since then, all plastic bottle brands that I’m aware of have followed suit, with most popular brands switching to safer plastics like Tritan.

Nalgene See on Amazon

CamelBak Eddy See on Amazon

YETI Yonder See on Amazon

Are Stainless Steel Bottles Safe?

Hydro Flask See on Amazon

YETI Rambler See on Amazon

Klean Kanteen TKWide See on Amazon

Hydro Flask's Add-On SS Lid See on Amazon

Klean Kanteen Non-Insulated Loop Cap See on Amazon

Klean Kanteen Reflect

Are Glass Bottles Safe?

Lifefactory (plastic on bottom of lid) See on Amazon

​When it comes to glass bottles, Lifefactory is a big brand to know, but all the lids we’ve seen are made of plastic.  To be clear they’re made with polypropylene, which is generally regarded as a very safe, FDA-approved food-safe plastic.

Sunkey (Stainless Under Lid) See on Amazon

Mayu (Stainless Under Lid) See on Amazon

Anotion (Silicone Under Lid) See on Amazon

Are Aluminum Bottles Safe?

Sigg See on Amazon

One of the most well-known brands that makes reusable aluminum bottles is Sigg.  According to their website, their bottles are OK to use with carbonated drinks like sodas.  This must be OK because they have a liner to protect the aluminum from acidic drinks, similar to disposable cans. “The inner coating used in our production is widely used in various food containers and complies with strict EU/USA regulations.” It’s worth noting that Sigg uses a liner that’s BPA-free, though we don’t know for sure what it’s composition is.  Also, I am not certain, but I wonder if the aluminum could be compromised if the liner is scratched on the inside somehow.  I just don’t know enough about the composition and durability of the liner to be certain, but it’s something I’m hoping to dive into with a future video. So in general, aluminum bottles from respected companies like Sigg are certainly safe options to drink from, but it's not as clear-cut as some other options like stainless-steel or glass in my opinion.

Are Copper Bottles Safe?

Milton Copper Bottle See on Amazon

Otiem Copper Bottle See on Amazon

Are Silicone Bottles Safe?

E-Senior See on Amazon

Special Made See on Amazon

Are Titanium Bottles Safe?

Silverant See on Amazon

Boundless See on Amazon

Vargo See on Amazon

Which Water Bottle Materials are the Safest?

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

What is the Best Water Bottle?

What Type of Water Bottle Do You Need?

Popular and Notable Water Bottles and Brands

Nalgene

Klean Kanteen Classic (Non-Insulated)

Klean Kanteen TKWide Insulated

YETI Rambler

Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask Trail Series

Takeya

Iron Flask

ThermoFlask

Stanley Quencher

Camelbak Chute Mag

S'well

FJbottle

Steepware Everest

EcoVessel Boulder

Our Recommendations for Best Water Bottles

Best Water Bottle for Hiking

Lightweight and durable See Nalgene Listing

Recommend a pouch for bottles without good handles See Nalgene Pouch Listing

Lightweight and insulated See Trail Series Listing

Carrying strap and good lid See FJbottle Listing

Best Water Bottle for Sporting Events

Good spout lid See Takeya Listing

Good spout lid See ThermoFlask Listing

Good spout lid See FJbottle Listing

Best Water Bottle for Road Trips

See Hydro Flask Listing

See Stanley Listing

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

Easy to disassemble for cleaning See Hydro Flask Sip Lid Listing

Can sip from any side See YETI Hot Shot Listing

Best Bottle for the House or Office

Best Water Bottle for Tea

Biggest built-in strainer See Steepware Listing

Has strainer, but smaller size See EcoVessel Listing

Sized for wide mouth Hydro Flasks See FlavorFuze Steel Listing

Best Water Bottle for Ice

Built-in strainer See EcoVessel Listing

Straw lids are good for ice See Hydro Flask Listing

Sized for wide mouth Hydro Flasks See SplashPro Listing

Best Water Bottle for Fruit Infusing

Built-in strainer See Steepware Listing

Built-in strainer See EcoVessel Listing

Drop-in lid fits in any wide mouth See FlavorFuze Pod Listing

Snaps on Hydro Flask straw lids See FlavorFuze Straw Listing

Best Water Bottle for Limiting Plastic Contacting Water

Stainless-steel under the lid (classic, non-insulated only) See Klean Kanteen Classic Listing

Stainless-steel under the lid See EcoVessel Listing

Best Spout (Chug) Lid

Wide handle, connected spout cap See Takeya Listing

Handle and strap, connected spout cap See FJbottle Listing

2-packs for better value See ThermoFlask Listing

Easy-to-clean threads and impact base cap See TKWide Listing

Best Straw Lid

Best Sip (Cafe/Commuter) Lid

Easy to disassemble for cleaning See Hydro Flask Sip Lid Listing

Can sip from any side See YETI Hot Shot Listing

Best Value Water Bottle

Lowest cost bottle in this article, and most durable See Nalgene Listing

Includes three lid styles See Iron Flask Listing

2-packs available See ThermoFlask Listing

Inexpensive, and many features other bottles don't have (carrying strap, good spout cap, no-slip base) See FJbottle Listing

Best Looking Water Bottle

Sleek design and prints See S'well Listing

Many colors, including gradients See Iron Flask Listing

Many colors See Hydro Flask Listing

Best Water Bottle Brand

See YETI Listing

See Hydro Flask Listing

Best All-Around Bottle

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

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

YETI Hype Article NY Post

YETI Hype Article Yahoo

YETI Hype Article SF Gate

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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