Is THIS the next Water Bottle Trend?

5/9/2025

Hydro Flask's Micro Bottle

(5 minute read)

Is Minimalism the Next Water Bottle Trend?

Hydro Flask released their new Micro Bottle earlier this year, and it tops out at only 6.7oz (200ml).

If you're like me, you may think at first why would anyone want a bottle that small, but the thing is may have hit the jackpot by bucking the big water bottle trend that's dominated the last decade. It's already gone out of stock and is reselling for over 3x the retail price, but what do you even use a bottle that small for?

To find out, I looked at all of posted reviews and found that two things in particular were mentioned by far the most frequently. I also checked on Reddit because that's always good for some entertainment, and there were some interesting suggested uses.

But either way, given how this new product seems to be building momentum, let's take a closer look to see what people are saying about what's good and how they're actually using it.

Video Review

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

Where can you Buy Hydro Flask's Micro Bottle?

As of today, this bottle appears to only be available on Hydro Flask's website here, but it's probably a matter of time before it's available on Amazon and other outlets.

It's also sold out currently, but you can sign up on their website to be notified when Micro is restocked.

See Micro Listing

How Big is Hydro Flask's Micro Bottle?

Here are the specs compared to a 32oz Hydro Flask so you can really understand how small this thing is. It holds 6.7oz, is 2.25" wide, 6.65" tall, weighs a third of a pound, and costs $20. By comparison, Hydro Flask's 32oz bottle is 3.8" wide, 10.35" tall, weighs one pound, and costs $45.

Specs Comparision: Hydro Flask 32oz vs Micro

To put it into practical terms with something you're probaby familiar with, it's pretty close the same size as a 16oz soda or beer can. Just a little shorter on the diameter and a little taller on the height. As someone who has been using mostly 32 and 40oz bottles for over a decade, I thought this seemed incredibly small so I went to Hydro Flask's website to learn more.

Comparable Size to 16oz Soda Can

What do you Use Hydro Flask's Micro Bottle For?

As someone who has been using mostly 32 and 40oz bottles for over a decade, I thought this seemed incredibly small so I went to Hydro Flask's website to learn more. They mention on the listing how it's perfect for ramen, hot water maybe to mix with something else, wine, and cold sips, but I went to the reviews to really find out how people are using it.

After looking through all 96 posted reviews and counting up keywords and use cases, I came up with this chart and there are two clear winners.

Keywords, Uses, and Topics Mentioned in Reviews

For sure, the most common use will still be water, and I didn't include that on the chart because it seemed like a given and I wanted to see what else people were saying.

Only one person said they'd use it for food, specifically grapes.
Two people said they'd use it for milk or creamer.
Another two specifically said they'd keep it at their nightstand or desk.
Only three mentioned liquor, though I have a sneaking suspicion that the true number is higher for this one.
5 people mentioned medications, vitamins, or supplements.
6 said how it's easy to fit in your pocket.
7 said they'd carry in more by clipping it to a bag out of convenience or like a bag charm.
12 mentioned coffee and tea, with a few specifically mentioning espressos, which makes sense for the size.
Next was how they either got compliments or got them as gifts for other people who liked them, so there's certainly a social factor going on like you see with so many bottles. And 16 people mentioned how it's a much more manageable size bottle for quick walks in the neighborhood or errands. The top practical use mentioned was how it's easy to put in a purse or bag, which is something that's definitely a drawback with big 32 and 40oz bottles. But the top response by a significant margin has nothing to do with practicality or how you'd use it, rather that it's cute and adorable.

That tracks with Reddit, where the most upvoted post was simply how it's the cutest bottle ever. But there were a lot more votes for alcohol, so that's Reddit for you.

Then it went into even more unexpected directions with things like salad dressing, hot sauce, and even hollandaise.

But there were a lot of comments from people who said they don't think the size is practical for them, and that sets up a very interesting battle of trends.

Big Bottle vs Minimalism

Battle of Trends: Big Bottles vs Minimalism

For years the focus has been on big bottles and improving hydrating by drinking a lot more water, which is why big 32 and 40oz bottles are so common. But this micro bottle is clearly trending more towards minimalism, and being more discrete with a bottle you can stow in a backpack or purse instead of carrying around a large, bulky bottle.

It's impossible to know how many people legitimately bought this bottle because it's a size they need or if they bought it because it looks cool and then they had to find a use to justify it, though given that there are a few comments like these, the latter is clearly happening to some extent.

But regardless, this product launch has clearly been a hit for Hydro Flask, and it comes after years of losing traction to brands like Stanley and Owala. Just don't be surprised if other major brands follow suit and come out with their own micro bottles over the next year or so, and we'll see in a few years if this ends up being a trend or just another water bottle fad.

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