Owala FreeSip Bottle Review

(Updated September 19, 2024)

Sip or Skip: Water Bottle Buying Guides

We buy a lot of bottles...so you don't have to.

With Sip or Skip, we're here to help you find the perfect bottle or accessory for you and your situation. Our main goals are to:

Let you know which bottles and accessories are available.
Answer common questions, like whether it is dishwasher-safe.
Give our thoughts on whether this is a good brand, which other brands are comparable, and others that may be less expensive alternatives to consider.

Better hydration starts with a better bottle. Let's get started!

Rather watch a video? Here's our review of Owala FreeSips!

Quick Disclaimer: This is our best-faith effort to provide helpful, consolidated summaries so you can quickly compare different bottles and brands. However, we do not certify that this information is 100% correct and encourage you to do follow-up research and inquire with companies directly if there are very important questions you would like answered (like if a bottle contains lead). If you notice any incorrect information, please let us know. Thank you!

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Sip or Skip: Owala FreeSip Buying Guide

What We Think

Normally we are skeptical when new fad bottles come out every year or two (we're looking at your Cirkul). But Owala is one of the cases where we were actually impressed. The core of the bottle is what consumers have come to expect from a vacuum insulated stainless steel bottle, with great insulation and a bulky design that can help keep you hydrated all day.

The main difference you find with Owala is the lid, which is trademarked as their FreeSip design. It's a combination straw and chug-style lid, is easier to clean than other straw lids, keeps dirt off your drinking surfaces, and is incredibly easy to sip from compared to other straw lids with more air restriction. These changes may not seem significant (and to be fair many other straw lids still work well), but the FreeSip honestly does feel like an upgraded design that you get used to pretty quickly.

There are a few drawbacks for us, including the handle and color choices. But for a mid-range price, this brand really delivers.

The Good

FreeSip lid - combination straw and chug lid
Very popular (if that's important to you)
Many color options
Not as expensive as YETI or Hydro Flask
Possibly the easiest straw lid to clean that we've tested

The Not-So-Good

Owala's color combinations can be too colorful or mis-matched for many consumers.
The handle does not feel as comfortable as some other bottles.
We have questions about the durability, specifically the button and spring-loaded lid (saw some comments from customers who said the button broke or the lid stopped springing open).
The insulation test didn't show results as good as some other comparable bottles, though it's still certainly enough for most people most days.

Summary

This might be the best straw lid on the market right now and is a very good option for everyday use. It's affordable, easy to clean, easy to sip from, and is ergonomic (doesn't sound like a big deal, but it actually does make a difference in how it feels).

Our Favorite

Owala FreeSip 32oz

32oz Owala FreeSip

We like the 32-ounce size because it's a good amount of water to get your through the day, and it's still manageable to bring with you.

See on Amazon

Now let's look at the finer details and common questions, including which bottle options are available, are they dishwasher safe, and how well do they insulate.

Owala Bottle Options

Owala's FreeSip Sizes

Owala FreeSip 16oz

Owala FreeSip 16oz
FreeSip Lid
May be a better size for kids
Too small for general water use for many people
Fits in many cup holders

See 16oz

Owala FreeSip 24oz

Owala FreeSip 24oz
FreeSip Lid
Great all-around option if you can refill it a couple times per day
Fits in many cup holders

See 24oz

Owala FreeSip 32oz

Owala FreeSip 32oz
FreeSip Lid
Great all-around option
Probably needs a cup holder adapter

See 32oz

Owala FreeSip 40oz

Owala FreeSip 40oz
FreeSip Lid
Great all-around option, though some people find this size to be too large
Probably needs a cup holder adapter

See 40oz

What other bottles does Owala have?

FreeSip Twist

The FreeSip Twist has the same straw/chug lid as Owala's main bottle, but you twist the lid to open it instead of pressing a button for the flip-up lid.

See FreeSip Twist

SmoothSip

Their SmoothSip bottles are tumblers with sip-style lids for coffee or tea. It does not have Owala's signature FreeSip lid.

See Smoothsip

Travel Tumbler

Their 40oz tumbler is similar to Stanley's Quencher with a large handle on the side. It does not have Owala's signature FreeSip lid.

See Tumbler

They also have plastic bottles that can save you a little money, but you lose the insulation. We also generally prefer to avoid plastic as much as possible.

You can find them here.

Which Owala Lid is the Best?

Many brands like YETI and Hydro Flask offer different lids that are interchangeable with their bottles. Owala has a different setup. They have different lids, but they're for completely different bottles.

Their lid with their popular FreeSip bottle with the spring-loaded flip cover does not fit their FreeSip Twist, SmoothSip, or Travel Tumbler. And vice versa. To our knowledge, none of these are interchangeable.

Owala FreeSip Lid

Owala FreeSip

Owala FreeSip Twist Lid

Owala FreeSip Twist

Owala SmoothSip Lid

Owala SmoothSip

Owala Tumbler Lid

Owala Travel Tumbler

How Well Does an Owala Insulate?

All stainless steel Owalas are made with dual-wall construction with vacuum insulation. The air is removed between the two stainless steel walls, making it more difficult for heat to transfer in or out through the walls of the bottle.

Our Owala performed worse than some other insulated bottles, but for most people, their bottles have plenty of insulation to get you through the day.

Owalas have triple-layer insulation, which means in addition to vacuum insulation, they also have a copper coating that prevents heat transfer through radiation (yes it's a thing). Want to learn more about triple-layer insulation? See our post linked below.

Major dents can reduce a dual-wall bottle's insulation effectiveness, and worst-case, your vacuum can be completely compromised with especially severe dents. Owalas will dent if you drop them, and if that's a major concern, consider a more durable bottle like a YETI.

See Triple-Layer Insulation Post

Triple Layer vs Dual Wall Insulation

How do you Clean an Owala?

From Owala's website:

"Stainless Steel
The lids are top-rack dishwasher safe, and the straws can go in the silverware bin. The cups are also technically dishwasher safe as well, but we strongly recommend you hand-wash them to maintain that beautiful finish.
Eastman Tritan™ Plastic
All parts are top-rack dishwasher Safe."

At BottlePro, we typically recommend handwashing too. We view bottles like investments, and putting your bottle in the dishwasher is more likely to lead to damage. It would likely be cosmetic, like from bumping into something else in the dishwasher, but we'd want your bottle to stay in like-new shape as long as possible.

Here's a Youtube video we posted that gives our general cleaning guidelines.

How Much do Owalas Cost?

Owalas are in the middle range of pricing, between brands like Takeya below and YETI above. Their FreeSip bottles are typically around $33 for a 32oz.

What Brands are Comparable to Owala?

The lid is truly unique, but other aspects of Owalas including the branding and target audience are similar Hydro Flask and Stanley. They're all premium brands with large, passionate followings and solid products.

What are Alternatives to Owala that Cost Less?

There aren't any other alternatives yet that I'm aware of with a similar straw/chug lid as Owala. There will likely be copy-cats soon, but it's still TBD how that will work against Owala's intellectual property.

Is Owala a Good Brand?

Owala is a newer brand, so it does not have the prestige of others like Stanley, Nalgene, Camelbak, YETI, and Hydro Flask. But Owala probably has the most momentum at this point, and we're curious to see how they continue building on their recent good publicity.

Where is Owala Located?

Owala is owned by Trove Brands, which is located in Lehi, Utah. To our knowledge, most if not all of their products are made in China.

How Good is Owala's Customer Support?

We have not worked with Owala's customer support team directly yet. Here is information about their warranty, and here is their page for returns. The warranty language is pretty extensive and has a lot of outs for them, so I'd be curious to see how helpful their customer service is in practice.

Are Owalas Dishwasher-Safe?

From Owala's website:
"Stainless Steel
The lids are top-rack dishwasher safe, and the straws can go in the silverware bin. The cups are also technically dishwasher safe as well, but we strongly recommend you hand-wash them to maintain that beautiful finish.
Eastman Tritan™ Plastic
All parts are top-rack dishwasher Safe."

Our Recommendation:
We view water bottles like investments, and they're not exactly cheap. For that reason, we agree with Owala's recommendation to handwash them so they remain in top-tier condition even longer.

Can You Put an Owala in the Fridge or Freezer?

Technically you could put an Owala bottle in the refrigerator or freezer, but it's not recommended.

Why?

Putting it in the freezer runs the risk of damaging your bottle or lid if you're freezing water because ice expands.
The bottles are insulated, so it would take a long time for the temperature to decrease in the bottle anyways.

We recommend just getting a wide-mouth bottle that makes it easy to add ice to your drink.

Can You Put a Owala in the Microwave?

No.

What is an Owala Made Of?

Owala bottles are made with food-grade stainless steel.
We are not certain, but we believe the lids and straw are likely made with either food-grade polypropylene plastic or LDPE. It's not listed for certain on their website.
We are not certain, but we believe the seals are likely made with food-grade silicone. It's not listed for certain on their website.

Do Owalas contain lead? No! Owala is one of the few brands that does not have lead.

It's worth noting that the lead you likely heard about relating to Stanleys in early 2024 is part of the solder on the bottom of the bottle that seals in the vacuum. The lead-based seal is covered and safe in the vast majority of cases, and it would only really be a concern if your bottle is extremely damaged (and in that case, it's probably time for a new bottle anyways).

You can read Owala's full statement about lead here.

Do Owalas Avoid Plastic Contacting your Water?

Many people ask if Owalas completely avoid plastic contact with their water. Even though Owalas are made with food-grade stainless steel, all of their lids are made of plastic. So if your priority is to avoid plastic contact with your water, you'll need to look elsewhere.

See our post about available options.

How Many Colors do Owalas Come In?

Owala has a ton of color options to choose from. For example, their popular 32oz FreeSip currently has 22 available color options on Amazon.

Unfortunately, Owala often has colors that are out of stock because they are so popular. They also do "color drops" which are where they build hype when releasing new styles. These two factors can make it difficult to get the color style you want.

Owala's playful color style is part of their brand, but it's not everyone's cup of tea. Sometimes it can look like you go into Home Depot, they ask what color paint you want, and you say "yes." But the playful, often whimsical color combos are a big draw for others, and it's played a part in creating such a passionate fan base because the bottle style is truly recognizable (and is being emulated by other brands now).

What are Good Owala Accessories?

There's quite an ecosystem of accessories and supporting business and products for Owala owners. Owala is quickly expanding their own product lineup, but you can also find a bunch of options from 3rd parties (like us!). Here are some of our favorites.

Recommended Accessories for Owalas

Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets

Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets

These things really work, even for removing tea and coffee stains.

See Bottle Bright

Brush Kit for YETIs

Brush Kit

Big bottles are hard to clean. Brush kits like this one include a large brush, smaller one for threads and hard-to-reach spots, and a straw cleaner.

See Brush Kit

BottlePro Max Cup Holder Adapter

BottlePro Max Cup Holder Adapter

Expandable base. Centralizing tabs. Fits nearly all cup holder / bottle combinations. Typically needed with most +32oz bottles that don't fit in most cup holders.

See BottlePro Max

Optional Accessories for Owalas

FlavorFuze Pod Fruit Infuser

FlavorFuze Pod Fruit Infuser

Each FlavorFuze Pod comes with two lids. The splash-guard style was designed for Hydro Flasks with smaller mouth diameters than Ramblers, so that one won't work well with YETIs. But the drop-in style lid is a great option to use with YETI Ramblers (fits nearly all wide-mouth bottles on the market).

See FlavorFuze Pod

Owala's Bottle Boot

Bottle Boot

We haven't tested this exact one, but bottle boots in general can be helpful for large bottles to prevent scratches, dents, and noise.

See Bottle Boot

Buying an Owala? Keep us in mind!

See our Amazon store for helpful accessories, like fruit infusers, cup holder adapters, and carrying slings.

See our Store