Owala FreeSip Sway (30oz)

Owala FreeSip Sway

Highlights: Trendy, easy sipping, easy to clean, bigger handle, cupholder-friendly

What you'll learn:

1. ​Why is Owala Sway popular?
2. What makes Owala Sway good?
3. ​What is not good about Owala Sway?
4. How good is Owala Sway's insulation?
5. How durable are Owala Sway tumblers?
6. Are Owala Sway tumblers dishwasher safe?
7. Do Owala Sway tumblers fit in cupholders?
8. What are alternatives to Owala Sways?

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Owala FreeSip Sway Review

Overview

Owala's FreeSip bottle exploded onto the hydration scene in 2023 and 2024, and it's showing no signs of slowing down soon.  With a truly great lid design and whimsical colors, Owala has captured the hearts and minds of many people, especially younger consumers. 

However, two of the more commonly-referenced drawbacks with Owala's original bottle are the small handle and non-cupholder-friendly design.  With the Sway tumbler, Owala fixes those issues.

It includes a classic tapered tumbler shape that gets smaller towards the bottom, making this bottle cupholder-friendly.  Also, the large handle makes this bottle easier to take with you.

There are a range of other changes as well.  To learn more, watch our comparison video below.  But as a whole, this tumbler offers some real improvements over the original bottle, making it certainly worth considering.

Why Buy?

• FreeSip Lid: The combination straw and chug lid lets you sip or swig depending on how much water you need.
• Easier Sipping: The lid lets you take sips more easily than most straw lids because traditional lids often have small vent holes that restrict airflow.  Owala's chug opening acts like a wide open vent, letting you sip water much more easily.  It doesn't sound like a big deal, but you can really notice it.
• Easier Cleaning: The FreeSip lid is easier to clean than traditional straw lids, which often have a pivoting spout that has a difficult-to-reach seal under the spout.  Owala's design is fixed, so it's easier to reach all parts of the bottle and lid that come into contact with water.
• Wacky Colors: Many people rave about the wild color combinations.
• Big Handle: The large, rotating handle fits a full-hand grip and still rotates out of the way, making it more comfortable to hold than Owala's original bottle and less cumbersome than their other tumbler with a large side-mounted handle.
  
• Cupholder-Friendly: Because this is a tumbler, it features a tapered bottom that will let this bottle fit in the majority of cupholders.
  

Why Avoid?

• Wacky Colors: The unique color options are a turnoff for many consumers.
• Poor Insulation: This bottle had one of the worst insulation test results from our collection.

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Owala FreeSip Sway FAQs

• Are Owala Sways dishwasher safe? | Owala Sways are technically dishwasher safe, but Owala recommends handwashing the bottles to preserve the finish and prevent cosmetic damage.
• Are Owala Sways worth it? | With a mid-range price point and an ergonomic spout that's easy to sip from, Owalas are worth it if you are looking for an excellent straw lid bottle.  However, we found it is not as good to use as a chug lid, so if that is your preference then you may be more happy with a dedicated chug lid from another brand.  We prefer the Sway tumbler over the original FreeSip bottle.
• Are Owala Sways leak proof? | Yes, Owalas are leak proof as long as the seals are clean and correctly installed.  If your Owala is leaking, check the seals between the lid and the bottle and between the spout and the spout cap.
• Are Owala Sways easy to clean? | Yes, Owalas are easier to clean than the vast majority of straw lid bottles.  This is because most straw lids have a flip-up spout that pivots on a ball joint.  Those spouts are difficult to clean around, and you usually have to pop them out.  Doing that too many times can damage the spout.  Owala has a fixed spout, so it avoids this problem.
• Are Owala Sways insulated? | Yes, though Owala's Sway tumbler had one of the worst results from our collection, which features many other dual-wall vacuum insulated bottles.
• Are Owala Sways stainless steel? | Yes, though they do have plastic options as well.
• Are Owala Sways durable? | Yes, to an extent.  Stainless steel is strong, but the bottle will dent if you drop it.  For the lid, it does appear that Owala made some changes to improve the durability compared to their original FreeSip bottles.  This includes making the seal fit better, increasing the strength of the springs that open the cover, and fine-tuning the button so it is less wobbly.  However, the lid still consists of small springs and plastic parts, so if you drop your bottle, that's the most likely place it could break.
• Are Owala FreeSip lids and Sway lids interchangeable? | No, the Sway lid is significantly wider, and the lids are not interchangeable.

How Do You Clean an Owala?

Video coming soon!
For now, check out our general cleaning guide for large stainless steel bottles.

Sip or Skip Stat Sheet

Our Sip or Skip stat sheets combine all the information above in one easy-to-use format to make comparing bottles easier.

Owala FreeSip Stat Sheet

See our Video Review

How to Buy Owala's FreeSip

Owala FreeSip Sway (30oz)

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Popular Alternatives

Before you buy, it may be worth looking at these other options.

Owala's Original FreeSip

Owala Tumbler (40oz)

Owala's original bottle still holds up well and is a more traditional bottle shape.

See on Amazon

Owala's FreeSip Twist

Owala FreeSip Twist (24oz)

Same FreeSip dual-use spout but with a twist-off lid for a more traditional look.

See on Amazon

Zojirushi

Zojirushi (16oz)

More geared for coffee, but with a similar ergonomic spout (not a straw though).

See on Amazon

Helpful Resources

Compare

See what else is out there

Clean

Learn how to properly maintain your bottle

Original Owala vs Sway

Take a closer look before you buy

Recommended Accessories

Bottle Brush Kit

Great for your regular cleaning every 2-4 days.

​ This kit includes a large brush to clean in the bottle, a detailing brush to clean the threads and lid, a straw cleaner, and hangers so you can stay organized.

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Cleaning Tablets

Recommended to use these once per month.

In additional to regular weekly cleaning, deep-cleaning your bottle once per month is usually a good idea to prevent germs and buildup, especially around seals.

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Cup Holder Adapter

Usually needed for bottles over 3" diameter.

Our BottlePro Max has a twist-to-expand base, removable centralizing tabs, and a grip pad to help keep your bottle secure and by your side.

See on Amazon

And Just for Fun (and Better Tasting Water)

Fruit Infuser

As a bonus, check out our FlavorFuze Pod drop-in fruit infuser to make your water fun!  Skip the soda or flavor pods with artificial sweeteners (like Cirkul) and add healthy flavors with natural fruit each day.  The pod is easy to remove when you're done thanks to a big handle on top, making for a healthy mid-day snack.

It comes with two lids.  One is a splash-guard style lid that fits in wide mouth Hydro Flasks, and the other is a drop-in style lid that fits in nearly all wide mouth bottles (including Owala FreeSips, YETI Ramblers, Stanley Quenchers, Hydro Flasks, and many more).

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