(Updated August 16, 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:
Better hydration starts with a better bottle. Let's get started!
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 YETI Ramblers!
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: YETI Buying Guide (Rambler Bottles)
Sips Ranking
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What We ThinkYETI may be the biggest brand in the water bottle industry, and for good reason. They crossed $1 billion revenue in 2023 in their Drinkware category, so they are extremely well known and established. YETI is an interesting brand to analyze because it seems like every benefit has a drawback. They're extremely durable, but that makes them heavier. They have more lid styles than most brands and they are pretty decent, but they're not our favorites. They are well-made and popular, but they come with a high price tag.
If you buy a YETI, you likely will not be disappointed if that's your only bottle. They're solid options, and they'll last a lifetime if you keep good care of them. But we've tried a lot of bottles, and we'll let you know what we think could be better (and what other brands might be better for your situation). |
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The Good
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The Not-So-Good
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Summary
Overall, we are fine with YETI products and have no issues recommending them or this company (as long as you can comfortably afford it). However, we think some other brands have better-designed lids, and you won't pays as much for the logo elsewhere.
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Our Favorite
YETI Rambler Chug (26oz)
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26oz Rambler with Chug Lid
This is a great all-around bottle for everyday hydration. The chug lid is our favorite YETI option, with a wide handle that makes it easier to carry the heavy, durable bottles with this brand. There are plenty of color options to choose from, so you can choose whatever fits your style.
26-ounces is a good middle ground between having enough capacity to stay hydrated longer and being more manageable to carry around. YETIs are heavy, so when you start getting to 36oz and larger the bottles become quite bulky. We also prefer wide-mouth bottles in general because they let you add ice and clean your bottle more easily. |
How Well Does a YETI Insulate?
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All YETI Ramblers are made with dual-wall stainless steel 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 YETI Rambler 36oz tested in the top third of our most recent large insulation test, so it has great insulation but not necessarily the best. For most people though, their bottles have plenty of insulation to get you through the day. YETI does not currently have any triple-layer insulated bottles. 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 (especially if they overlap). But given that YETIs are durable compared to other brands, it's a very resilient bottle choice. |
Dual Wall vs Triple Layer Insulation
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How Much do YETIs Cost?
YETI products are expensive. Their Rambler bottles range from $25 for an 12oz Kids size to $65 for a 64oz Growler-size.
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What Brands are Comparable to YETI?
Two brands that are comparable to YETI include Hydro Flask and Stanley. Each are premium brands with large followings and good products, but you pay a substantial amount for the logo. Notably, many people associate YETI's branding with more traditionally male-focused terms like durability.
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What are Alternatives to YETI that Cost Less?
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Is YETI a Good Brand?
YETI may be the most powerful and recognizable brand in the water bottle industry, and their Drinkware category crossed $1 billion revenue in 2023.
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Where is YETI Located?
YETI is headquartered in Austin, Texas. To our knowledge, most of their products are made in China.
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How Good is YETI's Customer Support?
We have had decent experiences with YETI's customer support team, though we have not interacted with them much. They have a warranty claim form here on their website, which makes it feel more bureaucratic and like you're having to deal with red tape, but from what we've heard they are generally good to work with.
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Are YETI Ramblers Dishwasher-Safe?
From YETI's website:
"All Rambler® Drinkware products can be hand-washed and are also dishwasher safe. If you’re going the dishwasher route, just make sure everything goes where it should to get them as clean as possible.
Our Recommendation: We view water bottles like investments, and they're not exactly cheap (especially with brands like YETI). For that reason, we generally recommend handwashing all YETI Rambler bottles so they remain in top-tier condition even longer. |
Can You Put a YETI in the Fridge or Freezer?
Technically you could put a YETI bottle in the refrigerator or freezer, but it's not recommended.
Why?
We recommend just getting a wide-mouth bottle that makes it easy to add ice to your drink. |
Can You Put a YETI in the Microwave?
No.
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What is a YETI Rambler Made Of?
YETI's full Manufacturing FAQ page lists the materials used.
Do YETI Ramblers contain lead? In short, yes, but realistically this is not a concern. A small amount of lead in the solder that seals the vacuum. The solder is not exposed, unless your bottle is extremely damaged (probably beyond the point that you'd use it). You can read YETI's full statement about lead here.www.yeti.com/manufacturing-faq.html |
Do YETIs Avoid Plastic Contacting your Water?
Many people ask if YETIs completely avoid plastic contact with their water. Even though YETIs 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 YETIs Come In?
YETI has a ton of color options to choose from. For example, their popular 26oz YETI Rambler currently has 38 available color options on Amazon.
Notably, we have not seen gradients like you find with some brands like Iron Flask, and we also have not seen off-color schemes like with Owala more recently. Most of YETI's offerings are one solid color with metallic and black accents. |
How do you Clean a YETI Rambler?
From YETI's website:
"FOR EASY CLEANING
TOUGH STAINS?
NOTICE RUST MARKS?
"FOR EASY CLEANING
- Just pop it in the dishwasher — every inch of our drinkware is dishwasher safe. Don’t have a dishwasher? Hand washing them with mild dish soap will do just fine.
TOUGH STAINS?
- For coffee or tea stains that just won’t let up, opt for our deep-cleaning tablets.
- Drop in one YETI Cleaning Tablet, let sit for five minutes.
- Pour out solution and rinse thoroughly with water.
- Run through dishwasher before use.
- Do not shake solution in the drinkware.
- Two tablets recommended for drinkware over 30 ounces.
NOTICE RUST MARKS?
- Our stainless steel rarely rusts, but if it does, polishing it up is simple. Just grab a stainless steel cleaner at your local store.
YETI Bottle Options
We're focusing on YETI's Rambler bottles, but it's easy to get confused with YETI's whole other range of products under their "Rambler" brand, which includes tumblers, cups, a french press, and even a bucket (yes, really).
YETI's Rambler Brand includes All of These
YETI's Rambler Bottles
The ones we're referring to have straight-vertical sides and work with their Rambler threaded lids. Sizes include:
Most bottles come with the Chug Lid, but there are other variations that come with lids like the Straw or Hotshot.
- 12oz
- 18oz
- 26oz
- 36oz
- 46oz
- 64oz
Most bottles come with the Chug Lid, but there are other variations that come with lids like the Straw or Hotshot.
YETI Rambler 12oz
YETI Rambler 12oz
Hotshot Lid Good for coffee Too small for general water use Fits in many cup holders |
YETI Rambler 18oz
YETI Rambler 18oz
Chug Lid Too small in our opinion for hydration, but consider swapping out the Chug lid for the Hotshot for coffee Fits in many cup holders |
YETI Rambler 26oz
YETI Rambler 26oz
Chug Lid Great all-around option if you can refill it a couple times per day Fits in many cup holders |
YETI Rambler 36oz
YETI Rambler 36oz
Chug Lid Great all-around option Probably needs a cup holder adapter |
YETI Rambler 46oz
YETI Rambler 46oz
Chug Lid Good bottle for long-term hydration and road-trips, but it's getting a little too big for many people Probably needs a cup holder adapter |
YETI Rambler 64oz
YETI Rambler 64oz
Chug Lid Too heavy for most people for general hydration. Best use is to carry extra water (like on a road trip) then pour it into a smaller bottle to drink from. Won't even fit in most cup holder adapters |
Which YETI Lid is the Best?
There are several lid styles to choose from for Rambler bottles, but overall they're not our favorites for a few reasons mentioned below. Most notably, 3 of the 5 lids don't have handles, which is a bigger problem with YETI because their bottles are heavier and bulkier than most competitors.
All Ramblers lids fit all Rambler bottles (just make sure you're looking at a Rambler bottle and not another "Rambler" like their tumblers that use Magslider lids).
All Ramblers lids fit all Rambler bottles (just make sure you're looking at a Rambler bottle and not another "Rambler" like their tumblers that use Magslider lids).
YETI's Chug Lid
Chug Lid
This is the new "standard" that comes with most YETI Ramblers after they discontinued their original style lid. This one has a good handle and helpful spout to prevent spills. We wish the spout cap was tethered to the lid base to prevent accidentally dropping it, which can be more of a problem when using it one-handed (like when driving)
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YETI's Straw Lid
Straw Lid
YETI's Straw lid, to be honest, is not our favorite. It feels like an afterthought. The handle is pretty good, but the rest of the cap feels basic. Yes, it will function fine as a straw lid, but other brands like Hydro Flask and Owala have clearly put more effort into designing great straw lids.
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YETI's Hotshot Lid
Hotshot Lid (Sip-Style)
This is YETI's sip-style lid that's most traditionally used with bottles between 12 and 20 ounces with coffee. It's a decent option and you can take a sip from any side, but we wish it had a handle and was easier to open and close compared to some alternatives from other brands.
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YETI's Magdock Lid
Magdock (Chug-Style)
This is a decen chug-style lid because the magnet makes it easier to prevent dropping the spout cap, but we still wish the cap was tethered to the lid base. Also, there's no handle, which is a major downside, especially if you're planning to use this with a 36oz size bottle or larger.
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YETI's Cup Cap Lid
Cup Cap (Thermos-Style)
This is a pretty cool novelty item, but it seems overly expensive (even by YETI's standard). It's $30, and for that price you can almost buy a classic Stanley thermos that is basically as rugged, durable, and actually has a handle.
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SmartKap YETI Chug Lid (3rd Party)
SmartKap (3rd Party Chug-Style)
We honestly think a 3rd party lid like this one is the best option for most people with Rambler bottles because it has a good handle and a connected spout cap. Plus it's a little more affordable.
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What are Good YETI Accessories?
There's quite an ecosystem of accessories and supporting business and products for YETI owners. YETI has done a good job of providing a range of accessories, but you can also find a bunch of options from 3rd parties (like us!). Here are some of our favorites.
Recommended Accessories for YETIs
Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets
Bottle Bright Cleaning Tablets
These things really work, even for removing tea and coffee stains.
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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.
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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.
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Optional Accessories for YETI Ramblers
Carrying Pouch/Sling
YETI Rambler Sling
YETI's offering is honestly a little basic, but it gets the job done. This is the large one that fits 26oz and 36oz Ramblers, so just double-check you order the right size.
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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).
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Bottle Boot
Bottle Boot
We haven't tested this exact one, but bottle boots in general can be helpful for large bottles to prevnt scratches, dents, and noise. This listing says it's compatible with YETI Rambler bottles between 12 and 46 ounces.
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