dining

18 of the Very Best Water Bottles

Always be hydrating.

the Hydro Flask, our best overall water bottle
Photo: The Strategist; Photos: Courtesy of retailers
the Hydro Flask, our best overall water bottle
Photo: The Strategist; Photos: Courtesy of retailers

In this article

My water bottle is attached to my hip. I carry it around the house all day, leave it by my bedside at night, and take it with me pretty much whenever I go on errands, walks, and trips. Before I found my ideal one, though, I cycled through quite a few that ended up unused (too big to be practical for my lifestyle, didn’t keep water cold enough when I was out all day, or made me worried about spilling in my tote). What elevates a water bottle from just an okay water bottle to an excellent one is, first and foremost, whether it does a good job keeping your water cold. Then, I think it’s important that a water bottle be adaptable — that it can conform to your needs throughout the day, or week, whether you want to bring it to work, take it on a hike, or just casually tote it around the house with you.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of options for every type of water drinker: vacuum-sealed mugs for summertime road-trippers, squeezable bottles for runners training for a marathon, and gallon-size vessels for those who hate to refill. To figure out the best water bottles out there, I spoke to more than 20 people across the food, fitness, and sustainability spaces about the bottle they feel most passionate about, from the dentproof Yeti that’s ideal for children to the plastic cycling bottle that tastes “like you’re drinking right out of a glass.” Then, over the course of several months, I got to testing: on sweltering days, long car rides, and commuting around the city, swapping out my Hydro Flask (my personal favorite and our best overall pick) for hours or days at a time to see how they stacked up. And if you’re looking for the best reusable coffee mugs, we’ve got you covered there, too.

What we’re looking for

Volume

Most of the bottles on this list come in multiple sizes that hold varying amounts of water. If that’s the case, I’ve given details accordingly. Logically, if you’re going to be toting your water bottle around all day with nowhere to refill it, you’ll want something bigger. If you only plan on using it for a few hours, you should be fine with something smaller.

Lid type

The type of lid on your reusable water bottle will make a difference in how you experience drinking from it. Some have bigger mouths, some smaller. Some lids fully detach, while others twist off but stay attached. Some flip open and lock shut; others have a “sport” cap from which you can suck out the water. What you choose will depend on what you find comfortable to drink from, as well as what you’ll be doing as you sip, swig, or chug (sitting at a desk, exercising, running errands, driving or whatever else). It’s also worth noting that many of the brands below sell various types of compatible lids beyond what the listed bottle comes with. Again, if that’s the case, I’ve noted so in the description.

Material

Some bottles on this list are insulated stainless steel that keeps your water very cold for long periods of time. But others are plastic, glass, or non-insulated steel, as several of the people I spoke with prefer room-temperature water (or at least don’t mind when the liquid doesn’t stay cold all day).

Best water bottle overall

Volume: Multiple sizes, 18 ounces to 40 ounces | Lid type: Detached screw top | Material: Insulated stainless steel

I’m a Hydro Flask devotee. I’ve owned my 24-ounce bottle for three years now and it’s in as good shape as when I bought it. The stainless-steel insulated interior keeps water cold for hours at a time (though I usually go through it faster than that, I’ve savored it over long car rides and afternoons walking around in the hot sun with no perceptible temperature drop). Mine has a straw lid (which you can purchase from the get-go or separately if you want both options).  It’s a feature that has made me drink far more water than I did before. Because there’s nothing to unscrew unless it needs a refill, I tote it around the house all day and night long, constantly sipping with ease. And the straw clicks securely down so there’s no leaking when I throw it in a tote bag. As for maintenance, I throw both pieces in the dishwasher every couple of weeks and give the straw an extra scrub with a long and narrow brush like this one. Basically, it hits the mark in every way: great temperature retention, a leakproof cap, a durable body, and sleek form.

Several folks I talked to — not to mention many members of Strategist’s own team — love their Hydro Flasks, too. LaToya Tucciarone, founder of SustainAble Home Goods in Atlanta, and her family have been using various models for many years — “five years, maybe ten, I can’t even remember,” she says, “but they’re not degraded at all.”

Bettina Stern and Juan Dromogoole, respectively founder of and director of operations at Chaia in Washington D.C., are most hyped on Hydro Flask’s insulation ability. “If I’m going on a run, or a bike ride, I will take my Hydro Flask, which fits into my cup holder in my car, and I’ll fill it with cold water,” says Stern. “ And then when I finish, I have something to come back to. It’s just as cold as when I left it.” Journalist and cookbook author Lesley Téllez also swears by the brand, noting that it’s not too heavy to carry around all day.

While we’ve listed our favorite bottles for outdoor activities like hiking and backpacking below, Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa has used this lightweight Hydro Flask on the trail before and says it’s a good option for someone who prioritizes cold water on the go. “I value weight and volume more, but for those who want the insulation, I’d point them to this,” he says.

Best less expensive water bottle

Volume: 17 ounces each | Lid type: Fliplock lid | Material: Insulated stainless steel

For the same price of the smallest 18-ounce Hydro Flask, ThermoFlask sells this set of two 17-ounce bottles with the same double-wall insulating technology (as well as a notably similar design and name). I put my own Hydro Flask to the side to test it. The flip-up mechanism is similar to my Hydro Flask, but instead of a straw, it reveals a wider opening. Not only do I generally prefer that to the caps you have to fully unscrew to drink from, but I found that sipping was easy and tidy thanks to a U-shaped enclosure around the hole that guided a steady stream of water out of the bottle and into my mouth. I also appreciate the handle, which made the bottle comfortable to carry around on walks when I didn’t bring a bag with me. The size is smaller than my Hydro Flask, which means I didn’t take it with me when I was planning to be out for more than an hour or so, but it’s a bit lighter-weight.

The set was recommended by cookbook author and recipe developer Lukas Volger, who appreciates that they “don’t have tons of tiny crevices in the cap that make them impossible to ever get properly clean,” he says. He also likes that the lid can be opened and closed with one hand, which helps while exercising and in the car. I found the lid convenient, too, even while doing nothing but sitting around.

Best lightweight water bottle

Volume: Multiple sizes, 16 ounces to 48 ounces | Lid type: Attached screw top | Material: Plastic

First popularized by hikers during the environmental movement of the 1970s, Nalgene’s plastic bottles enjoy cult status today among mountain climbers and podcast merch designers alike. This bottle, made from HDPE plastic, is even lighter than the brand’s regular bottles. It weighs a mere 3.75 ounces when empty, whereas classic Tritan plastic Nalgenes come in at 6.25 ounces, which Strategist editor Maxine Builder says “really make a difference when you’re toting around a bottle full of water every day or going hiking or schlepping through the subway.” Recipe developer and cookbook author Jessie Sheehan loves that its massive 32-ounce size “holds a lot of water, which is helpful for those of us obsessed with drinking eight glasses a day,” but that the HDPE construction means it’s “still so lightweight.” And Emily Fiffer, co-owner of Botanica in Los Angeles — who refills hers multiple times a day — says the water never tastes plasticky, the lid doesn’t leak, and “it literally just can’t break” no matter how many times you drop it.

Best vacuum-insulated water bottle

From $26

Volume: Multiple sizes, 12 ounces to 20 ounces | Lid type: Fliplock lid | Material: Insulated stainless steel

Cookbook author and recipe developer Carla Lalli Music had been using her Zojirushis (yes, she has multiple) for hot beverages for years — until one day she decided to fill it with ice water to bring to the beach. “It was literally anchored in the sand, in full sunlight,” she says. “We did the whole beach day and at the end, there were still cubes inside. You don’t have to keep it in a cooler. It is a cooler.” This is thanks to an insulated steel layer between the inside and outside of the bottle — and yet that’s still not even the most impressive feature. Music admits there are other bottles out there that keep liquids at temperature for hours on end (like the Hydro Flask) — but none with Zojirushi’s vacuum-sealing lid. “The Zoji never spills,” she says. “It has the most bust-proof cap in the biz.”

That secure seal is also what makes the bottle a favorite of Ilana Glazer’s, who brings it onstage during stand-up sets. The Zojirushi is “so quick to open and close, and the flow works better than a glass of water splashing everywhere as I dump it onto my face,” she says. (Plus it’s sleek enough to look good onstage.) New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff also swears by it, calling its stay-cold capabilities “mind-boggling.” If the most important thing to you is ice not melting, then I’d recommend this over the Hydro Flask.

Best water bottle for kids

Volume: 12 ounces | Lid type: Straw cap | Material: Insulated stainless steel

The best water bottle for kids needs to be able to withstand some rough-and-tumble. Cookbook author Erin Gleeson says that while her three kids have been especially “hard on water bottles” in the past, none of them have yet been able to make a dent in these “tough” bottles from Yeti. Not only is the brand’s thick, steel construction incredibly drop-resistant, but this design also has a handle for little ones to grip, and, at 12 ounces, is slightly smaller and more manageable than your typical adult-sized bottle, which come in five sizes from 18 to 64 ounces. (Gleeson also says the smooth, stainless-steel interior keeps them “not grimy,” and appreciates that both the lid and bottle are dishwasher-safe.)

Best less expensive water bottle for kids

Volume: 12 ounces | Lid type: Straw cap | Material: Insulated stainless steel

Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio swears by Thermos’ Funtainer, which both of her kids, ages four and seven, have been using for the past year. “They aren’t going to hold ice for 24 hours or anything, but they are insulated, non-sweating, and very solid on keeping water cold for at least a few hours,” she says. They have a silicone handle for comfortable carrying, and a ring around the bottom in the same material to help prevent scratches and nicks. “I’m shocked that they’re not way more dented given how they throw the things around,” she says. And then, there’s the fact that they come in a myriad of fun colors and prints (both licensed, like Pokémon, and generic, like a rainbow design). Trolio isn’t the only one who loves them: In our recent story on what kids are bringing back to school last year, the Funtainer got the most mentions among the preteen set.

Best water bottle for families

Volume: Multiple sizes, 12 ounces to 27 ounces | Lid type: Sport cap | Material: Stainless steel

Klean Kanteen makes bottles in three different sizes — the 18 ounces listed above, a bigger 27 ounces, and a child’s-size 12 ounces — with universal-size lids that can easily be mixed and matched. “My family has about a dozen of them,” says Mei Li, co-owner of Mei Mei in Boston and writer of Food Waste Feast. “They come in lots of colors (important when you have opinionated children) and are super easy to clean. I appreciate that they don’t have tons of fussy little bits that are easy to lose and that the same tops fit all of them so I don’t have to keep track. It allows you to switch in between super easily.” There are also several different styles of lids, so you can buy a handful of them and pick out whichever one you need for whichever bottle you or any other member of your family might want at any given time — say, a sippy cap for a younger child and a loop cap for an older one. Li also notes that the bottles keep water fairly cold for a while, but not all-day ice cold.

Best large water bottle

Volume: One gallon | Lid type: Attached screw top | Material: Plastic

This gallon-size motivational water bottle first came across our radar in 2019, as recommended by Caroline Goldfarb. It became her emotional-support water bottle before that was a thing: “The jug is my best friend, my personal trainer, my mean Persian mom, my fears, my desires, all melted into one BPA-free bottle.”

It was a “day-five pandemic purchase” for content creator and recipe developer Dan Pelosi, who was looking for an easier way to drink a lot of water every day. (The vessel has personal-trainer-style phrases down on the side that encourage you to drink to the next line down every two hours, which Pelosi says kept him “laughing, and peeing, too.”) Years later, he’s as much a fan of the bottle’s design quality as he is of its sense of humor: “It’s so thick and wide that you can’t knock it over,” he says, adding that the spout closes with an “audible click that really works.” Indeed, while you can find variations of this design online, this one has a convenient straw spout that makes it extra easy to drink from. The lid also has a very tight seal. “I would turn it sideways and do dumbbell curls and it was fine — no spilling,” Pelosi says. And Goldfarb thinks there are other benefits to drinking that much water: “When I consistently drink a gallon a day, I find my skin is clearer, my bloat is down, and (perhaps best of all) I don’t feel as gross after a night of drinking booze.”

Best foldable water bottle

Volume: Multiple sizes, 16 ounces to 50 ounces | Lid type: Fliplock lid | Material: Plastic

Another activity-friendly option — even just for running around the city all day, as contributor Caroline Bankoff explains — is the Vapur Element. When empty, the flexible plastic scrunches up, seriously downsizing the footprint it takes up in a carryall (or, yes, your pocket). It has a handy carabiner attached in case you want to carry it with you that way too. “The best thing about the Vapur is that the size adjusts to the amount of water that’s in it, so I can fit it into any bag (or dump out water if I need to make more room),” says Bankoff. It’s also lightweight and dishwasher-safe.

Best water bottle for hiking

Volume: 32 ounces | Lid type: Detached screw top | Material: Glass with silicone sleeve

While the likes of Nalgene use “BPA-free” plastic to prevent toxins from the material from leaking into the water, L.A. Hike Club co-founder Madison Powers still feels more comfortable drinking her water from a glass bottle (she finds stainless steel keeps liquids too cold for efficient exercising). While some glass bottles can fog up over time, Powers says that after over a year of use, this bottle “has stayed really clear” and still “looks like new,” even after regular runs through the dishwasher. If you’re worried about the glass breaking, this bottle also comes with a silicone jacket that Power says is so protective — it’s survived many tumbles on the trail — and the coating makes it easy to grip and comfortable to hold.

Best water bottle for backpacking

LifeStraw Go Filter Bottle - 1L
From $45
From $45

Volume: 22 ounces | Lid type: Straw cap | Material: Plastic

Rellosa has backpacked everywhere from Patagonia to Nepal and swears by his LifeStraw to keep him hydrated. He can fill it from any stream or pond and the filter inside cleans out pollutants. He says it’s also more efficient than gravity filters such as the Berkey below that’s better suited for camping, and it weighs less than large filtration apparatuses. “And though you can pop iodine tablets in your bottle to purify the water, they won’t filter out debris like this will,” he says.

Best filtered water bottle

Volume: 32 ounces | Lid type: Detached screw top | Material: Stainless steel

Berkey has something of a cult following, beloved by preppers and tastemakers alike. While most of its products are countertop filtration systems, it also makes this small bottle version (that still holds more water than the LifeStraw). Stylist Beverly Nguyen started using it when she was living in California (“I grew up [there]… but I forgot how bad the tap water is,” she says), but it was a habit that stuck once she moved back to New York. The stainless-steel vessel has a filter that fits perfectly inside and will decontaminate water — especially good for camping, but also if you’re drinking from an unknown tap or fountain. “It’s a beautiful ritual, actually,” Nguyen says. You place a charcoal filter at the base (it only needs to be replaced every six months or so), then pour water over the top and let it come down. “It’s almost like a drip coffee system,” she says. While it’s not the “lightest thing to carry around” (five pounds when full, three when empty), it doesn’t bother her during her day to day because she tends to make many pit stops around the city. Plus, it fits perfectly in her gym bag.

Best water bottle for running

Volume: 12 ounces and 18 ounces | Lid type: Push/pull lid | Material: Insulated plastic

A water bottle for running needs to be comfortable to hold and not too heavy when full. Philip Speer, co-owner and chef of Comedor in Austin, (an avid runner, he’s participated in ultramarathons, and even started a run club with his restaurant colleagues that meets multiple times a week), turns to the ingeniously-designed, insulated Nathan QuickSqueeze to stay hydrated on any runs longer than a 5k. It comes with a “super comfortable” attached strap that secures around your hand — to use it, Speer says you just “lift your hand up to your face, bite down around the top, squeeze it, then put your hand back down.” Helpfully, the strap includes a zip pocket for keys and credit cards, and even an elastic pocket for a smartphone – though you’ll want to size up to the $40 18-ounce edition for any larger devices.

Best water bottle for biking

Volume: 22 ounces | Lid type: Watergate cap | Material: Insulated plastic

If you’re serious about cycling, consider this bottle from Specialized. With lightweight, simple cap options that are all catered toward easy maneuvering, and the right silhouette to click into bicycle cages, they’re specifically designed for drinking while riding. “The Purist bottle, made from insulated plastic like the Nathan above, is widely regarded as the default cycling bottle by most shops,” says Eighth Hour Bike Studio owner Ronnie Garcia, adding that you’ll find customized versions at almost every bike retailer. But Garcia also appreciates the quality of the insulated plastic: “Cheaper bottles will start to deform and end up not fitting so well,” he says. Brooklyn Bicycle Co. president Ryan Zagata notes that the material doesn’t leach out any unpleasant taste, another issue with cheaper plastic models. “It tastes like you’re drinking right out of a glass,” he says.

Best water bottle with straw

Volume: Multiple sizes, 14 ounces to 40 ounces | Lid type: Straw cap | Material: Insulated stainless steel

If you live in a particular part of TikTok, you’ve likely seen this water bottle; it went viral earlier this year and is having a moment yet again by staging some limited-edition color drops. (If you need more proof of its virality, both Nicola Peltz Beckham and former Bachelorette Hannah Brown recommended it to us.) But it’s not just a trend.

Strategist writer Arielle Avila has owned the 40-ounce for many months now and swears she drinks more water than when she used a Nalgene. This is, she says, thanks to the straw. Because there’s nothing to unscrew, she sips from it even when she’s not actively thinking about how she should be hydrating. She also appreciates how the large handle makes it easier to carry around, especially for such a large vessel, and the fact that it keeps water cold all day long. She does warn that it’s big and fairly heavy when full, so she drinks from it mostly at home and at the gym in her building. (The Stanley does have an option to sip from a slightly larger open hole, but Avila rarely uses it because the bottle is a bit heavy to tilt back comfortably, she says.)

And even Mrs. Beckham — who claims she was “never a person who brought water bottles around with me” — says the Stanley has converted her. “My mom sent me one, and I absolutely made fun of her. I was like, ‘I’m never going to bring that thing anywhere with me. That’s so embarrassing.’ Now, I’m that person who can’t go anywhere without it.” Hannah Brown, meanwhile, admits, “it’s such a basic-girl thing, but they’re great and fit in the cup holder. I love being able to hold the handle. What’s not to love? There’s a reason everybody’s obsessed with them.”

Best water bottle with straw and sip lid

Volume: Multiple sizes, 19 ounces to 40 ounces | Lid type: Straw and sip lid | Material: Insulated stainless steel

This past year, it became clear to me that the Owala is the status water bottle — and I think it’s here to stay. Anecdotally, I see it out in the world frequently (at the grocery store, at the gym, on the street). But it’s not just that: 11 Strategist staffers (as well as Lance Bass and Samantha Irby) are enthusiastic owners and love it for the same reason: There are two options for sipping. One opening allows you to suck water through a straw, while the other reveals a wide-mouth hole with a protruding angled border to help guide a stream of water for gulps. (This is unlike my Hydro Flask, which has a straw lid you have to unscrew completely if you want to reveal the wider opening, and the Stanley, which has a separate straw you have to put in and take out of a designated hole, and is a bit more cumbersome overall.)

Our junior writer Brenley Goertzen bought an Owala in June and, after using around ten other models in the years before, has become a total convert. She uses the straw most of the time because it allows her to sip thoughtlessly — so much so that she says she’s more than tripled her daily fluid intake. But she says she likes the big opening for really chugging after running without having to worry about “accidentally pouring water down my shirt, which happened all the time with my Hydro,” she says. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang also points out that the sip hole allows her to get the last bit of water out once she reaches the bottom and the straw isn’t able to draw any more out. And Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio says she finds the straw mechanism itself is much more pleasant to drink from than ones that stick out.

The dishwasher-safe bottle’s cold retention is also great: Ice stays solid for a couple of days, Goertzen says. (Bass says the same.) And Trolio notes that when clicked close, the lid is leak-proof even when jostled around in a bag.

Most maximalist stylish water bottle

Volume: 17 ounces | Lid type: Detached screw top | Material: Stainless steel

Lund’s water bottles are distinctive: I love their playful frames and pretty colors. But according to Strategist writer and self-proclaimed “hydrating freak” Ambar Pardilla, the charming look of this bottle doesn’t mean it lacks in practicality: The lid screws on tight and the water stays cold, she assures. She points out the aesthetic is, in a certain way, the opposite of the bulkier Nalgenes and Hydro Flasks. “I loved the design immediately when I saw it,” she says. “It looks like one of those silly little sculptures you’d use to beef up a toddler’s bookcase. And the color combinations are so wacky — they shouldn’t work together, but they somehow do. It makes me happy whenever I drink from it.”

Best minimalist stylish water bottle

Volume: 17 ounces | Lid type: Detached screw top | Material: Glass

On the other end of the spectrum, I find this Japanese-designed Kinto bottle to be satisfyingly understated. It comes recommended by Downtime founder Alishia Ramos, who bought it because of “the design, first and foremost,” she says. “It’s eye-catching even though it’s minimalist.” It’s made from copolyester, a thermoplastic resin that has the appearance of glass, but is much more durable and lightweight. “I really like the way my hands can fit around the profile of the bottle,” says Ramos. “It’s a little skinnier than a lot of others, and I never have to worry about it fitting in a cup holder or my purse.” One more plus? “There’s no obvious branding. It says ‘Kinto’ on the bottom, but you can’t really see it.”

Some more water bottles we’ve written about

Our experts

• Arielle Avila, Strategist writer
• Caroline Bankoff, Strategist contributor
Maxine Builder, Strategist editor
• Juan Dromgoole, director of operations at Chaia
• Emily Fiffer, co-owner of Botanica
• Ronnie Garcia, owner of Eighth Hour Bike Studio
• Erin Gleeson, cookbook author
• Brenley Goertzen, Strategist junior writer
• Carla Lalli Music, cookbook author and recipe developer
• Mei Lei, co-owner of Mei Mei and writer of Food Waste Feast
• Beverly Nguyen, stylist
• Ambar Pardilla, Strategist writer
• Dan Pelosi, recipe developer and content creator of GrossyPelosi
• Madison Powers, co-founder of LA Hike Club
• Alishia Ramos, founder of Downtime
• Jeremy Rellosa, Strategist writer
• Jessie Sheehan, cookbook author and recipe developer
• Philip Speer, co-owner and chef of Comedor
• Bettina Stern, founder of Chaia
• Alexis Swerdloff, New York deputy editor
• Lesley Téllez, journalist and cookbook author
• Jen Trolio, Strategist senior editor
• LaToya Tucciarone, founder of SustainAble Home Goods
• Winnie Yang, Strategist senior editor
• Lukas Volger, cookbook author and recipe developer
• Ryan Zagata, president of Brooklyn Bicycle Co.

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18 of the Very Best Water Bottles