My Favorite Things: Water Bottles Edition

I've tested more water bottles than I care to admit, but these are the ones I actually use. Whether it's for everyday hydration, travel days, or workouts, each one earned its spot in my rotation for a reason.

Quick Picks, Best Water Bottles by Use Case

Here are the bottles that are in my regular rotation:

My Everyday Bottle - Owala FreeSip 40oz

My Car-Travel Bottle - Owala FreeSip 24oz

My International Travel Bottle - HydraPak Flux™ 1L

My Workout Bottle - Yeti Rambler 18oz/26oz

Other bottles I've tried (that didn't make the cut):

Nalgene Wide Mouth 32oz

Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 40oz

Yeti Tumbler 20/30oz

HydraPak Skyflask IT Speed 500mL

Hydro Flask Tumbler 40oz

Here's a detailed water bottle review of each one, including what I like, what's annoying, and when I actually use them.

Owala FreeSip 40oz Review

My Everyday Bottle

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Owala

This is one of my all-time favorite bottles. I originally got hooked on the 24oz version (mainly because it was the only one I could find in-store) and immediately fell in love. Eventually, I upgraded to the 40oz because fewer refills = fewer excuses.

Like many of you, I'm not naturally great at hitting the recommended water intake, and I'm full of excuses: "My water doesn't stay cold," "I need a straw," "I have to refill it too often."

This bottle removes every excuse. Plus, the fun colors don't hurt.

Pros

• Keeps water chilled all day

• Large 40oz capacity means fewer refills throughout the day

• Straw that is fully covered by a leak-proof lid

• Dishwasher safe

• Has handle for easy carrying

• Wide-mouth opening to easily fill with ice and clean

• Available in multiple color options

  
  

Cons

• Too large to fit in standard car cup holder

• Slight learning curve getting used to the dual drinking mechanism

• Tip-to-drink function feels awkward and I don't use it.

When I use them:

• At my desk during work days for constant hydration

• At home when I want to minimize refill trips

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Owala FreeSip 24oz

My Car-Travel Bottle

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Owala

This was my first Owala bottle, and it was love at first use. I actually have two of this size - one that lives in my car for everyday errands, and a backup I bring for domestic travel (driving or flying).

Honestly, I didn't set out to have two - I just kept losing them. (At one point I even put an Apple Airtag on it ... until I realized the Airtag was actually more expensive than that bottle. Ha!) After replacing it a few times, I decided I just keep a backup on hand, which now doubles as my travel bottle.

Pros

• Keeps water chilled all day

• Fits in standard car cup holder

• Straw that is fully covered by a lid

• Dishwasher safe

• Has handle for easy carrying

• Wide-mouth to easily fill with ice and clean

• Variety of colors

  
  

Cons

• A bit too small to get the amount of water per day I'm supposed to

• A slight learning curve getting used to the straw

HydraPak Flux™ 1L

My International Travel Bottle

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HydraPak (Preferred Link)

In case you don't know me, my style of travel is a 45L backpack, hostels, and public transit. I first discovered collapsible bottles on my trip to India. On my most recent trip to Greece, I decided to upgrade from a 500ml to a 1L bottle, and it did not disappoint. Before this, I always ran into one of two problems: I would bring my Owala 24oz bottle and struggle to pack it when I wasn't using it, or not bring a bottle and wish that I had.

I loved that it could collapse down to fit nearly anywhere when I wasn't using it, or be ready to take on a hike with me. I wish I had added this to my standard packing list sooner!

Pros

• Collapsible

• Lightweight

• Leakproof

• 1L Volume

• Mouthpiece has a protective cover

• Loop handle for storage or carrying

• Large opening for easy refill

• Stands upright

  
  

Cons

• Not well-insulated (still better than a disposable plastic bottle)

• Twist cap (I prefer bite valves)

I replaced my previous travel bottle, the SkyFlask IT Speed 500ml, with this one. It works better for most things, but there are still a few features I miss—scroll down for that comparison.

Yeti Rambler 18oz/26oz

My Workout Bottle

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Yeti (Preferred Link)

When I'm working out, straws just slow me down. I want to drink fast and get back to it. I like that this bottle has a chug cap that lets me drink as much as I want as fast as I want.

I have both an 18oz and a 26oz of this bottle. If my bottle needs to fit in a cup holder, I will use the 18oz. If I think I will need more liquid, I will opt for the 26oz. Otherwise, I use these pretty interchangeably.

This is also the bottle I use for electrolytes during workouts. The wide opening makes it easy to toss in ice, water, and a packet, shake it up, and go.

Pros

• Keeps liquids cold all day

• Chug cap

• Leakproof

• Easy to refill

• Opening is large enough to fit in ice

• Fits in standard cup holder (18oz)

  
  

Cons

• The refill top is sometimes difficult to unscrew

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Other Bottles I Use (But Aren't in My Main Rotation)

Nalgene Wide Mouth 32oz

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Nalgene (Preferred Link)

I've had one of these in my closet since I was a teenager. It's always been a great all-purpose bottle - durable, lightweight, and easy to clean.

Right now, I use it mostly to mix my LMNT electrolytes (Watermelon Salt is my go-to). I fill it with about 28oz of water, add a stick pack, and give it a good shake. I'll pour what I need into my Yeti Rambler for my workout, and whatever's left goes into the fridge for the next day.

Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 40oz

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Hydro Flack (Preferred Link)

This bottle is what kicked off my water bottle obsession. It was my first upgrade from the Nalgene - insulated, sleeker, and it felt like a big step up at the time. Then Hydro Flask started releasing new lid styles, which gave me different ways to drink from the same bottle. That little bit of novelty actually helped me drink more water for a while.

Over time, newer bottles hit the market and I got more particular about what I liked. One of my biggest issues with this one was the straw lid. It didn't have a cover, so the mouthpiece always felt exposed. I tried a knockoff lid from Amazon hoping it would solve the problem. It worked well enough for a while, but I quickly found other bottles I liked more.

Now, I mostly use this bottle for longer road trips. I fill it up with cold water before I leave, stash it with my road snacks, and use it to refill whatever bottle is sitting in my cup holder during pit stops.

Yeti Tumbler 20oz/30oz

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Yeti (Preferred Link)

I know this isn't technically a "bottle," but it felt appropriate to include it here.

Every so often, I want to drink out of something that feels more like a cup, but because I'm, well, me, I feel safer when there's a lid. The lid is actually my favorite part of this tumbler. While it's not completely spill-proof, it's enough to keep things from going everywhere if you knock it over. Instead of a built-in slider, the opening is sealed with a magnet, making the cleaning process a breeze.

I also use this for coffee. Since it is double-walled, there is no concern about the cup being too hot to hold. During the winter months, I actually do not like using it because the outside can get too cold to hold when I am outdoors.

One heads-up: there is a small piece of plastic on the lid that helps it stay secured to the cup. Because of that, I try to avoid dairy (like creamer or milk-based lattes). Unless you deep clean it after every use, I have found that the piece can start to smell a bit over time.

HydraPak Skyflask IT Speed 500mL

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HydraPak (Preferred Link)

I replaced this bottle on my top list after switching to a 1 L version, but I am still keeping it here because it is a good bottle. There are a few things I still prefer about it over the HydraPak Flux.

The two main advantages of the Skyflask are the slight insulation and the bite valve mouthpiece. The only reason the Flux edged it out for me was the larger volume.

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Bottles That Did Not Make the Cut

Hydro Flask Tumbler 40oz

I really wanted a Stanley, but refused to jump on that bandwagon. So instead, I gave this one a shot. It had all of the features of the Stanley, but with a brand that I felt a bit more aligned with. I also liked the silicone straw. It felt like a nice upgrade from the typical plastic ones.

After trying this out for two months, I ended up returning it (thanks to REI's generous return policy). The main issue was stability. I could not get this thing to stand upright for the life of me. While the lid stayed mostly in place, it was not spill-proof. Each time it tipped, enough water leaked out that it ended up being more hassle than it was worth.

Final Notes

This list is not about chasing trends. These are the bottles I actually use and keep using. Some are in heavy rotation, others get pulled out occasionally, and a few have been retired for good. I plan to keep updating this as I test more.