Buying plastic bottles on the go is not only a less eco-friendly way to stay hydrated throughout the day but it also isn't going to keep your water as cool and fresh as one of the best water bottles will. But which is the best water bottle to buy on the market? Well, after testing many many water bottles we've established a list of our favorites in 2024.
Our current favorite is the Stanley Classic Iceflow Flip Straw Tumbler, which excelled during testing. It boasts a leak-proof design so there are no unwanted spills down your front and thanks to the secure flip straw top, it's super easy to slurp from on the go.
However, we all have different preferences when it comes to water bottle shapes and design features. Lucky for you, our buying guide simplifies your hunt by presenting the best water bottles that we've tested, judging them for their performance, design, and functionality.
From bottles that keep your drinks icy cold to those that come with built-in straws, our recommendations cover a variety of preferences and features.
Best water bottle for on the go
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably seen the Stanley Quencher just about everywhere. However, we prefer the smaller version and think it's one of the best water bottles in 2024. The leak-proof design means you can chuck it in your gym bag, without having to worry, and the built-in straw makes it super easy to drink from on the move.
The stainless steel design keeps iced drinks cold for 48 hours and chilled drinks cold for 12. You can't put hot drinks in this Stanley, but you can chuck this in the dishwasher, which is handy.
The bottle looks great and comes in a wide range of different colors to suit every style.
Best water bottle for hiking
I spent three days hiking through the Swiss Alps, scrambling up mountains, weaving through valleys, and unwinding in a mountain hut each night. Among all the gear in my pack, the Columbia Double-Wall Vacuum Bottle was the one item that didn't leave my side. Blessed with good weather on the trip, the double wall insulation of this bottle understood the assignment and kept my water cool all day long. I also tested out storing hot coffee inside the bottle and was impressed at the level of heat it withheld three hours later when I came to drink it. I'd trust it to last the full six hours that Columbia promises.
The wide-rim bottle top makes it easy to drink from, and the generous opening is especially convenient for filling up from natural sources, like streams. It’s perfectly sized for the side pocket of a hiking pack but compact enough to fit comfortably inside as well. Plus, the sturdy handle on the cap is ideal for carrying by hand on long treks, giving you quick, easy access to your water.
Best insulated water bottle
Just because you’re using cutting-edge tech doesn’t mean the result can’t be simple. The Purist Mover, part of a larger bottle collection (10 to 32 ounces), features a 304 stainless steel outer wall and a 316 surgical-grade stainless steel inner wall. A 60-nanometer-thin glass coating inside prevents metallic tastes and makes cleaning easier.
Meanwhile, the exterior is elegant yet durable, keeping drinks hot for 12 hours or cold for 24. Available in muted colors, the bottle offers three lids: Element, Union, and Scope. The Element lid, included with my review unit, has a pop-up handle and is insulated, ideal for both hot and cold liquids.
Best water bottle for everyday
This is our idea of the perfect everyday water bottle. It holds 24oz and features a tall, slim design that fits most car and bike holders. The appealing aesthetic and handy handle make it ideal for carrying by hand. With ten colorways, you have plenty of options.
The spout-shaped mouth has a twist-on flip cap that stays out of the way while drinking. Vacuum insulation keeps drinks at the perfect temperature all day, whether at your desk or during a hike. The powder-coated exterior provides extra grip for sweaty hands during workouts. For more on our experience, read why I ditched my old water bottle for the Lululemon Back to Life Sport Bottle.
Best water bottle for road trips
Constructed from 18/8 stainless steel, this dishwasher-safe water bottle is easy to clean. The slim, leakproof 24-ounce model fits most vehicle cup holders perfectly. The cobalt blue Hydro Flask I reviewed has a slip-free, sweat-free powder coating, with 16 other colors and two sizes available.
It features a pivoting strap for easy carrying and feels solid enough for self-defense. The TempShield double-wall insulation and Hydro Flask’s Honeycomb insulation keep liquids cold for 24 hours or hot for 6. In tests, hot liquids dropped from 160°F to 115°F in 12 hours, and cold liquids rose from 35°F to 57°F. Ideal for coffee or Kool-Aid, the Hydro Flask is perfect for road trips.
Best water bottle for outdoor adventures
If you’ve spent time in the woods over the past 20 years, you’ve heard of Yeti. Known for top-tier coolers and insulated accessories, Yeti also makes legendary water bottles. The Rambler collection includes insulated tumblers and jugs for the whole family, even a 12-ounce Rambler Jr. with a straw cap for kids. Sizes go up to 64 ounces, in colors like Copper, Coral, Graphite, Navy, and Prickly Pear.
My 26-ounce Yeti Rambler in Prickly Pear has a sweat-free coating, cool to the touch regardless of liquid temperature. The Rambler features both a lid and a Chug Cap, allowing use of the wide 3-inch opening for refills and a comfortable 1-inch spout for sipping. The TripleHaul handle and practical design make it perfect for outdoor enthusiasts of all ages.
Best water bottle for cycling
The CamelBak Podium Steel is designed with cyclists in mind. The bottle fits neatly into most bike bottle cages, with an indentation to make it easy to hold. The locking mechanism prevents spills, although it’s easy to flick open and lock with a single hand. And, the Steel version of this popular bottle has insulation to keep your water cool for more than 12 hours in the 18oz and 22oz editions.
We liked that its easy to drink from — you don’t need to squeeze the bottle — and were impressed at how cold the water remained after hours out of the fridge. However, some water gets trapped in the bottle’s spout after you drink. So, if you have it in a bag or tip it upside down without checking, some water will leak out. But if its the right way up inside a bike cage, you won’t notice.
Best smart water bottle
The Hidrate Spark 3 is designed for tech-savvy users who love connectivity and fitness. This 20-ounce bottle syncs with the Hidrate Spark app to track daily hydration goals. It glows at preset intervals to remind you to hydrate and has location tracking via the app. Available in six colors, it sets personalized hydration goals based on your user profile.
The bottle has a built-in Bluetooth sensor that syncs your progress. It’s compatible with fitness apps like Google Fit, Fitbit, and Garmin. During testing, syncing with Google Fit and Under Armour on my Samsung Galaxy Note 20 Ultra was glitch-free, though I didn’t notice additional data collection by these apps. Despite this, the health benefits make the $59.95 price tag worth it.
Best running water bottle
The CamelBak Quick Grip Chill Handheld Hydration Pack is ideal for short cardio workouts. It comes in a 17-ounce size, designed to fit comfortably in your hand. The triangular-shaped Peak Fitness water bottle features a tapered design and a self-sealing cap, perfect for runners. The bottle fits snugly in a breathable air mesh pouch, available in three color schemes.
My review unit was burgundy with a reflective “hot coral” hand strap. During jogs in Prospect Park, the strap cinched tight easily, and I didn't need to grip the bottle, even when sweaty. The high-flow, self-sealing jet valve is leakproof, allowing for mid-stride sips without spills. You have to squeeze it to release water, making it spill-proof.
Best plastic water bottle
The Tritan has been Nalgene’s best-selling water bottle for over three decades, evoking nostalgia with its iconic design. Available in narrow and wide-mouth openings, it comes in colors like Melon Ball, Rustic Orange, and Slate Blue. Rated for temperatures between -40 and 212 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s basic but reliable, lacking extra insulation.
My Clementine-colored Tritan feels like my college water bottle, complete with handy ounce and milliliter measurements on the side. The leakproof cap is attached, making it dummy-proof. Nalgene bottles are virtually indestructible, and at less than $15, they offer unbeatable value for regular use. Pound for pound, it's the best choice for budget-friendly hydration.
How to choose the best water bottle for you
Styles / Color Options
This is a great place to start since you’ll be toting this thing all over the place. Or will you? Some water bottles were built for mobility, while others are better suited for tabletop use. (Or the floor of a tent.) The best water bottles have lots of color options to choose from, so if you’re looking for a gym accessory to match your personal style, you’re bound to find something you like among the slimmer models.
Size and Liquid Capacity
Smaller water bottles might only hold 12 ounces of liquid (or less), which is great if you plan on taking yours on daily jogs. Others are built like tanks and are great for hardcore camping expeditions. Or maybe you’re just looking for a water bottle to keep by your desk while you work. Think about how you plan to use the water bottle before settling on a size.
Mouth and cap style
If you want to be able to add things such as ice or powder mixes to a water bottle, then it’s helpful to have a water bottle with a larger mouth. However, it’s harder to drink from wider-mouthed bottles if you’re on the move. Look for a water bottle whose cap unscrews to let you pour liquids in easily, but with a smaller opening to let you drink from it without spilling.
Construction & insulation
Many of the best water bottles, especially those that are insulated, have some heft to them, and are made from durable stainless steel; this allows for some models to handle both hot and cold drinks with aplomb. Budget-priced bottles are usually made from plastic — which makes them a lot lighter, too, which makes them more suitable for runners or bikers.
Extra bells & whistles
Yep, even water bottles have built-in tech these days. You might have to spend a little more coin, but a variety of premium water bottles include customizable lights (they’re actually cooler than you’d think), smartphone app connectivity, and even built-in water purification. Some bottles have swappable caps and/or built-in straws, and those aimed at the fitness sector often include a carrying pouch of some kind.
How we tested the best water bottles
For this story, we ordered both insulated and non-insulated water bottles, and evaluated them for usability: For example, how easy was it to hold them and screw and unscrew the caps? Was the bottle heavy? Was it offered in a variety of sizes and colors?
To test out any insulated water bottles on this list, which are designed to handle both hot and cold beverages, I filled them halfway to the top with boiling water, screwed on the lids, and let the bottles sit for 10 minutes. Then I removed the lids and quickly recorded the inner temperature of each bottle via an infrared thermometer. (The overall temperature range fell between 160 and 180 degrees Fahrenheit for hot liquids, due to each bottle’s varying shape and size.)
After sealing the bottles again and letting them stand overnight in a 70-degree room for 12 full hours, I recorded the inner temperature a second time. (To measure fluctuations in cold liquids, I repeated this process using ice water and 24-hour testing intervals.) In short: the smaller the temperature flux, the more effective the insulation.
Also tested
FAQs
What is the healthiest water bottle to drink from?
Of course, sustainability thinkers are trying to steer clear of plastic bottles. But what are the healthiest bottles to drink from?
If you're trying to be more mindful of your water bottle choices when choosing the best water bottle for workouts, consider glass. Stainless steel bottles are also proving popular, and both options are safe, durable, and toxin-free.
What is the safest water bottle to drink from?
Glass prevents anything unwanted from getting into your fluids, and most plastic bottles are classified as BPA-free. However, remember to wash your bottles regularly to keep them safe and clean.
Metal bottles made from stainless steel or aluminum are also safe, but each material comes with its own pros and cons, from how durable they are to how easy your bottle is to wash or how heavy it might be.
Glass bottles might look great, but they're easier to break than durable stainless steel models, which are also great at insulating your drinks. Plastic is arguably the most lightweight but can leave a taste in your mouth and doesn't fare as well in the wash.
How often should I clean my water bottle?
We recommend giving your water bottle a wash every time you finish using it. For those who use their water bottle 24/7, this will be harder to manage but so long as you give your bottle a weekly thorough clean it should keep your bottle fresh and in a good condition.
The best way to clean them is using hot water and washing fluids rather than using a dishwasher, as some models aren't dishwasher-friendly. Air dry your bottle and remember to clean around the lid, washing and drying the bottle separately to the lid.
