Best size water bottle for everyday use

How to Choose a Reusable Water Bottle – Buyer’s Guide

Countless brands, different sizes and shapes as well as unique features make choosing the right water bottle an overwhelming task. But don’t fret!

There are actually a great many tumblers on the market that are really good. It’s actually hard to go wrong, but you might as well get the flask that’s best for your needs.

We’re here to help you make an informed decision so you don’t drown in the crowded sea of drinking options and end up making a regrettable purchase.

In this buyer’s guide, we’ll cover the main things you should consider before buying a reusable water bottle:

Intended Purpose

Although water bottles are quite versatile, different lifestyles require different kinds of water bottles. For this reason, it’s important to first think about where you’ll be using your bottle most of the time.

Have you just completed a yoga session?

Do you need a water bottle to go camping and hiking or to bring with you to the office, school, and gym?

The Lifestraw Go filters water, so you can collect from any source. The straw function means you can’t chug though.

Do you need a dishwasher safe water bottle and how do you want to drink from it?

Consider the size of the product. Getting the best 64 oz water bottle will be great for longer trips. But the ones we reviewed in that size won’t fit in every side pocket of backpacks (some bags for hiking are exceptions).

There are tons of bottles that are suitable for both the outdoors and daily urban life. But once you focus on the main purpose of your bottle, you’ll have a better idea on what size, shape as well as material will suit you best.

Materials

Water bottles are primarily made of four materials: plastic, glass, aluminum, and stainless steel. Each one carries its own advantages and disadvantages.

To help you decide which material is most fitted to your needs, we’ve listed below the pros and cons of each one of them.

PLASTIC

Plastic water bottles like the Nalgene Tritan are both inexpensive and durable. Unlike a plastic drinking container of the past, a plastic reusable water bottle is also now produced in better ways without the harmful chemicals they used to have.

It’s also the plastic options, along with few glass alternatives, that will have a clear water bottle body. Nalgene has clear bottles for inspecting the electrolytes and protein mixes that are popular with extreme runners and fitness enthusiasts.

Today’s plastic water bottle, like the Camelbak Chute Mag, contains no harmful chemicals and is drop-friendly making it a good water bottle for kids too.

Pros

• The most affordable material
• Lightweight, thus easy to carry
• Can be a dishwasher safe water bottle
• Safe for kids
• Versatile and may come in different colors, forms, or styles
• Not as fragile as glass

Cons

• Water doesn’t taste as clean and pure as it does in glass water bottles
• May impart plastic flavor to drinks, especially if it’s a low-quality plastic
• May contain BPA and other harmful chemicals
• May easily accumulate mold over time and start to smell
• Doesn’t provide much insulation
• Not as good for the planet as other materials
• May need replacement more frequently than other materials

ALUMINUM

None of the water bottles on our list is an aluminum option for reasons stated below. The best brands will stick to 18/8 stainless steel or high quality plastic. But for the sake of inclusion this is the breakdown of aluminum water bottles:

Pros

• Strong material, thus a durable option
• Lightweight
• Budget-friendly
• Recyclable

Cons

• It heats up in warm temperatures
• It dents easily
• It may leave a bitter, metallic aftertaste
• It doesn’t provide much insulation
• May be risky for one’s health, as it is sometimes made with cheaper plastic and resin to separate the content from the actual metal
• Not as durable as stainless steel

STAINLESS STEEL

The most popular brands make water bottles in a 18/8 stainless steel composition consisting of Chromium and nickel. Both Hydro Flask models, as well as the Yeti tumbler, have this material. Yeti and Hydro Flask are leading brands in this market, but newer options from Iron Flask and Hydro Cell have presented pretty compelling alternatives with more lids and priced lower.

While not as corrossion resistant as 316 stainless steel, 18/8 is a balance between quality and affordability.

Pros

• Doesn’t leach chemicals
• Strong material, therefore long-lasting
• Excellent ice and heat retention
• Resistant to both rust and mold
• Easy to clean
• Some models are dishwasher safe
• Nearly unbreakable
• Lighter than glass
• High value and cost-efficient
• May come in different colors and styles

Cons

• More expensive
• Slightly heavier than aluminum and plastic
• Heats up in warm temperatures, unless it has double-wall insulation
• May get scuffed when dropped or banged
• May impart metallic taste

Ease of Use

The whole point of having a reusable water bottle is being able to carry it around with you throughout the day effortlessly. So keep an eye out for a comfortable handle or a strap for convenient carrying as well as if it fits in your car cup holder, backpack, gym bags, etc.

Ease of Care

The whole point of having a reusable water bottle is being able to carry it around with you throughout the day effortlessly. So keep an eye out for a comfortable handle or a strap for convenient carrying as well as if it fits in your car cup holder, backpack, gym bags, etc.

So, you also need to consider the lid. Do you prefer a wide mouth or a narrow mouth? A water bottle with a wide mouth is easy to clean. However, a drinking bottle with a narrow mouth is a lot neater to drink from but harder to clean thoroughly.

There are also different types of caps, some a lot harder to screw and unscrew than others. Regardless, look for a water bottle with a cap that seals tightly enough to prevent spills. This feature is important, especially if you plan to use your water bottle for demanding hikes and treks where it will tumble inside your bag.

Some caps can be operated using one hand with an easy-access button or flip mechanism. Some caps require full motion, as they twist to seal. You need to consider the design of your water bottle’s cap depending on what activity you will mostly use it for.

There are also caps with straws, making drinking easy. You can chug your beverage without accidental spills.

In some cases, water bottles are compatible with more than just one type of cap or lid. If you need more versatile drinkware, consider getting the likes of Hydro Flask 24 oz. Standard Mouth and Klean Kanteen Insulated Classic 20 oz. These drinking bottles are compatible with different caps.

Ease of Care

Another essential feature to consider when hunting for reusable water bottles is to check how easy it will be to clean them.

Bacteria can build up fast in water bottles, no matter the material, especially if you are using your drinkware every day. That’s why it’s important to wash your water bottle regularly. It is even more important if you’re using your drinking bottle for various beverages other than water.

A few models like the Ello Syndicate Glass and the CamelBak Chute Mag are dishwasher safe water bottles, but to ensure a thorough clean, we advise you to hand-wash both the cap and the mouthpiece.

In case your water bottle is not dishwasher-safe, you should invest in a good bottle brush or a toothbrush, especially for the ones with a narrow opening.

For a few models with sip lids, it’s good to keep in mind how the tops can be disassembled, washed and reassembled. The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth has a great Sip Lid for this. It can be quickly taken apart, rinsed with hot water and put back together again.

Capacity

Reusable drinking bottles also come in various sizes. When choosing the right size, you need to consider what you are going to use drinkware mostly for.

The recommended water consumption each day is at least eight 8-oz glasses. So, if you need a bottle that can keep you hydrated throughout the day and satisfy this need, you should get a large-capacity drinking bottle. 32-oz drinking bottles are good enough for all-day hydration, especially if you don’t mind carrying a relatively big drinkware. Some good examples include the Brita Premium Filtering Water Bottle – Stainless Steel, 32oz and the Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Tritan Water Bottle.

If you prefer a very portable drinking bottle and don’t mind refilling it, a 24-oz water bottle will suffice. Some excellent choices are the Hydro Flask 24 oz. Standard Mouth and the Takeya 24oz Originals Insulated Water Bottle.

If you have the budget, you may also get water bottles of different sizes. You can simply pick and take from your kitchen cabinets the drinking bottle that best suits your needs for the day.

Useful Features

Insulated Water Bottles

For optimal ice and heat retention, stainless steel vacuum-sealed water bottles are your best choice. They will keep your beverages cold all day long and hot liquids for up to 12 hours. A good example is the Hydro Flask 24 oz. Standard Mouth.

They are the ultimate choice for camping and hiking.

In most cases, drinking bottles with double-wall insulation also have a special coating that prevents sweating or condensation from cold drinks. This technology prevents the temperature of your beverage from affecting the bottle’s external temperature, too. The Klean Kanteen Insulated Classic 20 oz is one of the best drinking bottles with this capability.

Free of chemicals

Bisphenol A, also known as BPA, is an industrial chemical used in the production of some plastics and resins. It is often found in polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. The former is often used in food and beverage containers like water bottles while the latter is used to coat the inside of metal products, such as canned food.

This toxic chemical has been linked to causing reproductive, immunity, and neurological problems, as well as an increased likelihood of Alzheimer’s, childhood asthma, metabolic disease, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.

Therefore, finding a BPA-free water bottle must be your #1 priority. Some good examples include the CONTIGO Autoseal Chill and  Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Tritan Water Bottle.

The Contigo Autoseal is tall vs the Nalgene water bottle which is chubby. Both hold the same amount of liquid.

If a reusable water bottle made of plastic contains harmful chemicals like BPA, common stresses like high temperatures may cause it to break down over time. The harmful chemicals then leach into the content of the drinking bottle.

You should also be aware that Bisphenol F (BPF) and Bisphenol S (BPS), which have been used as alternatives to BPA, have also started to raise concerns over the increased risk of obesity.

Another toxic industrial chemical you should watch out for is phthalates, which is used to make plastics more flexible and harder to break. Phthalates might damage the liver, kidneys, lungs, and reproductive system. Again, no water bottles that we selected have any of the mentioned problematic substances.

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