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I reach for a reusable water bottle quite often – there's always one in my hand on a long hike, perched on my bike during a Peloton workout or stored in my work backpack on my long commute. And as a Kitchen Appliances Reviews Analyst, I've tested and used almost 100 different water bottles and drinking vessels and have quite a few opinions on the topic.
When I look for a quality water bottle that I actually want to use, I ensure that it's lightweight (carrying a bottle shouldn't be a workout), but still durable and won't scratch or dent easily. I also appreciate if it's easy to clean (the dishwasher is my BFF), reasonably priced and offers a capacity that keeps me hydrated and a drinking spout that encourages me to keep on sipping. While not a dealbreaker, but I also love an insulated water bottle to keep my water nice and cold. And my favorite part? Swapping a reusable bottle for single-use plastic bottle saves me money in the long run, I can fill it with water from my home water filter system, plus, water bottles are an eco-friendly product that helps reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, my team and I know more than a thing or two about the best water bottles on the market after testing hundreds of drinking vessels in the last decade alone. We also rely on our network of consumer testers who put water bottles to the test in their daily lives and report back. Our top recommendations excel in temperature retention, durability, ease of use, cleanability and more.
Capacities available: 18, 26, 36, 46, 64 ounces | Compatible mouthpieces: Chug cap, straw cap, cup cap, MagDock, HotShot | Material: Double-wall, vacuum insulated, stainless steel | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
We're huge fans of the Yeti Rambler, especially in the 26-ounce capacity with the chug cap mouthpiece, which is highly versatile and perfect for everyday use. It's comfortable to hold, doesn't sweat and is easy to drink out of, thanks to the tapered chug cap.
Like all of Yeti's Ramblers, this water bottle's lid unscrews smoothly and has an oversized handle that makes it easy to hold. We especially love that the mouthpieces are all interchangeable amongst the various Rambler bottles that range in size from 12 ounces to 64 ounces. Our favorite part about this water bottle is that it's dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning. The Rambler's wide mouth also makes it simple to wash by hand — and add ice cubes.
In Lab tests, this water bottle didn't leak and retained temperature rather well. We had a few consumer testers try this bottle, and one said: "It fit well into the water bottle pocket of my backpack. The handle on the bottle made it easy to grab and carry. It definitely kept my water cold throughout the entire day." A long term tester added: "This continues to be one of my favorite water bottles. It has scratched a little over the years, but since the bottom of the bottle isn’t painted, it’s less than other water bottles I have."
If you prefer a lightweight, plastic water bottle over stainless steel, Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab Director Nicole Papantoniou highly recommends Yeti's Yonder line, which comes in seven colors, four sizes and various mouthpiece options.
Take note: Bigger sizes of this water bottle tend be on the heavier side and this bottle won't fit in every car's cupholders.
Capacities available: 18, 22, 24, 32, 40, 64 ounces | Compatible mouthpieces: Straw lid, spout lid | Material: Double-wall, vacuum insulated, stainless steel | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
I often reach for this affordable (at under $35) insulated water bottle for everything from hiking to commuting to work to travel, thanks to its smart details. The spout is easy to twist open and close and wide enough to sip out of mid-workout. Its insulated material doesn't sweat, and its matte finish makes it easy to grasp. Plus, it has a silicone grip on the bottom, which helps the bottle stay in place in a cup holder or on a table.
This water bottle's large handle makes it easy to tote around the gym from one piece of equipment to the next. One consumer tester even stated, "I love that there’s a grippy strip around the lid, which makes it easy to open the top if it’s been tightened too much." And the wide mouth means the bottle is easy to fill with water or ice and easy to clean — it's even dishwasher-safe.
In our Lab tests, we found the bottle to be durable, not denting and that the seal was leak-proof. But in long-term testing, I noticed that when I accidentally dropped this bottle on hard pavement it did unfortunately dent. This style of water bottle comes in a range of sizes and lid options as well— there’s even one for kids.
Take note: This water bottle's temperature retention isn't as good as other insulated models tested; within 24 hours of testing the water temperature raised by 15 degrees. It might also dent if you drop it on a hard surface.
Capacities available: 12, 16, 32, 48 ounces | Compatible mouthpieces: Wide mouth, sipper, splashguard | Material: Tritan plastic | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
This Nalgene water bottle comes from their Sustain line, which means that the Tritan BPA-free (according to the manufacturer) bottle is made with material derived from 50% plastic waste. We love the measurement markings on the side that allow you to keep track of how much you’re drinking through the day and that the bottle comes in over 30 different colors.
Nalgene water bottles are popular for a reason: With loads of five-star ratings on Amazon and a price tag under $20, this water bottle is a popular pick with both consumers and GH Institute experts. This 32-ounce wide-mouth bottle is easy to drink from and take along anywhere, and it's lightweight with a plastic loop for carrying. Plus, its screw top makes for a leakproof tight seal so you can toss it in a bag without fear of leaking.
"Although it's sizable, the bottle is so lightweight which makes bringing it to work or the climbing gym super easy. It takes up space in your bag, but it doesn't weigh you down like a competitor can," one consumer tester noted. They also noted how easy the bottle was to fill with water. Papantoniou said: "I’ve used this for years and it still looks pretty good. It has gotten a little scratched up on outside but still works great."
Take note: This bottle is dishwasher-safe, and the colors stay bright even after many washes, though the markings may wear off over time. It's not recommended if you're looking for a bottle to keep your water cold for long periods of time as there isn't any insulation.
Capacities available: 16, 24, 32, 40 ounces | Compatible mouthpieces: FreeSip spout | Material: Double-wall insulated, stainless steel | Dishwasher-safe: Mouthpiece only
While I'm sure you've seen this water bottle all over the internet, the Owala's FreeSip Water Bottle definitely lives up to the hype in our Lab and I use it quite often myself. It comes in a variety of different colorways, whether you prefer bright colors or a neutral version. It also comes in four different capacities. There's even a line of 16-ounce water bottles for kids. Owala claims that the double-wall insulated water bottle keeps water cold for up to 24 hours, which we proved in our Lab tests.
What makes this bottle especially versatile is how there are two ways to drink from it: Use the "FreeSip" spout that is designed for sipping upright through the built-in straw, or tilt the water bottle back to drink from the spout opening. We like that the locking push-button lid ensures the water bottle doesn't leak, but you do have to remember to lock it before throwing it in your backpack (I've sadly learned that the hard way). Even better, you can remove the mouthpiece for easy cleaning and filling. The strap that keeps the mouthpiece closed also doubles as a handle for carrying.
Take note: While the plastic mouthpiece is dishwasher-safe, it's recommended that you hand wash the rest of the bottle to preserve the vibrant powder coat finish. One tester noted that lipstick can be hard to clean off the mouthpiece and that the silicone piece inside of the mouthpiece needs to be placed correctly or the bottle will leak even when locked. Another consumer tester noted that the handle is narrow and isn't as comfortable to carry as other water bottles and three long term testers stated that the bottle's exterior may scratch eventually.
Capacities available: 16, 24, 36, 50 ounces | Compatible mouthpieces: Twist-off cap spout | Material: Double-wall vacuum insulated, recycled stainless steel | Dishwasher-safe: Yes
The Stanley IceFlow Fast Flow Bottle is our best-tested insulated water bottle as it stayed under 58°F after 24 hours of testing and didn't leak during our leak and drop test. While Stanley Cups and dupes have gone viral, GH Test Engineer Alec Scherma found this style to be one of the more unique bottles out there. I personally like the 36-ounce option for going on long hikes with my husband.
I love that the spout's design allows for faster drinking. Though the large and sturdy handle is close to the spout, it rotates down so it's not in the way while drinking. It also features a hook that holds the bottle's cap. "I thought the design of the lid was super-smart where you can hook it onto the handle and it stays on there pretty securely. You can even drink with the lid on the handle!" said one tester. While this bottle is dishwasher-safe, you can also remove the entire mouthpiece to hand wash it.
"I like how light this water bottle is and it still keeps my ice water pretty cold throughout the day," said a tester. "I also love the 'fast flow lid.' I love this kind of water bottle spout."
Looking for other best-tested Stanley options? I recommend the Stanley Quick Flip Go Bottle and the Stanley Ice Flow Flip Straw Tumbler which also tested well in Lab and consumer testing.
Take note: Some testers noted that it would have been nice if the bottle had a non-slip bottom or sleeve because the it can be loud if slammed onto a countertop. While this bottle comes in multiple sizes, only the 16 and 20 ounce versions fit in cup holders.
RELATED: Stanley vs. Yeti: Which Insulated Cup Is Better?
Capacities available: 18, 24 ounces | Compatible mouthpieces: FreeSip spout | Material: Double-walled insulated stainless-steel | Dishwasher-safe: Not recommended
The Owala FreeSip Twist is newer to the market, but turning into one of my travel favorites. It's rather slim, so it doesn't take up too much space in my backpack and the twist-top lid locks in place so there's never a worry about it leaking on my long commute to work. Thanks to the unique lid design, you can also put sparkling water in the bottle or use it on an airplane without worrying about pressure, as the lid releases pressure gently when you open it.
This bottle keeps water cold: I've even brought this into the sauna and while the exterior does get hot, the water remained nice and cold. The built-in carry-loop was also handy here, so that I could carry it in the sauna, even when the exterior got hot. Just like other Owala drinkware, this bottle comes in a variety of fun colorways and two different size capacities. I like the 18-ounce version for commuting, while my husband often takes the 24-ounce to the gym.
Take note: Owala suggests that you hand wash this water bottle only, which is slightly more difficult since it's a narrow bottle. I've also noticed that my bottles have scratched after a lot of use.
In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we've tested hundreds of water bottles and drinkware over the last decade to evaluate performance, ease of use and durability.
In fact, in the last year and a half alone, our team has tested over 125 drinking vessels; which included dozens of water bottles, kids water bottles, filtered water bottles, insulated tumblers, Stanley Cup dupes, travel mugs and more.
When we evaluate performance, we test how well water bottles retain temperature and whether they are leak-proof. Pictured here is our drop-tester machine with dyed water that leaked out of a poorly-performing water bottle. To test whether a bottle will leak, we fill each water bottle with the same amount of water and food dye. We knock over each water bottle and let it sit on its side for 30 minutes, then check to see if any water seeps through. We also shake each water bottle at full capacity to see if any water escapes.
We evaluate each water bottle to see how well they can retain temperatures. We fill every bottle to maximum capacity with water and then remove a specific amount of water from each bottle, replacing it with a calculated amount of ice. Then the internal water temperature of each bottle is documented multiple times over 24 hours to determine which bottles retain temperature best.
To test durability, we use our drop tester machine. We drop water bottles three times each from a height of three feet and note any damage that occurs.
To evaluate ease of use, we consider how each bottle opens and closes. Using either a dishwasher or dish soap and a brush, we test how easy it is to clean each water bottle.
In addition to Lab tests, we send water bottles to consumer testers to get their opinions on how water bottles fare in real life.
✔️ Material: There are three main materials used to make reusable water bottles: plastic, glass and stainless steel.
✔️ Size: Water bottles can be as small as 12 ounces, which is perfect for a child or fitting into a small bag. They can also be as large as a gallon, which is convenient for a picnic with friends or long car rides. A common everyday size for a water bottle is around 24 to 36 ounces — small enough to fit in a backpack, but large enough that you don’t need to refill often. The larger the water bottle, the wider it likely is, which is something to keep in mind when it comes to cup holders.
✔️ Drinking spout: There is a drinking spout for everyone, and some brands even offer multiple drinking spouts to appeal to different customers.
✔️ Additional features: Some bottles feature handles for carrying around, non-slip sleeves so bottles stay put on countertops or remain in your hands even when sweaty and an additional larger bottle opening for easier cleaning or filling bottles with ice.
All water bottles should be cleaned regularly to eliminate bacteria and prevent mold growth. If a water bottle must be hand-washed, look for one with a wide mouth and fewer parts, and use a bottle brush to thoroughly clean the interior with soap and warm water. If a bottle has a straw, we recommend that you hand-wash it for a thorough clean, even if the bottle states that it is dishwasher-safe.
If you're not a fan of using a bottle brush to clean a water bottle, ensure that it’s dishwasher-safe before purchasing. The dishwasher's tough environment can deform the seal on bottles that aren't dishwasher-safe and ruin the exterior over time, so always check if a bottle is dishwasher-safe.
Eva Bleyer has tested all kinds of kitchen gear for Good Housekeeping, including gas ranges, microwaves, kitchen scales and blenders. She holds a B.S. in Food Studies, Nutrition and Public Health from New York University, where she studied sustainability practices. Eva has tested all of these water bottle picks at home and on the go and has Lab tested close to 100 pieces of drinkware in the last three years at GH.
Nicole Papantoniou oversees the Good Housekeeping Institute's kitchen gear testing. She has been testing kitchen gear professionally for nearly 10 years, and she is constantly trying new water bottles in both the Lab and in her daily life. She keeps them on hand for years to ensure they’re really put through their paces. Her favorites are lightweight and dishwasher-safe, but she uses an assortment to find new ones she can’t put down.
Alec Scherma is the Good Housekeeping Institute's test engineer. He conducted our latest round of testing 37 insulated water bottles. Alec is very familiar with testing products for their insulation, as he's also tested dozens of coolers and cooler backpacks for the Kitchen Appliances Lab.
Eva (she/her) is a reviews analyst in the Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she tests kitchen gear, home appliances and culinary innovations. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor of science in food studies, nutrition and public health and is a trained chef through the Natural Gourmet Institute. Eva has more than 10 years of experience in the food industry, working as a food stylist, personal chef and marketing manager.
Alec Scherma (he/him) is the Good Housekeeping Institute’s test engineer, where he helps to create and implement new product testing methodology across home, cooking and cleaning appliances, wellness, tech products and more. He graduated from Drexel University’s College of Engineering with a B.A. in mechanical engineering.
Nicole (she/her) is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she has overseen content and testing related to kitchen and cooking appliances, tools and gear since 2019. She’s an experienced product tester and recipe creator, trained in classic culinary arts and culinary nutrition. She has worked in test kitchens for small kitchen appliance brands and national magazines, including Family Circle and Ladies’ Home Journal.
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