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Staying hydrated just got a lot easier. 12oz Rcs Steel Insulated Coffee Mug
Somewhere along the line, I became a person who doesn’t go anywhere without an insulated water bottle. Besides simply having a general aspiration to stay hydrated at all times, I can trace this mild obsession back to my restaurant server days.
In most of the places I’ve worked, there was a shelf or corner that evolved into the designated water bottle area. It would become crowded with different shapes, sizes, and models of drinkware as people arrived for their shifts. Some were stainless steel and meticulously curated with stickers, while others resembled simple plastic deli containers. Amidst the controlled chaos of the dinner shift, we would steal brief moments to hydrate and catch up—it was the closest thing we had to office water cooler talk. For me, finding a water bottle with good insulation was essential, especially considering the long hours and hot kitchens.
Even though my restaurant days are behind me, I’ve continued to use an insulated water bottle almost daily—and have found that some are better than others in terms of durability, efficiency, and drinkability. While it largely comes down to personal preference, there are a few key features to look out for when choosing the best insulated water bottles. Here are the brands I’ve come to trust over the years.
Why It’s Great: Durable; leakproof; color doesn’t fade or chip
My first real introduction to this brand actually didn’t come until around 2019, when I borrowed my dad’s prized Yeti cooler for a camping trip in Oregon. I was so impressed with the temperature retention and sturdiness that I decided to give the Yeti Rambler water bottle—which had come out a few years prior and was already accumulating a loyal fan base—a try. It was the most durable and most insulated water bottle I’d ever used. And since my favorite reusable water bottle perk is that it allows me to cut down on waste, investing in one that would last a long time made a lot of sense.
Since then, that same Yeti water bottle has come out of multiple hikes, road trips, and accidental drops completely unscathed. Best of all, it still keeps my drinks just as cold as it did on day one. I’ve managed to turn the rest of my family members (who have jobs that require them to be outdoors frequently) into Yeti devotees throughout the years.
While the Yeti straw lid is popular, I love the chug cap since it closes tightly and is easy to drink from. This brand is also a big favorite around the office because it travels so well and won’t leak during commutes. Although it is a bit heavy relative to its size, that’s the price you pay for added strength.
Apart from the 18-ounce capacity, the Rambler also comes in 26, 36, 46, and 64 ounces. Historically, the brand featured a smaller range of colors, mostly neutral shades like black, white, gray, and navy, but they’ve since expanded their colors with limited edition offerings. They also make a wide selection of equally durable drinkware, like insulated wine tumblers and can koozies.
The Details: Stainless steel; double-wall vacuum insulation; 18 ounces; 1.2 pounds; 10.2 x 3 inches; dishwasher safe
Why It’s Great: Great temperature retention; sliding lock lid; slim profile
Grain of Salt: May not fit car cup holder; body is hand wash only
As much as I love my Rambler, it's relatively pricey for an 18-ounce bottle. Despite the lower price tag, this 24-ounce Contigo Cortland Chill boasts temperature retention capabilities that rival even the most expensive stainless steel bottles. A coworker told me that hers has been known to keep water under 50 degrees Fahrenheit for nearly 30 hours. The lid features a sliding lock that covers the sipping port to prevent spills, and the slim profile helps make it easy to hold and portable.
I’m a big fan of the fact that you can get such an excellent insulated water bottle for under $25. The 24-ounce bottle has a push-button lid that pops open for easy drinking—another big win, in my opinion—and a carrying handle that can stand up or lay flat.
The Details: Stainless steel; double wall vacuum insulated; 24 ounces; 0.88 pounds; 10.7 x 3.2 inches; hand wash only
Why It’s Great: Great insulation; a lot of beautiful color options; easy to hold; fits easily in a tote or backpack side pocket
Grain of Salt: Narrow mouth is too small for most ice cubes; more difficult to wash
I recently took my S’well water bottle on a work trip across the country, and it checked all the boxes. Its slim design was comfortable to hold and fit easily in any cupholder I encountered, and it was lightweight enough to not drag my travel bag down while running through the airport to catch my flight. There’s a simple stainless steel cap that’s perfect for use in an airplane (sometimes straw caps or flip-up lids can make a mess from the pressure), and the insulation is super effective. The S’well bottles are also protected with a copper wall layer that helps eliminate condensation on the exterior, so they won't sweat on your hands or in your bag.
Larger water bottles are great for staying hydrated when you know you won’t have access to refills, but sometimes I like to supplement with a smaller bottle that won’t weigh me down. Most of the time, I’m working from home or at an office during the day, and getting up to walk to the kitchen and refill my water bottle is a good excuse to stretch my legs. The only downside is that some models are hand wash only and have a narrow opening, so you’ll have to use a bottle brush to get a good clean.
The Details: Stainless steel; triple-layered vacuum insulated; 17 ounces; 0.7 pounds; 2.8 x 10.3 inches; hand wash only
Why It’s Great: Compatible with several lids; wide mouth can fit ice cubes; plenty of color options
Grain of Salt: Prone to scratching
I’ve tried several models of Hydro Flask bottles and would recommend them all. The brand helped pave the way for many other popular water bottle brands, and the quality still holds up. The 32-ounce wide-mouth bottle is a classic, featuring a flexible straw lid and carrying loop, and a body made from 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel.
My only qualms with the Hydro Flask bottles I’ve used in the past are that the colors tend to chip or scratch easily, and they are generally less durable than Yeti. Don’t get me wrong, they can take a tumble, but they’re more likely to scuff or dent, which can affect their vacuum insulation properties. However, Hydro Flask comes in first place in the versatility category. The brand offers the widest selection of different colors, sizes, and lids—including the Flex Chug Cap, Sport Cap, Flex Straw Cap, and Flex Sip Lid, which are all interchangeable with the Wide Mouth model.
The Details: Stainless steel; double-wall vacuum insulation; 32 ounces; 1.05 pounds; 10.35 x 3.8 inches; dishwasher safe
Why It’s Great: Fits in cup holder; large capacity; cute colors
Grain of Salt: Expensive; heavy
You’ve probably seen this Stanley Tumbler before—either on social media or out in the real world. At over 12 inches tall, it may seem a little intimidating at first, but you’ll learn to love it once you realize how easy it is to stay hydrated. You can fill it once in the morning and keep it next to your work-from-home computer all day without having to go back for refills. However, if you don’t want to commit to the 64 or 40-ounce size yet, the tumbler also comes in 14, 20, and 30-ounce sizes.
Something that a lot of large water bottle designs get wrong is the base. Stanley’s tumbler design has a narrow base that fits comfortably in a cup holder, so you don’t have to worry about it spilling over while on the go. I love the range of colors that it comes in, ranging from darker shades to pastels; they even have limited edition and holiday colors. The body is constructed using 90% recycled BPA-free stainless steel, so you can feel good about the sustainability elements.
The Details: Stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation; 40 ounces; 1.4 pounds; 12.3 x 5.8 inches; dishwasher safe
Why It’s Great: Made from recycled materials, steel straw; interchangeable lid options; unique lids design
Grain of Salt: Cold beverages only; expensive
Klean Kanteen was selling BPA-free stainless steel water bottles back in 2004, arguably before they went mainstream. I had one of the older, less flashy models in college and used it for everything from workouts at the campus gym to study sessions in the library. This TKWide is one of the only water bottles I’ve found with a stainless steel interior straw (most are plastic), which means it will last a lot longer and provide a cleaner taste. The insulation technology is also pretty impressive—drinks will stay cold for up to 75 hours—but keep in mind that the twisting straw cap can’t accommodate hot beverages.
The family- and employee-owned company earns extra points for being a Climate Neutral Certified Brand (they operate on a combination of carbon-neutral practices and carbon offsetting) and investing 1% of sales toward environmental nonprofits. Today, 95% of their products are made using 90% post-consumer recycled material.
The Details: Stainless steel; double-wall vacuum insulation; 32 ounces; 1.14 pounds; 10.36 x 3.65 inches; hand wash only
Why It’s Great: Fun colors; two different sip options; great value
Grain of Salt: Push button could open in your bag
A fan-favorite insulated water bottle that rivals even the most popular brands, the Owala FreeSip features a push-button lid to flip it open. It comes in three different sizes and plenty of color options, plus the thoughtful design and budget-conscious price make it a great choice for everyday use.
I love the colorful aesthetic and the different methods of sipping it offers. When I asked around, another coworker praised this bottle for staying completely leak-free thanks to the sturdy and effective flip-top lid. There’s a straw sip function, which means you don’t have to tilt the bottle to take a sip, as well as a free sip spout for taking larger swigs. With any push-button lid, there’s always the risk of it accidentally bumping into something and opening in your bag, but this bottle at least has an extra layer of protection with a handle that folds down and locks into place in front of the button.
The Details: Stainless steel; double-wall insulation; 24 ounces; 0.85 pounds; 10.68 x 3.12 inches; hand wash only
Why It's Great: Available in multiple colors and sizes; comfortable to drink from; perfect for international travel
Grain of Salt: The 2-stage filtering process takes longer than others
Whether you're traveling internationally, camping, or simply want to improve the taste of your home tap water, a water bottle with a built-in filter will come in handy. This model from Lifestraw is the best filtered water bottle I've tested, thanks to the combination of superior 2-stage filtering technology, thoughtful design, and double-wall vacuum insulation. The activated carbon filter is NSF 42 certified to reduce aesthetic impurities such as chlorine, odor, and organic chemicals, while the accompanying membrane microfilter is NSF P231 certified to remove bacteria and parasites.
Backed by a company that's been delivering safe drinking water solutions to developing countries since 2005, it's no surprise that the filtering technology in this bottle is top-notch. The bottle takes a bit longer to sip because of the 2-stage filter, but that's only because it filters more efficiently than other standard filtered water bottles. It keeps water cold for hours, and I love that the mouth is wide enough to add ice cubes directly from the ice cube tray. The covered mouthpiece is comfortable to drink from and is technically dishwasher safe along with the body, though hand washing is recommended—just remember to remove the filter first.
The Details: Stainless steel; 24 ounces; 1.13 pounds; 11 x 3.3 inches; membrane microfilter ($25 for replacement) lasts up to 1,000 gallons; activated carbon filter ($10 for replacement) lasts up to 26 gallons; NSF 42 & P231; dishwasher safe, hand wash recommended
Why It’s Great: Cute designs; sweat-proof; leak-proof when closed and spill-proof when open
Grain of Salt: Have to bite down on the straw to drink
A lot of my friends with kids swear by CamelBak water bottles. There are a plethora of designs available, and the illustrations are actually really cute—from images of sleepy sloths and flowers to aliens and flying saucers. I’ve also owned adult-sized CamelBaks in the past and can attest to their quality.
There’s a leak-proof lid (a must for kids), a soft silicone straw that’s spill-proof when open, and a handle that’s easy to clip onto a stroller or hold onto with little hands. All parts are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean (another must). It's also compact enough to fit comfortably in a school lunch box. While the plastic version is certainly popular, this stainless steel design provides added durability in case of unexpected (or more likely, expected) drops.
The Details: Stainless steel; vacuum insulated; 12 ounces; 0.56 pounds; 6.5 x 2.91 inches; dishwasher safe
For the best insulated water bottle overall, you really can’t go wrong with the YETI Rambler 18 oz Bottle with Chug Cap. It delivers the perfect combination of durability and functionality. Consider the S'well 17 oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle for a lightweight bottle with a simple design, or the Hydro Flask 32 oz Wide Mouth Bottle for something more versatile and large.
Choosing the best insulated water bottle will usually come down to personal preference (some people will buy a water bottle specifically for its lid, for example, while others are more concerned with durability), but there are a few factors that I specifically look for:
Most insulated water bottles are made from stainless steel, so the quality of the steel is what I pay attention to. Specifically, kitchen-grade 18/8 stainless steel (made up of 18% chromium and 8% nickel), which is resistant to corrosion and super strong. I also try to look for brands that utilize recycled materials, especially since most of them incorporate some kind of plastic in the straw or the lid.
Keep in mind that the larger your water bottle is, the heavier it will be when full. This can become an issue if you want to take your bottle on the go in a purse, picnic basket, or backpack, so it may make sense to have one larger size for use around the house and another one for traveling.
Everyone has their own preference when it comes to water bottle design and lids, but if you’re not sure, think about what you’ll primarily be using the water bottle for. If you’re planning on taking your water bottle to the gym, a sports cap or chug cap will be your best bet, while a straw or screw-on lid may be better suited to use at your desk or in the car. If you are going to use your water bottle in the car, make sure that it will actually fit in the cupholder, and if you like your water extra cold, opt for a bottle with a wide mouth to fit ice cubes. I also love it when brands offer different designs, pattern options, and colors—since I know I’ll be looking at my water bottle all day.
This is arguably the most important feature to consider when choosing your insulated water bottle—after all, that’s what separates it from a regular water bottle. Most brands will tell you how long their bottles are designed to keep beverages cold or hot, but it will also depend on your specific climate and how you’re using them. A good way to test and compare different insulated water bottles yourself is to fill them with ice water, record the temperature with a kitchen thermometer, and continue to monitor the temperature every 30 minutes to see how fast or slow the ice melts. Make sure to feel the outside of the water bottle to check for any condensation.
Hand washing will always maintain the quality for longer, but it’s always nice to have something that’s dishwasher safe for time’s sake. Also, some lids or parts may be only top rack safe or require a bottle brush to reach inside. To avoid a moldy water bottle lid, I always make sure that all of the pieces are completely dry before putting them away.
In addition to integrating sustainable design features (like using post-consumer recycled materials) into their products, more brands are beginning to incorporate sustainable practices into their business model. I always try to highlight brands that donate a portion of sales to causes that support the environment or make an effort to minimize their carbon footprint.
If you’re someone who laughs at the thought of a 17-ounce water bottle and needs something bigger, the RTIC Half Gallon Jug with Handle is a budget-conscious option that’s well-built and offers effective insulation. The Takeya Actives Water Bottle and IRON °FLASK Sports Water Bottle are perfect for taking to the gym, while the Corkcicle Insulated Canteen Travel Water Bottle and the Healthy Human Stainless Steel Water Bottle are both great options for hiking.
An insulated water bottle is typically made with two (or sometimes three) interior layers of material that create a strong barrier between the liquid contents of the bottle and the exterior. The term “vacuum insulated” refers to the space within the two layers or walls of material—usually metal—being void of air and therefore reducing heat transfer.
Most insulated water bottles are safe to put in the dishwasher, but it’s always a good idea to check the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions first. In any case, washing your water bottle by hand in hot, soapy water is the best way to ensure that it stays in good shape for a long time. Some brands, like Yeti, Hydro Flask, and S’well, make their own cleaning kits with special soaps and brushes that are meant specifically for their bottles.
Rpet Outdoor Bottle Katherine Gallagher is a commerce editor for Allrecipes who has been writing about sustainable design and food since 2017. She worked in the food and beverage industry for over 10 years and takes her reusable water bottle everywhere. For this article, she tapped into years of experience sipping water on the go and opened up her cupboards to take stock of her favorite insulated bottles. She also surveyed friends and coworkers to gain even more perspective.