Credit:
Reviewed / Rachel Murphy
The Best Water Bottles of 2026
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Credit:
Reviewed / Rachel Murphy
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Owala 24oz Stainless Steel FreeSip
The Owala FreeSip is the best water bottle for keeping drinks cold all day. The leakproof, lockable lid pairs with a straw or you can sip freely. Read More
Pros
- 2-in-1 leakproof lid
- Keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours
- Portable
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
ThermoFlask 32oz Bottle w/Chug Lid and Straw Lid
This 32-ounce bottle comes with a chug lid and a straw lid. The double insulation keeps drinks cold for hours and comes in multiple sizes/colors. Read More
Pros
- Double insulated
- Two lid options
- Great value
Cons
- Not dishwasher safe
CamelBak 20oz Eddy+ Filtered by LifeStraw
Though it lacks insulation, this is the best filtered water bottle. It has a replaceable filter straw that lasts up to one year. Read More
Pros
- Filtered water on the go
- Filtered straw lasts a while
- Leakproof
Cons
- Not for kids under 12
- Have to press down to drink
- Not insulated
Ello Syndicate 20oz Glass Water Bottle
Made of glass, the Ello water bottle doesn't contain any harsh chemicals or absorb tastes and smells. Read More
Pros
- Protective silicone sleeve
- Easy to drink from
- Plastic-free
Cons
- Doesn't keep drinks cold longterm
- Debris can build up under silicone sleeve
- No option for straw
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Sustain Water Bottle
Pros
- Large capacity
- Helpful measurement markers
- Wide mouth
- Leakproof
Cons
- Not insulated
- May not fit in cupholders
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Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
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ThermoFlask Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle
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CamelBak Eddy+ Water Filter Water Bottle by LifeStraw
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Ello Syndicate Glass Water Bottle
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Nalgene Sustain Tritan BPA-Free Water Bottle
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Other Water Bottles We Tested
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How We Test The Best Water Bottles
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Why Bother With A Reusable Water Bottle?
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How much water should I drink in a day?
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More Articles You Might Enjoy
- Best Water Bottle Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
- Best Value Water Bottle ThermoFlask Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle
- Best Filtered Water Bottle CamelBak Eddy+ Water Filter Water Bottle by LifeStraw
- Best Glass Water Bottle Ello Syndicate Glass Water Bottle
- Best Plastic Water Bottle Nalgene Sustain Tritan BPA-Free Water Bottle
- Other Water Bottles We Tested
- How We Test The Best Water Bottles
- Why Bother With A Reusable Water Bottle?
- How much water should I drink in a day?
- More Articles You Might Enjoy
The Rundown
- Our favorite water bottles are the Owala FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle and the ThermoFlask Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle.
- The Owala FreeSip excels with a 2-in-1 leakproof lid and keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours, making it highly portable.
- The ThermoFlask offers great value with double insulation for ice-cold drinks and includes both straw and chug lid options.
Amazon Prime Day 2024 is almost over, but there are still plenty of deals on the best water bottles to shop. You need a great water bottle to help keep your drinks cold so you can stay hydrated all day long—especially in this heat. We tested the most popular [water bottles to find out which is the best water bottle you should buy. We considered factors like ease of cleaning, insulation, materials, and lid type. (If you're looking for the best water bottles for kids, we’ve tested those, too.)
Our testing shows the Owala Stainless Steel FreeSip (available at Amazon) is the best water bottle you can buy. For a value-packed choice that keeps drinks frosty, check out the ThermoFlask Water Bottle (available at Amazon). However, the best water bottle for one person might not meet the specific needs of another, and there are many great water bottles in our guide to suit your needs.
The Owala FreeSip is the best water bottle we've tested.
This double-insulated ThermoFlask water bottle offers the most bang for your buck.
This CamelBak water bottle comes with a reusable LifeStraw, so you can drink filtered water no matter where you are.
This Ello water bottle with a flip lid is our pick for the best glass water bottle.
The Nalgene Sustain Tritan is the best plastic water bottle we've tested.
Other Water Bottles We Tested
How We Test The Best Water Bottles
The Tests
We rated water bottles based on their ease of washing, insulation, and transportability. We also reviewed their exterior design, usefulness in everyday life, and ease of drinking.
We tested the water temperature by filling each one with the same amount of ice cubes and letting each sit out for the same time. Additionally, we tested to see if any of the water tasted like the bottle’s material at any point.
Why Bother With A Reusable Water Bottle?
Many plastic water bottles never make it to a recycling center. Given that it can take some types of plastic between many years to completely break down (worse than this, bottles made using Polyethylene Terephthalate won't biodegrade, at all,) that makes for a whole lot of discarded drinking vessels cluttering up our planet.
Add to this the fact that millions of barrels of oil are used per year in the production of plastic water bottles, and the quench to quell your thirst with a container of water acquired at a corner store becomes a tangle of massive environmental issues.
It used to be that schools, offices, and public spaces were ripe with water fountains from which you could drink.
However, as the money required to keep pipes and fountain fixtures working as they should have trickled away and as we've come to understand more about how viruses and other bugs are transmitted from person to person, these fixtures have fallen out of favor with health officials and civic planners.
In light of these issues, investing in a reusable water bottle to keep your drinks at temperature is one of the best choices you can make.
Which is the best water bottle material—plastic or glass?
There are pros and cons to plastic and glass water bottles.
From the type of material to the style of the cap, the best water bottles can be customized to suit your specific needs. Vacuum-insulated stainless steel is almost unbeatable for keeping cool, but it is prone to denting if dropped and can leave a metallic taste. If plastic, look for BPA-free. Plasticis lightweight, sturdy, inexpensive, and easy to clean, so it’s a go-to pick for athletes instead of glass bottles.
But it’s not insulated and can give off-flavors and smells. Glass water bottles don't transmit off-tastes or odors (and may appeal to aesthetes). Still it’s heavier, costlier, and more fragile, making it less than ideal when it comes to portability/durability.
You’ll also want to consider quick access versus screw caps. Push/pull designs can be flicked up with one hand, and a straw or spout lid can be provided for drinking. The other type needs to be actively undone with two hands but is less prone to breaking and is easier to disinfect and clean.
How To Clean The Best Water Bottles
If you constantly drain and refill your water bottle, you might think that there's no reason to wash it regularly: filling it up is as good as a rinse, right?
Not so much. Bacteria loves moisture, so even if you're rinsing and refilling your bottle three or four times a day, sooner or later, it's going to need a thorough hand washing. We recommend doing it once every 24 hours.
If you own a dishwasher, pop your bottle in the bottom or top rack and let the cleansing begin—but first, be sure to check that your bottle is dishwasher-safe. Most manufacturers tend to place this information on the bottom of the bottle. Check the manufacturer's website for the data if it’s not listed there. Whether dishwasher safe or not, all water bottles, be they made of glass, plastic, or stainless steel, can be washed in a sink full of hot, soapy water.
To wash your water bottle in the sink, start by draining your bottle of whatever is left inside of it.
Next, leave the cap in your dishwater to soak (giving the water a chance to loosen up any crud that may have collected in the grooves inside of the lid) and scrub out the interior of the bottle using a bottle brush, like these.
Then, rinse the bottle in clean water and leave it to air dry before turning your attention to the bottle's cap. Using your bottle brush, scrub the cap inside and out before drying it off.
If you just got over the flu or a cold, or your bottle was used to carry non-potable water, you may want to consider disinfecting it with a weak bleach solution.
Add a tablespoon of chlorine bleach to a quart of water to make the solution. Dunk your water bottle and its lid in the solution and leave them to sit for five minutes—maybe use the time to make a sandwich or something.
At the end of the five minutes, rinse your bottle with fresh water, dry it, and you're ready to chug fluids once again.
How much water should I drink in a day?
A reusable water bottle is a simple yet effective solution for meeting daily hydration needs. These needs can vary significantly by size, age, sex, activity level, and weight. Factors like pregnancy and breastfeeding also influence daily water needs. So, you may be asking yourself, “how much water should I drink in a day?” As a general rule of thumb, Harvard Health recommends about six cups of plain water daily. By using a reusable water bottle, you can easily track how much water you drink daily, relieving you of the stress of managing your hydration and ensuring you stay conveniently hydrated.
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Meet the writers
Sarah Zorn
Contributor
Sarah Zorn is a food writer, cookbook author, and product tester for Reviewed, Wirecutter and the Food Network. She regularly contributes to outlets such as Saveur, Esquire, and Civil Eats, and has very much passed her food obsessions down, as her beloved rescue hound, Rowdy, regularly deglazes his kibble bowl.
Rachel Murphy is Reviewed's home editor. She holds a journalism degree from the University of Central Florida. Prior to joining the team, she worked as a freelance writer for publications like Insider and Mashable, and as an associate editorial producer for Good Morning America. Aside from smart home tech, her interests include food, travel, parenting, and home renovation. You can usually find her sipping on coffee at any time of the day.
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