Jun 10, 2024 9:00 AM

The Best Reusable Water Bottles

Stay hydrated in style and cut down on single-use plastic with our favorite bottles—now updated with information on lead.

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Featured in this article

Brightly colored reusable water bottle with a cylindrical base and angled spout

Tall beige reusable water bottle with narrow handle floral pattern and straw sticking out the top

Reusable water bottle with lavender colored coating and long straw extending upwards and out

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Owning a reusable water bottle is a great way to cut out single-use plastic and stay hydrated. Most people have specific preferences for their drinking vessels—nearly every WIRED staffer has their own favorite—so the best water bottle is the one you'll use. If you're unsure where to start, we've rounded up our favorites after years of trial and error and a lot of water.

Whichever bottle or brand you go with, remember that you don't need to own a collection of any bottle—that defeats the environmental purpose of purchasing a reusable bottle in the first place. Also, be aware that some insulated bottles are made using lead solder. We've removed any picks that are manufactured this way.

Be sure to check out our other buying guides, like the Best Travel Mugs, Best Reusable Products, and the Best Recycled Products.

Updated May 2024: We've added the BruMate Era, Bkr glass bottle, and Lund London Skittle Bottle as picks, as well as two water bottle bags we love. We've also added the Pura bottle to our honorable mentions.

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How Much Water Do You Really Need?

Drinking water is extremely important, but there's not a one-size-fits-all answer to just how much we need. The old eight-glasses-a-day rule isn't for everyone, but it's a fine place to start. Talk to your doctor, who can assess your needs given your health and lifestyle. If you're an active person, working out and sweating a lot, you should drink more, as you should if you're in a hot and humid area. If you're thirsty, drink.

The Mayo Clinic states that about 20 percent of your daily fluid intake should come from food and that—counting both from drinking and eating—adult men should get around 3.7 liters a day and women 2.7 liters a day. Drinking too much water can cause your sodium levels to drop to dangerous levels in a condition called hyponatremia, but that's, uh, quite a bit of water. Sipping your water bottle all day shouldn't be an issue.

Photograph: Medea Giordano
Best for Most People
Owala FreeSip Water Bottle
I've liked a lot of water bottles, but the Owala FreeSip (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is the only one I've ever truly loved. No, really! I've bought myself two so one is always clean, and I've gifted two more to other people. The beauty is in the top, which has both a straw—my favorite means of drinking—and a chug spout. Sip however you like and then cover both with the cap and lock it when you're done. It's a simple yet genius design. Owala's color options are also just plain cute.
The FreeSip is insulated, so water stays cold all day, even when left in the car during a Texas summer. I like the 40-ounce version so I don't have to refill it as often, but it's also available in 32-, 24-, and 19-ounce sizes, as well as a 25-ounce plastic version and a kids' 16-ounce. The brand just released a slimmer, twist-cap version of the FreeSip in 18- and 24-ounce sizes that WIRED editor Adrienne So absolutely loves. You'll find the most sizes and color options directly from Owala, but they're basically everywhere, including sporting goods stores and grocery stores.
$70 at Amazon (40 oz)
$38 at Owala (40 oz)
Photograph: Medea Giordano
The Best Tumbler
BrüMate Era 40-Ounce Tumbler
BruMate's Era is a fantastic tumbler that keeps drinks ice cold and has one great advantage over the competition: It doesn't spill. That's thanks to the unique lid and straw design that uses multiple parts instead of having a single hole for a straw to poke through. There's the top silicone straw you see and use to drink, and the bottom stainless steel straw that sits in the bottle. When unlocked, sip as normal, but when you twist the top into lock position, it separates the two straws, closing off the hole. I held it upside down and let it sit on its side on the couch and not a drop came through. Turn it halfway to remove the top half for easy cleaning.
The brand uses the same idea for the Rotera, but twisting it into the lock position actually lowers the top straw itself. That's ideal for throwing in a bag so the straw doesn't pick up any dust or grime.
$45 at Amazon
$45 at BruMate
$40 at Dick's Sporting Goods (30 OZ)

Photograph: Medea Giordano
A Glass Bottle
Bkr Glass Water Bottle
A glass bottle removes the possibility of lead inclusion altogether, and it's a good alternative if you find stainless steel bottles have a metallic taste. I particularly like the options from Bkr, with their colored silicone sleeves that help with grip and also protect the glass. You can change them up instead of buying a whole new bottle. Bkr bottles come in 8-, 16-, 22-, and 32-ounce sizes and have hard plastic lids with a loop for carrying.
I used the Sip Kit which comes with a straw cap and three straws. The brand also sells Kiss Kits with lip balm at the top of the lid and Keep Kits for storing small items like a hair tie or vitamins. We didn't try those two, but they're fun additions.
$50 at Amazon (32 OZ)
Buy at BKR (Sip Kits)
Photograph: Dick's Sporting Goods
Another Great Bottle
Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle
Before Stanley took over the internet, Hydro Flask was the choice of VSCO girls everywhere. It's also a favorite of outdoorsy folks or anyone else who wants a bottle that is not easily damaged. Hydro Flask has several types of bottles and caps for your liking, and there's even a tumbler if you were hoping for a 40-ounce Stanley (though we haven't tried this one yet). There are a bunch of fun color options, and if you buy from Hydro Flask many are customizable and engravable. You can choose one color for the bottle, another for the lid, and depending on which one you're getting, yet another for the strap or straw.
~~$35~~ $33 at Amazon
$40 at Hydro Flask

Photograph: Yeti
If You Prefer Light Plastic
Yeti Yonder
Stainless steel bottles keep your drinks cold longer, and they're usually heavier-duty. But that means they're also heavy. Plastic, on the other hand, is light. WIRED editor Adrienne So loves the Yeti Yonder (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It's BPA-free and made from 50 percent recycled plastic.
It has a nice cap that should save your shirt from spills if you're really chugging. It's also easy to wash, whether you're doing that by hand or in the dishwasher. So has dropped it and tossed it around and says it hardly has a scratch.
$25 at Yeti
Photograph: Medea Giordano
The Prettiest Bottle
Lund London Skittle Bottle
Lund London's Skittle Bottle is a design piece. I picture a very fashionable executive sipping on this at the office and it blending into decor at home. It's also a functional bottle, keeping cold drinks at temperature for 24 hours and hot drinks for 12. The opening is big enough to fit ice cubes if you need them. The Skittle Bottle comes in a few pretty color combos or, if you buy directly from Lund, even the Union Jack flag, so you can feel like Ginger Spice. You pay for the design though, as it's a bit pricey for the 10-, 17-, and 25-ounce sizes available.
$43 at Amazon (17 OZ)
$64 at Amazon (25 OZ)
Buy at Lund London (All Sizes)

Photograph: HydroJug
For Maximum Hydration
HydroJug Pro
If you want a bottle to hold a ton of water, get the 73-ounce HydroJug Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends). WIRED reviewer Louryn Strampe loves it for getting her hydration in, and she doesn't have to run to the kitchen for water more than once a day. Make no mistake, this thing is big. You won't be throwing it in your purse, but it does double as a 4-pound weight for biceps curls when full. HydroJug has nice neoprene sleeves with pockets and a carrying strap, which you can get with a straw in the starter kit.
$25 at Amazon
$45 at HydroJug (Getting Started Kit)
Photograph: Stanley
We Like These Bottles, But …
A Note on Lead Soldering
Recently, it's come to light that some water bottle companies use lead soldering in the manufacturing of their vacuum-sealed bottles. It started with news of the viral Stanley tumbler, and the company confirmed that a pellet of lead is used in the manufacturing process to seal the bottom of the cup. We reached out to the other brands we like to find out whether they also use lead, and the following brands confirmed they do.
The lead is enclosed in stainless steel on the bottom of the cup, and if your bottle isn't dropped or otherwise damaged, it should not come in contact with your drink or skin. However, enough brands have moved toward other methods that we don't think it's necessary. The risk of exposure might be very low, but it should be zero.
The Stanley Quencher H2.0 needs no introduction, taking the internet's popularity award. It's big, cute, and available in every color. The 2.0 version has a spill-resistant lid that allows you to drink from the straw or use the wide-mouth opening instead.
The Miir Narrow Mouth Bottle was our top pick for hiking and rock climbing. It's durable enough to last should it fall off a cliff, and the cap has a large enough loop to comfortably carry using three fingers.
The LifeStraw Go Series Filtered Water Bottle was a new addition to this guide. The microfilter removes microplastics, bacteria, and parasites, and the carbon filter removes chlorine and odor. We were surprised that the brand uses lead soldering, given its ethos on health and environmental responsibility.
Yeti didn't respond to emails, but the brand's FAQ section confirms it uses lead for sealing its drinkwear. We recommend the plastic bottle above if you like the brand and want a lead-free version.

Photograph: Medea Giordano
The Perfect Bottle Bag
Calpak Water Bottle Holder
One thing about always wanting to have a water bottle on you is that they don't always fit into a compact purse—especially if you use a 40-ounce bottle like I do. Opt for a water bottle bag when you don't need to carry a ton of stuff, like while on a walk or even at concerts or festivals that allow bottles.
Calpak's insulated bag is my favorite. It comes in adorable colors and patterns, has one zip compartment where I put my phone and money, and three other pockets for necessities like sunscreen, keys, and sunglasses. There's an adjustable shoulder strap as well as a top handle. The water-resistant nylon is easy to clean too.
★ Another cute bag: I also like Dagne Dover's Sloan Water Bottle Sling ($95). It has three large pockets around the exterior and a small one on the back for a card, plus a clip for keys. But it's more expensive and lacks a zipper pocket. The interior is made from recycled water bottles.
$48 at Calpak
Photograph: Amazon
Honorable Mentions
Other Good Bottles
Not every bottle is great, but most are still pretty good. These ones will hold your water just as well.
Klean Kanteen Classic for $35: Klean Kanteen makes a fantastic bottle. The Classic is relatively light and holds up well, and there are a ton of other sizes that work just as well. The company also sells a ton of cap options if you realize you want a straw or a stainless steel top.
Pura Big Mouth Insulated Bottle for $34: Pura bottles are thin, light, and made entirely from stainless steel so there's no plastic or powder coating (which also means they may not withstand drops and bumps). They're Made Safe certified, meaning they're made without harmful ingredients. I don't love the silicone lids, as they're very thin and floppy, but you can unscrew the whole cap to sip right from the metal rim.
CamelBak Eddy+ Renew for $16: Despite not being a hefty chunk of metal, the Eddy+ is thick and well built, and the flip-up straw is a nice touch. It's BPA-free and made with 50 percent recycled material.
Nalgene Ultralite Wide-Mouth Bottle for $13 and Sustain Tritan for $17: Nalgenes are the complete opposite of fancy, but they're classic and inexpensive. You won't get a built-in straw or a fancy powder-coated finish, but you will get a no-nonsense, tough bottle that'll last for years.
Sigg Water Bottle Original for $19: Sigg's bottle is uninsulated, but it's made of stainless steel in Switzerland. One WIRED tester said the build quality was obvious in the details, like the cap that looks and feels like something Porsche would design. Without the powder coating, though, the finish just isn't very durable.

Photograph: Amazon
Avoid These Bottles
They Didn't Make the Cut
As simple as bottles are, there are a few we just didn't like.
Air Up Water Bottle for $40: This bottle uses scented rings to try to trick your brain into thinking it isn't drinking plain water. WIRED writer Boone Ashworth was unimpressed. It didn't actually smell great, and you can't use the bottle without one of those rings. The beauty of a reusable bottle is that you spend money once and get free water for years. Here, you have to keep buying refills.
Liberty Bottleworks Uninsulated Bottle for $23: The cap of this aluminum bottle is weird, flimsy, and confusingly shaped. Our tester got his fingers stuck in it a few times and said it's uncomfortable to twist. The bottle's outer coating isn't as tough as the matte powder coating on others, and the aluminum felt weak. (He could slightly flex it with his fingers.) Also, unlike with a stainless steel bottle, the interior is covered in a food-grade coating. It's BPA-free, according to Liberty, but people who want to avoid industrial coatings should steer toward stainless steel.
Photograph: Amazon
Insulated vs. Uninsulated Bottles
Understanding the Terms
Insulated bottles are heavier and can typically hold less water compared to their uninsulated counterparts, given similar exterior dimensions. But the advantage is that they are typically vacuum-sealed to better maintain the temperature of the liquid inside for far longer periods of time.
For hiking and outdoor climbing trips, you may prefer uninsulated bottles because it means slightly less weight to lug around, and the concern is to have enough water rather than cold water. For everything else, insulated work just fine.

Photograph: Getty Images
How to Clean Your Bottle
Cleaning Your Bottle
Even if they never hold anything but water, bottles get gross. Mold can grow quickly, especially if you leave the cap on. Straws and mouthpieces accumulate bacteria, oils, and grime from your mouth, and any dirt and dust they pick up in your backpack.
Some bottles can go right in the dishwasher, but be sure to take everything fully apart first, like any silicone pieces that can trap bacteria. For lids that have more nooks and crannies, we recommend hand-washing by soaking them in soapy water and then scrubbing.
Get yourself a bottle brush and straw brush—many kits are available that include both. Even if you don't use straws, the smaller brush can be used to get into any crevices. There are special bottle-cleaning tablets around, but cleaning with regular dish soap works perfectly fine.
Plastic bottles have a tendency to trap odors over time. You can fix this by putting a teaspoon of bleach and a teaspoon of baking soda in the bottle, filling it up with water, and letting it sit overnight. Rinse it out well the next day.

Medea Giordano turned her shopping problem into a career as a product writer for WIRED. She covers a little bit of everything but loves health, beauty, and pet tech. Prior to WIRED, she was an assistant editor at Wirecutter and an assistant in the newsroom of The New York Times.... Read more

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