The Greatest Water Bottles of 2024

How We Tested the Best Water Bottles

As lifelong water drinkers and outdoor enthusiasts, you probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear that many of our experienced testers already had at least a cupboard full of water bottles in their respective homes. 

We took our already substantial water bottle experience, found a handful of others we hadn’t already tried and got to work. We tested them on the bike, on the run, at work, at home, and on vacation. To determine which were the best, we looked at materials, insulation, how functional the lid was, how easy they were to carry, if they were susceptible to leaks, among other features. 

We tested bottles on our daily commutes, at the office or coffee shop, and on camping trips high in the Colorado mountains. They joined us on bike rides and hikes throughout the Boise foothills, where they got a ton of use thanks to triple-digit temperatures. Filtered bottles were filled in alpine creeks and with tap water from various locations — and as we hoped, no GI issues ensued and the water tasted great. 

During our testing, we noticed a handful of standout features that we hadn’t encountered before. Some that were a surprise and others were expected, but they delighted our testers, nonetheless. Bottles like the Miir Wide Mouth proved exceptionally easy to carry with various backpacks and totes, fitting into even the most narrow of bottle pockets. Others, like the Nalgene Sustain Wide-Mouth, stood up to rigorous testing and lived up to their already lofty expectations. All-in-all, we think today’s water bottles are the best they’ve ever been, with options that cover every use case you can imagine. 

Why You Can Trust Us

Our lead testers, Will Porter and Billy Brown, have years of experience in the outdoors, fitness, and commuting, all of which lent insight to their choices for the best of the best. 

Will spent a few years commuting from Brooklyn to Manhattan, where he was able to test various water bottles, judging them based on their ability to fit in his backpack or laptop bag and how long his ice cold water would actually stay ice cold. His NYC days are now behind him and he calls Boise home, so he’s been able to hit the nearly endless trails in the foothills and beyond, testing an endless amount of bottles on his bike, on trail runs, and at Boise’s Bogus Basin ski area.

Water Bottles were among the first pieces of gear Billy Brown tested as he was starting his career. Since then, he’s taken water bottles around the world from Chile to Chamonix. He’s carried them up peaks all over the country, hiked them over thousands of miles of singletrack, and carried them on 50k ultraraces. In short, he knows what he wants in a good water bottle.  

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Water Bottle

It’s undeniable — there are a TON of water bottles out there. And while many of these bottles are excellent, they’re not all excellent for every user. When you’re looking for a new water bottle, keep in mind how and where you plan to use it, and use that to consider things like materials, lid options, and insulation. Below you’ll find some of the more common water bottle options.

This guide focuses primarily on water bottles in general. For other hydration options, consider our guides on the best insulated water bottles and the best hydration packs.

Material

Water bottles come in a variety of materials, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.

• Stainless steel: Durable, doesn’t hold onto chemicals, and can is usually double-wall insulated to keep drinks hot or cold. However, these bottles can be heavy and expensive.
• Plastic: Lightweight, affordable, and come in a variety of colors and styles. However, some plastics can leach chemicals into your water, especially if they’re exposed to high heat or prolonged sunlight. 
• Glass: Non-porous and doesn’t leach chemicals. However, it’s fragile and can be heavy. We recommend you keep glass water bottles at home — we love to keep one on our desk or bedside table.  

Temperature Regulation

Some water bottles are insulated to keep drinks hot or cold for extended periods. This can be a great feature if you want to enjoy a cold drink on a hot day or a hot drink on a cold day. The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth bottle is our favorite for keeping your water ice-cold all day long, but our picks from Yeti, Klean Kanteen, and Lifestraw also excel at this. 

Intended Use

Consider how you’ll be using your water bottle. If you’re going to be using it for everyday activities, such as going to work or school, you’ll probably want a bottle that’s lightweight and easy to carry in your favorite bag. If you’re going to be using it for outdoor activities, such as hiking or biking, you’ll want a bottle that’s durable and can withstand being dropped or bumped.

Filtration

Some water bottles have built-in filters that can remove impurities from your water. This can be a great feature if you’re concerned about the quality of your tap water or if you’re going to be drinking water from natural sources, such as streams or lakes. Be sure to take a close look at the filter details before buying, so you can figure out how often you will need to replace the filter and how much it will cost to do so. 

Durability

When it comes to water bottle durability, several factors must be considered. The material of the bottle plays a significant role—stainless steel and Tritan are popular choices for their strength and resistance to wear and tear (because we know you’ll beat the hell out of your bottle). Double-wall insulation can help protect the bottle from dents and dings, though these are definitely possible, especially if you drop the bottle while it’s full. Bottles like the Nalgene Sustain, are nearly indestructible and will break before they dent, while stainless steel bottles like the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth can handle just about anything, even though they are susceptible to scratches and dents. 

Insulation

Water bottle insulation plays a crucial role in maintaining the temperature of your beverages. Double-walled insulation, commonly found in high-quality water bottles, creates a barrier between the inner and outer walls of the bottle, minimizing heat transfer. This design helps keep cold drinks cool and hot drinks warm for extended periods.

On the flip side, plastic water bottles, while convenient, are not effective insulators. Plastic bottles struggle to maintain the desired temperature of your beverages, especially on hot days when the external heat can easily transfer to the liquid inside. You can always fill them with ice or freeze the bottle while half full, but you’ll need to drink it fast if you want your water cold. 

Lid Options

Water bottle lids come in a variety of styles, each with its own advantages. Sip straws are great for staying hydrated while on the go, since there’s no real risk of spillage out of the lid.

Wide mouth lids, on the other hand, make it easy to add ice or fruit to your water and are also compatible with most water filters, but they are easy to spill if you try to drink from them while on the move (or standing still). Travel mug lids are ideal for keeping your coffee or tea hot while you’re on the go, and often have a built-in handle for easy carrying, but aren’t optimized for high flow.

Price/Value

Like with any other piece of gear, you need to find a balance between the features you need and how much money you’re willing/able to spend. Here’s what you get (and what you don’t get) in several price tiers for water bottles.

Budget

If you don’t want to spend a lot of dough on something that just carries water around, you’ve got plenty of options that will cost you less than $20. While they may not filter your water or keep it ice-cold on a hot day, bottles like the Nalgene Sustain Wide-Mouth ($17) and Camelbak Eddy+ ($16) are both leak-proof and nearly indestructible.

Mid-Tier

Have a little more dough to spend? Most of the bottles in this range are around $25 to $60 and offer some interesting features like insulation, filtration, and more. Bottles like the Miir Wide Mouth bottle ($35) offer double-walled vacuum insulation, while others like the Hydrapak Breakaway+ ($45) offer filtration. Want both? The Lifestraw Go Series Stainless Steel ($65) is insulated and has an integrated filter.

Premium

Looking for a superlative water bottle? If you’re looking for the lightest, biggest, or best-looking water bottle, you’d better be prepared to shell out up to and over $100. But you’ll definitely get what you’re paying for. The Snow Peak Titanium Aurora Bottle ($150) weighs a meager 5.2 ounces, thanks to its 4mm-thick titanium walls. Want to go big? The YETI Rambler One Gallon Water Jug ($130) can hold a whopping gallon of liquid and keep it cold and icy for days on end.

Frequently Asked Questions