We Drink From Water Bottles and You Won’t Believe What Happens Next
Disclaimer: That headline is a total lie. You’ll absolutely believe what happens next: We review them!
I don’t want to brag, but I am great at hydrating. I have serious sipping skills. I am one qualified quaffer.
Therefore, it’s probably no surprise that I own enough water bottles to cover the hydration needs of an entire football team. And recently, I’ve discovered a few new favorites that I couldn’t help but share.
You need cold water for hours on end: Hydro Flask
Probably the most important thing to know about Hydro Flask is that, if you put a fair amount of ice in your water, it will stay cold … well, if not forever, at least for as long as it’ll take you to drink it all (at least 24 hours according to the website, and it’ll keep your tea or coffee hot for 6), even if you leave it in the sun or in a hot car. It won’t sweat, and, in my experience, it’s leak-proof. Now, it is a bit heavy, so the larger options (and there are a number of options for sizes, colors, caps and spouts) can be a little cumbersome to carry by hand for long distances, but if you’ve got a good place to stow it? Hard to beat.
You want to hydrate without sacrificing your sense of style: S’well
Another bottle with serious endurance, S’well bottles keep cold drinks cold for 24 and hot ones hot for 12. Plus, S’well partners with various charitable organizations. But let’s be real — the real reason all the girls are hankering for a S’well bottle is because they are sexy. Seriously, they’re so, so pretty and available in about a kajillion different colors and patterns (as well as three sizes). And when you provide that kind of style with functionality, you’ve got one award-worthy product.
You’re a neat freak with limited storage: ALEX bottle
ALEX stands for Always Live Extraordinarily, and this bottle is certainly extraordinary. In addition to the wide mouth opening at the top (which seals very securely), it also twists open right in the middle, which is awesome for several reasons. First, it makes it easy to clean every nook and cranny really well (and those of us who sometimes shake up a little protein powder in our bottles know how important that is), whether you hand wash it or pop it in the dishwasher. Second, it means you can put wide items — like a whisk ball or large cocktail ice globe — inside, even if they won’t fit through the top. And finally, it packs down to half its size for storage, and as someone who no longer has a pantry for storage, that’s become really important. It does sweat, however, and it doesn’t keep drinks cold for as long as some other options.
You prefer to drink from glass, even during a workout: Lifefactory
You might remember a mention of Lifefactory wine glasses back in the spring, and they also make water bottles appropriate for sports with grippy silicone sleeves and an easy access active flip top. The wide mouth makes it easy to add plenty of ice or citrus slices. Plus, it’s dishwasher safe, and, to be honest, the design of the silicone sleeve looks wicked cool, regardless of which of the various colors you choose.
You want water in a personalized container: Tervis Tumbler
When it comes to customization, you can’t ask for more than what Tervis offers in its water bottles. There are oodles of different collections to start, but you can also do a completely customized version if you prefer. The insulated bottle is both dishwasher and microwave safe and sweats very little, if at all. I’ve had great luck with my water staying cold and my coffee staying hot; however, I have had a slight issue with the top warping ever so slightly in the dishwasher, resulting in a wee bit of leaking if the bottle is tilted on its side.
What are the most important things you look for in a water bottle? —Kristen