The Best Insulated Water Bottles of 2024

RTIC is a well-respected player in the cooler and drinkware market for offering high-quality, durable products at a more reasonable price than some of the other big brands. Their Vacuum Insulated Bottle ($20 for the 32-ounce size) hits the mark for simple quality at an unbeatable price.

The RTIC Bottle shares many similarities with comparable models from Hydro Flask and YETI, like stainless steel construction, double-wall vacuum insulation, and a powder-coated protective finish. We’re also big fans of the flip-top lid that lets you drink from the bottle without removing the entire lid. In our years of hydrating at home, at the office, in the car, or out in nature, we can’t tell you how many spills we’ve had with other bottles from accidentally leaving the lid partially open. It’s still possible to leak a little out of the flip-top lid, but you won’t be drenching yourself like you would with a completely open bottle.

While the RTIC Bottle looks and performs similarly to the Hydro Flask and YETI models, it doesn’t feel quite as heavy-duty and indestructible. Having said that, we haven’t experienced any quality or durability issues in our testing. Also remember that you can buy two RTIC Bottles for the same price of one of the others, which is why it earns our pick as the best value option.

YETI’s 26-ounce Rambler Bottle ($40) is another amazing insulated bottle. This one is tied with our top choice for its stainless steel construction and insulating performance, however, it weighs slightly more — although that also gives it points for durability.

Available in an impressive five different volumes, there’s bound to be a Rambler bottle for any sized adventure you might be planning. The bottle comes standard with YETI’s Chug Cap, which is about the only controversial feedback among testers — some loved the two-part narrow mouth cap, and some didn’t.

A final note — one of the best parts of buying from an established brand like YETI is the broad range of supplementing accessories available. We counted five different lid styles available for the Rambler, which makes it a super versatile bottle to match whatever hydration needs you might have.

Of all of the insulated bottles we’ve tested over the years, offerings like the Rambler consistently held up better than their counterparts, making this bottle one tough option for those who leave the kid gloves at home.

When the heat of the summer comes on, water isn’t the only thing we’re looking to slake our thirsts. Your favorite foam can koozie may get all the laughs, but a true insulating can cooler like the YETI Rambler Colster ($25) will keep your favorite beverage chilled for far longer. We found the Colster to be the best of the bunch, with a simple design that just plain works on a long day outside.

Made of the same double-wall stainless steel construction as the rest of YETI’s insulated offerings, the Colster retains the same high performance in a smaller package. And by utilizing a simple lock ring design, this can cooler will holster any 12-ounce can with ease, though it won’t accommodate the other can styles made today.

Luckily, YETI makes the Colster in additional 12-ounce Slim Can, and 16-ounce Tall Can versions. We did find the Colster a bit hefty for what it is but chalked it up to being necessary for adequate insulation.

For those who like to sip a little slower (or have trouble remembering which can they were drinking from), the Colster is the perfect companion to your next six-pack.

One of the things that bedevil many insulated bottles is carbonated beverages — but not the 64-ounce MiiR Growler ($60). This insulated brewtainer keeps your favorite IPA locked down, thanks to an innovative threadless lid and locking clasp that seals in freshness and carbonation.

MiiR considered all the niceties as well, incorporating a lid that locks into place in the open position so as to not impede a good pour. The Growler holds an impressive 4 pints of liquid and keeps them chilled for a long time. We will note the rubber seal that’s used can hold onto the scent of whatever is stored last, but this can be removed and washed separately.

One of the things that sets MiiR apart from other manufacturers is the company’s ingrained global philanthropy, funded by a portion of the sales of every product. To date, MiiR has donated $3.75 million to various nonprofits, ranging from sustainable food systems to land and water protections. You can feel good knowing your Growler is doing something positive for the world.

Excellent for bringing the party with you (and keeping it chill), the MiiR Growler makes the cut for anyone looking to transport their brews and enjoy them too.

At larger volumes, many insulated water bottles won’t fit in a car cup holder. The Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler ($45) solves this problem with a tapered bottom designed for cup holder compatibility, even in the 40-ounce size. Fill up this tumbler before your next road trip, and you’ll stay hydrated for the long haul. 

The 3-position lid features a reusable straw for sipping and a wider mouth opening for chugging. We especially liked using the straw while driving; it makes it easy to keep your eyes on the road while enjoying your beverage. It’s worth noting that the rotating mechanism on the lid does not seal, and this lid is not leakproof. If you are looking for a bottle to throw in your bag while on the go, this tumbler is not the ideal choice.

We recently brought the Stanley Quencher on a drive into the mountains for an overnight backpacking trip. Drinking water is important before big days in the mountains, and we hit the trail feeling well-hydrated. We left the tumbler half full in the car overnight, and we were pleasantly surprised to enjoy cool water after the trip, even though the car was sitting in the sun when we returned. 

While we wouldn’t recommend this for hiking or backpacking, the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler is our new favorite road trip companion.

A fun and trusty water bottle is a great way to encourage your kids to stay hydrated. The 12-ounce Thermos Funtainer ($20) from Thermos is a durable, safe, and affordable bottle designed for kids of all ages. Plus, it comes with a built-in straw.

This compact and packable bottle comes in all sorts of kid-friendly colors and patterns. Though the capacity is a fairly small 12 ounces, it’s the perfect size for small hands. This bottle fits easily into most school bags and lunch boxes.

Made from BPA-free stainless steel, this bottle is both lightweight and thoroughly durable. The click-shut lid is easy to open and quite leakproof when properly closed (which was our only complaint). When tucked away with the lid closed, the Funtainer keeps liquids cold and refreshing for a full 12 hours.

Right at home in any lunch pail, the Thermos Funtainer keeps tykes hydrated all day long.

Going budget doesn’t have to mean scraping the bottom of the barrel, and the Igloo Sport Sipper Bottle ($20) is proof positive of that. The brand has been getting coolers right for 75 years running, so it’s unsurprising that its foray into insulated bottles has produced a winner.

Built with a reliable stainless steel double wall construction, the Sport Sipper claims cold retention of up to 24 hours, and up to 6 hours with hot beverages — numbers that we were able to confirm in our own testing. Not too shabby for a cool $20 out of your pocket.

With a mostly round exterior profile, the Sport Sipper bottles also feature a flattened edge for your thumb along the front of the bottle. Not only does this give you some gripping power, but it also lines up the straw for quick access. Smart.

Flipping up the straw is a snap, and the rubberized bottom helps keep the important side down. The bail-style handle, while handy, was a bit floppy in our usage (and despite our best fixer efforts, no tightening of the hex screws would alleviate it). No deal breaker in our opinion, just something to keep in mind when toting the bottle around.

For less than you might spend on lunch, the Igloo Sport Sipper slides in as an affordable way to keep your beverages cool this summer.

When it comes to insulated water bottles, it’s tough to imagine anything new under the sun. But with a spout design that impressed us right out of the gate, the Owala FreeSip ($33) proves that there’s still innovation to be done.

While many other bottles have interchangeable lids that offer different means of drinking, the FreeSip spout is a bit of a hybrid, combining both a straw and open-mouth neck. You have the choice of either sipping or chugging. The whole affair is protected by a stout flip-top lid, and in testing, we came to really enjoy drinking from this bottle.

Backed up with a triple-layer vacuum construction, the Owala FreeSip has all the tech to do what insulated water bottles do best, and we had no problem keeping our water cool all day. Our only slight arose with the carry loop, which has a detent (or catch) for locking it down in the closed position, but not in the up.

Other than that small flaw, it’s perfect for drinking on the go. The FreeSip is high on our list of best water bottles on the market today.

A “sports bottle” might seem like an out-of-place inclusion in a roundup of Best Insulated Bottles, since on its face it’s an entirely different class. But Hydro Flask bucked that logic when it designed the insulated, double-wall stainless steel Sport Bottle ($40). It bears a striking similarity to the brand’s hallmark products, with a twist — or rather, a grip.

This 20-ounce, wide-mouth bottle has an ergonomic girdle that’s perfect for grabbing and holding while biking, running, walking, or even standing still. But that groove belies the real function of the Sport Bottle; while your instincts will tell you to squeeze the bottle, that’s not how it works.

A pop-spout sport cap, similar to a standard bike bottle, dispenses liquid with the help of a pinhole air valve. When upturned, water dribbles out mechanically. It’s not a gush, but it’s not painstakingly slow either.

It can be a little counterintuitive if you’re accustomed to squeeze bottles. And while you can suck to increase flow rate, you need to allow air to refill into the bottle to keep drinking. In other words, it’s not the fastest or most explosive bottle out there.

But it has all of Hydro Flask’s quintessential style and thermal performance, in an ergonomic, trendy design. Best of all, the Sport Bottle is compatible with any wide-mouth Hydro Flask lid, and likewise, the sport cap is backward-compatible with any previous wide-mouth bottle. So mix and match to your liking!

Borrowing from the company’s successes in the realm of thermoses, Stanley has produced a great insulated bottle with the IceFlow Flip Straw Water Bottle ($32). We don’t have too many straw-drinking lids in our review, but this bottle executed it perfectly.

The contoured bottle shape fits well in our hands, and the oversized bail on top meant we weren’t scrambling to keep a hold of it. Because it’s a straw bottle, you’re limited to only using cold liquids in it. Our biggest complaint, however, was the rubber seal is particularly deep inside the lid and not ideal for washing.

With a good pedigree, the IceFlow bottle comes from a long line of keeping hot things hot and cold things cold and is the perfect fit for walking and drinking on the go.

Hydro Flask’s new Lightweight Trail Series bottles have really won us over. If it weren’t for the price, this bottle might be in our top three.

The Lightweight Wide Mouth ($50) weighs just 11 ounces, has a perforated strap to keep weight down, and is designed to work with most backcountry water filters. Hydro Flask did some metal wizardry on this bottle, giving it tapered walls that are thicker on the bottom for durability, and thinner on top for weight savings.

Compared to the Wide Mouth Hydro Flask, we did note some diminished ability to keep drinks cold for as long, but the difference is small. When you’re counting ounces, the Lightweight Wide Mouth comes in clutch.

This Klean Kanteen bottle ($45) has a wide mouth, is vacuum-insulated, and holds 32 ounces of your drink of choice. It’s more expensive than others on this list but has everything you need: a cap and fold-down carry handle, a stainless steel interior, and insulation to keep liquids hot for 24 hours and iced for an incredible 83!

We were especially impressed with the thought put into the lid design. Using what Kleen Kanteen calls its TK Closure, the internal threads of the bottle are more like rows of bumps, meaning fewer nooks and crannies to clean. The lid is also fully vacuum insulated and sports a stainless steel bottom, meaning your water only sees steel on the inside of this bottle.

Some testers commented they didn’t like the ergonomics of the lid. We noted that it’s slightly narrower and shorter than other wide-mouths on this list. But if that’s no bother to you, the Kleen Kanteen TKWide bottle could be for you.

Purist uses a glass interior coating to combat the odors and flavors some don’t like in their stainless steel bottles. Meanwhile, the exterior sports the tried-and-true stainless steel construction for durability. The brand’s medium size, the Mover 18-ounce bottle ($50), has a convenient sipping cap.

We also liked testing the 32-ounce, wide-mouth size (same insulation and materials, just holds more), although the 18-ounce fits much better in cupholders, packs, and bags. We like the muted colors and professional aesthetic of this brand.

Unfortunately, we did find the Purist Mover Bottle to be a bit lacking when it came to scratch prevention. With no powder coat finish, scratches showed up easily in the painted finish. For the price, this was a bit disappointing. For those who place taste above all else, however, the Mover bottle makes no exceptions.

This is by no means a bottle you’ll want to take backpacking, but it’s a really cool design. CamelBak designed the MultiBe v ($50) for just what it sounds like — multiple beverages on the go. This bottle separates into both an insulated bottle, and a cup.

It’s great to fill up with water or coffee at the start of your day, and then have a reusable and insulated option for other drinks later. The incorporated cup is also great for sharing, and both components hold the cold and hot temps well.

Because it is so feature-rich, we did find a few things fiddly to handle, such as the Roll and Fold silicone lid, which stows in the main lid of the MultiBe v. That aside, it did give our testers a lot of flexibility in doling out beverages at the end of a hot day.