The Best Water Bottles of 2024

Water is essential for life, so staying hydrated is absolutely crucial. Whether you’re hitting the gym, exploring the great outdoors, or simply running errands around town, having a reliable water bottle is a must. But with so many different options on the market, choosing the best water bottle for your needs can be overwhelming.

You may think a water bottle is a dime a dozen, and to an extent, this is true. However, certain bottles stand out from the pack, boasting unique features, versatility, and design that make them worth looking at a bit more closely. From lightweight and portable plastic bottles ideal for hiking and biking to heavy-duty insulated bottles that keep your drinks cold or hot for hours, we’ve found a bottle that will never leave your side.

Whether you’re a fitness enthusiast, an outdoor adventurer, or simply want to stay hydrated throughout the day, we found the best water bottles to meet your needs and keep you refreshed. Read on to find our favorites, or head straight to our comparison chart, buyer’s guide, and frequently asked questions sections.

The Best Water Bottles of 2024

Best Overall Water Bottle: Nalgene Sustain Wide-Mouth
Best Budget Water Bottle: CamelBak Eddy+
Best Insulated Water Bottle: Hydro Flask Wide Mouth with Flex Straw
Best Water Bottle for Daily Use: Miir Wide Mouth
Best Water Bottle for the Backcountry: Hydrapak Breakaway+

Specs

Capacity: 32 oz.
Weight: 6.25 oz.
Material: BPA-free Plastic

Pros

Nearly indestructible
Leak-proof lid that stays tightly closed
Easy to fill with ice cubes

Cons

Wide mouth can be tough to drink from on the move
Too big for many water bottle pockets/cupholders

What can we say about the workhorse that is a Nalgene Wide-Mouth ($17) that hasn’t already been said? Perhaps the most well-loved and recognizable bottle on this list, a Nalgene is worth every penny of its extremely palatable price. Our testers have been using Nalgenes as long as they can remember — some of whom would likely still be using the first one they ever had if they hadn’t lost it. Seriously, though, these water bottles are much sooner lost than they are broken or discarded — one of their hallmarks is their near-indestructibility.

Unlike stainless steel bottles, the Nalgene can be dropped, tossed, kicked, or otherwise punished with little repercussion. One of our testers did melt the cap by putting it on the bottom shelf of his dishwasher, so maybe don’t do that. If you do melt the cap, it’s only $5 to replace it. The beauty of a Nalgene is partly in its price, but even better is the fact that you probably won’t ever want to replace it.

This might not be the right water bottle for you, however, if you’re always behind the wheel or prefer cold water. The shape doesn’t fit in cupholders, and the lack of insulation may be frustrating for those in hot weather.

Also, if you don’t love the Nalgene Wide-Mouth’s wide-mouth lid, you can buy one with an easier-to-sip-from mouth, but it won’t be as easy to fit ice cubes into, so there’s a trade-off. You can always buy one of Nalgene’s Easy Sippers, which nestles nicely into the wide-mouth bottle to prevent spillage.

Specs

Capacity: 25 oz.
Weight: 6 oz.
Material: Tritan® Renew

Pros

Super affordable
Water flows quickly through the straw

Cons

Doesn’t keep drinks cold for very long
Water can drip out of the straw when you take the lid off

The CamelBak Eddy+ ($16) is a classic, perennial bestseller that our testers love for its immense versatility. The bottle comes in a handful of sizes and materials and can be fitted with a LifeStraw filter. We’ve been testing the standard 25-ounce Eddy+ made from Tritan™ Renew plastic, but you can also get one made from insulated stainless steel or in 20-ounce or 32-ounce sizes.

The width of the bottle fits nicely in your hand, regardless of size, and our testers liked that it was easy to fit in even the most fickle of bottle pockets on their various backpacks and totes. The lid has a handle that makes it easy to carry, whether you want to hook it onto your finger or attach it to a carabiner. We also loved that you could flip open the straw with just one finger.

Two notes: if you are keen on finding a bottle with insulation, we’d definitely recommend upgrading to a stainless steel bottle over the Eddy+, and if you don’t like sipping from a straw, we’d recommend looking elsewhere, too.

Speaking of the straw, though, the CamelBak Eddy+ has one of the highest-flow, easiest-to-use straw systems we’ve tested. Water comes out easily — as CamelBak says, “Flip, bite, sip.” We are generally skeptical of quippy mantras like this, but it turns out, it’s actually true.

Our testers were also big fans of the ability to add on a filter after the fact. You can buy it with a filter if you want, but it’s not always necessary, so the ability to buy one later or easily swap it out with the straw is a huge bonus.

Specs

Capacity: 40 oz.
Weight: 1.05 lbs.
Material: Stainless steel

Pros

Keeps water cold for up to 24 hours
Wide mouth lid allows for easy pouring and filling with ice
Stainless steel construction can take a beating

Cons

Straw can be tough to position correctly
Heavy, especially when full
Steel, while durable, can dent and scratch easily

In the world of insulated water bottles, the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth bottle with Flex Straw cap ($50) is always mentioned as one of the best you can buy. It can keep drinks hot for up to 12 hours, but since we’re talking about water bottles, our guess is that the whopping 24 hours it can keep your water cold is a more helpful feature (though, in cold weather situations, keeping your liquids hot may be a lifesaver).

The double-walled vacuum insulation and stainless steel construction make this one of the most durable water bottles you can buy, though it is susceptible to dents and dings if you drop it. Our testers like to think of those as a badge of honor rather than a detriment.

However, if clean aesthetics are important to you, we recommend not dropping it. The steel is easy to clean inside and out, and the water never picks up any unwanted tasting notes from the bottle, which is always a good thing.

The straw is easy to drink from and provides a consistent drinking experience, but they did note that the water would cut off if the straw part of the lid wasn’t fully open. Not a huge deal, but if we’re nitpicking (which we are), that is something to keep in mind, along with the bottle’s dingability.

Our testers were big fans of the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth’s lid, which allowed them to fill up their bottles with ice cubes of just about any standard shape and size. Sipping from a wide-mouth lid isn’t always the easiest, though, so our testers decided that having the straw lid was a must if you wanted to drink without spilling all over.

Specs

Capacity: 20 oz.
Weight: 0.86 lbs.
Material: Stainless steel

Pros

Slim enough to fit in just about any water bottle pocket
Easy to carry thanks to a large handle on the lid

Cons

Feels slightly more fragile than other bottles we tried

For folks who are looking for high-quality temperature regulation in a bottle that’s lightweight and easy to tote around, we highly recommend the Miir Wide Mouth bottle ($35), specifically the 20-ounce version. Its tall, thin shape makes it super easy to hold, even for our testers who have smaller hands or like to carry a ton of things at once.

The handle on the lid is easy to slide your fingers onto and is easy to throw on a carabiner or your bag’s extra attachment point. Since it’s so thin, it’s also ideal for bags that have small (or nonexistent) water bottle pockets — this was the bottle our testers found most compatible with laptop bags, messenger bags, and lightweight totes.

The wide mouth makes it easy to throw in a few ice cubes, which the bottle can keep frozen all day. The 20-ounce model that we tested was just big enough for a day at the office or visit to the gym, and one tester has already found himself perusing the Miir site for more lid options to really maximize its versatility.

Since it’s lighter and more svelte than some of the other steel options on our list, the Miir Wide Mouth bottle can feel more susceptible to damage, but our testers have been putting it through the wringer and haven’t noticed any significant shortcomings. Like all steel bottles, it’ll get dings and can be scratched, but the insulation works like a charm and the versatility of Miir’s lid system well outweigh the cons.

Specs

Capacity: 20 oz.
Weight: 4 oz.
Material: TPU, POM, ABS, Hollow Fiber, Silicone, PP

Pros

Integrated filter keeps water clean
Multiple size options
No filter experience required

Cons

Pricey for a water bottle
Water doesn’t flow as fast as a standard cycling bottle

The Breakaway+ from Hydrapak ($45) is an absolute must-have piece of gear if you spend any time in the backcountry, whether on your bike, hiking, or hunting. Our testers who regularly bikepack or take their mountain bikes off the grid were huge fans, saying that taking at least one Breakaway+, if not two, was a game-changer when it came to getting clean water.

The filter comes already installed and doesn’t require any extra steps — you just fill it up and, boom, you’ve got clean H2O. The filter clears out 99.99% of E. coli and parasitic cysts, giving our team peace of mind when filling up from a trailside creek, and though the water doesn’t come out of the nozzle as quickly as a standard water bottle, the filter can handle about 1,500 L of fresh water at a rate of >1 L per minute, which let the water flow fast enough to guzzle it down if needed.

Another way the Breakaway+ separates itself from standard cycling water bottles is the lid itself. It opens and closes with a twist and is easy to operate with gloved hands, a godsend for folks riding mountain bikes or venturing out in inclement weather.

The nozzle is wide, allowing for maximum flow, and the mudguard is super handy if you’re bombing down some singletrack and don’t want to end up sucking down a bunch of dirt and dust (which would probably contradict at least part of the reason for having a filter in the first place).

If you like to chug your water, though, this might not be the best option. The filter is great but keeps the water from flowing quite as fast as a normal bottle, so that’s something to keep in mind. Replacement filters are also not available yet, but the brand says they’re on the way in the coming months.

The Hydrapak Breakaway+ comes in 20-ounce or 30-ounce sizes, is designed to fit in a standard cycling bottle cage, and will fit in just about any backpack’s water bottle pocket. Our testers found this useful when carrying a lot of gear.

Specs

Capacity: 1L
Weight: 1.4 lbs.
Material: Stainless steel

Pros

Can hold a huge amount of water
Filters automatically when you drink from it

Cons

Can be quite cumbersome
Filter limits the flow through the cap

The LifeStraw Go Series ($65) combines the filtration of a humble LifeStraw with the temperature regulation of double-wall vacuum insulation. As far as water bottles go, each size it comes in is heavy and cumbersome, so our testers say you might as well go all the way and get the biggest bottle, the 1L. This comes in handy while car camping or in other situations where weight isn’t necessarily an issue. Don’t get us wrong; in those situations, it truly shines.

The 1L bottle holds 34 ounces of water that is filtered as you drink it, so while you can’t fill it up and dole out filtered water to your friends later on, the capacity is great for sustaining a single person for a solid amount of time. Lifestraw says the filter will last for up to 26 gallons, which is roughly 2 months of daily use.

Filtering your water doesn’t have to be only for outdoor excursions, though. Sometimes, you may just want to clean up your local tap water for a better taste. This is perfectly possible thanks to the charcoal filter, which removes chlorine, odors, and organic chemical matter. The membrane microfilter, working together with the charcoal filter, removes 99.99% of bacteria, parasites, microplastics, silt, sand, and cloudiness.

The filter was effective during testing, and we love the double-walled insulation. In fact, this was a candidate for the best bottle for backpacking, but we opted for the lighter Hydrapak Breakaway+. Still, if you don’t mind the extra weight, this could be an excellent bottle for the backcountry.

The filter is easy to replace and you can use the LifeStraw Go Series bottle without it, if you prefer. Either way, you’ll be enjoying a hefty supply of water all day long.

Specs

Capacity: 32 oz.
Weight: 1.14 lbs.
Material: Stainless steel

Pros

Straw is made of steel, rather than plastic
Easy to hold and transport

Cons

The lid and straw make for a lot of individual pieces that can be lost and/or broken
Steel straw means you can’t use it for hot liquids

One of the OG brands that brought stainless steel bottles to the mainstream, Certified B Corp Klean Kanteen has spent over 20 years perfecting it, a point proven by the TKWide Insulated with Twist Cap ($45). It is more than just a mouthful of a name — it’s one of the best insulated bottles you can buy these days. The highlight for our testers was the steel straw, which is super easy to clean and much more durable than a plastic straw.

The bottle is super versatile — the user can easily swap between any of Klean Kanteens lids to suit their needs. We loved the lids with a steel straw but also were excited about the chance to swap it out at any point. Say you’re headed to the beach and have your bottle filled with something other than water. Just swap the lid for a standard insulated lid, and you can easily dole out refreshments to everyone in your party (or take big swigs yourself).

One of the downsides is that the lids come in so many pieces. While our testers loved that each piece was dishwasher safe, making it easy to give the lid a thorough clean, it meant more pieces to potentially lose in the process.

This may not be an issue for the hyper-organized, but for our testers who keep a grip of water bottles at the ready, a lid that comes apart into a handful of pieces was hard to keep track of. The only other drawback is that the steel straw isn’t suited for hot liquids.

In the end, the Klean Kanteen TKWide Insulated with Twist Cap is a great bottle for someone who loves to keep their drinks ice cold and sip from a highly advanced cap.

Specs

Capacity: 27 oz.
Weight: 5.2 oz.
Material: Titanium

Pros

Extremely light
Small size fits just about anywhere
Very durable

Cons

Pricey
Scratches easily
Not insulated

If you’re looking for a bottle that feels practically weightless, the Snow Peak Titanium Aurora Bottle ($150) should be your go-to. This titanium bottle weighs just over 5 ounces, which means the only weight you’ll feel when you carry it is the 27 ounces of water you’ll carry inside it.

Is it insulated? No. Does it have a straw? Nope. Filter? Nah. In lieu of perks that you’ll find in the other bottles on this list, the Aurora is a showcase of artful simplicity. In fact, while our tester was fully prepared to be underwhelmed by the lack of features with this bottle, it quickly became part of her everyday carry setup.

It turns out that the big appeal of this bottle is its plain old effectiveness. What you get with the Aurora is an extremely light bottle that, thanks to the 1mm titanium walls, is extremely durable. Plus, the iridescent powder coat is just plain gorgeous. We have yet to go more than a week without someone commenting on how nice the bottle looks.

If you need insulation, filtration, or other bells and/or whistles, check out some of the other bottles we’ve covered here. If you want something you can carry around every day without adding any weight to your bag, the Snow Peak Titanium Aurora Bottle is the way to go.

Specs

Capacity: 1 gallon
Weight: 4.5 lbs.
Material: Stainless steel

Pros

Extremely high capacity
Excellent insulation
Magnetic cap holder

Cons

Very heavy
Too big for hiking/backpacking

We had to include one absurdly big option for you extra-thirsty readers. And the YETI Rambler One Gallon Water Jug ($130) definitely fits the bill. Its 1-gallon capacity is enough for a day’s worth of water or enough coffee to get your whole crew ready for the day. And it’s YETI, so you know its double-walled vacuum insulation and the vault-worthy lid will keep your hots hot and your colds cold.

Our tester hauled the jug to the gym all summer to help him stay hydrated for hours-long workout sessions during competition season. The jug kept his refills refreshingly icy, despite triple-digit temperatures every day. In fact, our tester noticed that there was still ice in the jug after a long weekend. The bottle’s clever construction isn’t limited to its insulation, however. Our tester loved the substantial handle with its durable foam grip.

One of the more unique and well-thought-out features is the magnetic cap, which attaches to the lid when you remove it for a pour. Over the decades, we’ve lost more lids and caps than we can count, and this little bit of genius was a welcome surprise.

Let’s not kid ourselves — at 4.5 pounds empty, you’re not going to take this hiking. And if you do try to take it on the trail, this behemoth will take up most of the room in any pack. But if you need to caffeinate your whole base camp or you want a stash of cold water to slake your thirst all day, the YETI Rambler One Gallon Water Jug is the way to go.

Water Bottle Comparison Chart

Water Bottle	Price	Capacity	Weight	Material
Nalgene Sustain Wide-Mouth	$17	32 oz.	6.25 oz	BPA-free plastic
CamelBak Eddy+	$16	25 oz.	6 oz.	Tritan® Renew
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth with Flex Straw	$50	40 oz.	1.05 lbs.	Stainless steel
Miir Wide Mouth	$35	20 oz.	13.7 oz.	Stainless steel
Hydrapak Breakaway+	$45	20 oz.	4 oz.	TPU, POM, ABS, Hollow Fiber, Silicone, PP
LifeStraw Go Series Stainless Steel	$65	1L	1.4 lbs.	Stainless steel
Klean Kanteen TKWide Insulated with Twist Cap	$45	32 oz.	1.14 lbs.	Stainless steel
Snow Peak Titanium Aurora Bottle	$150	27 oz.	5.2 oz.	Titanium
YETI Rambler One Gallon Water Jug	$130	1 Gallon	4.5 lbs.	Stainless steel

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.

The Hydrapak Breakaway+‘s integrated filter can be a lifesaver on long singletrack rides; (photo/Will Porter)

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 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.

Slipping the Miir Widemouth into a backpack pocket — The Miir Widemouth’s slim profile makes it ideal for slipping into a backpack pocket; (photo/Will Porter)

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.

The Nalgene Widemouth Bottle — The classic Nalgene bottle is nearly indestructible, but it won’t keep your drinks cold; (photo/Will Porter)

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

Stainless steel is highly recommended for its durability, safety, and temperature retention. Glass bottles offer purity of taste but are fragile (we prefer to keep these at home). BPA-free plastic is lightweight and very durable but will not keep things cold for very long — plus they tend to be heavy on condensation.

Insulated water bottles, especially those with double-walled vacuum insulation, can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12 hours. Brands like Hydro Flask and Yeti are known for their top-tier temperature retention, but any insulated bottle will keep things cold much longer than a standard plastic bottle.

A 16-24-ounce bottle is typically what you’ll want for daily use. For gym workouts or hiking, a 32-ounce bottle offers a good combination of capacity and portability. Larger sizes, like 64-ounce, are ideal for all-day hydration but may be less convenient to carry for hours on end.

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