10 Best Water Bottles, Tested by ‘Women’s Health’ Editors

After using the HydroJug for weeks, our tester particularly likes its sleek design, grippy handle, and durability. At first glance, the HydroJug has a very similar design to the Stanley, except it features a flippable straw.

Even better, the straw is detachable for easy cleaning. Our tester found that the HydroJug was very easy to clean once you remove all the parts and wash them separately. It won't dent or break from accidentally falling down, though you can potentially experience some chipping.

We also found that despite having a straw, this bottle was completely leak-proof. You can lay it down in a purse without fear that it’ll spill. Though our tester considers it way too large and heavy for the gym or a car, she likes keeping the bottle at her desk. “The 40-ounce size helps me stay hydrated without having to get up and refill my water cup a million times throughout the day.”

If you’re not into the 40-ounce option, like many of the other bottles in this guide, the HydroJug is also available in two other sizes: 20 and 32 ounces.

In addition to making some of the best-looking water bottles out there, Takeya is all about functionality. We found the insulation to be reliable with cold drinks, often going 20 hours without a noticeable temperature change. The leakproof lid lived up to its name and the overall compact nature of the thing made it an ideal choice for tossing in a backpack or gym bag.

The stainless steel build of the thing keeps it fairly lightweight while still imparting enough durability. The bumper on the base of the bottle is a sharp idea indeed, making it sturdier and easier to stand up on its own if you want it on your counter or desk. The hinge lock allows it to clip onto just about anything and, being dishwasher safe, it's a breeze to sanitize the bottle itself.

Our only issues came with cleaning the cap itself, which needs to be taken apart and isn't the easiest to fully sanitize (we suggest soaking in boiling water). Another issue involves carrying the bottle itself. Without a handle, it can be a tougher bottle to carry, especially if you have arthritis (so, use those clips and carry it hands-free).

While this is only one of two water bottles in this guide without insulation, Its the perfect companion for those who want to meet their hydration goals. The 64-ounce jug features time markers to help you gradually track your intake throughout the day.

Despite its ability to hold so much liquid, our tester says that the bottle is super lightweight and easy to carry, thanks to its ergonomic handle. She particularly raves about the bottle's locking mechanism, which she found kept the bottle spill-proof as she carried it to the gym and elsewhere.

Aesthetically, the bottle is on the more basic side, but it comes in beautiful neutral colors. It’s a great option for people who need a little more guidance on their journey of increasing their daily water intake. Plus, at less than $20, it's the most budget-friendly container, even though it holds the most liquid out of all the bottles in our guide.

It's only obvious downside is that it won't keep your drinks cold for as long as the other insulated options.

While Hydro Flask makes options with straws and narrower mouth openings, we particularly like the brand’s wide mouth bottle, which makes it a great pick for both solo hydration and sharing drinks. The wide mouth makes it easy to pour liquids—perfect if you're using it when out on a picnic with friends, for example—but it’s also easier to throw ice in if you’re just loading it up with your water for the day. It keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours, and hot for up to 12.

Assistant social media editor Isabel McMahon says she likes keeping the bottle on her work desk, but that it’s safe to travel with, too. “I love how the bottle is completely leakproof when closed, so I don’t have to worry about any spillage when I throw the bottle in my bag,” she says.

McMahon also enjoys that the large mouth opening allows her to take larger gulps of water throughout the day, unlike sipping from a straw. “The stainless steel didn’t leave any weird aftertaste or flavor transfer either—just refreshing water!”

Though its flexible handle makes it very easy to carry around, our testers did find that the bottle was on the heavier side. “I would recommend this for someone who uses a backpack or large bag, or who wants to leave this bottle in the same place every day,” McMahon says.

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A longtime Stanley user, art director Christine Giordano found a new favorite in the Contigo Streeterville Tumbler. After taking it on the road with her to four hockey games, she found that the water bottle excels at insulation. “The Contigo stayed cold and refreshing all day from my 7 a.m. departure to the 8 p.m. arrival back home,” she says. It’ll keep drinks cold for up to 29 hours, but it also can hold hot beverages—albeit just for a few hours.

Giordano particularly loved the bottle’s multifunction lid, since it also allows you to drink with or without a straw. During testing, we also found that the Contigo was relatively lightweight, which we appreciated after carrying it around all day.

When it came to cleaning, the Contigo didn’t require too much effort. “What makes washing it easier is that it doesn’t have too many small parts that one could potentially miss when giving it a refresh,” Giordano says. Plus, it’s dishwasher-safe, making it a breeze to use it consistently.

When it comes to durable drinkware (and coolers, of course!), Yeti is always top of mind, and this bottle delivers on some of the brand's best qualities. Its double-walled insulation keeps drinks cold all day. Our tester put this bottle through the paces, and confirmed there was no need to refill her bottle with ice.

Another feature she raved about is that it’s absolutely leak-proof. “It’s really easy to clean and the seal is super-tight so I don't have to worry about it spilling in my work or gym bag,” she says.

This Yeti water bottle gets extra points because it’s customizable. You can get it engraved with words and images in different color combinations, making it a great gift, or allowing you to design something so personal to you it’s a joy to carry around.

That being said, our tester’s only gripes with the bottle are that it’s on the heavier side, plus she wishes it had markers to help her keep track of her water intake.

But its sturdy, chic design makes up for it. “It’s a fair swap considering the material is nice and matte, which is nice for cleaning because the bottle doesn’t get scuffed up,” she says. You can also bet it’s dent-proof, too. Mistakes happen, but if you drop this bottle, there’s no need to worry about damaging it.

While the Nalgene isn’t the most aesthetically pleasing, nor is it insulated, it’s one of the most functional water bottles on the list, especially for runners. Accardi particularly likes using it during runs because it’s “cute, compact, and super portable,” she says. “I like that it has a loop strap you can slide your hand through so you can hold it mindlessly.” Plus, because you’re not carrying stainless steel around, the bottle is very lightweight. Instead, it’s made with material derived from 50 percent plastic waste.

While the bottle itself is plastic, meaning it doesn’t insulate as well as steel, it comes with a removable sleeve cover that absorbs moisture and aids in insulation. It won’t keep your drinks cold or hot for 12 hours like some of the other bottles on this list, but the sleeve helps liquids hold their temperature for a few hours.

If you choose to remove the sleeve, which Accardi says requires quite a bit of effort because it goes on so tight, you can also track your hydration using the bottle’s water markers.

A little extra tech can go a long way in the world of hydration and that’s why the Hidrate Spark Pro 2 is our favorite in the category of smart tumblers. Testing showed its many strengths, from a useful associated app to audible drink reminders to keep you on your drinking game.

We loved the double-walled vacuum insulation and sweat-proof build, meaning there’s never any condensation on the exterior. We also loved the oversized handle for better portability and the fact that drinks would stay cold for the entirety of the day (usually going a full 24 hours). While the LED light is a little cheesy, it does add some modern flair and personality to the bottle.

Sometimes, the apps for smart products are less than useful. We found this one to be intuitive and full of many uses, namely tracking water intake over time and getting ideal amounts depending on what you’re doing (working out vs. just going to work).

About the only complaint we came away with was the weight, which is a bit on the heavy side when carrying a full fill, making it slightly less portable than others. But the tech makes up for that, not to mention the sleek tumbler design.

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