A note to remember: You only need one reusable bottle (though I won’t judge if you rotate between two). More than that defeats the environmental purpose of purchasing a reusable bottle in the first place. Also, be aware that some insulated bottles use lead solder.
We’ve removed those from our list. We have some standards, after all. Does your water need to be even cleaner?
Check out our guide to the Best Backpacking Water Filters. Then get one of our Best Travel Mugs or Best Tote Bags. Updated October 2026: We’ve added the Owala FreeSip Sway and Path Water Bottle as picks and the Bentgo Lift Chug as an honorable mention.
We also moved the Owala FreeSip Twist to honorable mentions and ensured up-to-date prices and information throughout. A longtime favorite of outdoorsy folks and anyone else who wants a water bottle that’s not easily damaged, Hydro Flask has staying power. That may be due in part to its customization capability: Pick your preferred type of bottle, cap, and color, and if you buy from Hydro Flask, you can also engrave many styles.
You can choose one color for the bottle, another for the lid, and depending on those choices, yet another for the strap or straw. —Boutayna Chokrane Specs Material Stainless steel Size Options (ounces) 21, 24 Lids Available Straw Cap, Flex Cap (included) Dishwasher-Safe Yes Best for Straw Lovers Owala perfected its FreeSip design with the Sway, which includes familiar features of other bottles in the line, like fun colors, triple-layer insulation, and a multifunctional mouthpiece that lets you sip through its straw or tilt the bottle upward to swig through its spout. Details that lift the Sway above its FreeSip cousins include its convenient top-carry handle that’s easy to hold, contoured side edges that let you get a comfortable grip while you drink, and its attached push-button opening with a locking mechanism that both lets you drink one-handed and also saves you from unfortunate spills. Its materials are durable, it comes in four sizes (the 30-ounce option is plenty big for me without being too cumbersome), and the lid is dishwasher-safe.
Even so, because the lid has a lot of edges and ridges where gunk can get trapped, I like to clean it by hand, which is a bit of a pain. The wider top lid screws off completely, letting you add ice or easily pour in any other beverage, but it’s important to close it tightly before throwing it in your bag. The same warning applies to ensuring you’ve toggled on the mouthpiece lock.
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