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#1 YETI Rambler Chug Water Bottle 18oz.
YETI’s 18-ounce Rambler Bottle is another amazing insulated bottle. This one is our top choice because of its stainless steel construction and insulation performance. However, it weighs slightly more — although that also gives it points for durability.
The cap style, its ease of drinking, and protection against leaks was the only controversial feedback among testers — some love the cap, some don’t. That’s about it.
Why you should purchase: This bottle had the most 5-star ratings out of all the ones we tested and is a super-solid choice for the price. It was also ranked among the top three most durable bottles in terms of durability, deterring dents and other dings, and overall longevity.
#2 Klean Kanteen Insulated TKWide32oz With loop cap
This Klean Kanteen container holds 32 ounces of your choice of drink and has a wide mouth. 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 cold or hot for over 20 hours.
Some testers commented that they don’t like the lid design. We noted that it’s slightly narrower and shorter than other wide-mouths on this list.
Why you should purchase: This Klean Kanteen is very durable and also has a bunch of interchangeable cap options.
#3 Hydro Flask Water Bottle
The Hydro Flask Standard Mouth is an especially reliable water bottle. It’s an insulated, double-walled stainless steel bottle with a powder-coated exterior (the permanent, lightly textured coating) and a plastic cap.
Unlike aluminum bottles, it won’t dent as easily. It doesn’t crack like glass bottles. And unlike plastic bottles, it won’t deteriorate quickly while in use.
You can use it with two different lids: a flex cap (included) and a sport cap. Both caps were tested and they did not leak. However, we prefer the flex cap over the sport cap. Sport caps aren’t very good at accounting for human error—the plastic is very stiff and difficult to close with your mouth, making it easy to leave them open halfway. If the bottle is on its side, water can sometimes leak through the air-intake val.
#4 Simple Modern 17 Ounce Wave Water Container
Among our picks, this is one of only two true “bottles,” which are defined by their narrow, tapered openings. That design can be limiting—only skinny ice will fit—but the 17-ounce Simple Modern Wave is simple and enjoyable to drink from. This is the best choice for disposable plastic containers. The Wave is slimmer than other options and available in a variety of colors, patterns and textures.
It’s made of double-walled stainless steel, and in our testing it performed identically to the more well-known, near-identical S’well, with no leaks and excellent temperature retention. This bottle lost only 4 degrees over a 6-hour period in our temperature tests many years ago.
#5 Thermos Intak 24 Ounce
The super-affordable 24-ounce Thermos Hydration Bottle has been a pick since we first published this guide in 2014, and it’s still here. It’s a plastic bottle with a plastic, flip-top lid and spout. It has passed years of leak tests, and the lid has a lock, so it’ll stay closed in your bag.
Another great feature of this bottle is that in spite of the fact that it’s 24 ounces—a capacity that we have found is cumbersome in a metal bottle—the Thermos possesses just the right proportions to be ergonomic and easy to carry.
#6 Hidrate Spark3 Smart Water Bottle
Smart water bottles are a must for anyone who is serious about hydration. We like this one from Hidrate because not only does it track your water intake and pair with a smartphone app via Bluetooth to calculate a customized goal for you (it syncs with fitness apps to know when you need to drink more), but it also lights up to remind you to take a swig when you’re falling short or at regular intervals.
The bottle is covered in a smooth silicone sleeve and should you leave it behind, no worries—it has location tracking in it, so you’ll be able to trace it to the location of the last place you synched it.
#7 Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Bottle
When you’re heading out for a long run, the last thing you want to do is weigh yourself down with an awkward to carry water bottle; yet you don’t want to risk dehydration. This Nathan SpeedDraw Flask weighs a mere 3.9 ounces when empty and holds 18 fluid ounces—you can take quick sips thanks to the race cap.
The bottle is ergonomically designed and features a non-slip grip insert. A fully adjustable hand strap with thumbhole allows you to concentrate on your pace and not on gripping your water. Plus there’s room in the zippered pocket for your phone, keys, etc. It has a reflective fabric to increase visibility at night, dawn, or dusk.
#8 RTIC Vacuum Insulated, Stainless-Steel Water Bottle
Glug, glug, glug! The water bottle comes in full- or half-gallon sizes for those who are always thirsty, live in hot areas, exercise a lot, or any combination of these things. The vacuum-insulated bottle is made of 18/8 stainless steel and will keep cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot drinks warm for six.
The extra wide mouth makes it easy to clean and is wide enough for ice cubes. While it’s heavy when full, the built-in steel handle allows for easy carrying. The exterior doesn’t sweat or make your hands cold.