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Each day, about 60 million plastic water bottles are tossed, the vast majority of which end up in landfills or incinerators. If that’s not enough to motivate you, consider that a 16.9 ounce bottle of water costs on average 70 cents, which may not sound like all that much, until you consider that a daily water habit would cost you upwards of $4.90 a week or more than $250 a year.
So, to keep the planet and your wallet feeling healthier, a reusable water bottle is a great investment. We've researched the best options, including glass, metal, and plastic picks to fit every lifestyle.
Here, the best water bottles on the market.
Best Overall: S'well Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
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S’well water bottles not only look chic—they come in a range of sizes, colors, patterns, and prints—the vacuum-insulated container keeps your cold beverage cool for up to 36 hours. The mouth of the bottle is wide enough that you can even toss in a few ice cubes. Using it for coffee, tea, or a hot beverage? It will stay warm for close to 18 hours.
The only complaint about these well-loved bottles is that they are on the heavier side, even when empty. That means it may not be the best choice for runs, hikes, or travel, but is a great pick for keeping at your desk or in the car.
Best Budget: Nalgene 32-ounce Wide Mouth Bottle
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For a no-frills bottle, Nalgene should be your go to. The brand has been around for 70 years and this iconic water bottle first hit the scene in the 1990s. It’s made of Tritan, a BPA-free plastic that’s also free of bisphenol compounds and phthalates. The hard, shatter-proof plastic is ready to go anywhere you go: on a hike, to the gym, or office.
Even though it's plastic, it works with both cold and hot beverages (up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit) and is safe to wash in your dishwasher (top rack only, please). It comes in a range of sizes and colors and the company even makes a sippy cup version for kids.
Best Splurge: Hidrate Spark 3 Smart Water Bottle & Free Hydration Tracker App
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Anyone who is really serious about proper hydration should consider a smart water bottle. 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.
Best Insulated: Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle
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For the person who likes their cold drinks icy cold and their hot drinks piping hot for hours on end, it’s hard to do better than the Hydro Flask line. Its double wall vacuum insulation combined with the 18/8 premium food-grade stainless steel preserve the temperature of your beverage for longer.
Add to that its proprietary powder coat that makes it easy to grip and keeps it sweat-free, that it’s BPA- and phthalate-free, and it can safely go in the top rack of your dishwasher and you’ll get why this is a top pick for those serious about hydration. The handle with lid makes it easy to grab and go.
Best Stainless Steel: Corkcicle Stainless Steel Canteen
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Stainless steel is revered for its ability to maintain a constant temperature and this water bottle from Corkcircle does it one better: with proprietary triple insulated vacuum-sealed stainless steel it keeps drinks cold up to 25 hours and hot up to 12.
There’s absolutely no sweating and with a slip-proof silicone bottom and easy grip sides, it’s as perfect for your next sweat session as it is for days on the go. It has a wide mouth so you can add ice cubes and it’s safe to toss in the dishwasher. You can feel good when you buy one too as a portion of every Corkcircle sale benefits charity: water.
Best Glass: W&P Porter Glass Water Bottle
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If you try to avoid plastic no matter what and you don’t like the “taste” of water from a stainless steel canteen, you’ll want a glass bottle that’s covered in a silicone sleeve, like this sleek option from W&P. The non-slip, scratch-resistant sleeve makes the bottle easy to grip and offers protection should you accidentally drop it. If you do, the premium borosilicate glass is durable, which offers added protection.
The bottle has a leak-proof lid and is surprisingly lightweight. The BPA-free glass bottle can go in the dishwasher, but note that it’s intended for use with cold beverages only.
Best Plastic: CamelBak Eddy + BPA Free Water Bottle, 25-ounce
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Plastic water bottles offer the advantage of being lightweight, plus they’re often transparent so you can readily see how much water you have—or haven’t—sipped. But if you do choose plastic, you’ll want one that’s BPA-free and made of tritan, like this CamelBak Eddy+. We also like that it has a flip top straw while still being reliable leakproof when closed.
It has a two finger carry loop handle for when you’re on the go and is safe to clean in the dishwasher. CamelBak also makes stainless steel versions as well as sippy cups for kids.
Best for Running: Nathan SpeedDraw Plus Insulated Water Bottle
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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 shaped and comes with a nonslip grip insert and a fully adjustable hand strap with a thumbhole that lets you concentrate on your pace, not gripping your water. Plus there’s room in the zippered pocket for your phone, keys, etc. and it uses a reflective fabric for added visibility at dawn, dusk, or night.
Best Collapsable: Stojo 20 Ounce Bottle
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For the type who likes to be prepared wherever they go, a collapsible bottle offers up a way to stay hydrated without purchasing a single-use plastic water bottle (provided there’s a fountain or faucet nearby) or cup.
When collapsed accordion-style, it measures 3.7 x 3.3 inches and is easy to toss in a purse or backpack. Popped open, the food-grade silicone bottle expands to hold 20 ounces of cold or hot liquid, making it ideal for coffee on the go, too. It’s BPA-, lead, and phthalate-free and dishwasher safe, too. It comes in pretty pastels—we suggest buying every member of the family their own hue.
Best Oversized: RTIC Vacuum-Insulated, Stainless Steel Water Bottle
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Glug, glug, glug! Anyone who is always thirsty, lives in a hot climate, exercises a lot, or all of the above will appreciate that this water bottle comes in either half-gallon or full gallon options. Constructed of 18/8 stainless steel, the vacuum-insulated bottle promises to keep cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot ones hot 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.
If you're looking for the best water bottle all-around, you can't go wrong with the S'well Stainless Steel Water Bottle (available at Amazon), which comes in a variety of patterns, colors, and sizes to suit everyone's needs. If you prefer a glass bottle instead, consider the W&P Porter Glass Water Bottle (available at Amazon), which is dishwasher-friendly, shatter-resistant, and lightweight.
What to Look for When Buying Water Bottles
Capacity
Choose a bottle that is the right size for your needs. If you’re an urban warrior who just needs some back-up hydration between meetings, choose a smaller bottle. If you’re looking for a water bottle to accompany you on long hikes or bike rides, you’ll need something bigger but lightweight. And for road trips, there are giant water bottles that can hold up to a gallon of water.
Materials
Reusable water bottles come in a variety of materials, such as glass, metal, and plastic. Glass and stainless steel are heavier than plastic, don’t leave a plastic aftertaste, and are generally more sustainable and long-lasting. Plastic is typically transparent, making it easy to track water intake, and is usually cheaper. (If you choose plastic, make sure it’s BPA-free.) Look for vacuum insulation if you are keen on keeping water or other liquids particularly cold (or hot).
Design
Like any personal accessory that gets regular daily use, the devil is in the details. Choose a water bottle that you enjoy looking at, that feels comfortable to hold, and that doesn’t weigh down your bag too much. Consider special features like the width of the mouth if you like to add ice cubes to your drink, or a silicone sleeve for a no-slip grip.
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How many water bottles is a gallon?
One US gallon is equal to 128 fluid ounces. To figure out exactly how many water bottles worth of liquid you need to drink to add up to a gallon, divide 128 fluid ounces (1 gallon) by the number of ounces your water bottle holds. For example, if your water bottle holds 16 ounces, that would mean you would have to drink 8 full bottles to reach 1 gallon.
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How many ounces are in a water bottle?
Water bottles come in different sizes which vary between manufacturers and across borders. This means that there is no real standard measurement. Your water bottle might hold 12 ounces or 16 ounces or 16.9 ounces, for example. The good news is that the capacity is always listed on the outside of the bottle for easy reference.
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How many bottles of water are in a liter?
There is no standard water bottle size, so the best way to calculate how many bottles of water are in a liter is to use ounces as a benchmark. There are 33.814 ounces in 1 liter. Divide the number of ounces that your water bottle holds by this number to get your answer.
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