When you reach for a drink at home, there's a good chance that you're grabbing a glass. That makes sense; drinking water from glass containers usually tastes better and feels more natural. However, there aren’t as many glass travel water bottles on the market simply because the material isn’t as durable as metal or plastic, and there's a chance you might drop it when you're drinking on the go. Nevertheless, you may want to find the best glass option available today.
Lucky for you, we’ve been testing the best glass water bottles on the market and have found a few that we think are worth using because of their features and durability, which we hope will enable them to last just as long as your favorite plastic or metal bottle without adding an icky taste to your water.
Let’s get drinking!
Best for keeping track of water intake
The purifyou Premium Glass Water Bottle has a few unique features that’ll ensure you drink enough water throughout the day and don’t lose the bottle while you’re out and about. It has times of day on the side of the silicone sleeve, which helps you stay on track to meet your hydration goals. Additionally, there are measurements on the silicone, so you can do your own math if you don’t want to go by the time slots or if you’re making a mixed drink. There’s a loop on the cap, so you can attach a strap or carabiner. The cap is plastic, which we don’t love for durability purposes, but it has held up fine in testing.
The bottle weighs 15.10 ounces (428.1 grams), par for the course when it comes to glass bottles. It’s a fairly standard-sized bottle, though it may be too thick to fit into some travel backpack or daypack water bottle pockets. You drink straight from the glass with this bottle, so you don’t have to touch your mouth to the plastic. The silicone sleeve offers good protection from bumps and knocks, though the bottle is still far more fragile than a metal or plastic one.
Why We Like It- The silicone sleeve adds grip and durability
- There are capacity and time markings on the side of the bottle to assist in tracking your hydration
- It may be too wide to fit into some water bottle pockets
- The cap feels cheap and doesn’t stay connected to the bottle when not in use
Best for on-the-go
Our favorite part about using the Ello Syndicate 20 oz Glass Water Bottle is the flip top, which is handy and makes a fun popping noise when you play with it; this didn’t factor into why we chose it for this post, but it is hugely satisfying. The bottle has a wide mouth but not one that’s so massive that it sometimes spills, like a 32-ounce Nalgene. While the flip top is plastic, you drink straight from glass. Plus, it has a silicone strap, which makes it easy to carry.
The bottle weighs 19.15 ounces (542.9 grams), which is a bit heavy compared to other glass water bottles we tested. Still, it doesn’t feel too heavy to drink from or carry around, so we don’t think this is a negative. The skinny bottle is easy to hold onto, stow inside a water bottle pocket, or fit into a larger sling. The cap has a locking mechanism, which is essential for stowing it in places where it might get knocked out of place. The silicone offers protection but isn’t as durable as plastic or metal.
Why We Like It- The flip top is easy to use, locks, and makes a fun popping noise
- It’s skinny enough to fit into most water bottle pockets
- It’s heavier than glass bottles that we’ve tested
- The silicone isn’t as thick as we’d like it to be
Best for: Relaxed Travelers
Best durability
We know what you might think—the Purist Collective Mover 18 oz isn’t a glass bottle. We understand that; however, you should hear us out before skipping this mention. This bottle has an ultra-thin glass interior protected by stainless steel, so your water isn’t sitting in plastic or metal all day, but you get the durability of a metal bottle. Plus, because this is a modern water bottle, there are multiple lids and sizes available, so you can get the one that works best for your hydration habits.
Though we dig the internal glass lining, it isn’t as soothing as drinking from a standard glass bottle because of the lid designs. There’s plastic on the lids, and you can’t as quickly chug from this bottle as you can from the other glass ones we tested. Still, this is the most durable glass bottle we’ve tested, thanks to the stainless steel structure, and it has a top loop that you can use to hold the bottle or attach it to the outside of your bag. This is the choice for travelers who want a glass water bottle with the best chance of making it through your trip in one piece!
Why We Like It- It combines the taste of glass with the durability of stainless steel
- There are multiple sizes and lids to choose from
- The lids have plastic, which may deter some users
- It can be challenging to open the bottle, especially one-handed
Best budget
The humble mason jar has been the drinking receptacle of choice for millions of people for decades, and for good reason. First, you probably already have a mason jar at home. It might not be the one that you want to use as your water bottle forever, but you can start with that one to see if you like drinking from it. Second, mason jars come in various sizes and configurations, so you can get one that works for your hydration needs and fits into your bag. We dig wide mouth jars because they’re easier to drink from. Last, mason jars are cheap and easy to acquire. Most big box stores sell them individually or in large packs, and it isn’t hard to get into a set for less than you’d pay for a single bottle from big-name brands. You can use more mason jars to ensure you’re always drinking from a clean cup, which is good for your health.
Since there are all kinds of mason jars, it’s hard to say how much they weigh, though we found that they’re lighter than most of the water bottles we’ve tested. The ridged opening isn’t perfect for drinking water, but they make different caps with straws and other drinking attachments without leak prevention. Drinking from a mason jar isn’t for everyone; however, it’s budget-friendly, clean, and easy to start. Plus, you’ll look like somebody who makes a mean thimbleberry jam. Who doesn’t want that?
Why We Like It- They are budget-friendly and widely available
- There are dozens of sizes and lid configurations
- You’ll have to buy a separate sleeve to protect it while out and about
- Many of the special lids aren’t leakproof
Are glass water bottles better for you?
Glass is an inert material, meaning it’s resistant to decay. That means there’s less chance that chemicals will leech into your beverages the longer you have the bottle. However, just like any other bottle, it’s essential to clean the inside and mouthpiece regularly to keep bacteria from growing.
What are the disadvantages of glass water bottles?
Glass is much more fragile than plastic and metal, making it easier to break than other materials. That’s why many glass bottles come with silicone sleeves for extra protection. Additionally, to make glass bottles more insulated and durable, they’re often thick and heavy. There are thinner, lighter options, though they’re less durable.
Why does water taste better in a glass bottle?
The most significant advantage of using a glass water bottle is taste. Because glass is chemically inert, there isn’t an interaction between the glass and whatever you’re drinking. You know that metallic taste water gets when it’s left in a stainless steel bottle for too long? Glass doesn’t do that, so your drink stays fresher for longer.
Why You Should Trust Us
The Pack Hacker team has been around the world (to six of the seven continents!) and has spent extended periods working, vacationing, and living across the globe. To accomplish that, we didn’t just make packing lists. Well, we did, but there was always a water bottle on those packing lists, enabling us to stay hydrated and healthy and ensuring that we were ready to take on the day, no matter where we happened to wake up that morning. We’ve used hundreds of bottles over the years, testing nearly 50 fully at the time of writing, and we have the expertise to understand how a water bottle fits into your travel setup seamlessly and how, when it doesn’t, it can become a problem.
How We Tested It
The two most significant things we wanted to test were water taste and a combination of size and weight. Most people drink from glass bottles to ensure their water is clean and tastes good, so confirming that every bottle has a natural taste is essential. Still, taste only matters if you can get the bottle from point A to point B, and that’s where size and weight come in. Between those two tests, we found the best-tasting bottles you can take anywhere, from Boston to Beijing.
Hopefully, by this point, you know which glass water bottle you want to go with and are ready to make a purchase. Stay hydrated, friends!
