Best Insulated Water Bottle for Cold Drinks All Day

Best Insulated Water Bottle: For Zero Taste Transfer

Have you ever taken a sip from a bottle after it’s had water inside for hours and discovered that instead of tasting your drink, you’re tasting the stainless steel or plastic of the bottle? Or worse, you’re tasting the Powerade you put in it the time before? That won’t happen with the 18 oz Mover Bottle from Purist Collective because it has a microscopically thin layer of glass on top of the stainless steel. Maybe that doesn’t seem like enough to get the job done, but we can assure you it does. The only issue is that you’ll definitely taste a difference if this one’s dirty and you switch to another insulated water bottle.

No ice remained in the bottle after our eight-hour test, yet the water was still 40 F (4.4 C), which is plenty cold, especially on a hot day. You can choose which cap to pair with the bottle: the Element, the Union, or the Scope. We have the Union, which has a handy spout for one-handed sipping, but it is prone to making a slurpy whistling noise if you suck when you take a drink, but you can minimize it by letting the water pour into your mouth instead. Or, opt for the Element, which is a simple screw top, or the Scope, which twists to open so you can sip from any side. They all pass the leak test with flying colors, so you can't go wrong with whichever you prefer. The Union and Element include a handle, which is convenient, but the Scope is best for coffee if you’re going to be using your bottle for hot and cold liquids. The glass liner on the Purist means you can do that without tasting your coffee in your water later in the day—provided you wash it out in between drinks.

• You can switch between beverages without mixing the tastes
• The exterior finish has a nice matte texture

• The carry handle and rim can get uncomfortably warm if you put hot liquids inside
• Drinking from the Union lid can be noisy

Best Insulated Water Bottle: For Kids and Adults

Our testers who are parents say they love the Owala FreeSip Water Bottle when going out for the day because it’s easy to hang it from the handle of a stroller with a carabiner. The kids in our lives like the FreeSip for the fun themes. And some of us here at Pack Hacker without little ones have been using it for years because it’s great to drink from and keeps a beverage cool all day.

The bottle has a unique spout with two openings. One connects to a straw, and one opens to the bottle, so you don’t have to choose between sipping through a straw or taking a big gulp. That makes it the best water bottle for kids because it can sit on their desk all day at school, and they can just lean over, take a sip, and keep taking notes (at least, that's what they say they're doing. A notebook full of doodles sometimes proves otherwise). At the track meet, getting hydrated with a swig goes much faster after the 800-meter race, making it the perfect sports companion.

The water comes out both spouts when you chug it, but we got used to it quickly. Plus, the handle we mentioned blocks the button that unlocks the top so you can take a drink, making it easy to open one-handed and preventing leaks in a school backpack. And if you don’t trust us, trust our high school tester, who has been carrying it with a Chromebook with nary an accident for the past six months, success that was also proven when it survived our leak test.

After an eight-hour nap, the water in our 24-ounce bottle was still a chill 38.7 F (3.7 C), a great shout for its triple-layer insulation. It is a bit larger than bottles with similar capacities, but we don’t hold it against Owala since it works so well.

Whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart, there are tons of fun colors and styles to choose from, so you can match your bag, your personality, or your T-shirt.

• It fits well in backpack bottle pockets and car cup holders
• It’s easy to clean

• One of our bottles got dented from dropping it on cement at the zoo, but it’s not affecting insulation performance
• Themes are only available for a limited time, so snag your favorite when you see it if you don't want to pay eBay prices to get it later

Best Insulated Water Bottle: For Lightweight Carry

If you’re looking for the best lightweight insulated water bottle, stop here. Seriously, this 20-ounce bottle weighs just 9.6 ounces (272.1 g), a significant few less than other popular brands like Hydro Flask and YETI. Since it’s so light, we don’t mind carrying it around all day to refill when we want since we really can’t even tell when the empty bottle is in our travel daypack. Plus, it passed our leak test with flying colors while still being easy to open one-handed and fitting in every cup holder we tried. We really love drinking from the plastic spout, which has a slight curve to aim the water directly into your mouth, as long as you don’t tip the bottle up too high (ask us how we know. Although, sometimes, we think it may be more a problem with our tester’s mouth than the actual bottle...). There was also still ice floating in the 33.9 F (1 C) water when we opened it up after eight hours, which is a great testament to the AeroLight™ spun-steel, double-wall vacuum insulation Stanley uses in this bottle. We also dig the color choices, which range from Black 2.0, which is about as dark as you can get, to Rose Quartz Glimmer, with a bit of a glittery shine.

• The spout is really comfortable to drink from
• It’s great for the car since you can open it one-handed

• Many colorways have a bit of a shimmer, but there are a few matte choices
• It’s good for hot beverages, too, and also comes in 16- and 12-ounce sizes

Best Insulated Water Bottle: With Vacuum Insulation

The best vacuum insulated water bottle will keep your drink cold for several hours and is sturdy enough to take the bumps and drops of travel. The YETI Rambler also includes a nice handled top for easy grabbing out of the cupholder when you leave the car. That lid is the Chug Cap, which we like because it includes a smaller, clear top that's more like drinking from a bottle. You can also drink from the wider opening by unscrewing both pieces of the two-part lid. That’s not always as easy as we'd like, but we got the hang of it after a little practice. The cap does a great job keeping liquid inside the bottle, and the YETI Rambler didn't lose a drop during our leak test.

We like the durability YETI bottles, which is handy here because the DuraCoat™ is a little slippery. We dropped the rather heavy bottle once or twice. However, the stainless steel bottom is quite sturdy and seems less prone to denting than other insulated water bottles. As for insulation, we were a little surprised to find the water temperature at 44.2 F (6.7 C) after eight hours; we thought it would be cooler. However, that’s still a respectable level for something you’ll drink from throughout the day.

• You can use it with different beverages
• The cap is swappable between different styles of Rambler lids

• It’s hard to get a good grip when taking a drink
• Unscrewing the entire Chug Cap can be tricky

Best Insulated Water Bottle: With a Straw

When you’re on the go and want to quickly grab a drink one-handed without worrying about spilling it down your front if you hit a bump in the road, the Zojirushi Cool Bottle is a great choice. Its slim design holds 17.5 ounces of water, which you can sip through a flexible straw. It has a little weight on the bottom to keep it reaching down, although, like most travel water bottles with attached straws, it doesn’t extend all the way to the bottom. That could cause it to suction to the bottom of the bottle and keep you from taking a drink. However, a clog of athletic powder could do the same thing, and this perforated tip allows you to continue drinking even if something blocks one side of the straw, which is nice.

Zojirushi passed the leak test with flying colors and also performed well in the temperature test. No ice remained after eight hours had elapsed, but the water in the bottle was at a chill of 37.3 F (2.9 C) when the timer went off. Now, one cup (eight ounces) of water and five ice cubes fill more available capacity in the smaller Cool Bottle than in some of our bigger options, so there’s less air to warm it back up. Still, we think that’s a great shout for the best insulated water bottle with a straw, especially when you’re likely to be refilling throughout the day instead of leaving it untouched.

• It’s fairly lightweight, even with the straw
• For its capacity, it’s a rather small and slim bottle

• There are eight parts to disassemble for cleaning
• The straw makes an odd oinking noise when drinking too hard from the straw

Best Insulated Water Bottle: Made With Stainless Steel

Hydro Flask is kind of the OG when it comes to the best insulated stainless steel water bottle. We know what we’re getting, and we like it. Drinks don't take on an overly metallic taste and stay cold for a long time; plus, the bottle fits in nearly every cup holder and bottle pocket we’ve ever tried to put it in. You can get it in many different colors, so you know which is yours and which is your partner’s, or you can get different hues to match different bags. While we like the standard Chug Cap because it’s easy to open and has a carry handle to secure it to some travel backpacks. Plus, it doesn't have any gaskets or extra places for it to leak. Don't worry—we still put it through the upside-down leak test, but we knew it would pass, and it did. We also like the Flex Straw Cap for our daily commute, and it’s been our companion for years. It’s much easier to take a sip while driving on a car trip if you don’t need two hands to unscrew the lid.

While we usually go through at least three refills of this bottle throughout the workday, it kept our iced water at 36.8 F (2.6 C) temperature after sitting undisturbed for eight hours. We’ve also used it for coffee (without the Flex Straw, of course), and it handles hot liquids just as well, although the design definitely leans more toward the water bottle side of the spectrum. We’re happy to report there’s no taste transfer if you switch things up, as long as you wash it between beverages. At 11.3 ounces (320.3 g), it’s not the lightest weight insulated water bottle we’ve come across, but Hydro Flask sells lighter models, as well, if you need to cut a few ounces from the weight of your pack.

• It’s a straightforward workhorse that handles cold and hot beverages with ease
• You can swap caps for different drinking experiences

• Like other insulated stainless steel water bottles, this one can dent if dropped on hard surfaces, though it doesn’t impact performance
• It’s heavier than some other insulated water bottles

Best Insulated Water Bottle: Made of Plastic

Whether you’re sweating through a pickup volleyball game or sweltering in line at the amusement park, sometimes it’s not enough to chug icy water to cool down. The built-in trigger mister on the O2COOL Mist 'N Sip water bottle cools you down inside and out wherever you roam, whether it's Walt Disney World or the Grand Canyon. We have to mention—don’t accidentally spray the mister when the bottle is full of Cherry Kool-Aid. That shouldn't happen to you, though, because O2COOL now includes a lock to keep you from accidentally spritzing when you have something else inside or if it’s bumped inside your bag. Just flip the switch to the left, and the trigger won’t work.

To take a drink, flip up the cap (which we can do one-handed, thank you!) and squeeze the bottle. It’s easy to squirt hydration in for instant refreshment, and the plastic bottle survives no matter how many times we drop it or knock it to the ground. The cap won't fare as well if you drop it repeatedly on cement, though, so don’t use it for playing catch with your friends unless you’re really bored and lack something else to throw. Of course, if you do toss it around upside down, we're happy to report that it won't leak.

Now, this may not surprise you, but even the best insulated plastic water bottle isn’t as easy to insulate as a double-walled vacuum insulated metal water bottle. Eight ounces of water and five ice cubes didn’t last too long in 70 F (21.1 C) temperatures over eight hours, and the water temperature reached 64.7 F (18.1 C) at the end of our test. But when we’re using it to spritz ourselves down to stay cool on the outside while drinking to chill out on the inside, water doesn’t tend to last too long in this bottle, anyway, and it certainly never made it to eight hours untouched outside of our test, so we wouldn’t let that bother you. Just add more ice to start, and you’ll be refreshed wherever you go.

• The mister is great for sporting events, amusement parks, and the zoo
• It’s easy to drink from when you’re really thirsty

• The cap can be hard to clean after a while, and it gets moldy if you don’t do it well
• Never use the misting function if you’re drinking anything but clear water, as a faceful of lemonade is no fun once the bees arrive

Best Insulated Water Bottle: For Biking

While you could slide many of these bottles into a cage to tool around town, we think the best insulated bike water bottle is this stainless steel option from Camelbak. It has a built-in vent tube that allows air to enter the bottle as you drink, so you can get hydration as fast as you would if you were squeezing a plastic bottle. All you have to do is push the lock with your thumb to open the spout and pour it in, then switch it back closed. It passed our leak test, so you will get every last drop of that sweet hydration for your ride, not the road. At 11 ounces, this bottle does weigh more than the plastic options, but it’s super durable in case of high-speed drops or spills, so we think a couple of extra ounces are worth it.

While many of the best insulated water bottles will spend hours sitting in an air-conditioned office, the Camelbak Podium Steel Bike Bottle will be out in the heat, so we were super happy to see how well it performed in our temperature test. The water inside this bottle was still a super-chill 36.3 F (2.3 C) after sitting for eight hours, preventing you from getting a mouthful of warm water at the end of your century ride. Although, if you’re biking 100 miles in one day, may we recommend you drink more than 18 ounces and stop for a refill?

• The lid locks with a twist so you don’t lose water along the way
• It’s designed to fit most standard bottle cages

• You’ll have to get used to not squeezing it if you usually use plastic bottles
• While it’s lightweight for a stainless steel bottle, it’s still heavier than some other bike bottles

Best Insulated Water Bottle: For filtered water

If it’s not the taste of your water bottle that you want to change but the taste of the actual water wherever you go, you might want an insulated water bottle with a built-in filter. Then you can avoid the taste of chlorine and the thought of ingesting who knows what else wherever you refill. We use a large Brita here at Pack Hacker HQ, so we’re happy to find the same great activated carbon block inside an insulated stainless steel water bottle. The bottle comes with one filter to eliminate chlorine and class VI particulates of 50 micrometers and larger for a better taste and smell. Brita recommends changing the filter every two months for optimal performance, depending on how much you drink.

We really like the aesthetics of this bottle, with its easy-to-open push-button cap, silicone straw, and two-tone design. The 20-ounce version only comes in this icy hue, which we’re digging, but if you want more choices, Brita offers a 32-ounce stainless steel insulated water bottle, as well, in more colorways. Either way, we had no issues with leaks and found the water temperature to be a cool 45.5 F (7.5 C) after eight hours in 70 F (21.1 C) temperatures, so we think it’s a great way to enjoy filtration on the go.

• You won’t have to worry about bad-tasting local water wherever you travel
• The Brita processes 40 gallons of water before you need to change the filter

• It won’t kill bacteria and won’t save you from Montezuma’s Revenge or other water-borne illnesses
• The silicone straw is prone to discoloration

Best Insulated Water Bottle: For a Cup Holder

The best insulated water bottle that fits in a cup holder has a few different qualities than what you want to take on a hike or bike riding. We're looking for something easy to grab while driving and quick to drink from. Plus, if you're driving for hours at a time, you may not want to stop and refill every 50 miles. So, despite everything we have heard about spills when knocked over (and the ubiquitousness of that happening), we still think the Stanley Quencher is the best water bottle that fits in a cup holder for those reasons. It has a silicone straw and a narrow base that fits nicely in cup holders. Please note: we did not say bottle pockets, so don't slide this in a bag next to your laptop. Even though there is actually a way to close the top if you remove the straw, it still leaks when shaken upside down, even with the straw removed and the cap “sealed.”

On the other hand, water-tightness isn’t why this is the best insulated bottle for you. It’s great if you want something with a really large capacity (40 oz!) that can still fit in your cup holder, and for that, the Stanley Quencher is a great shout. It’s easy to drink during your commute and while on a road trip because its large handle has soft grips for your fingers and thumb and is really comfortable to hold. It also comes in a ton of colors and designs, so you can find the one that best suits your personality.

However, it didn’t perform as well on our temperature test, with water hitting 50 F (10 C) after eight hours. We weren’t really surprised, though, for two reasons: eight ounces of water and five ice cubes take up less of the total interior volume of the Quencher than it does in smaller vessels, so there’s naturally more warm air hanging around. Also, even though you can close the straw hole, it doesn’t create a seal as tight as other water bottles. Still, if you’re looking for the best insulated water bottle for a cup holder but you want a large capacity, this may be the option for you.

• The handle is really comfortable
• You don’t have to refill it as often

• Removing the straw and sealing the lid won’t prevent all leaks, but it will slow them down
• Its narrow base and tall height makes it easy to knock over accidentally

Best Insulated Water Bottle: To Fill With Ice

Some of the best insulated water bottles have narrow spouts that are nice to drink out of but a pain to fill with ice. And when you’re heading out for a summer day of exploring and want to be sure your drink is cold for hours, ice is nice! That’s why we like the Zulu. It opens from the top or bottom, and the bottom is much wider for filling with cubes without worrying about which ones are the exact size and shape to fit inside. And you’ll want to add lots of ice in warmer weather since our eight ounces of water and five ice cubes got up to 50.7 F (10.3 C) after eight hours. Still, you’re unlikely to take eight hours to drink 24 ounces of water, so there’s a good chance that your water will stay colder than ours. As a bonus, the wide bottom opening makes the bottle easier to clean if you fill it with something other than clear water, and as the chief bottle washer around here, that’s something this writer was happy to see.

The cap includes a rigid plastic handle. We didn't find it too comfortable to carry around for a long time, but it's nice to have for pulling out of pockets or hanging off a bag with a carabiner. The lid is simple to pop open with a simple button, and the silicone spout is flexible and comfortable to drink from. We’re super happy that it has a sliding lock on the side to ensure it doesn’t pop open accidentally if it gets bumped. We had no issue with leaks after everything was locked tight.

• It’s available in several fun colorways
• The bottom has rubbery edges for a better grip and to be quieter when you set it down

• You can order a replacement lid if it breaks
• It’s not the best-performing insulated water bottle we’ve tested

Best Insulated Water Bottle: Sleeve

Now, Nalgene is one of our favorite water bottles for durability and capacity, but the plastic material is not well-insulated. So we were excited to give the Nalgene 32oz Insulated Sleeve a try to keep our drink colder for longer. Unfortunately, it didn’t keep our water much cooler than room temperature, hitting 63.3 F (17.3 C) after eight hours. It does provide a little extra durability in case you drop it—although isn’t durability part of why you buy a Nalgene? We don’t really think it needs the added protection! Plus, it has a larger loop of webbing that’s easier to hang from your backpack, along with a stretchy handle along the side that we find makes the bottle easier to hold on the go. The sleeve also contains the condensation that develops on the outside of our Nalgene when we fill it with ice, so you don’t have to worry about spreading the sweat everywhere.

To close it, you have to go around the large tether attaching the Nalgene cap to the bottle. It takes a little effort to go around, but isn't much of an issue, although you may have a different experience if you use a similar-sized bottle from a different brand. Either way, the top of the sleeve is rigid for additional protection for your cap.

• It’s grippier than a standard Nalgene
• You won’t have to deal with condensation getting on your desk

• It sometimes takes effort to zip until you get the hang of it
• The sleeve is rather crinkly