11 Best Water Bottles For Every Trip

Best for: Quick sips with one hand

You don’t have to choose between sipping through a straw or taking a big gulp with the FreeSip Water Bottle. That’s because it has a unique spout with two openings: one that connects to a straw and one open to the bottle. There’s a bit of a weird sensation for the latter since liquid pours out of both openings, but we got used to it quickly. It’s the best water bottle if you like the convenience of switching between both options as we do, almost like having two bottles in one. Plus, it saves us from accidentally dribbling if we tip the bottle up too high while still providing plenty of hydration when we’re really thirsty. It’s a standard width and fits in all but the tightest of cup holders, and it has twin indentations running up each side to make it uber-comfortable to hold. We’ve had no issues with it leaking inside of a backpack because it locks closed. It also has a handle that flips in front of the button to open it so it can’t accidentally get pressed and open, which doubles as a carry handle as you go about your day. Since it’s tucked down when not in use, it gives the bottle a sleeker look and increases packability.

There are tons of colors and styles to choose from, whether you want a monochrome look to fly under the radar or you dig bright color combinations to show your personality. Heck, there are even themed bottles that subtly show your affinity for your favorite character (Marvel, anyone?). Or not so subtly, since the themed options include stickers to let you personalize your bottle or not. Just a note, though, if you’re team Captain America—they rotate collections, so if you see a bottle you want, don’t hesitate to pick it up.

• It’s just as easy to sip through the straw as it is to pick up the bottle and chug
• The handle doubles as a lock to keep it from popping open accidentally

• There’s a little learning curve to getting used to drinking from the spout, but it feels like second nature once you do
• The soft plastic top is prone to blemishes

Best for: Fitting in water bottle pockets at any size

If you need the best insulated water bottle, Hydro Flask's wide selection is a good place to start looking. Their bottles are well-insulated, comfortable to carry, and available in several bright and neutral colors, depending on your tastes. While we like the OG for its steadfast reliability, Hydro Flask also offers a larger variety of capacities than some other brands, and they have a lighter-weight Trail Series of bottles if you want to cut ounces. On top of that, the different sizes have a similar footprint, so you don't have to worry about them fitting in a cup or bottle holder. For example, the 18- and 21-ounce bottles are just less than an inch apart in height and have the same circumference. So, if this 32-ounce version is too big for your hands, your car’s cup holder, or your bag’s water bottle pocket, then you have plenty of size options to choose from.

It's not just for water and other cold drinks, either—Hydro Flask is also great at keeping hot drinks hot, and we like to use it for our coffee. If you're looking for a way to soften the clunking sound when you set it down, Hydro Flask sells an accessory called the Flex Boot to mute the clanging. And we'd be remiss if we failed to mention the potential for denting, though it took more than a year of testing before we experienced that with our bottles. Sometimes there's a reason something is a classic, which is the case with Hydro Flask.

• It’s the best water bottle from a brand we’ve come to know and trust—and it keeps your drink cold all day long
• You can get tons of colors and different sizes to match your needs and personality

• The first ding hurts the most—seriously, it’s a little prone to dents, mostly if you’re prone to dropping it; we haven’t noticed it affect usage, though some users report reduced insulation
• It’s not a one-handed drinking experience unless you buy a straw cap separately

Best for: Sipping both water and coffee or tea

When you don’t want to be weighed down just for the sake of insulation, check out the AeroLight Transit Bottle. It’s the best water bottle if you would like to forget that you’re even carrying a bottle all day yet still have your drink cold when you reach for it. The spun stainless steel bottle with double-walled insulation weighs less than 10 ounces, compared with 12-15 ounces for other similar options. And that’s before you add water. Plus, it’s leakproof to protect your other gear from spills—really, the thin gasket around the lid works well even when we shake it upside down—and it slides easily into just about any bottle holder.

While the various “glimmer” colorways have a slight sparkle when you hold them in the light, it’s very subtle and balanced by the smooth exterior, which is very soft to the touch. When you want to take a drink, you can flip the top of the plastic lid easily with one hand and click it back into place just as quickly. The spout is pleasant to drink from, as long as you’re more careful than we are not to tip it too high to get the last drop, in which case you might run into a few dribbles on your chin.

• It’s the best water bottle to open one-handed, which we love when driving a rental car
• We don’t mind carrying it all day just in case because it is so lightweight

• Every colorway at the time of writing includes a bit of a “glimmer,” though we find it very subtle and not very noticeable
• Wash it quickly after enjoying coffee or tea to minimize taste transfer

Best for: Lid customization

YETI is known for keeping your drinks cold, but their Yonder series of bottles is significantly lighter and more sporty than other models from the cooler brand. There are two cap options: the standard Chug Cap, which gives you a wide opening to drink from, or the Tether Cap, sold separately. We like that the tether keeps the cap attached to the travel water bottle, making the opening smaller and less likely to spill. We also find that it offers more flow, so it’s easier to use than the Chug Cap, although it can topple the bottle when it’s empty.

We like that the BPA-free bottle contains 50% recycled plastic. It’s also leakproof, and who doesn’t want that? You might be surprised to see that the Yonder isn’t completely round; it has one flat side that makes it easier to hold onto and helps it sit better in a travel backpack's water bottle pocket. You can get it in sizes ranging from 20-50 ounces, but it lacks additional insulation, so this is the best water bottle for times when you can refill throughout the day or explore in colder weather.

• The flat side makes stowing it in a backpack easier
• It comes in a variety of sizes, from 20-50 ounces

• Unlike most YETI bottles, this one can’t keep your drink hot or cold for long
• The Yonder Cap tips the bottle over when you’re filling it up

Best for: Pure glass taste without sacrificing insulation

Supertasters, this is the best water bottle for you. The Purist Collective Mover preserves the taste of water, no matter what else you fill it with throughout the day (or night). Like many other bottles, Purist Collective uses stainless steel as its base, but it also has a 60-nanometer layer of unbreakable glass inside—that's what touches your drink. Are you tired of tasting metal when you leave your travel water bottle sitting too long? You won't have that problem with the Purist Collective Mover. It’s great when you don’t want to chug your drink while traveling and would prefer not to taste the flavor of yesterday afternoon's lemonade.

This bottle can handle hot and cold liquids, so you can pack just one vessel for your road trip to take care of your morning coffee and afternoon hydration. It’s only rated up to 185 degrees (our coffee pot perks at about 170), so beware of pouring boiling water straight from the kettle. You wouldn’t want to scald your mouth like that anyway! Purist Collective has different sizes of bottles if you’re searching for something smaller or larger and different caps, like the Scope Cap, which we find better for warm beverages. We like that you can mix and match the bottles and caps, depending on what you need that day, and they all provide excellent insulation and no taste transfer. We have to warn you that it’s hard to switch back to a different stainless steel bottle after drinking from a Purist because we find that all you taste is metal for the first few sips. So, if you’re searching for a bottle that can handle both hot and cold beverages without having to taste either (As long as you rinse it in between. You knew that, right?), this may be the best insulated water bottle for you.

• The thin layer of glass on the interior really works to prevent your water from taking on a stainless steel taste over time
• You can swap out different Purist lids to drink coffee or other beverages based on your preference

• The cap occasionally makes a slight slurping or whistling noise when you drink from it
• Carry handle and rim are impacted by liquid’s temperature, so it can be uncomfortable to hold

Best for: Pure glass taste

Going through the list of materials of most bottles feels like signing a contract. They’re written to sound reassuring, but the lengthy jargons and wording can—understandably—make one apprehensive. In that case, glass seems like a safe and proven choice we can rely on. Indeed, the purifyou Premium Glass Water Bottle’s transparency and thick cool glass feels reassuringly solid, and the taste is quite genuine, too. There’s no chemical flavor even during the first fill (though we did make sure to rinse it first), and you can tell if there are any particles or contaminants floating around since you can look directly at your drink.

Of course, “travel” and “glass bottle” doesn’t sound like a good combo since there’s always the risk of it shattering. That said, this bottle’s glass is quite thick, and it’s protected by a silicone sleeve that cushions a lot of minor bumps and shields against scratches. If we have one complaint, it’s that the mouth is relatively narrow for cleaning. It’s tricky maneuvering a brush around, though, fortunately, this bottle is dishwasher-safe.

• Easy to see if there are leftover stains, so making sure flavors are washed out is easy
• Glass is relatively thick and doesn’t feel too fragile for travel

• Tricky to scrub since the mouth is small
• Glass is glass, so the risk of breaking is still there

Best for: Extreme packability

When walking around Walt Disney World carrying a mini backpack filled with sunscreen and a couple of snacks, this is the best water bottle to bring along. Why is that? Because when you’re visiting an amusement park, a museum, or the zoo, there are usually a lot of places to refill a water bottle. So why would you want to lug along something big and bulky when you really just need a way to get water into your mouth without touching a questionable fountain?

That’s why we love this minimalist travel water bottle. The Vapur Eclipse Water Bottle is the most packable on this list, yet it still has a 1L capacity. Vapur includes a carabiner clip for two reasons: to attach it to the outside of your pack, sling, or belt loop and to secure the rolled-up bottle when packed away. Its collapsibility means you're not stuck lugging around an empty travel water bottle when you finish your drink—simply slip it into your daypack until you're ready to refill. It’s a great travel water bottle for packing light because you only need to carry what you want to consume. In fact, our founder, Tom, carried this bottle alone when he traveled the world for two years as a digital nomad. That's not to say it's perfect. Its flexibility makes it tricky to slide into a bottle pocket, even when filled to the brim, so we prefer to clip it on your bag every time. It also lacks insulation, which can be a disadvantage when you want to fill it up once and carry it for a long time in a hot climate. We think those are minor drawbacks, though, compared with the convenience of this bottle. We recommend practicing drinking from it before leaving home since you have to get the hang of holding it without squeezing liquid onto your face as you tip it up, but it’s pretty easy to do.

Oh, and a word of caution from someone who cares: Try to keep your kid from pouring the blue Powerade leftover from lunch inside. While it won’t hurt the bottle long-term, and the taste and smell definitely come out when you wash it back at home, you will be tasting it the rest of the day.

• It folds up small enough to fit in your pocket when you aren’t using it so that you can save space and weight
• The included carabiner is great for carrying it while filled and for keeping it rolled up when empty

• There’s no insulation, so your drink will return to ambient temperature after some time
• It can sweat if you pour ice-cold water inside and then go out in warmer temperatures

Best for: Cutting down on weight

For the best water bottle when you don’t want to sacrifice weight for insulation, try the Zojirushi Cool Bottle. We find it a good fit when we want to pack ultralight but don’t want to drink from a collapsible bottle. At only 9.3 ounces, it's one of the lightest insulated bottles we've found. Compared to other insulated water bottles from brands like YETI that can weigh in at more than a pound before we add water, the Zojirushi delivers. We dig the secure opening mechanism—no one wants to worry about the cap popping open and releasing the Kraken into your bag, and we don't stress with this travel water bottle. The spring-loaded straw is perfect for those who like to sip instead of chug. It comes apart so you can thoroughly clean it, although the flexible nature of the straw means we have to pack a straw cleaner. We also have to note that there are several small parts to keep track of, so we don’t bother cleaning this in a tiny airplane bathroom. If you’re looking for something that will keep your drink cool without breaking a sweat, this might be the best insulated water bottle for you.

• You don’t have to choose between lightweight or insulated with this water bottle
• The cap comes completely apart for cleaning

• The straw makes noise when you’re drinking
• There are a lot of small parts to keep track of

Best for: Bottle droppers

We know we’re supposed to drink more than a dozen cups of water daily, but keeping track of your hydration can be hard. The Nalgene Wide Mouth travel water bottle takes the guesswork out with measurements printed along the side in both imperial and metric. If you’re someone who doesn’t like the metallic taste of stainless steel water bottles, it's made of BPA-free copolyester to resist stains and odors. We find it’s one of the best water bottles for durability. Case in point: we’re still using the one that fell from a bike while riding to work, and unlike some metal bottles, this one didn't dent. The attached loop helps you keep a handle on the bottle so that, hopefully, you can keep a better hold of it than we did or connect it with a carabiner to a large travel backpack that locks bottle pockets. It's light for its size, too—the 32-ounce bottle weighs in at just 6.25 ounces, so it doesn't add much weight to your bag.

We like that there are dozens of colors and different sizes to choose from, and they’re all easy to fill with ice, a water filter, or a water purifier, thanks to the wide opening. It's easy to get your hand in for cleaning, too, and since it’s transparent, it’s the best water bottle to see when it needs washing. It isn’t the best insulated water bottle out there, but what you miss there, you make up for in capacity. It’s made in the USA and guaranteed for life, so this may be the last travel water bottle you need to buy.

• It’s durable and has a large capacity to help you stay hydrated each day of your trip
• Printed measurements on the side help you know exactly how much water you’ve consumed each day

• A lack of insulation means you’ll be having ambient-temperature water if you carry it too long
• It’s pretty indestructible, yet not the most aesthetically-pleasing bottle out there

Best for: Adventurous travelers

If the best water bottle for you is transparent, fairly indestructible, and lightweight, check out this one from CamelBak. Although it’s plastic, it’s 50% recycled and free of harmful chemicals like BPA (bisphenol A), BPS (bisphenol S), and BPF (bisphenol F), so we’re not concerned about getting more than we bargain for along with our drink. It comes in a rainbow of colors and sizes ranging from 20-50 ounces, so you can grab the one that’s best for you, whether you want an everyday sipper for working remotely or one with a higher capacity to keep you hydrated on your hike. Just keep in mind that the water will warm up as you do, as there’s no built-in insulation, but it’s also not going to be something heavy to carry for miles like a well-insulated jug.

Since it’s so sturdy, we don’t worry about it denting or cracking when we’re not paying attention, which comes in handy when we clip it outside a travel daypack instead of sliding it in a bottle pocket. The cap stays attached to the lid when we’re drinking, and we love it when we don’t have to use another hand or find a place to set down a cap. The built-in handle is a bit thick and juts out the side, but we have no issue holding it with a few fingers when walking along the beach, which is all we need it to do.

• You don’t have to hold the cap to take a sip
• It’s made with recycled materials and free of harmful chemicals

• There’s no built-in insulation, but it’s pretty lightweight
• The handle isn’t flexible, so it always sticks out the side

Best for: Pure glass taste without sacrificing insulation

The GRAYL Ultralight Water Purifier is the best water bottle for when you plan to spend more time in the woods than the airport. GRAYL's filtering system eliminates harmful bacteria and heavy metals in seconds, allowing you to drink from any fountain, river, or other water source you stumble upon. And, hey, it also comes in handy when you’re traveling to countries that may take “revenge” on you drinking from their water supply. We’ve traveled the world enough to know that even densely populated areas aren't guaranteed to have potable water.

Wherever you roam, this bottle puts your strength to use to provide you with hydration. It’s easy to use when you want to take a sip and find a suitable source. Fill the outer refill with water, insert the inner press filter and bottle, and press down. In just over 15 seconds, the water travels through the filter at the base to create safe drinking water when you need it most. The filter lasts for up to 300 uses. Paying attention to how long it takes to press the water cues you in as to when the filter needs replacing so you don’t have to keep track; when it creeps up to 25 seconds, you'll want to set a reminder on your phone to order and install a new cartridge when you get home.

• A one-way valve allows you to add electrolytes, drink mixes, and other flavored liquids to the travel water bottle
• The earthy colorways get us excited to explore the outdoors

• You have to replace cartridges every so often
• It only purifies 16 oz at a time, so you may have to stop often for refills