Owala FreeSip Sway Review

Owala’s FreeSip insulated bottle’s success can be attributed to savvy marketing and good product design. Having one or the other is good, but when those two come together, users get really hyped up. Here at Pack Hacker, though, we first and foremost look at functionality since that’s what ultimately helps us while we’re traveling, whether it’s a bottle’s capacity, the ability to keep drinks warm or cool, or even extras such as handles and built-in straws. In those regards, the Owala FreeSip has proven itself a capable bottle.

However, there’s always room for improvement, and that’s where the FreeSip Sway comes in. Featuring a way different cap design from the original FreeSip, the FreeSip Sway incorporates a large carrying handle and a lockable lid. It also somehow has more volume than a similarly sized FreeSip.

How’s that possible? Read on to find out more.

The Rundown

As usual, Owala’s done well with the FreeSip Sway’s build quality. Nearly two months of testing have revealed barely any scratches, which we shouldn’t take for granted as some insulated bottles have chipped faster in shorter times. As for the bottle’s construction, there’s nothing really too special. It’s simply made with stainless steel and is BPA-free, lead-free, and phthalate-free—pretty standard boilerplate stuff in the world of insulated bottles.

The bottle’s shape is not the bottleneck or slender type we’ve seen with other Owala designs. Instead, the upper area is ever so slightly wider than the lower half, giving the bottle a contoured shape that’s easy to hold. More to the point, the slightly smaller lower half ensures the bottle can still fit into most cup holders, while the larger upper half allows for a couple of things.

Firstly, the lid now has a sizable grab handle. Compared to the original FreeSip’s loop-like handle, you can actually put your hand through this one. Of course, that depends on how large your hands are, but everyone in the Pack Hacker crew is able to. In fact, this large handle alone is by far our favorite feature of this bottle. One day during the testing period, we had to carry this bottle while shopping at an IKEA for an entire afternoon, and at no point did it get tiresome to carry this bottle.

Another benefit of a larger lid is room for a more intricate cap design, resulting in a more distinct locking mechanism for the FreeSip Sway. Of course, we’re not product engineers, but we’d imagine it certainly helps to have much more space to accommodate extra mechanisms. The cap has a sideways lever that locks and unlocks the cap’s release button. Does it seem overkill? To be honest, the original FreeSip’s spring-loaded button (and the FreeSip Sway uses one, too) and lock-handle combo are already plenty secure in most situations, even in ones where the bottle gets dropped. That said, the FreeSip Sway’s separate handle and lock design is more reassuring.

Lastly, the wide lid also means a wider opening. In turn, cleaning the bottle’s inside is much easier since it pretty much allows most brushes to get in and out. A bottle brush will still be your primary tool to scrub out the deep end, but you can comfortably hand scrub the edges with a regular sponge, too. The bottle isn’t dishwasher safe, so this is your only option.

The lid itself is, thankfully, dishwasher-safe. Lids are usually the more intricate part of an insulated bottle, having gaskets and tight spaces that are very hard to reach. That’s especially the case with the FreeSip lineup because of its unique spout design, allowing users to take a sip or a swig. It features two openings; the larger one at the top is where you take a swig, while the smaller opening below has a straw feeding into your beverage, allowing you to sip.

That setup looks a bit weird to drink from, and it is when you’re just starting out. We’ve grown used to it since we’ve tested and tried plenty of Owala bottles (and water bottles, in general). It takes some adjustment, but the feeling when liquid comes out of both openings still catches us off guard occasionally—it may be a feeling that’ll never go away.

Another thing to watch out for is the aforementioned handle. We have to make sure it’s flipped away from us whenever we take a swig, as the handle is chunky enough to rub against your chin if it’s on the front side of the bottle. It’s a small nitpick, though, as the bottle is still functional regardless of the handle’s placement.

Packability

Arguably, the most surprising aspect of the FreeSip Sway is its size. Side by side with the 24-ounce original FreeSip, it looks almost the same height, with the main difference being the FreeSip Sway’s wider upper area. And yet, the FreeSip Sway can hold 30 ounces, which is substantially more.

Since it’s (basically) the same size, we have no problem putting the FreeSip Sway in most water bottle pockets and cup holders. Fitment issues only arise whenever we’re testing a travel daypack with an enclosed water bottle pocket. That said, your mileage may vary depending on your bag.

Quick Comparison

Between the original FreeSip and FreeSip Sway, we find ourselves more drawn to the latter simply because of the more comfortable handle. It just makes bringing the bottle around easier, especially if you’re always running errands and on the move like us.

That said, the FreeSip Sway’s ever-so-slightly wider shape might be an issue for those who are already dealing with tight cup holders and water bottle pockets. Also, some users just don’t feel like fussing around with a locking mechanism at all, even if it’s just a simple lever mechanism. In this case, the original FreeSip’s simpler lock design is more convenient and secure enough.