Best Insulated Water Bottle
Insulated water bottles have become indispensable in daily life. Not only do they keep the temperature of beverages at the perfect temperature for hours—whether you crave an ice-cold drink on a sweltering summer day or a steaming hot coffee in the depths of winter, they also contribute to environmental sustainability by reducing the need for disposable plastic bottles.
I personally never leave the house without one. You never know when you need a sip of water so it’s always handy to have one nearby. However, there are so many on the market these days it’s a bit overwhelming to choose one. Does a higher price tag mean better quality or are other lower cost options just as good and therefore better value?
I decided to test 7 of the most popular brands against each other, to find out.
Results
Best overall performance : Camelbak Chute Mag
Best cold-water bottle : Takeya Actives
Best Cold/Hot water bottle: S’Well
Best value : Thermos Icon
Best Functional Design: YETI Rambler
The scores for each bottle were calculated as follows:
- Each bottle was rated on the two temperature retention tests and five design factors described below, with scores ranging from 1 to 5.
- The scores from the two temperature retention tests were combined to give a total out of 10.
- The scores for the five design factors were summed and then scaled down by a factor of 10/25 to achieve a score out of 10. This ensures equal weight between temperature retention and design functionality. Without scaling, design would disproportionately affect the overall score.
- Finally, the temperature retention and design scores were added to produce an overall score out of 20.
Best Overall
CamelBak Chute Mag
The CamelBak Chute Mag earned top marks in most tests, securing its spot as the best ‘all-around’ water bottle. It performed exceptionally well in the cold-water test, with the temperature rising by only 0.2°F after 12 hours. Although its performance in the hot water test was less impressive, its high design scores more than compensated. Notably, it features a comfortable carrying handle and fits snugly in a car cup holder.
Material: 18/8 stainless steel
Weight:1.6 lbs
Care Instructions: Hand Wash only
Cap Type: Spout cap
Extra Features: Easy carry handle, Magnet top keeps cap away from opening while you drink
Recommended for: Everyday cold-water bottle
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Best Cold-Water Bottle
Takeya Actives
For those who rely on insulated water bottles for ice-cold hydration, the Takeya bottle is unbeatable. After 12 hours in 80°F weather, the water temperature remained unchanged at 35°F. The Takeya secured second place overall, thanks to its impressive design features. Most notably, it includes a removable silicone base that protects against dents from drops, and a loop handle with a hinge-lock to keep the cap out of the way while drinking.
Material: 18/8 stainless steel
Weight:1.5 lbs (25oz)
Care Instructions: Hand Wash only
Cap Type: Spout cap
Additional Features: Easy carry handle, Protective silicon base, cap has hinge-lock
Recommended for: Hiking, sports
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Best Hot/Cold-Water Bottle
S’well
If you’re in search of a versatile water bottle that excels in keeping beverages ice-cold during summer and piping hot through winter, the S’Well water bottle is a top choice. It earned full marks for temperature retention, finishing a close third in the cold-water test and emerging as the clear leader in the hot-water test.
While it scored slightly lower on design due to the absence of a carry handle and a small opening that makes adding ice cubes a bit tricky, its strengths more than compensate. The S’Well bottle is the lightest among the competitors, making it a good choice for storing in purses or backpacks, and it comes in a variety of stylish patterns to suit any taste.
Key Features:
Material: 18/8 stainless steel
Weight: 1 lb
Care Instructions: Hand wash only
Cap Type: Screw cap
Additional Features: Lightweight and available in a wide selection of unique patterns
Recommended for : Backpacks and purses
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Best Value
Thermos Icon Series
The Thermos water bottle ranked third overall but stands out as the best value, priced at least $5 lower than other brands tested. Its most notable feature is the push-button opening, which makes it incredibly convenient for quick one-handed access. This makes it an excellent choice for situations like driving or keeping it by your bedside, when you need to grab a drink with minimal effort.
Although the bottle is designed primarily for cold water due to its high-flow spout, it performed reasonably well in the hot water test. The opening size is also comparable to other bottles reviewed.
Key Features:
Material: 18/8 stainless steel
Weight: 1 lb
Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe, handwashing recommended
Cap Type: Push button activated
Additional Features: Covered spout, locking ring, non-slip base
Recommended for : Driving and night-time water bottle
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Best Functional Design
Yeti Rambler
The Yeti scored the highest design points with a very sturdy construction and a well-designed cap that allows for both sipping hot beverages and chugging ice-cold water.
Its wide opening, revealed when the lower part of the cap is removed, easily accommodates large ice cubes, making it convenient for quick refills. Additionally, the sturdy loop carry-handle is comfortable to grip.
However, the Yeti is the heaviest bottle among those tested, and it performed the lowest in temperature retention for both hot and cold liquids. Despite this, it still keeps drinks sufficiently cold or hot for typical daily use.
Key Features:
Material: 18/8 stainless steel
Weight: 1.6 lb
Care Instructions: Dishwasher safe
Cap Type: Chug cap – 2-part screw cap
Additional Features: easy half-twist to open
Recommended for : Rough conditions
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How the bottles were evaluated
The bottles were evaluated using several key criteria outlined below, with each test awarding a score between 1 and 5, with higher scores corresponding to better performance.
The tests were grouped into 2 categories: temperature retention and functional design.
Temperature retention
Cold Water Retention – This measured the temperature change in the water after 12 hours with air temperature at approx. 80oF. Each bottle was filled with ice cubes and water so that the temperature of the water measured 35oF at the start of the test.
Hot Water Retention – The bottles were filled with hot water at 150OF with air temperature at approx. 65oF. The temperature change in water was measured after 12 hours.
Functional Design
Ease of cleaning – While many bottles are technically dishwasher-safe, it’s not recommended due to the risk of dishwashing liquid residue remaining on the bottle. Instead, the ease of cleaning was determined by how easy it is to hand wash the cap components
Ease of adding Ice – This was determined by observing the ease of adding ice cubes into the bottles from a refrigerator dispenser and noting ice-cube spillage
Carrying Comfort – Bottles with a loop handle or non-slip sleeve scored higher, with additional points awarded for lightweight designs and how comfortable the bottle or its built-in handle is to hold
Fit into cup holder- This assessed how well the bottles fit into a car cup holder and whether rattling occurs while in the cup holder while driving. Only bottles in the 24oz-26oz capacity were tested as larger bottles would not fit into a standard car cup holder
Ease of access – This evaluated how quick and easy it is to open and close the bottle, a key factor when driving, exercising or needing a drink during the night. While bottles with straws offer convenient access, past experience has shown that straws can easily harbor bacteria and mold. As a result, bottles with straw lids were not included in the testing
A few notes
The bottles have not been tested for durability. All the bottles are made of 18/8 stainless steel which is resistant to impact and abrasion. The durability of the caps will be observed over the next few months, particularly the ones with more intricate components.
A leakage test was performed for all the bottles by placing them upside down and vigorously shaking them. All the bottles did not exhibit any leakage.
Final Thoughts
While the water bottles were ranked based on performance, the truth is that all the models tested were strong contenders, each delivering cold water in a portable and durable form. In fact, the top four bottles were separated by less than a point, making their differences almost negligible. All the bottles offered temperature retention adequate for everyday use, and though some had minor design flaws, these were often offset by other valuable features.
Given how practical water bottles are, it’s worth owning a few different models, each suited to excel in specific situations.
