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One of the hottest accessories in the past few years just so happens to be a pretty useful one. Yes, we're talking about oversized water bottles.
From the beloved Stanley Quencher to the Owala FreeSip, a number of tumblers and water bottles have been making a splash on social media and across the internet. One thing that many of the most popular options have in common is their oversized design, many of them are upwards of 30 ounces — meaning, they're great for reaching your water goals for the day. So if you resolved to drink more water this year, a big tumbler could be just what you need to help you keep your resolution.
So which one is right for you? If you ask any of our editors, each one will have strong thoughts as to which option is the best. As a part of our Ranked series, our editors scored their go-to water bottle based on several factors: including the insulation (how long they stayed cold), how leakproof they are, and whether it’s easy to clean and drink out of.
Below, see our top picks from Owala, Stanley, Hydro-flask and Yeti. Plus, we're also adding some accessories, in case you want to take your hydration game a step further.
Best overall water bottle
Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle
- Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle $29.98 at Amazon
- Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle $29.99 at Target
- Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle $29.99 at Owala
Drinkability: 5 | Insulation: 5 | Leakproof: 5 | Washability: 4 | Overall score: 4.75
Commerce editor Shannon Garlin has been using the Owala FreeSip daily for over three years, nearly ranking it a perfect score. She notes that it’s easy to carry by hand or in a bag, “iron-clad leakproof,” and stays cold through intense heat, like in a 105-degree hot yoga class.
“The feature that I love the most, is the flip-top and hidden sippy straw. It also has a mouth opening, so you can easily drink (or chug) the rest of your water — without it spilling down your chin,” she notes in a review article. And goes on to say it’s come in handy for quick water breaks during workout classes.
“While it can be tricky to get into the nooks and crannies to clean, a straw cleaner does the trick,” she says. “And it’s so durable, I’ve dropped it countless times and accidentally ran over it with a bike.”
More water bottles, tested by editors
Most leakproof water bottle
Yeti Rambler 18-Ounce Water Bottle
- Yeti Rambler 18-Ounce Water Bottle $32.00 at Amazon
- Yeti Rambler 18-Ounce Water Bottle $32.00 at YETI
- Yeti Rambler 18-Ounce Water Bottle $40.00 at REI
Drinkability: 4.5 | Insulation: 4.5 | Leakproof: 5 | Washability: 4 | Overall score: 4.5
When it comes to leaking, nothing is getting out of this Yeti. From toting around in a bag to tipping upside down, all liquids stayed sealed. While testing this water bottle, a former Shop TODAY staffer, Sierra Hoeger said this water bottle surprisingly had less dings and scratches when dropped, compared to others she tried.
And Garlin loves the portability of it, too. “While I’m not a fan of the handle, I’d rather it collapse like the Owala, I do appreciate how easy it is to carry and that I can just throw in any bag and not worry about it leaking if it topples over,” she says.
Best insulation
Hydro Flask 21-Ounce Standard Mouth Water Bottle
- Hydro Flask 21-Ounce Standard Mouth Water Bottle $34.95 at Amazon
- Hydro Flask 21-Ounce Standard Mouth Water Bottle $34.95 at Hydro Flask
Drinkability: 4.25/5 | Insulation: 4/5 | Leakproof: 5/5 | Washability: 4.3/5 | Overall score: 4.4
Hydro Flask has long been a favorite of anyone looking for a sturdy and long-lasting option. In fact, Hoeger shares that she’s had hers since 2019, “and it hasn’t let me down yet!”
“Sure, it has a couple of dents in it, but the quality hasn’t deteriorated and it’s moved with me to college, NYC and travels with me wherever I go — day trips, vacations, work, etc,” she says. “I love that I can personalize it with stickers too, making it uniquely my own, and the paint doesn’t chip if I want to remove the stickers.”
While testing against other water bottles, Hoeger’s findings showed that the Hydro Flask kept the coolest temperatures after 24 hours.
Easiest to drink out of
Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler
- Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler $39.98 at Amazon
- Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler $45.00 at Target
- Stanley Quencher H2.0 Tumbler $33.75 at Stanley
Drinkability: 5 | Insulation: 5 | Leakproof: 2.5 | Washability: 5 | Overall score: 4.4
Stanley's 40-ounce Quencher is perhaps the most buzzed-about option. There was a time when it was selling out so often, it was nearly impossible to get your hands on. In fact, at one point, it had a waitlist of 150,000 people. It has a narrow design that's made to fit in cup holders and features double-wall vacuum insulation to keep your drinks hot or cold.
During a comparison testing, a Stanley beverage remained under 55 degrees Fahrenheit after 24 hours. Commerce editor Kamari Stewart-Jackson says that she loves hers, "because it holds so much and I don't have to get up constantly to refill it. Plus, I end up drinking two or three bottles full in a day which is great for my hydration goals."
According to our testing, you will find this option easier to clean than ones with a hidden straw, but we don’t recommended throwing it in your bag with electronics because it’s prone to leaking. “Immediately when tilting it over at both angles, water gushes out of it. And, when knocking it over, nearly half of the contents spilled out of the lid and straw,” says Hoeger.
More water bottles to shop
Hydro Flask All Around Travel Straw Tumbler (32 oz)
- Hydro Flask All Around Travel Straw Tumbler (32 oz) $44.95 at Hydro Flask
- Hydro Flask All Around Travel Straw Tumbler (32 oz) $28.33 at Amazon
Hydro Flask also has its own tumbler, which has sold out multiple times. It’s made to be dishwasher-safe and features a splash-resistant straw lid.
Owala 40oz Stainless Steel Straw Tumbler
- Owala 40oz Stainless Steel Straw Tumbler $39.99 at Amazon
- Owala 40oz Stainless Steel Straw Tumbler $31.99 at Dick's Sporting Goods
- Owala 40oz Stainless Steel Straw Tumbler $44.99 at Owala
Owala has also released its own 40-ounce tumbler, and editor Vivien Moon says that hers is “next to me at all times.” “It has a splash-resistant lid that makes drinking from the straw at an angle easy and doesn’t leak which is super helpful because I know some competitors don’t have that design element.”
QuiFit Motivational Water Bottle
QuiFit Motivational Water Bottle $15.11 at Amazon
Motivational water bottles like this have been popping up all over the internet over the last few years, and we’ve even spotted some celebrities carrying them. The extra large water bottle (it holds 128 ounces) has motivational time markers along the side to keep you on track throughout the day.
Water bottle and tumbler accessories
Holikme Bottle Brush Tube Cleaning Lab Set
Holikme Bottle Brush Tube Cleaning Lab Set $8.95 at Amazon
To keep your water bottle in pristine condition, you really should be washing it every day. Thankfully, this set comes with multiple brushes that promise to make that process easier. Each brush is designed for a different vessel — you'll get one with a longer handle for narrower bottles, one with hard bristles for metal bottles and more. Plus, there are four straw brushes so you can clean that often-forgotten area too!
Homdsg Silicone Spill Proof Stopper
Homdsg Silicone Spill Proof Stopper $5.99 at Amazon
If you love everything about your tumbler, except for the fact that it’s not completely leak proof, this is for you. Designed to be compatible with the original viral Stanley Quencher, it’s said to make the cup completely spill-proof, so you can feel better about taking it on the go.
Flaskars Protective Silicone Boot
Flaskars Protective Silicone Boot $8.95 at Amazon
Hoeger says that she uses a boot on her water bottle to help protect against dents and scratches and cover up the ones that are already there. She adds that it also helps reduce noise when she puts the bottle down on surfaces. This boot is designed for a variety of Hydroflask and Stanley tumblers and bottles.
Dabria Water Bottle Carrier Bag
Dabria Water Bottle Carrier Bag $8.99 at Amazon
Want to take your water bottle on your daily walks but don’t want to have to deal with carrying it? Try this bag, which is designed to fit a 30- to 40-ounce bottle.
How we tested water bottles
To find the best water bottles, our editors selected the most popular brands, and the ones we personally use most often or on an every day basis. We ranked each one based factors, which included how cold our beverages stayed, how easy it was to clean, if they leaked when tipped over and how easy it was to drink out of. To determine the best overall choice, we chose the water bottle with the highest score.
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This article was originally published on TODAY.com
