Every year, there is a new water bottle that is hot on the market. From 2020, the trends have followed a chain starting with the Hydro Flask, then moving onto the S’Well, Stanley, Yeti, Owala, and now joining the party is the HydroJug. The thing is, even if there is a “new bottle in town”, the others aren’t going away anytime soon. Often, it is a regular new year resolution to stay hydrated, so having a reusable water bottle is a fantastic way to start. The question is, which of these popular brands is actually worth investing in?
In 2020, a lot of people wanted a Hydro Flask so they could earn the title of “VSCO Girl”, and there were many TikTok trends that followed this water bottle around. Pros of the bottle include double-wall insulation, durable construction, no flavor transfer, versatile lids including a straw lid and flex cap, wide mouth opening and a lifetime warranty according to vicelia.com and Trans-Americas Journey. On the other hand, cons come out to high price points, heavy weight, vulnerability to dents, leakage with certain lids and constant cleaning needs. This was one of the first water bottles to have several different lids, which made it popular in its time.
“I loved how easy the Chug lid makes it to stay hydrated during busy days of chores and errands around town.” said a tester from GearLab who purchased the Flex Chug hydroflask.
Turning to S’Well, this water bottle became popular as a more eco-friendly and a stylish fashion accessory. Pros of the water bottle are triple-layer vacuum insulation, condensation free, variety in designs, patterns and sizes, a no leak cap and high-grade, BPA-free, 18/8 stainless steel. Similar to the Hydro flask, Swell water bottles come with a high price point and exterior durability issues. The Swell bottle is also more difficult to properly clean and fill and unfortunately has no carrying handle. When compared to what has come out recently, there again seems to be better options on the market.
The modern rendition of the Stanley is a water bottle that took the world by storm, and their 40-ounce “Quencher” became truly viral after the TikTok #WaterTok fashion trend. Stanley bottles are known for keeping drinks cold or hot, fitting into cup holders while still being quite large, being comfortable and easy to carry, being sold in numerous colors and trendy designs and generally being dishwasher safe. With all good things also come some cons. Stanley bottles unfortunately are not 100% leak-proof. They are also quite bulky and heavy and dent and scratch easily if dropped. They are a higher priced and typically top-heavy bottle. Some key considerations before buying this water bottle are the leakage, hydration habits, and lifestyle. While it’s easy to carry, it’s not ideal for tossing in a bag and going on a hike. Despite its issues in shape, the Stanley often leads to increased water intake as it is one of the bigger bottles on the market, and it is designed for everyday use, particularly for people on the move. All in all, the Stanley is not a bad option and currently still has a place at the trendy table.
Similar to the Stanley, YETI came out with a new water bottle when people were looking for something stronger. Pros of the bottle are superior durability, double wall vacuum insulation, a lid that falls into the “chug cap” category and a comfortable handle that allows for easy drinking. The YETI bottle is also leak-proof, dishwasher safe, and has various options for customization. On the other side, the cons of the bottle are a particularly heavy weight, high price, limited vehicle fit and does not always have accessories and a potential lead component. A way to describe the verdict of this water bottle is that it is ideal for car camping, daily commutes, and work sites, but maybe not for anything else that doesn’t take as much work, such as minimalist hiking.
The Owala has gained massive popularity in the last few years, especially among the current generation. Pros are the famous FreeSip spout which provides both a straw and sip option, a leakproof locking lid, easy-one handed use, various designs and sizes and effective insulation. On the other hand, it is harder to clean, there are durability concerns, complex lid design and the bigger the bottle the harder it gets to fit in different places. Although the cons aren’t the greatest, there is still a lot of popularity behind it and is worth looking at investing in especially for people on the go all throughout the day.
“Personally I like the Owalas better than Stanleys because they’re spill proof. I had a larger Hydroflask, which was nice for carrying more water around, but the smaller Owala is nice because it fits in my car better.” said Ella Erickson, a sophomore at NWC and an Owala and Hydroflask owner. “In the end, it’s a solid water bottle but not a need to have. As long as I can drink water out of it and it keeps it cold that’s my standard.”
“My family doesn’t buy into trends that much, but there’s something about the Owala that’s just worth investing in.” said sophomore Abby Bram “At Christmas, we all asked for Owalas. Even my brother and fiance love their Owalas and they are the least influenced people I know. There is just something about Owalas that is practical enough to actually buy into.”
The newest bottle to grow in popularity is the HyrdoJug. It is shifting from a niche fitness item to a mainstream lifestyle accessory. The pros are high capacity, hydration tracking, durable and quality materials, reliable spill proof lid, various design and customization options, easy handling and an affordable price compared to the rest of the market. Of course, there are still some cons such as the bulkiness and heaviness of the bottle, cleaning challenges, limited cold retention and leakage when open. It is the newest trending item to have, and it doesn’t seem to be going away any time soon.
