The days of going cycling or running with a recycled cola bottle in your hands to carry your beverage are long gone. In recent years there has been a significant improvement in the quality of water bottles, tumblers and flasks. The new generation of water bottles are environmentally friendly, BPA-free, insulated and stylish. They are easy to use, store and dishwasher friendly.
However not all water bottles are created equal. There are several high-end companies on the market, Camelbak, Yeti and Hydroflask being the most popular ones. Also you should choose different models whether you wish to go running outdoors, you want to go to a hot yoga class or you just want to stay hydrated for the day.
I want to help you choose the best bottles for your situation. Let’s compare these bottles and let’s see which ones are the best for each use.
Which water bottle is the best?
Of course the best water bottle depends on your situation and needs. Here are my verdicts.
Best water bottle for cycling: Camelbak Podium Dirt. Fits to all bottle holders and easy to squeeze, with a mud cap to keep your water clean.
Best for gym use and hot yoga: Camelbak Chute Mag Water Bottle. A large, variable, leak-proof, simple and durable bottle.
Hiking, kayaking, survivor trips: Yeti Rambler 18. Extreme durability, leak-proof design, insulation. What else do you need?
Camelbak Bottles
Cfamelbak are a major player in the hydration market. They made their name making hydration backpacks, and quickly became one of the most popular brands on the market. The company has an extensive background in cycling, and the design, durability and quality of their water bottles reflects that.
A common question I hear people ask is: CamelBak bottles any good? Well, according to the CamelBak buyer’s guide, these plastic water bottles are a low-price, durable accessory that help you stay hydrated throughout the day. They are environmentally friendly.
- They keep a beverage cold for 48 hours and hot for 6 hours.
- Thank god they are dishwasher safe. I don’t know about you, but this is a huge plus for me.
Hydroflask bottles come in three different materials: stainless steel, plastic or glass. The first two options are more durable, but the third one is more aesthetically pleasing, not to mention it gives you the purest tasting water you can imagine. Plastic hydroflask bottles are the lightest, you can easily carry them with just two fingers. These plastic bottles are the best option for cycling, running or hiking.
Do Camelbak bottles have BPA?
According to the company website, all of their water bottles are completely free of BPA, BPS and BPF. No harmful chemicals get into your beverage. This has been proved by both company tests and independent researchers.
My Favorite Camelbak Water Bottles
Camelbak Chute Mag Water Bottle
- Best Use: Yoga, Daily hydration, Hiking.
The Chute Mag is a very simply designed, ergonomic plastic water bottle. There is really not much to complicate here. It is easy to store, carry, available in many sizes. This is your ideal bottle if you are looking to keep lots of beverage with you during the day. - A simple, lightweight, leak proof water bottle. No complication.
- Magnetic handle keeps the cap stowed while you drink.
- You can hold up the bottle with two fingers, it is easy to carry.
- Made of durable, high quality plastic. 100% BPA, BPS and BPF free.
- Available in: 12 Oz, 13 Oz, 20 Oz, 25 Oz, 32 Oz, 50 Oz
This water bottle is also available in stainless steel. You can find it here.
CamelBak Podium Dirt Water Bottle
This water bottle was designed with mountain bikers in mind. With those who go off the beaten path in search of the unknown. It is lightweight, durable, fits into a large variety of bottle cages.
- This water bottle was designed for cycling.
- Made for those who prioritize functionality and performance above all else.
- Mud cap: Included mud cap keeps your bottle and your mouth clean. High flow rate for quick refreshments.
- Easy to squeeze.
- Fits into all variety of bottle cages.
CamelBak Insulated Hydration Backpack
The ultimate overkill when it comes to sports hydration. Whether you are hiking, running or cycling, this backpack is guaranteed to keep your beverage cold, and you hydrated.
- Replaceable, built-in 2L bladder. BPA-free and easy to clean water storage.
- Extreme comfort thanks to the hydration backpack, fully adjustable shoulder, waste straps and a mesh back that fits almost all chest sizes.
- Extremely lightweight, with an air-flow system that keeps you dry.
- Multiple pockets for storing all your necessities.
Hydro Flask Bottles
Hydro Flask is a more recent brand compared to CamelBak. In 2020 they are only eleven years old, but there are a lot of advantages to being a young and innovative company. They carved a niche for themselves with their superior quality insulated bottles. Insulated bottles keep your hot drinks warm, and your cool beverages cold.
HydroFlask is definitely more expensive then other manufacturers. I think it is worth the extra money for the stainless steel, superior design and the innovative, premium quality insulation.
Vacuum Insulated Hydro Flask Water Bottle
This water bottle made of stainless steel could survive even the most dire conditions. You can throw it on rocks, use it to crack open a tasty walnut…nothing can destroy it.
It keeps beverages cold up to 24 hours and hot up to 12 hours.
Another innovation I love about HydroFlask is they make every water bottle in a wide mouth version too.
HydroFlask even makes a stainless steel water bottle for kids. It comes with a straw cap to help reduce spills. It keeps your beverage in the right temperature for similar time. As all the bottles recommended here, this one is BPA-free too. Find out more.
Yeti Water Bottles
Yeti is an Australian company, made famous in 2014 when REI started carrying them. It specializes in outdoor, durable water bottles. All of their water bottles are dishwasher safe.
Available in 18 different colors. All of these dracut colors are built to last. It won’t crack, fade or peel, no matter how hard you push it during your outdoor adventure.
Yeti Rambler Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle
- Leak-proof triple haul cap protects your car, backpack, clothes from spilling.
- It has the power to keep your water cold until the last sip.
- The stainless steel construction makes this a durable, indestructible water bottle.
What to look for in the best water bottles?
Here are a few things to keep in mind when choosing a water bottle.
What for?
This is probably the most important question you have to answer. What do you want to use the bottle for? Hiking and camping require extreme durability, stainless steel bottles. Just one slip, or one step on the bottle and it would be damaged otherwise. Cycling requires a bottle that fits in the bottle holder, and you can squeeze it easily, so you can drink quickly. If you want a bottle for sipping coffee while you walk your dog in the morning, then you need an insulated bottle.
Size
Most models are made in all different shapes and sizes. For example the Camelbak Chute Mag is available anywhere between 12 Oz to 50 Oz. You take your pick. Big bottles are best for daily hydration, yoga or gym class. If you have to carry the bottle (running, hiking) you don’t want to add extra weight unnecessarily.
Easy to clean
Dishwasher friendly is the name of the game. This is why I don’t recommend glass bottles. They might be see-through and more aesthetically pleasing, but they break. Also make sure the top is simple. No complicated designs where little pieces might get trapped. Cleaning your bottle shouldn’t take more than a minute.
Price
There is a good range of models in the market. HydroFlask bottles are the most high end, and you pay for the extra durability and insulation technology. However you can find really good CamelBak models for as little as $20. I am a big believer in quality. The worse is buying a cheap model and finding out that it is useless and having to buy another, better model. You end up paying multiple for your initial frugality. In my opinion, it is better to pay extra money for a model you can use for years.
BPA Free
BPA is a material found in many plastics. It can enter the beverage, food and enter the human blood stream where it alters the DNA and causes cancer. All of the bottles recommended in this article are BPA free.
Coffee or water?
It matters if you want to use the bottle to keep you hydrated or to drink your morning coffee. For hot beverages you need and insulated bottle to keep the drink warm. If you just keep water on your office desk, this is obviously not as important. For drinking coffee a smaller bottle will suffice. If you want to keep hydrated, get a larger bottle, as you don’t want to refill every thirty minutes.
As you see, the best water bottle matters on a handful of things. Most importantly the use of the bottle and the beverage you want to drink from it. Camelbak, HydroFlask and Yeti bottles all have their positives. All of the bottles recommended in this article are top quality products. Choose the best according to your needs and price range.