Whilst reusable bottles make a great deal of sense from both an economic and an environmental point of view, it's clear that some are better than others. Some supposedly leak-proof bottles are anything but, drenching schoolbags, handbags or gym bags because they were left at a slight angle. Some are hopeless for using on the move (in one of the best backpacks or best cool boxes)...and some, are, well, some are just plain ugly.
It’s estimated that 38.5 million single-use plastic bottles are used every day in the UK alone – but only half of them are recycled. More than 16 million are sent to landfills, burnt or leak into the environment and oceans, where each plastic bottle takes over 450 years to break down. Some of the waste is finding its way into the human food chain, and plastic production is set to double in the next 20 years.
Obviously buying a reusable bottle won't suddenly fix the world's plastic problem, but it's a small thing you can do to reduce your footprint. Not only will it help reduce waste and save you money, but carrying a refillable water bottle means you’re more likely to drink the recommended amount of water a day.
Here, we've rounded up the best water bottles for a wide range of needs, styles and budgets.
Lizzie is T3's Home Staff Writer, also covering style, living and wellness. Lizzie is a keen wellness enthusiast and is pretty good at staying on top of her hydration levels, meaning she's a go-to expert on the best water bottles.
Best water bottle ranking 2024
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The best overall water bottle
+ Innovative FreeSip spout
+ Huge amount of colours and sizes
+ Triple layer insulated
- Often go out of stock
You may have seen the Owala FreeSip on your Instagram or TikTok recently, which is a huge testament to how popular they've become. Available in various colours and sizes, the bottle has a patented FreeSip spout that comes with a built-in straw, allowing you to sip or swig. Oh and it's completely leak proof and triple layer insulated, making it perfect for keeping drinks ice cold. A big tick from us!
The best CO2 neutral water bottle
+ CO2 neutral
+ Lots of colour options
+ Keeps beverages hot or cold
– Not dishwasher safe
Clima, launched in September 2017, is a double-walled, stainless steel bottle that keeps beverages hot or cold for 12/24 hours. What's cool about this bottle is that as well as helping people reduce their own carbon footprint, Clima Bottle is 100% carbon neutral. There are also a huge amount of colours to choose from, and this dusty pink probably has to be our favourite.
The best smart water bottle
+ Hydration tracking
+ UV-C Sterilization
+ Temperature indicator
– Not everyone will like the look
An insulated stainless steel smart water bottle with built-in UV sterilisation? Yes please. Whilst the look of this one might not be for everyone, it allows you to stay on top of your hydration game with gentle reminders every two hours. It also has a handy temperature indicator, allowing you to check the temperature of your water before taking a sip, and a 1-month average battery life.
The best insulative water bottle
+ Insulation works great
+ Large capacity
+ Great brand
– Can be tricky to drink from
This massive water bottle is a perfect choice for a long hike or camping trips. The same technology that works in the humble Thermos flask works just as well in the considerably more attractive-looking Hydro Flask, whose Wide Mouth bottles can keep cold liquids cold for a whopping 24 hours and hot liquids hot for six hours. The bottleneck is really wide, so that's something to bear in mind.
The best innovative water bottle
+ Innovative Scentaste technology
+ ActiveOn Mouthpiece
+ Comes with three pods
– It doesn't work for everyone
We're sure you probably would have heard of this bottle as well, especially if you keep on top of your trends. However, this is the second generation, meaning it has an ActiveOn Mouthpiece that works without needed activation. This is something you'll be familiar with if you have the classic model. The Scentaste technology certainly has some mixed opinions, and there's no denying that it's subtle, but we personally love it.
The best sustainable water bottle
+ Made from 65% recycled materials
+ Can be engraved
+ Completely leak proof
– Small carry handle
Equipped with double wall insulation, the Ocean Bottle will keep your cold drinks cold for 18 hours and your hot drinks hot for six. Designed with a dual opening function and dishwasher safe construction, the leak proof lid gives you the option to sip from the spout and the base and provides easy access for filling, adding ice and cleaning. It also comes in a bunch of stylish colours, two different sizes and can be engraved – perfect if you often lose your belongings!
How to choose the best water bottle for you
There are three key things to think about when choosing a reusable water bottle: where you’re going to use it, what you’re going to put in it and whether you want to filter it.
It's important to avoid really cheap no-name bottles – they won’t have been treated (if plastic) or polished (in the case of metal) to prevent strong flavours from hanging around after multiple washes. You should also consider an insulated option if you’ll be travelling far and wide.
Pay attention to the design too, especially around the nozzle. Some bottles are fiendishly hard to clean, and whilst they may be dishwasher safe, their nooks and crannies can still provide places for germs to multiply. It’s a good idea to get a bottle brush to ensure that no germ gets left behind, and washing a water bottle is hardly onerous or time consuming at the end of the day.
In our line-up we’ve presented bottles of varying capacities, but bigger isn’t always better. Liquids are heavy, so a 1L bottle that already weighs nearly 700g empty will weigh 1.7kg when it’s full. That may be fine for a long bike ride or trip on public transport, but it’s not much fun to lug around in a handbag, schoolbag or backpack.
Interested in more? Check out some more of our hydration advice:
When should you stop drinking water before bed? Sleep expert shares her wisdom
Expert reveals how much water you should really be drinking in a day
5 ways to stay hydrated (and they don’t involve drinking water)
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