After testing water bottles of several types across a year, going on a treks, using in the gym and at home, we have picked some of the best water bottles for various uses. Because different people have different needs, we’ve picked our favourites across a range of materials and styles, including steel, aluminium, plastic and more.
The best water bottle for carrying round
1. CamelBak Chute Mag
The CamelBak Chute Mag is a 0.75 Litre, hybrid water bottle that can be used for both the outdoors and everyday life. The cap is magnetic and stays out of the way when open, is leak-proof when closed and the bottle has an easy carry handle. Both the cap and the bottle are made with hard BPA-Free plastic. The .75L size fits easily in the hand and is compatible with most cup holders. The loop handle makes it easy to clip to a backpack or comfortably carry in hand. The design is brilliant and is leakproof. It’s a perfect companion for carrying and drinking on the go.
The best water bottle for home usage
Nirlon Stainless Steel Water Bottle
The Nirlon Stainless Steel Water Bottle is a single walled unbreakable freezer bottle. It is not very heavy and has a simple easy to use design. The lid is inlined with plastic which screws into the bottle thereby providing a leak-proof bottle. Being steel, they do dent easily and we found that sometimes, the dents would cause to bottle to lose its overall balance. That being said, for the price, this is a great pick.
The best water bottle for treks
Nalgene Wide-Mouth
The Nalgene 1 litre Wide Mouth is a brilliant, tough, hard-sided plastic bottle. The bottle is made of a non-insulated BPA-free sturdy polyester. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill water from multiple water sources like purifiers or flowing streams. It’s completely leakproof, easy to clean and built to last. It is also light enough for backpacking and the plastic is sturdy and shows no sign of breakage even after repeated drops. It’s expensive but lasts really long.
The best water bottle for kids
CamelBak Eddy 0.4 litre
The CamelBak Eddy is a 0.4 Litre, hybrid water bottle that has a kid friendly design. Both the cap and the bottle are made with hard BPA-Free plastic. The main point of differentiation is the sipper feature with an internal straw and bite valve. So you just flip, bite and sip without tilting the bottle. The 0.4L size fits easily in the hand and is compatible with most cup holders. The loop handle makes it easy to clip to a backpack or comfortably carry in hand. The design is brilliant and is leakproof. It’s a perfect companion for taking to school or to the sports ground.
Why should you get a good reusable water bottle?
It is recommended by doctors that adults should have at least 3-4 litres of water in a day. For staying hydrated on the go, it is best to carry a long lasting bottle that is lightweight than buying bottled water every time. Shelling out a little more for a good refillable water bottle is a great way to save money on water in the long run.
Buying bottled water is expensive and not very environment friendly. Bottled water is easily available and plastic bottles are cheap. Most people simply reuse plastic bottles for a while and then dispose them. The most commonly used bottles for water storage is Plastic PET (polyethylene terephthalate). However, plastic is not very healthy, both for humans and the environment. Plastics are known to contain harmful chemicals like DEHP and BPA which leak into the water and can be carcinogenic.
Bottles used in packaging mineral water take thousands of years to bio-degrade. It is estimated that over 70% of all such water bottles simply become garbage and end up in land-fills or water bodies. Recycling is only possible in few cases because only PET bottles can be recycled. All other bottles are just adding to pollution.
With increasing amount of plastics in our landfills and oceans, reducing personal consumption of plastic can go a long way in reducing plastic waste.
How to Choose a safe water bottle?
Water bottles come in various materials, mainly in Plastic (PET), Polycarbonate, Glass, Aluminium and Stainless Steel.
- Plastic Bottles: PET bottles are not very healthy , both for humans and the environment. Plastics are known to contain harmful chemicals like DEHP and BPA which leak into the water and can be carcinogenic.
- Glass Bottles: Glass is possibly the most environment friendly of the lot, since it’s easily biodegradable. Glass also is neutral and does not affect taste of the water. However, it is heavy and as you know, very fragile.
- Polycarbonate Bottles: These are “safer” plastic bottles. They last long, are durable and more heat resistant than PET bottles. They often come in nice designs and colours. They also come with labels like BPA free and are supposed to be safer.
- Aluminium Bottles: Aluminium is a solid choice. They’re pretty durable and very light, and last long. While aluminium itself might not be harmful, the plastic caps attached to most aluminium bottles may not be as safe or BPA free.
- Stainless Steel: Stainless steel bottles are almost indestructible in normal usage. They are easy to clean and do not impart any taste to its contents.
The best water bottle for carrying round
Camelbak Chute Mag
When it comes to carrying around, we prefer a bottle that is lightweight and leak proof. We also prefer one with a narrow-mouth or an auto sealing lid, to reduce chances of spilling water down the front of your shirt while walking or driving.
Modern plastic bottles with high quality plastics can be extremely sturdy and a great and simple option for an everyday, reusable water bottle. They also come with 100% non-toxic BPA free plastics in their bottles which make them a safer bet than ordinary plastic.
The CamelBak Chute Mag is a 0.75 Litre, hybrid water bottle that can be used for both the outdoors and everyday life. The cap is magnetic and stays out of the way when open, is leak-proof when closed and the bottle has an easy carry handle. Both the cap and the bottle are made with hard BPA-Free plastic. The .75L size fits easily in the hand and is compatible with most cup holders. The loop handle makes it easy to clip to a backpack or comfortably carry in hand. The design is brilliant and is leakproof. It’s a perfect companion for carrying and drinking on the go.
When the lid is unscrewed, the bottle has a wide mouth making it suitable for filling or pouring water, ice or drink mixes into it without spillage. It is perfect for making protein shakes for the gym. The 0.75 litre is a good size for everyday use and carrying in your bag. It is also lightweight and durable. The bottle is available in various sizes 0.75l, 1l and 1,5 litres.
Summary
- Magnet top stays on the side while you drink
- Leak-proof when closed
- Easy carry handle
- BPA free
- Wide mouth when open
- Replacement parts are available
- Wont last as long as a steel bottle – expected lifetime 2 -3 years
- Magnet prone to breakage
The best water bottle for home usage
Nirlon Stainless Steel Water Bottle
For home use we prefer a bottle that is freezer proof and fits in the refrigerator door well. It also needs to be long lasting and other features like weight, loops have lesser weightage.
The Nirlon Stainless Steel Water Bottle is a single walled unbreakable freezer bottle. It is not very heavy and has a simple easy to use design. The lid is inlined with plastic which screws into the bottle thereby providing a leak-proof bottle. Being steel, they do dent easily with drops to the floor and we found that sometimes, the dents would cause to bottle to lose its overall balance. That being said, for the price, this is a great pick.
The bottle mouth is not very wide like some of our other picks. The narrow mouth design means there is less spillage while drinking. It’s good enough if you are mainly going to fill water from taps. The stainless steel body makes the bottle neutral and didn’t see any change in the taste of the water after storage of a full day. The bottle comes with a small raised lip at the bottom that provides stability.
The bottle is easy to clean. The cap, as with most such bottles is not made metal, but is lined with plastic inside.
The bottles come in nice bright colours and are good looking. However, we think that the paint on the bottles will chip eventually and thus the non-coloured version might look good for a longer time.
Summary
- Unbreakable freezer bottle
- Leak-proof when closed
- BPA free
- Chemical free and non-toxic
- Dents easily
- Inside of the cap is made of plastic
The best water bottle for treks
Nalgene Wide-Mouth
For hiking, backpacking, gym use we recommend choosing a bottle with a wide mouth. The spacious opening makes for easy drinking, and it is also simpler to filter or pour water into. There are also less breakable parts and this reduces chances of failure when you are outdoors.
The Nalgene 1 litre Wide Mouth is the epitome of a tough, hard-sided plastic bottle. The bottle is made of a non-insulated BPA-free sturdy polyester. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill water from multiple water sources like purifiers or flowing streams. It’s completely leak-proof, easy to clean and built to last. It is also light enough for backpacking and the plastic is sturdy and shows no sign of breakage even after repeated drops. It’s expensive but lasts really long.
The bottle is easy to clean and doesn’t have any extra parts like a straw or a magnet. With measuring markers on the side, this can even double as a measuring cup. It is extremely light and easy to use, we even found ourselves carrying it more often than not.
The wide mouth makes it easy to fill or pour water into without spillage. You can also easily dunk the bottle in a stream and collect water. However, the wide mouth means the bottle might spill while drinking. If you are moving at all, including sitting in a moving vehicle, you can expect water to spill over you.
The Nalgene is wide and big – when fully filled it takes a litre of water. Being wide, we found that it doesn’t fit into most cup holders in cars. However the loops makes it easy to attach it to backpacks. People with smaller hands may find it uncomfortable to hold.
The Nalgene is light, durable, has a simple design, and its wide mouth makes for easy filling. The plastic body and cap can endure many drops and tumbles and still work as new. The only drawback is the wide mouth which makes it difficult to drink from when walking or driving.
Summary
- Sturdy and built-to-last
- Leak-proof when closed
- Loop handle
- BPA free
- Wide mouth when open
- Wide mouth means higher chances of spillage
- Wide design means it doesn’t fit standard cup-holders
The best water bottle for kids
Camelbak Eddy Kids
When it comes to kids, we prefer a bottle that is small, durable and leak proof. We also prefer one with a straw, to reduce chances of spilling water down the front of the school uniform.
Modern plastic bottles with high quality plastics can be extremely sturdy and a great and simple option for an everyday, reusable water bottle. They also come with 100% non-toxic BPA free plastics in their bottles which make them a safer bet than ordinary plastic.
The CamelBak Eddy is a 0.4 Litre, hybrid water bottle that has a kid friendly design. Both the cap and the bottle are made with hard BPA-Free plastic. The main point of differentiation is the sipper feature with an internal straw and bite valve. So you just flip, bite and sip without tilting the bottle. The bite-valve is wide, and provides big gulps of liquid easily.
The colorful, double-walled bottle is insulated and hence won’t collect condensation, making it easier for kids to grip. The 0.4L size fits easily in small hands. The loop handle makes it easy to clip to a backpack or comfortably carry in hand. The design is brilliant and is leakproof. It’s a perfect companion for taking to school or to the sports ground.
When the lid is unscrewed, the bottle has a wide mouth making it suitable for filling or pouring water, ice or juices into it without spillage. The 0.4 litre is a good size for everyday use and carrying in the school bag. It is also lightweight and durable.
Summary
- The bite valve provides big quantities of water
- Leak-proof when closed
- Easy carry handle
- BPA free
- Wide mouth when open
- Replacement parts are available
- The straw gets dirty and has to be cleaned frequently
- Bite valve falls-off sometimes
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