How do you know you have a water bottle problem? For me, it was when I couldn’t walk by one in a store without contemplating buying it. Following Hurricane Harvey and the COVID-19 quarantine, I led my family through our house finding things we didn’t need so we could either donate them to others or throw them in the trash. That process forced me to confront my problem with water bottles.
During the purge process, I gave away or discarded 15 water bottles! I didn’t buy all of those water bottles, ya’ll. Many were given to me, my husband, or my kids. But I kept them because I thought we needed them. That’s the problem. You see, they all had a specific purpose…at least that’s what I told myself. I still have a lot of water bottles in my house, and I’ve found a way to justify why they are still living with us. That’s why I call myself a committed water bottle addict. Does it make sense? You be the judge. Below, I list pros and cons for my 7 favorite water bottles (in no particular order), and why they are still essential in my life!
1. LARQ Bottle – 17 fl. oz.
Pros: I’m not gonna lie. COVID-19 turned me into a bit of a germophobe. So you can imagine how excited I was to learn that this water bottle is self-cleaning. What? Its built-in UV-C LED light purifies the water and eliminates 99.9999% of bio-contaminants. And it’s got a mind of its own: with a rechargeable battery, it turns itself on every 2 hours to purify the water. I can refill ~5 times per day before needing to recharge, and it keeps cold water cold for hours (haven’t tried it with hot water).
Cons: It’s pretty pricey. At $95, it’s the most expensive water bottle on my list. However, you can get 15% off at Carbon38.com with code WENDYT20. Also, because of the price, I’m terrified to drop it. The bottle appears to be durable but because the cleaning mechanism is in the cap, I always handle it with kid gloves.
2. Swell Bottle – 9 fl. oz.
Pros: There is no reason for me to not have water with me at all times. This water bottle fits in my purses and totes which means I can carry it without using my hands. It is not too heavy, it keeps cold beverages cold for 24 hours, and hot beverages hot for 12 hours. It is metal, which is better for reducing my exposure to toxic chemicals. Oh, and it’s cute!
Cons: The mouth opening is small, so I can’t easily put ice in it. I have to use a special cleaning brush because of the small opening. If filled with coffee, the coffee smell adheres to the plastic along the cap. I did it one time and ever since then, I’ve been smelling the coffee. Not cool! Last, it is pricey, but I haven’t found a cheaper 9 oz. alternative.
3. Swell Bottle – 25 fl. oz.
Pros: See those listed above. Plus, it is large. It holds enough water for 2 fitness classes without having to refill.
Cons: The pretty exterior will scratch or rub off the more you use it no matter how much you baby it. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit into my car cup holders. It is loud when I twist the cap (mine has a squeaky sound), and I would never use it while teaching because of this. If dropped, prepare to be startled because of the clanky sound. It is expensive, and there are cheaper alternatives on the market (although the alternatives may not keep your beverages as cold/hot for as long).
4. YETI – 30 fl. oz.
Pros: I can easily load it with ice because of the large opening. Similar to a Swell bottle, it keeps cold beverages cold for 24 hours, and hot beverages hot for 12 hours. It does fit into my car cup holders, so I can bring it with me as I drive around town. Since it’s metal, this bottle is better for reducing exposure to toxic chemicals. I can easily measure my daily water intake, it’s easy to clean, and they come in pretty colors now!
Cons: It leaks if accidentally dropped, turned on its side, or bumped by kids. There are cheaper alternatives on the market (although the alternatives may not keep your beverages as cold/hot for as long).
5. bkr – 500 ML
Pros: They come in a variety of pretty colors. It is glass (so smells don’t adhere to it) and it’s BPA and phthalate free, thus it reduces my exposure to toxic chemicals. The sleeve protects it from breaking, and the smaller opening makes spills less likely to happen. For some reason, it is a conversation piece because people love to ask me about it!
Cons: Even though it has a sleeve, I am so paranoid about dropping it (and haven’t yet, thankfully). The mouth opening is so small. It’s not as easy to fill it with water, and don’t even try to put ice in it. When I have managed to get ice in it, the ice melts quickly. I have to use a special brush to clean it. And, it’s heavy.
6. bkr – 1L
Pros: I had my eye on this bad boy for years before I finally bought it. Why? Because of all the benefits of the 500 ML, but this water bottle is bigger! In addition, it’s just beautiful. My bottle has a spiky, champagne-colored exterior (which is why I was drawn to it). But I eventually realized that the spikes are functional too—they make it easier to hold the bottle.
Cons: In addition to the cons listed for the 500 ML, this bigger water bottle means it won’t fit into any cup holders. And, it’s heavy because of the glass. The mouth opening is larger than the 500 ML. So you can put ice in it, but it will be by hand and individually (one cube at a time).
7. Hydro Flask – 40 fl. oz.
Pros: They come in many colors, including a vibrant flamingo pink! I love the 40 oz size. When I finish a bottle, I’m so much closer to meeting my daily water allotment. Because of the wide mouth, it is fairly easy to load the bottle with ice cubes directly from a refrigerator ice cube dispenser. I’ve tested it, and it does keep liquids cool for 24 hours.
Cons: I have the straw lid, and the flow of liquid through the straw can be restricted if the straw isn’t attached properly to the lid. I had to experiment a little bit before I found the proper placement. The bottle is too large to fit into any car cup holder. Here’s what that means–as you drive, it will roll in your seat and it may fall on the floor. And, after it falls on the floor, you’ll have to clean the exposed mouthpiece.
There you have it… my 7 favorite water bottles that I can’t live without (for now). You see, all have their pros and cons and maybe it is ridiculous to have all of them. But they do have one thing in common: all have helped me save money by not having to purchase disposable plastic water bottles. That’s helped my household budget and the environment!
By the way, are you looking to increase your daily water intake? Get a weekly water tracker and check out my post here!
Do you have a favorite water bottle? If so, I’d love to hear what it is. Comment below!
Mrs. Traylor is a Fitness Instructor, NASM Certified Personal Trainer & Nutrition Coach, AFPA Certified Prenatal and Postnatal Fitness Specialist, wife, and momma who provides actionable advice for positive lifestyle changes with fitness, nutrition, and wellness. Read about Wendy’s inspiring entrepreneurial journey, and subscribe to Wendy’s newsletter here!
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