Easy to clean. You would be surprised how many are hard to clean or don’t have removable gaskets and can’t be dishwashed. Clean water bottle = good tasting water. Yucky moldy uncleanable parts = water bottles that go to the trash.

That they don't leak. I use a cycling bidon as they're easy to use but finding ones that don't leak is a lot harder than it should be.

A big mouth so I don’t have to squeeze or suck it.

The best bottle I had was self-cleaning (UV light), so it never tasted bad. You still clean it, just way less. Double wall to stay cool. Right size (around 750 ml, full litre is approaching chonky boi size), this size also fits all cup holders. Powder coat finish so it's nice to the touch. Rubber bottom so it was anti slip.

I have a full filtering bottle now, not worth it imo.

Polar insulated. They keep your hydration cold and you can wash them in the dishwasher so they don’t develop the disgusting disgusting mold like camelback bottles.

I'm a huge fan of Elite water bottles but they do scratch easily....however they've recently added texture so scratches aren't as noticeable - I've not tried the new ones yet.

Not a fan of Specialized otherwise, but man their Purist bottles are admitted very nice.

Maybe the cage is the problem? Or, better yet, who cares about bottle scratches? To answer the question, the Camelbak bottles have the best valve, but I've found that the "gradual" indent design means that they don't snap into cages as securely as other bottles. I tend to use either Elite or Specialized bottles, they have deeper indents that snap securely into most cages.

I have the Elite crono cx and they are pretty cool, light and aero (if u care about aerodynamics). For them to scratch, I think you'd need to trough them in the ground

I have a sure fire way to guarantee cold water throughout your workout but it involves a gallon bottle, filling it half full with water and freezing it into ice. Then filling it with water the next day and wrapping like a shirt around the bottle it to absorb the condensation and bam, cold water for the whole workout. Down side is that it's really annoying to do. Up side, you can do it for super cheap.

I've been using a hydro flask for years, it keeps my water cold during soccer practice when it's 90 degrees, or even work lately when it's been near 100, they work damn well, bit costly though.

I've been using a hydro flask for years, it keeps my water cold during soccer practice when it's 90 degrees, or even work lately when it's been near 100, they work damn well.l, bit costly though.

Well I don’t know if they count as bottles, but the brand “Yeti” have some really good quality bottles.

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Ion8 bottles are really good.

I like my sho bottles, their newest one is big and can be put in the dishwasher. Teacher discounts too which is a bonus

I actually really rate the Owala freesip. A bit of a trendy choice right now but you can get it in massive sizes and the lid is dishwasher safe. If yo udon't fancy cleaning the straw you could also use it without the straw.

100% Owala Freesip:

1. You can get it in 1L+ size.

2. Has never leaked on me and I'm not gentle with this bottle!

3. Easy to drink from (has a top handle and the freesip feature is really good.

4. It's opaque so no annoying questions about squash.

5. Never had a issue cleaning it - the bigger sizes are large enough to fit my hand in the bottle.

Owala freesip

I don’t know there’s a problem worth solving here. There are so many options available. Personally I like my yeti bottles, I also have a 2 pack of hydroflask bottles from Costco, and a couple no name ones. They all work equally as well and most importantly, other than the ones from Costco all were gifted to me.

A simple Gatorade bottle has literally never failed me. Drop it at the end of the lane, finish up your set, take a quick sip, and move on.

I don't like to do stainless steel at the pool. Everything is usually concrete so if you drop it, its forever dented. Never glass in a pool. Aluminum is even more fragile than stainless. So mostly plastics. I also hate the "straw" style bottles. I don't want to suck water, I want to have it flow into my mouth without my lungs doing any work. I also don't want to unscrew a cap. I want to operate it with 1 hand especially because I might be holding the wall with the other. The classic Gatorade sport bottle works well for squeezable. I have a hard tritan bpa-free plastic with a push-button fliptop and hole design on the one I use right now.

I use a cheap plastic water bottle.ive had it for years and it's really good at holding water.

Currently using a tervis tumbler water bottle. I leave my water out in the hot sun outside for a whole workout…it stays cool for 90 min if I fill it with enough ice. I’ve definitely used a variety though. In college I used a wide mouth Nalgene (and in retrospect wasted too much time with the lid) and when doing long heavy duty workouts in Florida summers, I’d bring a whole insulated mini water cooler (like the kind my mom brought to the beach when I was little with a bunch of paper cups?) and drink out of the spout.

For marathon swims, it’s squirt bottles only. Not enough time/coordination for anything else.

Popular mechanics magazine did a test on water bottles not too long ago and most bottles that are vacuum insulated work the same way and offer insulation of hot/cold for many hours. It’s more or less personal preference of lids and shape/size that could be deciding factor. One thing I will mention is my yeti gets tossed in the dishwasher daily for the last four years and still looks great. Hydro flasks are not approved for dishwasher fwiw, I tried and the outside got stained and chalky. Hydro flask has great customer service when my screw top lids leaked they sent me three to replace my old ones.

I've managed to collect quite a few brands over the years. If you're looking for a top-notch water bottle, both the Owala FreeSip and the Hydro Flask come highly recommended by pretty much everyone, each for their unique features and durability.

The Owala FreeSip stands out for its innovative drinking mechanism. It offers a built-in straw for easy sipping, ideal for staying hydrated on the go without having to tilt the bottle. This feature is particularly convenient during activities like driving or working out. Additionally, you can open it up for a full-flow drink, giving you two options in one design. The insulation quality of the FreeSip is excellent, ensuring your drinks stay chilled for hours. It’s also leak-proof and comes in various sizes and attractive color options, making it as stylish as it is functional.

In contrast, the Hydro Flask is renowned for its robust build and exceptional temperature retention. Made with pro-grade stainless steel, it’s designed to withstand rough handling and still last for years. Its insulation capabilities are outstanding, keeping beverages cold or hot for extended periods. The wide-mouth design of the Hydro Flask is another plus, making it easy to fill, drink from, and clean. It’s perfect for those who prefer a more traditional, no-fuss design but still want the assurance of a high-quality, long-lasting bottle.

I really like the yeti, it's works well both for my gym session that keeps my electrolytes water super cold for hours and also later when i am at home and siping slowly on a hot coffee or tea, it's just good at keeping temp
it' also sturdy as well which I hope means it will last me for years. one downside though is that it's a bit on the heavy side but i guess that's the material they use to keep the temp so can't have it all

edit: the yeti i got is the number 1 here: https://costnow.com/best-insulated-water-bottle/

Zoj with this version. Zojirushi SM-SA36-BA Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Mug, 20-Ounce, Black by Tokyo Japanese Outlet Learn more: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HYOGUM2/ref=cm_sw_em_r_mt_dp_81V0A8TCVTH9KG7FP30X

The newer with a different top don’t flip up right. I’ve had mine for years.

Warning! Do not put hot beverages in this with the assumption it will cool. It will not. It takes like 10 hours. Put it in like you want to drink it.

Middle pops out for cleaning. Lid clicks back so it doesn’t hit your nose. I’ve and water will still have ice 12 hours later. Tried other brands but I’m spoiled now.

Zoj mugs don’t go up to 30 ounces.

Edit they have 35 ounce vacuum bottle and a different thermos looking one.

Kind of depends on what your looking for. I personally have both a Hydroflash and a Ringo. So kind of depends on what you wanna spend.

I love my Ringo a little more just because I work out so I can put my phone on my water bottle magnetically and watch a show or something quite nice tbh.

I have YETI Rambler Bottles and RTIC bottles that are stainless steel, double-wall, and they keep ice water cold for 12 hours. I put ice in at 6pm with water and at 7am its still got some pieces of ice but most importantly the water is still chilly. The YETI bottles are great if you get one with their Chug cap which has two parts, one which is like a water bottle top.

Walmart has the Ozark similar to Yeti just more economical .5 gallon for 17 usd.

I’ve got a Takeya Active water bottle and it’s awesome! I’ve filled it with ice and water in the AM, an there’s still ice left late at night.

I got because of this wire cutter article! They review a bunch of other water bottles too!

I bought mine through the Takeya website last year when they had a buy one, get one free deal

Strong recommendation for FlipBelt and the water bottles that are made for it.

I just buy those smaller 8 ounce waters and run with that and just carry it by hand. I reuse the same bottle for awhile and eventually move on to another one. I usually don’t, but if I don’t feel like carrying anything anymore I can just throw it away.

Handheld is probably okay for a short run, but it’s going to unbalance your form and likely put you at greater risk of injury, or at least running inefficiencies, for a longer distance. I’d really aim for something that holds the water on your core instead. A lot of people like hydration vests, and I can see that from a balancing perspective AND from a volume perspective. You can get sizes that hold anywhere from a decent amount to a ton of water. It’s the way to go if you want a lot of water with you. They are very popular with trail runners since trails don’t always have available water and runners can be out on the trail for a long time. Depending on how much water you want with you, I’d strongly consider this.

Personally, I don’t actually need that much water for the distances I do (and I’m usually with a group for my long runs, and they supply water) so I’ve got this: https://www.rei.com/product/867023/nathan-peak-hydration-waistpack?sku=8670230001 it holds a decent amount of water close to the body so it’s not unbalancing, plus it’s got a zippered pocket to hold a few things. It’s also reasonably centered on the body, but angled so it’s easy to grab the water but doesn’t get in my way. It’s also off my back and sits on the hips, which is a nice way to carry weight, especially in the summer. That holds 18oz, which is plenty for most of my runs. This bottle is also shaped so it doesn’t stick out as much as another bottle with this capacity might.

I’ve also got a little tiny clip on bottle that is GREAT -this one: https://www.therunningbuddy.com/products/buddy-pouch-h2o. Bottle is only 7oz, but sometimes that’s all you want, and you don’t even need a running belt to use this. Less bottle means a smaller thing your carrying, and less weight. You may need to tighten the drawstring on your shorts a bit, but I just love being able to throw this on my back and go.

i used a belt for a long time, but it can cause some really uncomfortable stomach stuff, especially as your runs get longer and longer. lots of people swear by them, but once my runs went past two hours i couldn't do it anymore. just finished 17 miles with a vest and i'm never going back.

Handheld just got in the way after a bit of time. Also I might have accidentally whacked my SO in the stomach one too many times while gesticulating.

I have a belt that I love for 6-8 miles (or shorter summer runs because Texas). It's from Nathan and has 2 8 oz bottles. I also use it on supported half's where I can refill them easily.

In 2020 I stopped running in parks so didn't have water fountains (in retrospect should never had used those anyway, eww). I found myself 1 too many times calling my SO to come bring me more water so I invested in a CamelBak vest and love it!

Travel if you have your hands free, 40oz wide mouth if you need to clip it onto something/ put it in a bag. Only get the 32 funky shaped one if you don’t wanna buy an insert for your car ( I have for my 40oz wide mouths)

I have rheumatoid arthritis. Even though I love my 40oz wide mouth, the travel tumbler is way easier for me to hold and carry. I have a Stanley and the HF Tumbler. I like both equally. Stanley is a smidge lighter if that matters imo.

I feel like the Stanley pro tour holder the coldness better than the hydro flask cause i just both a pro tour and was surprised that after the ice had melted my water was still cold

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