Finding an insulated stainless steel water bottle can be a challenge and it’s tough to whittle down a list of your favorites.
We’re here to help you narrow the choices. We’ve compiled an extensive review of 5 great water bottles just below. Read on to learn more about them!
Keeping Your Drinks Hot and Cold
Table of Contents
What does that mean? The bottle construction consists of an inner and outer bottle. Between the inner and outer bottles is a vacuum (airless) seal. The vacuum between the inside and outside walls causes the transfer of heat to slow down – meaning your drink stays hot or cold longer.
Most insulated stainless steel water bottles can keep your drinks cold for at least 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. You’ll probably finish your water, tea, coffee, or juice long before it goes lukewarm in a bottle with a double-walled vacuum seal.
Sip in Style
If you’re using a water bottle daily, it might as well look as good as it is functional. All the water bottles we reviewed here come in a variety of colors to suit just about anyone.
Colors include blush pinks, forest, and lime greens, cherry reds, deep-sea and ice blues, and so much more. If you’re not the type who would want a lemon-yellow bottle, they’re also available in neutral blacks, greys, whites, and even the classic stainless steel.
Washing Up
You’ll want to wash your insulated stainless steel water bottle by hand. Most insulated bottles require hand-washing because of their materials, and to maintain the integrity of the vacuum seal. However, many of the lids that come with these water bottles are top-rack dishwasher safe. And it’s imperative to clean and dry lids well to avoid the growth of mold and mildew. Make sure you check out your insulated stainless steel water bottle’s care guide for proper cleaning instructions.
Choosing the Best Bottle for You
All these bottles serve the same purpose, but they have slightly different features that suit some people more than others. When choosing the best bottle for you, it’s good to consider factors such as how big a bottle you want — many of the water bottles we’ve reviewed come in small, medium, and large sizes. We recommend you pick a bottle that best suits how much water you usually drink in a day to avoid having to refill it all the time.
The other thing we suggest you consider before purchasing an insulated stainless steel water bottle is the lids that come with each one. Most bottles come with a single lid, but you could buy new and different compatible lids for your bottle separately. If you’re trying to stick to a price limit, it may be a good idea to factor in the type of lid you like to drink from when buying one of the bottles listed below.
Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle Reviews
Originals Vacuum-Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Bottle by Takeya
Takeya’s stainless steel water bottle can keep your drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12.
Its leakproof spout lid means you don’t have to worry about your drink ruining the contents of your backpack or purse while going to and from school, work, or the gym.
The spout lid included with purchase means you can sip, gulp, or pour your drink without spilling. And the cap is easy to twist off because of the grippy material around its rim.
The powdered coating, combined with the bottle’s condensation-free design, gives this bottle a great (and dry!) feel in your hand.
Available in a few natural, easy-on-the-eye colors, Takeya’s insulated bottle is sure to be something you’ll use every day.
Pros
- Universal wide mouth for easy cleaning
- Ice cubes fit into bottle mouth.
- Takeya’s other wide-mouth lids are compatible with this bottle.
- Grippy material on lid makes it easier to twist off.
- Powdered coated and condensation-free design
Cons
- May scratch or dent if dropped or handled roughly.
- Purchase Takeya products from an authorized dealer since counterfeit Takeya bottles exist.
- Carrying ring on the spout lid is a little thin, meaning it might break over time.
Explorer Double-Wall Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle by DuraFlask
DuraFlask’s stainless steel water bottle can keep your drinks cold for up to 24 hours and hot for up to 12. The copper-coated layer adds an extra thermal layer to ensure your hot drinks stay hot and your cold drinks stay icy-cold.
Its leakproof spout lid means you don’t have to worry about your drink ruining the contents of your backpack or purse while going to and from school, work, or the gym.
The powdered coating, combined with the bottle’s condensation-free design, gives this bottle a comfortable grip in your hand.
Available in black, deep ocean blue, and pink lilac.
Pros
- Universal wide mouth for easy cleaning
- Ice cubes fit into bottle mouth.
- Powdered coated and condensation-free design
- Lifetime guarantee
Cons
- May be prone to dents and scratches.
- Won’t fit most cup holders.
Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle by Mira Brands
This stylish water bottle will keep your cold drinks chilled for up to 24 hours and hot drinks piping for up to 12, as most insulated bottles will.
What’s unique about the Mira bottle, however, is its shape. This bottle is shaped like a disposable cola/soft drink bottle. Soft drink bottles fit in cupholders and backpacks nicely and are easy to carry. Applying these features to an insulated bottle makes it an excellent choice for home or on the go.
As a bonus, Mira Brands features an option to order a bottle with a custom engraving!
Pros
- The cola bottle shape makes this bottle easy to carry by hand. This is important because the bottle has no carrying ring.
- Available in the widest variety of colors and designs out of the insulated bottles we’ve reviewed (our favorites are the ‘pumpkin’ and ‘coastal green’ bottles).
- The twist-on cap is leakproof and won’t spill all over your bag.
Cons
- This bottle’s narrow mouth may make it difficult to clean out drinks other than water.
- Mouth can’t fit most ice cubes.
- Not as durable as other insulated stainless steel bottles on the market: the color may rub away over time, and the metal requires gentle use to avoid dents and scratches.
- It may be shaped like a cola bottle, but that doesn’t mean it can hold those types of drinks. This bottle isn’t suitable for use with carbonated beverages (as most insulated bottles).
Autoseal Chill Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle by Contigo
Contigo products are known for their patented auto-sealing button mechanism: the mouthpiece closes when it’s not at your lips. Their insulated stainless steel water bottle is no different. This bottle will keep your water cold for up to 28 hours. The auto sealed spout opens the mouthpiece with the push of a button on the back of the lid so that this bottle can be drunk from single-handedly. Contigo’s insulated bottle is sure to keep you refreshed all day long (and then some!).
Pros
- The spout is protected from dirt and germs by the lid’s auto sealing mechanism. A seal over the mouthpiece will open at the push of a single button, allowing you to sip water single-handedly.
- There’s a small carrying ring attached to the lid for holding this bottle by hand or securing it to your bag.
- Guaranteed to keep your water nice and cold for longer than the other bottles we reviewed.
Cons
- Not intended for use with hot or carbonated drinks. Use only cold water.
- The auto sealing mechanism in the lid could wear out over time with heavy use.
- You must wash the lid very well and often. All the little parts inside the lid mean it could form mold if not washed and dried correctly.
Standard Mouth Water Bottle with Flex Cap by Hydro Flask
This Hydro Flask Standard Mouth bottle will keep your drinks cold for at least 24 hours and hot for 12. A leakproof flex cap (a twist-on) included with purchase is insulated, too, so your drinks are sure to stay extra cold or hot inside this bottle. This bottle is comfortable to carry by hand, either by the lid’s handle or by the flask’s condensation-free powdered paint finish. It’s sure to be of use at the gym, office, the beach, and while enjoying the great outdoors.
If twist-on lids aren’t your thing, you can also buy different standard-sized lids separately, such as Hydro Flask’s sports lid.
Pros
- Fits in most cupholders.
- This durable bottle can handle what life throws at it, but the lid’s carrying handle and the bottle’s grippy surface means you probably won’t be dropping it anytime soon.
- Suitable for both cold and hot beverages, including tea, coffee, lemonade, and other non-carbonated liquids.
Cons
- This water bottle might not hold enough water to quench your thirst. If you’re keen on a Hydro Flask bottle, the company sells larger bottles as well.
- Hydro Flask bottles are well-known for their quality, but also their price. This bottle’s price may go out of your water bottle budget.
- Comes with a flex (twist-on) cap. Many people prefer sports lids (you can buy a new lid separately).
Our Choice
Out of the insulated stainless steel water bottles we reviewed, our favorite is Takeya’s Originals bottle. We like this bottle because it’s relatively affordable and available in multiple sizes, so you can pick a bottle that suits your daily water intake.
Though Takeya’s bottle color choice isn’t as varied or vibrant as Mira Brands’ selection, we like its wide mouth design that allows you to slip a couple of ice cubes into your drink and wash it properly without a hassle.
One of our favorite parts of Takeya’s water bottle is the lid. The spout is leakproof and allows you to drink a little or a lot of water at once. Though the carrying handle is a bit thin, we think the grippy ridge around the edge that’ll help you open and close the bottle makes up for it.
Overall, the bottles listed above are all excellent purchases. We hope Takeya’s insulated stainless steel water bottle (or one of the others) will keep you well-hydrated at work, school, and anywhere else you so happen to be!