Water bottles and I have a love/hate relationship…
I cannot tell you how many water bottles I have purchased over the years for my boys and myself, yet when we need one, they are always tough to find! They must be related to bobby pins and bandaids….can’t ever find those guys either!
So knowing that my boys are not always the most responsible, I set out to do a little research to find a quality water bottle that wouldn’t break the bank! My boys are 5 and 8, so these are not really toddler friendly. They are more suitable for older kids up to adults. I did multiple ice tests to see how well they kept ice cold, putting the same amount of ice in each bottle for a set amount of time both inside and outside…we live in Texas….land of the 100+ degree summer days! I also tried to break down other features for you, like if they are suitable for hot liquids as well, are dishwasher safe, etc.
If you gravitate toward a certain brand, I also linked several options (straw, sip, tumbler, etc.) depending on your preference.
Ozark Trail-Best Bang for your Buck
I tested this 24 oz. double walled Ozark trail water bottle from Walmart. It was one of the TOP 3 in the ice test…right up there with Yeti and Simple Modern….except it only costs $7-$9!!!
Find it HERE.
Top features:
Top 3 in the ice test
$7-$9 with several color options
Chug top that is covered with a pop up plastic cover
Cup holder friendly, dishwasher safe (top rack)
Suitable for hot and cold liquids
Sweatproof and rust proof
Lifetime warranty
Drawbacks:
If the plastic cover breaks, the chug style bottle can no longer be used.
Just one size available in this style.
Other styles of Ozark Trail (all under $10):
Find Ozark Trail’s full line of products HERE.
Simple Modern-Pretty and Charitable
If there is an award for the prettiest design choices, Simple Modern is the clear winner! I also love that they give at least 10% of their profits to charity! The style of this brand that I tested is $16 on Amazon.
Find it HERE.
Top features:
Top 3 in my ice tests
LOTS of size and design options
Over 10,000 five star reviews on Amazon
Many sizes are cup holder friendly
Leak proof
Drawbacks:
Lid is dishwasher safe-they recommend handwashing the bottle
Not intended for hot or cabonated liquids
Other styles:
Find Simple Modern’s full line of products HERE.
YETI-Most Popular
I think we are all familiar with this one, but it was interesting to see that the least expensive bottle we ice tested kept up just as well with this well-known brand. It is a quality product, but you are also paying for the name! Not hating…I own several and have definitely purchased Yeti products as gifts, but I definitely won’t be paying that much for a water bottle for my boys anytime soon!
Top Features:
Top 3 in ice tests
Lots of available sizes and styles with fun color options
Many sizes are cup holder friendly
Sweat proof, leak proof and dishwasher safe (top rack)
Suitable for hot and cold liquids
Drawbacks:
Pricy
Other styles:
Find a wide range of Yeti products HERE.
RTIC is another similar, less expensive alternative. You can shop their site HERE.
HydroFlask
HydroFlask is a brand that so many of you recommended!
Find the style I tested HERE.
Top Features:
Not top 3, but performed well in the ice tests
Lots of available sizes and styles with fun color options
Many sizes are cup holder friendly
No sweat, some styles are leak proof and dishwasher safe (top rack)
Suitable for hot and cold liquids
Lifetime warranty
Drawbacks:
Pricy
Other Styles:
Fifty/Fifty is a VERY similar, more affordable brand. Find thier products HERE.
ThermoFlask
Thermoflask is another quality, less expensive (around $16) option from Amazon! My favorite thing about it is that is comes with two different styles of lids!
Find the one we tested HERE.
Top Features:
Not top 3, but performed well in the ice tests
5 sizes and 5 color options
2 styles of lids included with your purchase
Smallest size is cup holder friendly
Sweat-free and leak proof
Suitable for hot and cold liquids
Great reviews on Amazon
Drawbacks:
Lid is dishwasher safe, but they recommend handwashing the bottle.
Two packs and other colors:
Takeya
Another quality option that is a little on the pricier side. Not as much as Yeti, but in the $20-$30 range.
Find the one we tested HERE.and HERE.
Find the version with a straw HERE and HERE.
Top Features:
Not top 3, but performed well in the ice tests
Lots of sizes, styles and color options
Most styles/sizes are cup holder friendly
Sweat-free and leak proof
Suitable for hot and cold liquids
Great reviews on Amazon
Lifetime warranty
Drawbacks:
Lid is dishwasher safe, but they recommend handwashing the bottle.
On the pricier side
Other styles:
Shop all Takeya HERE
Thanks so much for checking out this post! I hope it was helpful, and I welcome your feedback if you have experience with any of these brands!