The Quest for the Perfect Water Bottle

I’ve recently found myself thinking about water bottles more than I think a normal person probably does, so I thought I’d compile all of the different stuff I’ve noticed when looking around.

So many features #

• What material is it made from?

  • Is it durable?
  • Is it recyclable?
  • How much does it weigh when empty?
  • Is it collapsible to save space when empty?
  • Is it translucent so you can you see the amount of liquid inside?

• How much water does it hold?

• Does it have measurement markings?

• How wide is the base?

  • Will it fit in your car’s drink holder? What about a backpack pocket?

• Is it Insulated?

• Can it hold hot liquid?

• Can it hold things other than water?

• Does it have a wide mouth? Or a detachable mouthpiece?

  • Does it require a brush when handwashing?
  • Do ice cubes fit easily in the opening?

• Is it dishwasher safe?

• Is it leakproof?

• Can it be opened with one hand?

• Does it have a built-in straw?

• Does it have a loop or something that can be used to carry and as an attachment point?

  • Does it require a separate carabiner/clip, or is the clip built into the bottle?

• Does the bottle have an ecosystem of accessories that you can add? (for example, Nalgene)

• Can it clean water via filter or UV light?

• Does it have a loose leaf tea basket/filter?

• How much does it cost? (useful to think about for your willingness to replace it should it be lost/damaged)

The thing that keeps me coming back to this is just how many different little features there are, and how easy they are to overlook. Now, when I see something new on a water bottle, I have to add it to the list!

Where I’ve landed (for now) #

For now, I’m using the Owala 24oz FreeSip, and am pretty happy with these features:

• Leakproof
• Has an attachment point/carry handle
• Can be opened with one hand
• Has a straw
• Also has an option to tip and drink
• Insulated
• Kinda easy to clean
• Fits in my car cup holder and backpack sleeve pocket