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The Best Water Bottle Brands for Every Type of Water Bottle

No everyday carry kit is complete without a reusable, durable and leak-proof water bottle.

water bottles
Gear Patrol

Water — the source of life — has been carried in portable vessels for years and years and years, going all the way back to goatskins and ceramic pots. But it wasn’t until hikers and outdoorsmen started to use Nalgene’s lightweight and durable scientific containers to carry consumables that water bottles caught on as an everyday and outdoor item.

The Rochester, New York-based company’s own scientists used its products for camping in the Adirondacks in the 1960s, and as the conservationist movement caught on in the 1970s, Nalgene started branding its products with the label Nalgene Outdoor — the modern-day water bottle had arrived. As the fight against single-use plastics continues, water bottles have expanded from the realm of camping and backpacking into everyday life.

No longer relegated to reusable plastic, water bottles now come in insulated, soft, aluminum and glass options. As the types of water bottles have proliferated, so too have the number of brands making high-quality, reliable drinkware for outdoor and everyday use.

What to Look For in a Water Bottle

Which bottle you'll end up picking depends on a few key factors: capacity, shape and materials. (There are, of course, other factors like colors and accessories like different caps, but these are largely subjective and dependent on the individual.) Price is always a consideration, but because many bottles are made with similar materials, prices stay within a reasonable range.

Capacity

Most water bottles fall within a range of 16 to 64 ounces — anything smaller than 16 is probably intended for coffee, tea or other beverages that come in smaller amounts, while anything above 64 would typically be considered a growler. If you're using a water bottle for anything outdoors and want decent hydration, 24–40 ounces is a safe bet.

Shape

Many water bottles, insulated or not, follow a distinct design language: cylindrical, with a screw-on lid. Some water bottles are either slim enough to fit into standard cup holders, or are designed to fit into a cup holder while retaining volume — like the Stanley Quencher. If you're going to be spending a lot of time in the car, make sure you research whether a bottle will fit in the cup holder, or get used to it rolling around on the floor.

Materials

Many insulated water bottles are made with food grade, stainless steel and feature double (or sometimes triple) walled construction. Plastic water bottles are made with — you guessed it — plastic, which can be virgin, recycled, or a blend of the two. Reusable water bottles can also be made with aluminum, but this is less common that stainless steel.

Today, no everyday carry kit is complete without a reusable, durable, leak-proof water bottle. With so many brands to choose from, it's important to figure out which type best suits your needs. Our guide to the best water bottles of 2023 provides everything you need to know before buying a water bottle, highlighting the best brands and models based on volume, insulation, durability, extra features and more.

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MiiR
a woman walking in the snow holding a miir water bottle
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After a near-death experience in 2006, founder Bryan Papé realized his mission-driven purpose and launched MiiR in 2010. For over a decade, the certified B-Corp has created sleek, insulated bottles for consumers, as well as contributed over $1,000,000 to nonprofits worldwide.

  • Founded: 2009
  • Location: Seattle, Washington
Best Overall Bottle
MiiR Insulated Narrow Mouth Bottle
Purist Collective
a man carrying a bag with a purist water bottle in the side pocket
Purist

Purist Collective was formed with the goal of providing beautifully designed bottles with no aftertaste. By creating a material that transforms silicon dioxide into a glass interior, the young brand has already innovated the water bottle category.

  • Founded: 2018
  • Location: Morgan Hill, California
Best Lid Design
Purist Mover Vacuum Bottle
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Hydro Flask
a couple smiling and drinking out of hyrdroflask 32oz water bottles
Hydroflask

Hydro Flask is an award-winning pioneer in insulated food and beverage solutions, from beer growlers to lunch boxes and everything in-between.

  • Founded: 2009
  • Location: Bend, Oregon
Best Premium Water Bottle
hydro-flask
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth Trail Series Bottle
Backcountry
Stanley Drinkware
stanley water tumbler
Stanley

Founded over 100 years ago by inventor William Stanley Jr., Stanley Drinkware has been a mainstay in the world of insulated bottles for over a century.

  • Founded: 1913
  • Location: Seattle, WA
Best Bottle For Road Trips
Stanley Quencher 40 Ounce
Stanley
Mizu
a man sitting on the roof of his car with a mizu v8 water bottle
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Founded by pro snowboarder Jussi Oksanen, Mizu has deep roots in the action sports and outdoor categories and has made a name for itself by crafting hard-wearing, well-insulated bottles.

  • Founded: 2008
  • Location: Carlsbad, California
Best Insulated Narrow Mouth Bottle
MIZU V8 Water Bottle
Amazon
Snow Peak
a person walking up steps carrying a snow peak water bottle
Snow Peak

Japanese mountaineer Yukio Yamai founded Snow Peak after being dissatisfied with the equipment he had access to. Since then, Snow Peak has built a reputation of quality and aesthetic appeal that is unmatched.

  • Founded: 1958
  • Location: Niigata Prefecture of Japan
Best Anodized Water Bottle
Snow Peak Titanium Aurora Bottle
Snow Peak
Nalgene
a 32oz nalgene water bottle laying over green leaves
Nalgene

With possibly the longest brand history on this list, for almost a century Nalgene has been making reliable and cost-effective water bottles and hydration solutions for the adventurer in all of us.

  • Founded: 1949
  • Location: Rochester, New York
Most Affordable Water Bottle
Nalgene 32oz Wide Mouth Sustain Water Bottle
Klean Kanteen
2 bike riders cheersing with their klean kanteen water bottles
Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen is a family-and-employee-owned business with the mission to provide reusable, reliable drinkware for the outdoor enthusiast.

  • Founded: 2004
  • Location: Chico, California
Best Non-Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle
Klean Kanteen Wide 40 oz
Klean Kanteen
Yeti
a rock climber drinking out of a yeti water bottle
Yeti

The leader in insulated water bottles, coolers and foodware, Yeti was founded by brothers Roy and Ryan Seiders in 2006. The Seiders wanted to create a cooler that would serve the luxury outdoor market and have since expanded to provide a number of outdoor goods.

  • Founded: 2006
  • Location: Austin, Texas
Best Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle
Yeti Rambler 36 Oz
Hydrapak
hydrapak stash waterbottle being filled up in a stream of water
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Inspired by the bounty of outdoor activities in California, since 2001 HydraPak has been making flexible and pliable hydration solutions meant to stand up to hiking, backpacking, biking and more.

  • Founded: 1996
  • Location: Oakland, California
Best Collapsible Bottle
Hydrapak Stash Bottle 1L
Amazon
Osprey
an osprey handheld flask in use on a mans wrist
Osprey

Known primarily for its backpacking equipment, for over 40 years Osprey has also been making handheld water bottles, hydration bladders and outdoor accessories to get you on the trail and in the wild.

  • Founded: 1974
  • Location: Santa Cruz, California
Best Bottle for Running
Osprey Hydraulics 360ml Soft Flask
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Specialized
2 specialized water bottles show in water bottle holders on a bicycle
Specialized

Mike Sinyard founded Specialized Bicycle Components in 1974, and since then, the brand has grown into a household name, offering bikes, components, hydration accessories and more.

  • Founded: 1974
  • Location: Morgan Hill, California
Best Bottle for Cycling
Specialized Purist 26 Oz
Hydro Flask
a couple filling up a glass with the hydroflask growlwer
Hydroflask

Hydro Flask is an award-winning pioneer in insulated food and beverage solutions, from beer growlers to lunch boxes, and everything in-between.

  • Founded: 2009
  • Location: Bend, Oregon
Best Growler
Hydro Flask Beer Growler - 64 Oz
Camelbak
camelbak multibev placed on counter being used to make tea
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Best known for pioneering the concept of a hydration bladder, Camelbak has been providing hydration solutions for the home and outdoors for over 30 years.

  • Founded: 1989
  • Location: Petaluma, California
Best Modular Water Bottle
Camelbak MultiBev Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated 22oz/16oz Cup
Camelbak
Grayl
grayl geopress water bottle being filled up in a stream of water
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World travelers Nancie Weston and Travis Merrigan founded Grayl a decade ago, after seeing the poor conditions and quality of drinking water around the world. Grayl's initiative is to make practical and durable water filtration solutions that can be used globally.

  • Founded: 2012
  • Location: Seattle, Washington
Best Filter Bottle
Grayl GeoPress 24 oz Water Purifier Bottle
Amazon
Platypus
platypreserve water bottle
Platypus

With a mission of offering taste-free and durable hydration solutions for life outdoors, Platypus has been making bottles, flasks and bladders for over 20 years. The brand makes the majority of its goods in the United States and has a world-class water laboratory for research and development.

  • Founded: 1996
  • Location: Seattle, Washington
Best Soft Flask
Platypus PlatyPreserve
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