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The 8 Best Travel Water Bottles of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

An often overlooked item that can improve your trip

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A water bottle is an essential travel item, but finding the best one—in other words, one that doesn't leak and isn't heavy or fragile—can be challenging. We researched the best water bottles on the market and came up with a list of 26 to put to the test in our New York City testing lab. Travel editors tested the bottles for portability, insulation, durability, drinkability, and overall value by filling up the water bottles, dropping them onto the lab's concrete floor, and taking temperature readings. We then averaged scores for each category to give you the best travel water bottles for any trip or situation.

Final Verdict

Other travel water bottles we tested, product selection, how we tested.

• What to Look For

What Trust TripSavvy

Best overall, takeya actives water bottle.

• Drinkability 5 /5
• Portability 4 /5
• Insulation 5 /5
• Durability 5 /5

Actives Spout lid has perfect water flow

Extra lid loop offers another carrying option

Passed the durability test with no damages

Superior insulation

Not completely leakproof

Our testers liked a lot about the Takeya Actives Spout Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle, particularly its drinkability, durability, insulation, and overall value. The superb drinkability ratings start with the bottle's Actives Spout lid, which maximizes water flow without the likelihood of spilling it all over your face a la other brands' wide-mouth bottles. "This is really a perfect cap," one tester said of the lid. "Just the right size so that you can get as much water as you want without spilling and can get a perfect flow of water from it."

The bottle held up well in the shake and durability tests but surprisingly had some leaks after walking around with it in a bag. It was also slightly heavier than some of the other bottles we tested. But where this bottle also stood out compared to others was its insulation. Our original temperature reading put the water temperature at about 55 degrees. At three hours, the temperature dropped to 47.5 degrees thanks to the ice in the bottle. And by six hours, the temperature had only risen to about 50 degrees.

Testers also enjoyed some unique features of this bottle, like the removable rubber anti-skid coaster at its base, the hinge-lock, which keeps the cap out of your way while drinking, and its style. "This is a great water bottle for everyday use," a tester concluded. "But because of the smaller cap and ease of drinking while being in motion, plus its durability, I also think it would be good for someone who is very active."

Material: 18/8 food-grade stainless steel | BPA-free: Yes | Sizes: 18, 22, 24, 32, 40, and 64 ounces

TripSavvy / Conor Ralph

Best Overall, Runner-Up

Thermoflask bottle with chug lid and straw lid.

• Portability 4.5 /5
• Insulation 4 /5
• Durability 4.5 /5

Includes two different lids

Cup holder compatible

Overall excellent value

A few dents from the drop test

The coolest thing about this water bottle? It comes with two lids—a chug lid and a straw lid. Both lids are leakproof—clutch for travel—and both passed the drop tests without cracking. We also liked that it was one of the few water bottles to fit in all cup holders and that it has a carrying handle, though we'd like to see that handle have the ability to fold down.

The vacuum insulation claims to keep liquids cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12. After six hours, the temperature of the ice water we put in the bottle only increased from about 51 degrees to just under 55 degrees. The only real drawback we saw with this bottle was the bottle itself did dent when we dropped it. But the straw didn't open, and no leaks started.

Material: 18/8 food-grade stainless steel | BPA-free: Yes | Sizes: 24 ounces

Best Budget

Mira water bottle.

• Drinkability 4 /5
• Portability 3.5 /5
• Durability 3.5 /5

Good mouth opening

Testers rated the seal and drinkability highly

Water stayed decently cold

Heavy and no extra features

Didn't hold up well in drop tests

If you lose water bottles frequently, a budget bottle might be a wise choice. Our testers liked MIRA's insulated stainless steel water bottle best of the budget-friendly options we tested. The MIRA bottle has a good grip and a cap that stayed intact during the drop tests, and it's a good carrying size. It also did an excellent job of keeping water cold, only increasing from 54.5 degrees to just over 58 degrees over a span of six hours.

Be careful if you go with the MIRA, as many dents formed during the drop tests. "It's now wobbly and doesn't stand perfectly straight and balanced anymore," one tester noted after the drop tests. Still, if you're looking for a basic bottle that won't hurt to lose, this one is a good value that keeps water cold and is nice to drink from.

Material: 18/8 stainless steel | BPA-free: Yes | Sizes: 17 and 25 ounces

Brita Insulated Filtered Water Bottle

 Amazon

• Drinkability 4.5 /5
• Seal 4.5 /5
• Portability 5 /5
• Durability 4 /5

Excellent insulation, holding temperature for six hours

Filters water

Good for carrying and holding

Lid potentially annoying for certain face shapes

Not the most durable

If you didn't already know, Brita makes water bottles, too. And it turns out the brand makes pretty good ones. Like the typical Brita counter water filter, the hard-sided water bottle includes a filter that reduces chlorine taste and odor. (Note: It's recommended to replace the filter every two months.) Besides the filter, this bottle has all of the typical features included in a quality reusable water bottle, like stainless steel construction and a leakproof lid.

This bottle has a silicone mouthpiece that our testers liked. "The water tasted great and pure," one tester noted. "The button to open the lid is nice and convenient, as is the handle on top." Our testers had one issue with this bottle: It dented fairly easily, and the seal was compromised when it landed on the lid during the drop tests. But, overall, our testers liked this bottle quite a bit.

Material: Stainless steel | BPA-free: Yes | Sizes: 20 and 32 ounces

Best for Hiking

Nalgene 32-ounce wide mouth tritan bottle.

• Insulation 2 /5

Inexpensive

Lid loop offers additional carrying options

Very tough to break or dent

Wide mouth makes for easier spilling

There are a few pieces of gear that are absolute game-changers. The 32-ounce Nalgene Water Bottle is one of those products. Nalgene has been around for decades, but we still remember getting our first Nalgene bottle as a teenager in the early 2000s. Nalgene has manufactured this water bottle for over 50 years, fine-tuning its design so that the water bottle is durable enough to survive in any condition or hiking adventure. This lightweight water bottle features BPA-free Tritan material, which can handle both cold and hot drinks. The opening is large enough for ice cubes to fit inside, which also makes it a breeze to wash by hand. You'll be able to track your water intake easily when you're on the go using the measurement markers displayed on the side, and the loop-attached lid guarantees you'll never lose it.

Material: Tritan renew copolyester | BPA-free: Yes | Sizes: 32 ounces

Best for Portability

Hydro flask standard mouth water bottle.

Hydro Flask

• Insulation 3.5 /5

Carrying loop boosts ease of use

Fits everywhere

Grippy outer material

Not great durability

Temperature holding could be better

Bend, Oregon-based Hydro Flask has elbowed its way into the competitive insulated water bottle market by making high-quality and functional tumblers and bottles. We've always been Nalgene fans because of the brand's lightweight, rugged, and inexpensive bottles. But Hydro Flask has grown on us over the past decade for its functionality. The Standard Mouth Flex Cap bottle has quickly become one of our favorites in the Hydro Flask line.

Our testers also liked the Standard Mouth Flex Cap bottle for many reasons, including its textured finish for boosted grip, its superior seal that didn't allow any leaking, and the actual flex cap, which has a loop that pivots and moves with you as you walk. "The size of the bottle fits perfectly into a backpack holder and fits securely in there without feeling top heavy, so it'll fall out. It also fits well into a car cup holder," a tester reported.

Two downsides dropped the overall scoring of this bottle. The temperature increased almost 8 degrees over six hours (although it stayed remarkably stable for three hours). And it dented easily. "A couple more falls could have likely broken the bottom rim and made the bottle unusable," a tester noted. "The lid and cap, however, stayed intact."

Material: 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel | BPA-free: Yes | Sizes: 18, 21, and 24 ounces

Best Splurge

Yeti stainless steel bottle.

Narrow mouthpiece helps prevent spills

Holds temperature well

Very strong and durable

A bit heavy

When we see a YETI product, we know two things are likely to be true about it. First, it's going to be expensive. Second, it's going to be excellent quality. The Rambler bottle isn't that much more costly than others on this list. But it is of top-shelf quality, and if you don't tend to lose water bottles, it is definitely worth the higher price.

"A delight to drink from," one tester succinctly described the Rambler. "The mouth opening was a great size, and the water tasted terrific and cold."

The Rambler comes with a chug cap, and if you get a smaller size (it comes in five sizes, up to 64 ounces), it's likely to fit easily into a backpack pocket or car cup holder. The temperature only increased by about 2 degrees over six hours. And, because it's YETI, there were basically no dents or scuffs during the drop tests. Like the Hydro Flask, the YETI Rambler has edged its way into our water bottle rotation with our Nalgene, and we're good with it.

Material: 18/8 kitchen-grade stainless steel | BPA-free: Yes | Sizes: 18, 26, 36, 46, and 64 ounces

Best Thermos

Healthy human vacuum insulated double walled thermos.

Excellent drinkability

Cap stayed intact during drop tests

Excellent insulation

Sustained some denting

There's a lot to like about the Healthy Human Water Bottle. For one, it was one of our top performers in the temperature test, dropping almost a full degree over six hours. Our testers also enjoyed the size of the lid for drinking as water poured out easily but not too quickly. It was also super comfortable for our testers to hold. Like others on this list, it did dent somewhat easily during the drop tests, but the cap was not damaged and only suffered minor scuffs.

Material: 18/8 stainless steel | BPA-free: Yes | Sizes: 16, 21, 32, and 40 ounces

Our thorough testing revealed the Takeya Actives Insulated Water Bottle to be the best overall. In terms of price, insulation, and durability, this bottle takes the cake. The ThermoFlask 24 Oz. Bottle came in a close second, impressing our testers with its top-notch leak protection and drinkability.

We tested 26 bottles for this roundup. Other bottles we tested not included above in our list were as follows:

CamelBak Eddy+ : We like the size of this bottle and feel it is ideal for active pursuits, but it did not hold up well during our durability or seal tests, and the bite-and-suck straw isn't the most comfortable to use.

CamelBak Podium Bike Water Bottle : This bottle is durable, seals well, and is lightweight. It is also difficult to squeeze to get the water out and would not suit anyone with hand weakness.

Purist Mover Vacuum Water Bottle : The Purist Mover is easy to grip and does not leak while in pristine condition. Our tester deducted points on durability because it began to leak after being dropped twice and noted that anyone with nails would have difficulty opening the thumb slot.

Kleen Kanteen Classic Water Bottle : Our tester found this bottle easy to drink from, and the textured exterior easy to grip. Though it is not expensive, the durability test demonstrated that even a modest drop would make this bottle unusable.

Kleen Kanteen TKWide : We liked drinking from this bottle and didn't have any issues with leaking, but it became uncomfortably heavy when filled, especially considering the handle is made of a sturdy metal without rubber.

S'well Stainless Steel Water Bottle : Our testers liked the shape of this bottle and the fact that it easily fits in a cup holder. It's not as durable as we'd like, and after being dented a few times, it wouldn't stand up straight.

Platypus DuoLock SoftBottle : Malleable yet durable, this soft bottle performed reasonably well and didn't leak. However, after only three hours, the water had reached room temperature, and the cap was somewhat cumbersome when drinking.

Que The Collapsible Bottle : The unique design of the Que bottle played well with our testers. The main drawbacks they found were it had very little insulating capability and that the rubber material tended to pick up dust and hair.

W&P Porter Glass Water Bottle : This pick has a good-sized mouth opening and keeps the water inside tasting pure due to its glass construction. This also means it is more fragile than bottles made of other materials.

Iron Flask Sports Water Bottle : Multiple lids provide a comfortable drinking experience, and the seal was not perfect but solid. We took points away after the drop test, which resulted in several dents and damaged the cap to the point of causing leakage.

E-Senior Collapsible Water Bottle : Easy to stow with a good seal, this bottle survived the durability test beautifully. Unfortunately, we found it awkward to drink from and grip while full.

MoChic Flat Water Bottle : In terms of drinkability, seal, and durability, this is a great option. The main drawback was that its unique shape (kind of a flask/water bottle hybrid) is not easy to fit into standard cup holders or backpacks.

We selected products based on internet research and the expertise of travel writers, editors, and our lab testing team. Internet research included examining what other prominent media sites have featured and highest-rated products on sites like Amazon and REI. Individual expertise came from the experience of TripSavvy's editors and writers and the water bottles we've used over the years.

Once we selected an initial list of products, we narrowed it down to the 26 tested above based on price points, intended uses, features, and styles. We wanted to provide a diverse list of products to fit as many different types of consumers, travelers, and outdoor-focused individuals as possible.

We tested water bottles for drinkability, seal, portability, insulation, durability, and value. Each bottle was rated on a five-point scale for each category. We averaged each score to create an overall score for each bottle.

First, we filled each bottle with ice a quarter of the way. Then we filled the rest with cold water from the water machine in our testing lab. An initial temperature reading was taken. Testers took temperature readings three and six hours after the initial reading. For drinkability, testers took drinks from the bottles while standing still and walking, noting any spills or splashes.

We tested the seal by shaking the bottles, holding them upside down for one minute, tossing them in backpacks, and carrying them around for five minutes. Testers rated portability based on the bottles' grip, carrying handles, and how well they fit in cup holders and backpack carrying pockets.

Drop tests tested durability. Testers dropped the filled bottles three times on the lids and three times on the main body and rated the bottles based on the damage. Lastly, testers rated value based on how the bottles performed across all tests.

What to Look For in a Travel Water Bottle

These days, insulated bottles' standard water material is 18/8 stainless steel. Be on the hunt for that material if you're looking for a quality bottle. Other brands, like Nalgene, feature a proprietary Tritan plastic material. Most importantly, be sure the bottle you pick is BPA-free.

Like the 18/8 stainless steel construction, most quality bottles will claim up to 24 hours of keeping liquids cold. This claim will vary based on many factors, like how cold the liquid is initially when it's placed in the bottle and how warm or cold it is when you use it. Vacuum and double vacuum insulations are the best types of insulation these days, so look for that when purchasing a water bottle if insulation matters to you.

Style of Lid and Cap

While materials and insulations are mostly the same in reusable water bottles, lid and cap styles can vary. Do you prefer a wide-mouth lid? Standard-mouth? Do you like a straw? A smaller lid? Those are all personal preferences to consider when picking a water bottle.

Extra Features

Some water bottles have bonus features like filters, purifiers, or fruit infusers. If that interests you, be on the lookout for those additional items. Just know that with those extra items likely comes increased costs.

This is less of an issue if you're only putting water in your water bottle. You can either hand wash your bottle or throw it in the dishwasher if it's dishwasher-safe. All water bottles come with cleaning instructions. But, if you're like us and put electrolytes or other liquids in your water bottle, cleaning can get a bit more involved. This might require additional scrubbing with warm or hot water and typical dish soap. Pro tip: If mold starts to form, fill your bottle a quarter of the way with ice and add coarse salt. Shake it hard until whatever is growing on the sides of your bottle is removed. We have noticed the traditional Nalgene material is more likely to grow mold than new Nalgene materials and the 18/8 stainless steel.

Another rule is to give your bottle a good scrubbing before using it for the first time.

Any reusable water bottle! The only potential issue is forgetting there's water in it when you go through the security line. Reusable water bottles are excellent for travel as they are better for the planet and help you avoid overpaying for a water bottle after going through the TSA security checkpoint .

We love bottles that have some sort of carrying loop on the lid. It's easier to carry in your hands or attach to a backpack or other luggage with a carabiner. Most carry-on backpacks and other luggage items also have water bottle-specific pockets. If those options don't work, putting the bottle in your carry-on bag will work.

Nathan Allen is TripSavvy's Outdoor Gear Editor. Friends and family have made fun of him for the amount of liquids he keeps on hand. Nathan uses collapsible water bottles daily while trail running, biking water bottles often while cycling or mountain biking, and keeps them nearby for rehydration while working between his many outdoor pursuits. His current rotation of water bottles includes Nalgene's 48-ounce wide-mouth bottle, YETI's Rambler, and Hydro Flask's Standard-Mouth Bottle.

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13 Best Travel Toiletry Bottles: Editor Tested, Leakproof, & Reusable

By Meaghan Kenny

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Beauty and skincare products like shampoo, moisturizer, and face wash are essential on every packing list , whether you're heading to a hotel or are staying with friends or family. Since buying miniature versions of your favorite products can be expensive—and typically means purchasing a whole lot of single-use plastics—having practical and reliable toiletry travel bottles you can pull out for every trip is a must.

To make sure the reusable bottles we're throwing in our Dopp kit are easy to use and don't leak, we tested out a variety of affordable travel sets to see which ones actually get the job done. Below, you'll find 13 of the best travel toiletry bottles that will protect the contents of your luggage—and all of the creams, soaps, and serums you've shelled out for—and keep you organized on the go. Even better, all of these picks are TSA-friendly in size, so you don't have to worry about any of your favorite products being thrown out at the airport. As an added bonus, many of these travel bottles are available on Amazon Prime, so you can get your hands on them quickly before a last-minute getaway.

How we tested

I scoured the internet to find the most popular travel toiletry bottles—searching a variety of retailers, reading hundreds of reviews, and considering online ratings. After my initial research, I put many reusable toiletry bottles to the test, trying out dozens of options that range in price, size, and design. I've had some of these toiletry bottles for over a year and they've accompanied me on a mix of weeklong vacations in checked luggage and short weekend trips in tightly-packed duffel bags .

Over the last several months, I tested another batch of options: I've filled them with a variety of skincare, hair care, and body products—thick body wash, contact solution, and leave-in conditioner included. I've even left these filled containers upside down overnight to see if there were any unexpected leaks. My findings: There are many great options on the market to choose from and you don't need to break the bank to find the perfect set for you. Below, the best travel toiletry bottles to pack wherever you're headed next .

Our top picks

• Best overall: Tocelffe 18-Pack travel bottles
• Best for easy packing: Cadence The Capsule Flex System
• Best for in-shower products: LiquiSnugs silicone travel bottles
• Best for perfume: Vonovo mini refillable perfume bottles
• Best for contact solution: Cauyuan portable contact lens case

Browse reusable bottles for:

Hair and body wash, cleansers and serums, contact lens care, a variety of products.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

No matter how organized I try to stay, my bathroom counter at every hotel always becomes cluttered with my many toiletries and hair products . The LiquiSnugs look like your classic silicone travel bottles, but they feature a clever suction cup on the back that allows you to stick them onto any shower wall—freeing up limited counter space. These are great for in-shower products like shampoo, conditioner, and body wash. This set of four bottles features two 3-ounce bottles and two 2-ounce bottles, so you can choose how much product you need depending on the length of your trip. Another smart design feature: Twist the top to adjust the label name so you won't forget what's inside. I've had these for about a year now and I consistently reach for these to pack shampoo and conditioner.

Pros : The unique suction cup design makes them great for shower products.

Cons : These occasionally will fall off shower walls if there's not a little bit of water to keep them in place.

This Amazon bestseller is versatile enough for every type of traveler. The 18-pack from Tocelffe features four silicone bottles of varying size (two 3-ounce bottles and two 2-ounce bottles), four small jars for creams and serums, two spray bottles, two spatulas, a funnel, labels, and a cleaning brush. These all come in a waterproof toiletry bag that you can reuse to carry makeup or tech essentials. In this set, I find myself mostly reaching for the ultra-soft silicone bottles, which are great for products like body wash, face cleanser, and micellar water. Each of these bottles feature three-layer leak-proof tops so you don't have to worry about spills in your bag. Something I love about these bottles is how they can be bent and squeezed easily to get every last bit of product out of them.

Pros: Very affordable, comes in a clear toiletry case, and the bottles' wide opening makes it easy to refill. Cons: The small plastic jars are not as reliable as the silicone bottles in this set.

If you're just looking for a few affordable no-frills travel bottles, these are for you. Available in a variety of colors, the silicone bottles do just what they say they will. They're leakproof, come in a set of four, and are easy to refill and clean. While there’s no bells and whistles, these three-ounce bottles pleasantly surprised me with just how much product they fit compared to some of the other classic silicone bottles we tested, making them an ideal option for a longer vacation. Plus, these have an average of 4.5 stars on Amazon with over 11,000 global reviews.

Pros: Versatility; available in many colorways

Cons : This set doesn't come with labels or a proper toiletry case.

Another solid choice for travelers is this set of four 3-ounce silicone travel bottles. These are squeezable, leakproof, and versatile enough to use for everything from shower products and soaps to sauces and baby food. These reusable bottles are all the same size and each a different color so you can differentiate them. Bonus: This set comes in a transparent toiletry case to keep them all organized in.

Pros : This set is available in a dozen colorways; wide opening makes them easy to refill without needing a funnel. Cons : This set doesn't come with labels.

If you prefer to bring along a bar of soap instead of using what's provided at the hotel, this compact soap box is a great travel companion. Inside, there's a soap mat that absorbs any excess water and prevents the soap from becoming mushy. I've used other plastic soap cases before without a mat and it always leaves a mess. This one features a silicone band that wraps tightly around the box for extra protection, and is about the size of a deck of cards.

Pros : Fits most commonly used soap brands, affordable, and features a simple-to-use design.

Cons : The soap box needs the band to stay secure so be careful not to lose it.

I've been a fan of Cadence's capsules for a few years now. These leakproof, airtight, and watertight magnetic capsules are unlike any other travel bottles I've used and are a true game changer when it comes to packing your own beauty products. The individual capsules magnetically snap together to take up as little space as possible in your Dopp kit and are designed without any right angles or edges, so you get every last bit of product available.

The original .56-ounce individual capsules are great for weekend trips and storing small items like daily vitamins and safety pins. The Capsule Flex System allows you to customize your own bundle with your choice of small , medium , and large sizes, as well as The Extender —an add-on that allows you to increase the size of the bottle when you need more room. This makes it so easy to customize your travel routine, whether you want to pack extra product for longer trips or bring enough body wash for you and your travel buddy. With The Flex System, you can still choose your own label for each capsule (the labels are interchangeable), as well as the color and number of capsules in your bundle.

Pros : It's easy to get every last drop of product inside each capsule and they are so easy to rinse out and reuse. The custom labels can be swapped out depending on what you're packing.

Cons : These are the most expensive option on our list.

I was eager to test out the Ries travel bottles after hearing a lot of buzz about the product and seeing them make their way into retailers like Sephora and Goop. These are a more elevated, aesthetically pleasing take on the classic reusable travel bottles you may have used in the past. Ries prioritized sustainability and design with these essentials: Each bottle is made from recycled plastic and features a large opening at the top, which makes it easy to refill and clean (not to mention, they're dishwasher safe). Travelers can purchases these bottles individually (a 3.4-ounce bottle or a 1.7-ounce bottle) or in a set with both sizes . My favorite thing about these bottles is the airless pump—I feel so glamorous while doing my nighttime skincare routine with these, and it makes it easier to use products like face wash or cleanser on the road. The bottles are pre-labeled (shampoo, conditioner, body, face) and you can twist the top to the side to conceal the opening, so product won't spill out.

Pros : Sustainably made; if you prefer a pump, these are for you.

Cons : On the pricier side; the bottles are a bit bulky and take up a little more room in my makeup bag than most travel-size products I use.

Finally, a solution to my contact lens woes. I can't count the number of times I've stopped into a drugstore to buy a mini bottle of contact lens solution before heading out on a trip, or to pick up rewetting drops because I'm dealing with dry contacts while away from home. This compact case makes cleaning and caring for contacts on the go much easier—it comes with an easy-to-fill reusable dropper that gives me a long weekend's worth of solution, a contact case, and has a mirror to help get them in and out. (I don't like to fly in contacts, so this is particularly handy if I forget to switch to my glasses before leaving home.) It weighs next to nothing, and will fit in all but my smallest handbags, so I've been keeping it on me regularly, not just when traveling. — Madison Flager, senior commerce editor

Pros : It comes with a tiny pair of tweezers to make removing contacts from the case less messy. Cons : The contact solution holder isn't large enough for weeklong trips.

I admit I've also been guilty of buying mini versions of my favorite contact solution. As much as I love reusable toiletry bottles for my skincare and hair products, I've never had anything that felt right for the consistency of my contact solution. I wear daily lenses, meaning I don't need a whole lot of solution with me when I travel, so it is a little frustrating to carry around a bottle that takes up precious space in my Dopp kit. Lately, I've been carrying about the Cauyuan eye glass case which comes with a super small dropper for contact solution. This refillable dropper holds just enough contact solution for weekend trips and shorter vacations and takes up such little space (I've even found myself tossing it in my handbag in case my eyes get a little dry.) This durable case keeps all of my eye care essentials together and protected, with a separate compartment for eye glasses, and another that holds the dropper, tweezers, a contact case, and a mirror.

Pros : All of my eyewear essentials are now in once place and stay organized; the dropper is small enough to fit in a tiny purse. Cons : The compartment for your eye glasses is on the small size—if you have thick or bulky frames, they might not fit.

I've never found a reusable spray bottle for my perfume that I've liked, so I've always relied on buying miniature versions of each of my favorite fragrances. But let's be real—those travel-size perfume bottles are expensive! They're often made of glass, too, making them vulnerable to breaking in your luggage. Enter the Vonovo mini refillable perfume bottles: Each of these holds 0.2 ounces of your favorite scent, more than enough for a long vacation. This set comes with five spray bottles, so you can bring along any of your favorites—or all of them. And they are so easy to use—simply pull off the top of your full-size perfume, press the bottom of the mini bottle on top of it, and keep clicking until its refilled. Each of the bottles have a clear vial inside so you can see how much product you have left. My favorite part: These are so tiny—think the size of a lipstick— meaning I can even bring them with me on a date night when I'm only carrying a small purse .

Pros : Easy to refill and compact enough to fit in even the tiniest of travel bags Cons : These spray bottles wont match the look of your full-size perfume and don't have labels, so you'll have to remember based on the color of the mini bottle you choose. Also, these can be refilled with the same perfume, but I wouldn't recommend reusing them with another scent.

For those with a more rigid skincare or haircare routine, this 16-pack lets you bring along every last product you want—and it all fits into one reusable case. The set comes with four silicone bottles, four jars, two spray bottles, two scoopers, a funnel, and a cleaning brush. The variety means you can pack everything from soap and shampoo to serums and sprays in here, and the cleaning brush makes the bottles easy to clean and re-use. I like this set best for packing my more expensive skincare serums and creams in the small jars that have a scooper to use.

Pros : A variety of types of containers

Cons : The toiletry case the bottles come in isn't the best quality.

The Kitsch Ultimate travel set includes leakproof holders that are compact and lightweight enough to pack in a purse or tote bag . In addition to three flat pouches, this set also comes with two pump bottles, two mini jars, one mini funnel, one mini spatula, and one mini pipette. This set is best for a longer trip—say, a European vacation or a cross-country road trip —as you can store a lot more shampoo, conditioner, and lotions in the pouches without going over any TSA limits (plus, they'll get lighter as you use them).

Pros : The flat pouches are easy to pack and take up less room in a Dopp kit than bulkier bottles.

Cons : The pouches are a little bit harder to refill than bottles with a wide opening.

If you're packing toiletries for your entire family , this 21-pack of travel bottles has you covered. This package comes with four silicone bottles, four cream jars, four toothbrush covers, two spray bottles, two pump bottles, two trowels, a funnel, and labels to keep everything straight. Whether it's a trip to Disney World or multi-generational cruise , this set makes packing for the whole family easy.

Pros : These come with toothbrush covers–a nice travel accessory that none of the other options on our list offers.

Cons : Not ideal for weekend trips or light packers.

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Best TSA-Approved Travel Bottles

These brightly colored bottles come in sets of four and hold 3.4oz of liquid, making it perfect for any travelers.

Reviewers love this bottle for its reliability, leak-proof, and easy-to-clean design. Great for laundry detergent, shampoo, face wash, and more.

Not compatible with all liquids, such as eye makeup remover or mouthwash. Only comes with bottles of the same size and does not include spray bottles.

This comprehensive kit is ideal for travelers with several different types of products.

This kit includes leak-proof bottles in a variety of colors and sizes, making it great for many liquids. Included is a carrying case for the bottles, cleaning tools, scoopers, and spray bottles. Scoopers and cleaning tools make it easy to fill and reuse, and prevent products from being wasted.

Some reported that the bag’s zipper broke after a few uses.

This set of six bottles is perfect to hold liquid for your backpacking or road trip.

These bottles are perfect for holding both food and toiletries. Each has a flip top cap, making dispensing liquid easy. Buyers commented that the bottles are sturdy and easy to fill.

A few reported that the caps become lose in bags. Some who brought these on airplanes reported leakage. It is best used for other forms of transit.

All-inclusive TSA kit with matching zippered case with great container assortment.

Convenient kit that includes a rare spray bottle and soap dispenser head. Easy to fill each container with help from included funnel. Spatula for cream jars has good-sized head to scoop out product. Zippered case has a better shape and design for easy opening.

Made of plastic and not silicone, and some reports of damage spray nozzle and leaky bottles.

Well-reinforced flexible walls and unique labeling system. Quality construction with leak-proof features and easy filling.

Bottles feature turn-dial labeling system that displays content label upon twisting. Comes with two 3-oz. bottles and one 2-oz. bottle. Suction cups make it easy to use in hotel bathrooms and frees up counter and shower space. Food-grade, BPA-free silicone.

Rare instances of leakage have been reported.

We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that's designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter, to bring you these selections.

Table of Contents

Buying guide for best tsa-approved travel bottles.

When you find the perfect skin care, hair care, or beauty product, it becomes a part of your daily routine. When you’re traveling, there’s no need to interrupt your personal care regimen. TSA-approved travel bottles let you bring your favorite products aboard the plane without worrying whether they’re the right size to meet federal regulations.

TSA-approved travel bottles are designed to be 3.4 ounces or smaller, which is the maximum amount for liquids allowed in carry-on luggage in the United States. Made of durable plastic or silicone, these squeezable bottles are equipped with squirt caps to easily dispense your shampoo, body wash, or moisturizer. There’s no need to worry about confusing your products either, as most TSA-approved travel bottles come with a labeling system. Best of all, when you travel with TSA-approved travel bottles in your carry-on, you’ll still have everything you need in the event that your checked baggage gets lost.

Key considerations

Tsa requirements.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has strict requirements when it comes to air travel with liquids, gels, and aerosols in your carry-on luggage . Liquids are limited to 3.4 ounces or 100 milliliters in your carry-on, and larger bottles are confiscated when passing through security. TSA-approved travel bottles are 3.4 ounces or smaller, so you can always enjoy hassle-free travel. Additionally, liquids should be packed in a transparent, quart-sized bag with a closure that can be easily accessed if necessary. This expedites the screening process. Most TSA-approved travel bottle sets come with a regulation bag.

The maximum capacity for any TSA-approved travel bottle is 3.4 ounces, though you can find a variety of bottles with smaller capacities, too. Two-ounce bottles are common, and there are some 1.5-ounce bottles. Cream jars are also popular in TSA-approved travel bottle sets, and these generally hold between two and three ounces.

Travel bottle sets

TSA-approved travel bottles are usually sold in sets. All sets include bottles that are ideal for liquids and lotions, including shampoo , conditioner , body wash, and moisturizer . Many sets also include cream jars and spray bottles. Cream jars are perfect for thicker lotions and body butters that are easier to get out of a jar than a squeeze bottle. Jars are also good for holding scrubs, hair gel, and other products that you use only in small amounts. Spray bottles are ideal for hair spray or makeup setting spray.

While the most basic sets include just two to four bottles, other sets also include cream jars, silicone face scrubbers, toothbrush covers, and small spatulas. Spatulas can be used to scrape out the last product from a bottle or to dispense product from a cream jar without using your fingers. Most sets come with a clear zip case that is also TSA-approved.

Many TSA-approved travel bottle sets are made of flexible silicone with plastic caps. There are also some sets that are completely plastic. Silicone bottles are popular due to their puncture-resistant, multi-walled construction. However, some ingredients are incompatible with silicone, including alcohol, salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, and silicone itself. If your products contain these ingredients, use plastic travel bottles and jars instead. Some TSA-approved travel bottles are also BPA-free and food-grade, which means they’re safe enough to hold edible items like salad dressings or condiments.

Convenience features

TSA-approved travel bottles generally have additional convenience features, many of which are geared toward saving space. Some bottles have loops or holes so that they can be hung in a shower or from a towel rack. Others have strong suction cups that can be affixed to a shower or mirror to free up counter space.

There are also different labeling systems to help you identify the bottles. These labeling systems can be as simple as a sticker set or as sophisticated as a turn dial that displays the names of common products. Some travel bottles have large mouths for easy filling or come with a funnel to make filling up the bottles easy.

TSA-approved travel bottles come in dozens of colors, though not every set features a variety of colors. Some sets are clear, some are all the same color, and others feature a different color for each container. There are also travel bottle sets that include caps in different colors for identifying your products.

TSA-approved travel bottle prices

Sets of TSA-approved travel bottles cost between $10 and $20 . At the low end, between $10 and $12 , are bottle-only sets with regular squeeze caps.

Mid-range travel bottles cost between $13 and $15 , and these sets include multiple bottles as well as additional accessories like cream jars and toothbrush covers. They come in clear zip bags.

For $15 to $20 , you’ll find TSA-approved travel bottle sets with reinforced leak-proof walls and higher-quality carrying cases. These sets are often BPA-free, and some are food-grade as well.

Consider which products you’ll actually use. When you’re packing, stick to the essentials. If you’re only going to use a facial scrub or mask once, consider leaving it at home to lighten your load.

Keep gel in a jar instead of a bottle. Hair gel is thick and sticky, and you could have trouble getting it out of a bottle. Add a couple of spoonfuls to a cream jar in your TSA-approved travel set, and it will be much easier to use. The jar will also be easier to clean.

Leave the body wash at home. Most hotels include bar soap or body wash in the room. If you’re not married to your body wash, free up that container to use for something else.

Think of everyday uses. TSA-approved travel bottles are the perfect size for keeping liquids in your purse, briefcase , or gym bag .

Get a set for kids’ overnight visits. If your children are staying with their grandparents or friends overnight, TSA-approved travel bottles are the perfect size for their favorite shampoo and body wash.

• Check the seals before packing. Once you’ve filled and closed your bottles and containers, double-check that each one is tightly sealed to avoid leaks.

Q. What if I need more product than what will fit in a TSA-approved travel bottle?

A. If you’ll be traveling for an extended time or need a lot of one product, fill up two or more containers from your set. To avoid any confusion or accidental product waste, be sure to label the containers when you fill them.

Q. What should I do with product that’s left over in a TSA-approved travel bottle after my trip?

A. If you travel often, just save it for an upcoming journey. If not, simply use up what’s left in the travel bottle before moving on to your full-size products. You could also use a small spatula to scrape out any last bits of product, which will also make cleaning the bottle easier.

Q. The labels on my TSA-approved travel bottles have worn off. What’s the best way to label the containers?

A. You could use a permanent marker, though that’s not ideal if you plan to change the contents with every use. Another option is to use a label maker to print out a label that will hold up to water from the shower and sink. Some of these labels peel off quite easily, or you can simply place a new label over the old one if you want to change the bottle’s contents.

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The 11 Best Water Bottles, According to Frequent Travelers

With features ranging from built-in filtration to enviable good looks, these reusable water bottles make it easy to ditch single-use plastic water bottles and stay hydrated when you’re on the go..

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The LifeStraw Go Series may look like a basic plastic bottle, but the “straw” inside is a two-stage filter that traps bacteria, parasites, and even microplastics.

Courtesy of EcoVessel, Amazon, and Hydro Flask

No matter where we travel, we never leave home without a reusable water bottle. After extensive, hands-on testing on a wide variety of bottles on the market, we’ve reviewed and found the 11 best for just about any water-related travel need. From time-tested favorites to ones with new technological advances that keep beverages colder longer, these are the best travel water bottles to pack on your next trip.

The Hydro Flask standard mouth is large enough to fit ice cubes, but narrow enough that spills aren’t a concern.

Courtesy of Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask 21 Oz. Standard Mouth Water Bottle

Best overall.

• Buy now: $35, hydroflask.com
• Capacity: 21 ounces
• Weight: 0.75 pounds
• Pros: Keeps drinks cold for hours and lots of fun color options
• Cons: Prone to denting if you tend to drop things often

Bend, Oregon–based Hydro Flask has long been a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts because the brand’s bottles boast excellent insulation, feature a comfortable, flexible plastic swing handle, a seriously leakproof lid, and come in a variety of sizes and bright colors. Its newest colors are inspired by Oregon’s waterfalls (Cascade blue), flora (Trillium pink), and old growth forests (Fir green).

And Hydro Flask’s double-wall insulation will keep your drinks temperature-stabilized for a full day’s hike—24 hours for ice-cold beverages and up to 12 hours for hot ones.

The 21-ounce standard mouth bottle fits plenty of water, while also being lightweight enough to tote around all day. The standard mouth is easy to sip from without drenching yourself if you hit a bump in a car or turbulence on an airplane. For longer, more active days, we’d also recommend the 32-ounce wide-mouth bottle with a straw lid option.

And Hydro Flask’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond giving consumers an option to replace single-use plastic bottles. Through its Parks For All program, Hydro Flask has donated more than $3.7 million to nonprofit organizations supporting public parks in the United States. Plus, it has eliminated single-use plastic packaging in more than 90 percent of its products.

The Yeti Rambler will keep your drink cold for days.

Courtesy of Yeti

Yeti Rambler 36 Oz. Water Bottle

Best insulated water bottle.

• Buy now: $50, yeti.com
• Capacity: 36 ounces
• Weight: 1.5 pounds
• Pros: Durable and keeps drinks cold for days
• Cons: So big it doesn’t fit in cupholders and can be heavy

The 36-ounce Yeti Rambler looks impressively beefy: Its very appearance promises to preserve your drink’s original temperature no matter what—and the Rambler makes good. Want to go backpacking for a few days and find an ice-studded bottle of lemonade when you return to your car? This is your vessel. We’ve successfully transported ice cream in this bottle (after chilling it with cold water). As with many well-insulated bottles on the market, the Rambler is made with double-walled, food-grade stainless steel. But it’s tougher and hardier than most: You can drop this bottle from a first-floor balcony and find it undented from the fall. And unlike most double-walled bottles, which require hand washing, the Rambler is dishwasher safe.

The extra-wide opening is both a pro and a con: It means the lip won’t collide with your nose, but it does allow for a possible tsunami of drink should you sip in bumpy conditions. Wider (3.8 inches) and heavier (1.5 pounds) than most comparable bottles, the body is too big for most cars’ cupholders. But the simple screw-top lid is particularly comfortable to hold, in part because it accommodates three fingers, instead of one or two as other bottles do, and the rounded plastic doesn’t dig into your skin when the bottle is heavy with water.

If you love the look of Yetis but don’t love how heavy they are, the brand’s Yonder 34-ounce BPA-free plastic bottle weighs less than half of what the Rambler does (just 0.7 pounds). Since it’s not insulated, it won’t keep your water cold long, but it’s sturdy enough to support the weight of an adult woman without even bending. (Yes, we’ve tested this.)

The streamlined EcoVessel Aspen fits in most cupholders.

Courtesy of EcoVessel

EcoVessel Aspen

Best stylish insulated water bottle.

• Buy now: $35, amazon.com
• Capacity: 25 ounces
• Weight: 1.56 pounds
• Pros: A sleek design that also keeps drinks cold (or hot) for hours
• Cons: Despite its streamlined looks, it’s one of the heaviest bottles on this list

The 25-ounce Aspen manages to pack impressive water-cooling properties into a streamlined shape. It slides easily into cupholders and the holsters on most totes and backpacks . But this bottle’s comparatively thin walls keep drinks cool (or hot, as you prefer) for an astonishingly long time: EcoVessel claims cold water and drinks will stay cold for 100 hours, making the EcoVessel Aspen one of the best water bottles for hot climates. We haven’t fully tested that boast but can confirm that this bottle kept water icy for a full day, even in roastingly hot weather.

Though it still features an easy-to-sip-from opening, the updated version of the Aspen bottle released in 2022 features a wider mouth so it’s easier to fit ice cubes now. Once inside, they last a long time, thanks to a three-layer construction that sandwiches copper between two layers of stainless steel. The new version also comes with a hidden handle that pops up from the lid when you need it and folds down when you don’t. It’s recyclable but also durable (with a 100-year warranty!), so you’re not likely to deal with this bottle’s end-of-life issues. Losing it is more likely—leaving some lucky finder to enjoy its sleek good looks.

The flat design of memobottles lets them slip into bags—or airplane seatback pockets—where bulky round bottles can’t.

Courtesy of Amazon

A5 memobottle

Best flat water bottle.

• Buy now: $39, amazon.com
• Weight: 0.37 pounds
• Pros: Space-saving and sleek design
• Cons: Doesn’t stand up easily on its own

Melbourne-based memobottle pulls design inspiration for its flat water bottles from Australian paper sizes including the A7 (six ounces), A6 (12 ounces), and A5 (25 ounces). Like paper, these bottles lie flat inside your bag or in an airplane seatback pocket. Tiana Attride, AFAR’s social media editor, is a fan of this design for practical and aesthetic reasons. “They’re stylish and fit into bags much more easily than the big, clunky water bottles you usually see,” she says.

All memobottle sizes are available in a lightweight BPA-free plastic or a sturdier stainless steel design. For travelers who tend to down a lot of water, opt for the 25-ounce plastic A5 to maximize your hydration without carrying a lot of weight. A certified B Corp, memobottle donates five months of safe drinking water access for every bottle sold via a partnership with Water.org. So far, it’s provided 33.8 million days of safe water.

If you plan on drinking more than just water, the TKWide has interchangeable lids for a variety of drinks.

Courtesy of Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen TKWide

Best water bottle with interchangeable lids.

• Buy now: $33, kleankanteen.com
• Capacity: 16 ounces
• Weight: 0.86 pounds
• Pros: Insulated and offers five different interchangeable lids
• Cons: Stainless steel can hold on to flavors, so it can be hard to switch between coffee and water without lingering odors.

Sure, you can fill this 16-ounce bottle with water, and we do. But its five interchangeable lids make the TKWide bottle from Klean Kanteen ready for anything. We like the Café Cap , which features a small opening perfect for sipping coffee that twists closed, saving you and your bag from spills. It also has a metal swing handle that makes it easy to tote along on hikes but snaps to the side when you don’t need it. The TKWide Straw Cap comes with a 10-millimeter, stainless steel–and-silicone straw that accommodates thicker beverages, like smoothies or frozen margaritas.

The BPA-free, food-grade stainless steel bottle is insulated, keeping contents hot for up to 14 hours or iced up to 47 hours. It’s also treated with Klean Kanteen’s proprietary, chip-resistant Klean Coat finish and backed the brand’s lifetime “Strong as Steel” guarantee.

In addition to being a B Corp, Klean Kanteen announced in April 2020 that it is 100 percent carbon neutral in its manufacturing and delivery of products as well as Climate Neutral Certified .

The Vapur Anti-Bottle is a space-saving option for those who travel light.

Vapur 0.7L Wide Mouth Anti-Bottle

Best collapsible water bottle.

• Buy now: $10, amazon.com
• Capacity: 23 ounces
• Weight: 0.125 pounds
• Pros: This collapsible bottle is dishwasher safe, ultra-lightweight, and the most affordable option on this list.
• Cons: Can be clumsy to drink out of

The Vapur Anti-Bottle is one of the best travel water bottles for planes and an efficiency expert’s dream . When full, the water pouch holds nearly a liter of liquid, but empty, it weighs a mere 2 ounces and occupies about as much space as a wallet. The cap has a built-in carabiner for latch-and-go ease, and the body’s three-ply, BPA-free plastic is pliable enough to fold up into the clip. But don’t let the flexibility fool you—this pouch is durable enough to resist leaks, regardless of how many times it’s been rolled, twisted, or shoved in a full backpack. The Anti-Bottle can also stand on its own when full (or half full, or anything but empty, really).

Refills are a breeze with a hard plastic wide mouth at the cap’s base, and a much narrower mouthpiece protected by a flip top makes for spill-free sipping. Active adventurers will appreciate the Drinklink tube accessory that converts the Anti-Bottle into a hands-free hydration reservoir. This collapsible bottle alternative is dishwasher safe, so there’s no need to buy a special cleaning tool for the interior. It’s also freezable, meaning it can serve as an ice pack if necessary.

The LifeStraw Go Series includes a liter size of the BPA-free plastic bottle as well as an insulated stainless steel version.

Courtesy of LifeStraw

LifeStraw Go Series 22 Oz. Water Filter Bottle

Best filtered water bottle.

• Buy now: $45, rei.com
• Capacity: 22 ounces
• Weight: 0.54 pounds
• Pros: This filter bottle is made with BPA-free plastic and is dishwasher safe (once filter is removed)
• Cons: The filter can be hard to drink from, and it displaces liquid, so the bottle holds only 15 ounces of water at a time.

The 22-ounce LifeStraw Go Series is one of the best water bottles with a filter. It looks like a basic plastic bottle with screw-top lid, but the “straw” inside is a two-stage filter. Its hollow-fiber membrane traps bacteria, parasites, and even microplastics. Then, an activated carbon capsule neutralizes unpleasant flavors and odors. (There’s also an insulated stainless steel version of this bottle, if you want to keep your water chilled.)

Yes, you have to suck a bit harder on this mouthpiece than you would from an unfiltered straw. But you’ll hardly grow faint: The hollow-fiber technology delivers a speedier flow than most other filters.

Replacement cartridges cost $25, and since one filter treats 4,000 liters, that’s generally less than the cost of buying a similar amount of bottled water. The large, bottle-length filter also displaces a significant amount of liquid, so the 22-ounce capacity is misleading. With the filter inside, the Go holds more like 15 ounces.

The trade-off is convenience. The Go is super handy for city and country travel—especially in places where the drinking water isn’t always trustworthy. It fits tidily into bottle pockets on backpacks and in cars’ cupholders, and the BPA-free plastic is thicker and tougher than most: LifeStraw builds each bottle for a long life of service. Promoting reusable plastics is just one part of the company’s sustainability program: LifeStraw also provides clean drinking water to needy communities. With each Go purchase, the company provides one child with a year’s worth of water.

The silicone BeFree bottle from Katadyn is a collapsible filter bottle.

Courtesy of Katadyn

Katadyn BeFree

Best lightweight filtered water bottle.

• Capacity: 33.8 ounces
• Weight: 0.14 pounds
• Pros: This filter bottle takes up barely any space and weighs just over two ounces, making it great for backcountry adventures.
• Cons: The filter isn’t made with carbon, so it doesn’t remove funky flavors, plus the bottle can be clumsy to hold.

When empty, this collapsible water bottle packs down to the size of an apple, yet it delivers huge benefits: Its drinking spout sits on top of a (replaceable) filter that effectively traps protozoa and other disease-causing organisms. That means you can fill the silicone flask from any suspicious source and immediately enjoy clean water wherever you are. The hollow-fiber filter delivers a pleasingly fast flow that’s genuinely thirst-quenching during exercise. Whereas some filters (including the LifeStraw, above) limit the flow to smaller sips, the BeFree releases a big, mouth-filling gulp—which we appreciated on 14,000-foot Colorado peaks where exertion and altitude left us too breathless to work hard for small returns on water.

We’ve used the one-liter BeFree to drink from roadside streams, backcountry lakes, hillside springs, and airport bathrooms—and can report no resulting ill effects. And you can count on a cartridge to last for several trips: Each one filters 1,000 liters (says Katadyn) and replacements cost $27 .

But the BeFree doesn’t filter out funky flavors. It’s designed to be ultra-light and compact, so there’s no carbon element to neutralize foul tastes or smells. The bottle’s squishy design has advantages (packability) and disadvantages (it can be clumsy to hold). Instead, the filter-as-you-sip system is perfect for trail running, backcountry trekking, long-haul flights (no need to trust the airplane’s grimy water tank!), and any trip where you’ll need plenty of water but don’t want to be burdened by surplus water weight.

This high-tech water bottle is self-cleaning.

Courtesy of Larq

Larq Bottle PureVis

Best self-purifying water bottle.

• Buy now: $99, livelarq.com
• Capacity: 17 ounces
• Weight: 0.84 pounds
• Pros: This self-purifying bottle also offers double-wall vacuum insulation and is one of the most stylish ones out there.
• Cons: Expensive

The 17-ounce Larq Bottle is expensive, but your money buys you a lot—including a germ-free water bottle. It’s not always easy to remember to wash your water bottle while traveling, but the Larq does it for you. The bottle’s cap is fitted with an ultraviolet light that disrupts the DNA in bacteria and viruses, rendering them unable to reproduce (which is how they cause diseases). And not only does the UV light kill waterborne microorganisms, but it also does so regularly, by automatically firing the UV beam every two hours to kill germs that may have been introduced from your mouth or a questionable water source. Unlike UV pens, the Larq doesn’t use mercury, which causes environmental problems when it’s tossed into landfills. Plus, the Larq’s UV bulb has more stamina, lasting 40 times longer than mercury-based technology (according to Larq).

The bottle also uses a rechargeable lithium polymer battery that lasts one month on a single charge. Pressing the top of the cap activates the light: Tap once for normal purification, or twice for “adventure mode,” which is useful when you suspect your water may be loaded with harmful microorganisms.

Even if you never refill it with untreated water, the Larq is an attractive bottle that uses double-walled stainless steel construction to keep beverages cold for 24 hours or hot for 12. And if it also self-cleans between proper washes? That’s priceless.

The Purist Collective Maker looks like a stainless steel bottle but is actually lined with glass.

Courtesy of Purist Collective

Purist Collective Maker Mug

Best glass water bottle.

• Buy now: $38, rei.com
• Capacity: 10 ounces
• Weight: 0.58 pounds
• Pros: This lightweight glass water bottle looks and insulates like a stainless steel one
• Cons: This bottle is not dishwasher safe

Glass bottles are great at repelling flavors and odors, which makes them particularly versatile: You can switch among coffee, water, and wine without any whiff of the previous beverage infiltrating the next. And unlike some plastics and metals, glass doesn’t leach chemicals into your drink. But glass is heavy. Most glass water bottles (like the silicone-wrapped ones made by Lifefactory ) might be great for home but feel too burdensome for travel.

Purist Collective solves this problem by lining its high-quality, surgical-grade stainless steel bottles with an ultra-thin layer of nonporous glass. We filled the 10-ounce Maker with coffee and cream in the morning, then refilled it with water—and discerned no java aftertaste. The glass veneer is so thin that the Purist weighs just over half a pound. That’s no more than other double-walled metal bottles, so it’s easy to tote around all day.

The 10-ounce Maker comes with a leakproof scope top that rotates to let you adjust the flow and sip from anywhere around the top. The larger 18-ounce Mover and the 32-ounce Founder come with basic screw-top caps with carrying loops. Additional caps can be purchased, including a flip-top one for more active adventures.

Even better than the clean, modernist design is the give-back program: Purist Collective contributes financially to a network of social and environmental nonprofits, like Oregon’s p:ear , which assists homeless youth through art education and job training. So this good-looking bottle does good, too.

The Thermos Funtainer opens with a push of a button for easy drinking.

Courtesy of Thermos

Thermos 16 Oz. Funtainer Water Bottle

Best water bottle for all ages.

• Buy now: $20, thermos.com
• Weight: 0.6 pounds
• Pros: Push-button lid allows for one-handed drinking
• Cons: Not designed for hot liquids

This vacuum-insulated stainless steel water bottle keeps drinks cold for up to 12 hours and is durable enough to withstand any matter of drops or dings. Though it’s technically part of Thermos’ Funtainer kids collection , it doesn’t mean adults can’t use this water bottle, too. In fact, AFAR’s executive editor Billie Cohen says she carries one around all the time. “It’s small, but that’s enough for city walks or just my usual day-to-day. Those big bottles get heavy, so a small one is a nice change,” she says.

Beyond its fun-size packaging, Cohen says she likes that the bottle opens with a push of a button so you only need one hand to drink. “And a must for me is that the spout is totally covered so that it stays clean when I inevitably drop it on the airplane floor,” Cohen says.

This article originally appeared online in 2018; it was updated on March 28, 2024, to reflect current information.

Best travel bottles 2022. The ultimate guide to the top 10 travel containers for liquids

While there are stricter or more permissive airlines, now all carriers must follow the international safety rules for liquids. We reviewed the best travel-size bottles to make it easy for you to pick the best for your needs. When we travel, we always prefer to have our favorite hair product or face cream.

At the same time, we want to protect the clothes and other travel accessories in our suitcase. This is why it’s important that our 100ml travel bottles don’t leak and are strong enough to bear a long trip.

Leakproof, TSA-approved and BPA-free are only some of the necessary features our top travel size bottles feature, making it a great travel gift idea and a must-have whether you are packing for a family trip . Refer to our detailed guide to the best travel size containers and organize a smooth and carefree trip. To help you easily navigate and compare our best travel bottles buying guide, we have created a comparison table below.

Table of Contents

Dot&Dot leak-proof travel bottles

Dot&Dot leak-proof travel containers are the best travel bottles with clear toiletry bag packaging. These leakproof travel containers are available in 3oz, 2oz and 1.25-ounce bottle sets. They are also TSA-approved. This means you wouldn’t have any problem taking them in your carry-on bag along with your travel luggage scale and other staff.

With three leakproof walls on the lid, Dot&Dot travel containers are the best travel-size bottles for toiletries to protect your personal items from leaks and spills. These bottles are made of FDA-approved 100% BPA-free food-grade silicone to ensure they are food safe.

Our 3-oz travel bottles are also easy to clean and refill thanks to their large openings. These leak-proof travel containers are squeezable/soft, reliable and strong. They are available in many colors and sizes. In order to easily identify the contents of your toiletry containers, each travel squeeze bottle has a pre-printed ID label (shampoo, conditioner, soap, sunscreen, lotion). Overall these are some of the best travel containers for liquids boasting hundreds of high-rated consumer reviews.

Valourgo silicone travel containers

With a clear bag and 3.3 oz TSA-approved travel bottle size, Valourgo are refillable travel bottles for toiletries. Many consider this the best travel bottle package. It consists of four bottles of different colors, a lanyard and a clear bag. Each one of these TSA-approved travel bottles is 5.5″ tall and 2″ wide and has a 3.3oz/98ml capacity.

These clear travel bottles are designed with a hole in one end so that you can hang the bottle on the showerhead or around your neck.

As far as the materials go, the Valourgo leak-proof toiletries travel size bottles are 100% BPA-free. This is why you can store eatable oils in these food-grade silicone bottles. The lanyard dries quickly and makes these refillable shampoo and conditioner containers easy to carry and store.

Another reason why they are the best travel containers for liquids is the soft silicone that allows you to squeeze the very last drop of content. Valourgo leakproof travel bottles also have rotatable labels to allow the user to read what is inside the travel bottle.

A few other features that make these 100ml travel bottles some of the best travel containers for toiletries are the oz numbers embossed on the bottle, triple sealing cap, wide mouth for easy filling, suction cup and no-drip valve. Valourgo leak-proof silicone travel containers are also Amazon’s Choice because they are high-rated by consumers. Bottom line is that these toiletry containers are high-quality and some of the best leak-proof travel bottles that you can find on the market.

Chica and Jo travel-size containers

On the third place in the best travel bottles review, the Chica and Jo 2oz clear empty travel size containers. The package includes a set of 6 TSA-compliant containers and a convenient clear zip-top bag. There is also a pipette included for extracting liquids with these refillable travel bottles.

In terms of material, the Chica and Jo travel containers are BPA-free and FDA approved. Therefore, in these travel-size plastic bottles, you can store your essential oils as well as cosmetic products.

These TSA-approved containers are made in the US and they are flexible so you can easily squeeze. With the cap on, the Chica and Jo travel shampoo bottles are 4″ tall and 1.4″ wide. They are compact and leak-proof which makes them the best travel tubes for liquids for traveling.

This package of travel shampoo containers is also Amazon’s Choice because of consumer top-rated reviews. If you are looking for US-made travel containers, these 2 oz travel bottles are the best refillable shampoo bottles to consider.

LiquiSnugs Leak Proof – Silicone Travel Bottles

LiquiSnugs travel bottle set is one of the best travel containers with 98% consumer 5-star ratings. These toiletry bottles come in white clear color. This makes it easy for the user to see the product inside the bottles. LiquiSnugs package is a set of three travel-size toiletry bottles and a clear toiletry bag. They are 2 three oz travel containers and one 2 oz container. so you won’t have a problem taking them inside the plane with you.

LiquiSnugs silicone travel containers are BPA-free, TSA approved and FDA certified. You can safely store your travel toiletries in them. These travel toiletry bottles feature a triple sealing cap, easily refillable wide mouth, ID window, and suction cup. LiquiSnugs travel liquid bottles are also soft and squeezable and don’t have a drip valve.

They are food-grade silicone bottles with an anti-leak cap to prevent leaks, spills and accidental drops which makes them some of the best leak-proof travel bottles. On these refillable shampoo and conditioner bottles, the capacity is displayed so you won’t be going through any hassle in the airport. These travel-size shampoo bottles are reusable, good quality and definitely some of the best travel bottles for toiletries.

AMMAX TSA-approved toiletries containers

In this in-depth review of the best travel containers for liquids, the AMMAX squeezable travel cosmetic bottles occupy a place for multiple reasons. This package consists of four travel containers for toiletries, each of them of a size of 3 fl. oz perfect for shampoo, cream, or liquids like a face toner or eye makeup remover.

AMMAX TSA-approved travel bottles are 100% guaranteed leak-proof and BPA-free which makes them rank among the best travel containers for liquids. We recommend these top-rated silicone travel bottles due to their variety, quantity and leak-proof quality.

Oursunshine travel bottles

Next in the list of the best travel size containers are the semi-popular Oursunshine travel bottles. The package contains a 4 travel bottle kit in grey and clear colours and two travel jars for creams.

Two of the silicone travel tubes are 5″ tall and 1.3″ wide 3 oz travel bottles. The other two travel-size toiletries containers are 4.1″ tall and 1.3″ wide 2 oz travel containers. The travel jars for cream are 1.1″ tall and 1.3″ wide 10 g travel lotion containers.

Oursunshine travel-size toiletries are in Amazon’s Choice category, which indicates their quality and why they are some of the best travel bottles for toiletries.

These TSA travel bottles are BPA-free and food safe. They don’t have toxin materials and you can use these leak-proof bottles to carry your essential oils, ketchup, salad dressing etc.

Oursunshine leak-proof travel size lotion bottles have triple sealings and cross valves to make sure nothing spills out from the containers inside your luggage. With the wide mouth, these travel lotion containers are easy to refill and wash. This silicone travel bottles package is one of the best travel accessories to carry with you.

Dolovemk luxury travel bottles

In the best travel bottles review, a place is for the luxury travel bottles by Dolovemk. Without a doubt, they are some of the best travel size bottles on the market. These luxury travel bottles for toiletries are TSA approved so you can take them with you on board without any hassle.

The package contains six bottles for essential oils, perfume, serums, fragrance, cream, liquid, cosmetics etc. A zip-top clear toiletry bag is also included with these golden color, luxury travel-size spray bottles. You can easily disassemble these glass travel containers to clean or refill them.

They are also leak-proof and the travel size spray bottles feature a rubber ring all around the head to make sure they don’t leak. As far as the materials of these metallic refillable travel makeup containers go, they are tasteless, safe, durable and also reusable. While they are a few dollars more expensive compared to other bottle travel size products, they have good features and are definitely some of the best travel containers for liquids.

Beveetio travel containers

Beveetio travel shampoo and conditioner bottles are TSA approved. Each of these travel containers comes in different colors and leakproof caps to ensure there is no leakage. To make sure your bottles don’t leak, only fill the plastic travel bottles with 90% of the capacity. This way, you’ll allow room for expansion during the transportation on the airplane.

Beveetio silicon clear plastic travel bottles are flexible so you can squeeze to get every drop of the liquid out. There are five pre-labeled ID windows and also three blank labels for you to easily identify contents in plastic travel containers.

Beveetio package includes 14 leakproof travel containers, all of them lightweight and easy to carry. The package consists of 5 silicone travel bottles of 2.9oz each, 5 containers for creams, 1 spray bottle the size of 2oz, 1 pump bottle of 2oz and 1 clear bag that makes it perfect for air travel.

You can use Beveetio refillable lotion tubes to carry shampoo, conditioner, sunscreen, lotions and body wash. Squeeze and release to get exactly how much you want without globs of excess oozing out. There is also a suction cup on the back of these top travel containers.

Gemice refillable travel bottles for toiletries

Another best travel accessory in Amazon’s Choice Category is the TSA-approved liquid containers by Gemice. This package has 4 3-oz spill-proof travel containers and a transparent quart-sized toiletry bag. These silicon 3.3 oz travel bottles are BPA-free and squeezable. Each travel cream container has a specific color and pre-printed label. You can also change the label if you want a different text on these refillable toiletry bottles.

Another good feature of these empty travel containers is that they are 100% money-back guarantee. So, if you don’t like these top travel lotion bottles, you can always send them back.

The Gemice small plastic bottles for travel are suitable for hair serums, oils, alcohols, salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc. There is also the capacity embossed on the bottles in case you need to show them at the airport check-in. With hundreds of 5-star ratings, these are some of the best travel jars for creams.

humangear Gotoob+ Silicone Travel Bottle With Locking Cap

Last but not least in the best travel container for liquids review is another package of 3.4 oz bottles for air travel by Humangear Gotoob+. The difference between these travel storage containers and the travel squeeze tube mentioned before is in the design. While both of the mini travel containers packages feature the same quality and materials, they vary in colour and shape.

These travel bottles are with a hole on one end of the container so you can carry them using the lanyard. The package of these travel-size bottles for airplanes includes 4x 3.3oz bottles. These silicone shampoo bottles have the same clear color on the bottle but different colors on the lids.

These empty plastic bottles for travel by Humangear Gotoob+ come in a clear travel toiletry bag which is carry-on approved. These best travel containers for toiletries are made in BPA-free and FDA food-safe silicone and feature a lock to hang on a wall through a hook. Not happy? They come with a lifetime warranty!

Things to know and reasons to use travel containers

To comply with TSA rules

The TSA has specific rules in place and if you don’t comply they will confiscate your pricey cosmetic and oils.

Mini travel bottles occupy less space

A toiletry bottle set takes less space in your bag compared to shampoo or other liquid bottles.

They are leak-proof liquid containers

Unlike other liquid bottles, there is very little chance that the travel size makeup containers leak. All our best travel containers for shampoo, oil and other liquids are leak-proof with multiple sealings in the cap/lid.

TSA’s liquid requirements?

The TSA currently allows liquids in containers 3.4 oz or smaller. Here is what TSA says : “You can bring a quart-sized bag of liquids, gels, aerosols, creams, and pastes in your carry-on bag and through the checkpoint. These are limited to travel-sized containers that are 3.4 ounces (100 milliliters) or less per item.” Note: If you don’t want your liquid/makeup or oil to get confiscated, make sure they are in containers smaller than 3.4oz.

What is PET material?

It’s the food-grade material used in the major bottled water brands. So, if you see the term PET within the best travel bottle reviews, it means it’s safe to store food in those leak-proof travel containers. However, some of these squeezy travel bottles are not designed for food storage. You can use them only as a travel cosmetic container.

What does BPA-free travel bottles mean?

BPA, the short form of BisPhenol A is an industrial chemical that has been used to make certain plastics since the 1960s. According to some research, BPA can seep into food or beverages from containers that are made with it. Exposure to BPA is a concern because of possible health effects. That’s why we picked the BPA-free best travel containers for liquids.

Things to look for in the best travel bottles

• Wide mouth opening for easy refilling and cleaning of the travel bottle set.
• Multiple layers of sealings result in the best leak-proof travel containers.
• While most of TSA approved travel containers have the capacity written on the bottle, some travel liquid containers may not have it. Therefore, it’s better to check and make sure your travel bottles have the capacity number embossed on the bottle.
• Physical dimensions of the travel bottles are important. 5-inch tall is normal for the largest travel containers. Compact and small travel containers for cosmetics take less space.
• It’s easier to see the product in clear travel containers.
• The number of travel bottles and lid/cap options (spray cap and flip cap). Some of the refillable cosmetic bottle packages have multiple bottle sizes and options. You can use one bottle as a travel perfume container while the others for shampoo, lotion, oil etc.
• There are flexible silicone travel bottles, hard plastic travel bottle size for airlines, and glass pump bottles for shampoo.
• You can also look for the small liquid containers that have a pipette for extracting liquids, a spatula to spread or lift the products, and the funnel for easy refilling of airport travel size bottles.

Last Word On Travel Size Toiletry Bottles

While these travel bottles cost as little as $10, they can prevent several unwanted scenarios. Using any of the reviewed leak-proof toiletry bottles in this buying guide, you will be complying with TSA’s liquid rules. That means when you get to the TSA line you are not going to be told your bottles are too large. So, you won’t have to spend extra money to get them shipped or go to the airline counter for your check-in luggage or even worse, throw your favorite shampoo, sunscreen, or expensive essential oils away. Buying the travel-size bottles mentioned above will help you take your liquid on the airplane with peace of mind.

So, you won’t have to spend extra money to get them shipped or go to the airline counter for your check-in luggage or even worse, throw your favorite shampoo, sunscreen, or expensive essential oils away. Buying the travel-size bottles mentioned above will help you take your liquid on the airplane with peace of mind.

They also help you pack efficiently for years to come depending on how often you use them. While using leak-proof travel bottles, it’s also a good idea to keep your liquids in a separate compartment, preferably in your toiletry bag . When using TSA-approved quart-size bags for liquids in the carry-on, make sure they are good quality and leak-proof. Quality bags with a good seal can help to contain any leaks inside your luggage.

I'm Angela Corrias, an Italian journalist, photographer, and travel writer located in the heart of Italy's capital. Welcome to my website, your comprehensive source for your travels and expert guidance for crafting your dream travel experience.

How to Make Palak Paneer, Full Recipe of the Delicious Spinach Indian Curry

The 12 best portable travel blenders in 2022, 2 thoughts on “best travel bottles 2022. the ultimate guide to the top 10 travel containers for liquids”.

Hi, your post says “The Vumos small plastic bottles for travel are suitable for hair serums, oils, alcohols, salicylic acid, hydrogen peroxide, etc.: but the link to amazon is to a silicon set that specifically says the apposite. Do they have plastic and silicone? I need them for hair gel and creme, so important to know since I have had leaks in the past. Thanks!

They are leak-proof silicone, as we mention at the beginning of the review. We then call it plastic because silicone is a hybrid between a synthetic rubber and a synthetic plastic polymer so it’s often considered a plastic.

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The 13 Best Water Bottles of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Stay hydrated wherever you go with these durable and insulated water bottles.

In This Article

Jump to a Section

• Our top picks

Our Testing Process

• Others We Liked
• Tips for Buying
• Why Trust T+L

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Travel + Leisure / Janelle Jones

For hiking trips, biking adventures, and commuting to the office, a reusable water bottle is a great way to increase your hydration and cut down on single-use plastics. We tested dozens of popular water bottles to determine the very best based on qualities like durability, portability, and the ability to retain temperatures. 

When picking out a water bottle, it’s important to factor in weight, size, and material so you purchase a container that best fits your needs. To find the best water bottles on the heavily saturated market, we put the most popular and innovative designs through a series of tests in our Lab. After all the jostling, dropping, and critiquing we put them through, the Thermoflask Double Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle is our top pick if you’re looking for a bottle that’s easy to carry around, keeps water cold, and has a leak-proof lid. 

Best Overall

Thermoflask stainless steel water bottle.

• Drinkability 5 /5
• Portability 4.5 /5
• Insulation 4 /5
• Durability 4.5 /5

This stainless steel bottle is easy to carry, keeps water cold for hours, and has a reliable, leak-proof lid that was still in pristine condition after being dropped on the floor three times. 

This high-capacity water bottle is bigger and heavier than others we tested.

The Thermoflask Double Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle is the ideal water bottle for everyday use. Whether you’re going to the gym or running errands, this vacuum-insulated, stainless steel bottle has a comfortable grip with a convenient handle for carrying, and it fits in a standard-sized vehicle cup holder. No need to worry about backpack spills—we were impressed with the strong seal that prevented leaking, even when we vigorously shook the bottle. Depending on your day-to-day needs, you can switch between two lids that come with the Thermoflask: one straw top and one chug cap that remained leak-proof after being dropped lid-down on the ground three times. We thought the chug cap was comfortable to drink from, and it provided a steady flow of water without any chance of spillage while sipping. The straw lid is ideal for exercising or when you’re otherwise busy, thanks to a tiny air pressure hole that allows you to drink continuously with one hand or hands-free. 

If you want a great travel accessory that provides an ample reserve of chilled water all day long, this is your winner. The Thermoflask’s double-wall insulation did an excellent job of keeping water temperature steady over six hours, only warming 3 degrees in that time — making it perfect to keep in your tennis bag on a sunny day on the court. In addition to being perfectly cold, water from the Thermoflask tasted pure and fresh with absolutely none of the metallic or plastic flavor transfer that can come along with some lesser bottles. While we tested the cobalt blue model, there are four other colors to choose from, including white, black, purple, and light blue. The 40-ounce model is ideal when you need a robust supply of hydration, but the Thermoflask is available in 18- to 64-ounce bottles if you have different capacity needs.

The Details: 40 ounces | BPA-free stainless steel | Chug spout or straw

Travel + Leisure / Conor Ralph

Best Overall, Runner-up

Yeti stainless steel bottle.

• Portability 4 /5
• Durability 5 /5

The chug cap is uniquely pleasant to drink out of, and the water bottle sustained no leaks or scratches after we dropped it three times.

The bottle felt heavy to carry and didn’t fit securely in a standard-sized cup holder.

For a durable water bottle built to withstand a rugged lifestyle, the Yeti Rambler 26-ounce Bottle is a solid choice. We found that the water didn’t absorb any metallic taste, and it felt natural to drink out of the narrow chug cap, which was effective at preventing spilling. Drinking from the bottle is easy because of its comfortable mouthpiece. While it barely fits in a standard car cup holder, the bottle slipped into our backpack’s water bottle pocket nicely. This bottle also regulates temperature effectively; the water only rose 2 degrees after six hours. Although the Yeti Rambler felt slightly bulky and heavy, the flaws will be worth it to those who need a durable container that can provide refreshing gulps hours into an outdoor venture . We dropped the bottle three times, and although it didn’t sustain scratches or leaks, there was some minor denting on its body. Still, we think this is a sturdy choice for comfortable drinking in a variety of settings. 

The Details: 26 ounces | 18/8 Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe | Chug spout

Travel + Leisure / Janelle Jones

Best Insulation

Takeya actives water bottle.

• Insulation 5 /5

This water bottle remained dent- and leak-free after being dropped three times, and the ice water’s temperature even got colder after six hours. 

It’s too tall and wide for a standard-sized cup holder, and a few tiny drops leaked when we carried it around.

If you prefer your water ice-cold, don’t go anywhere without the Takeya Actives Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle. It performed the best out of all of the bottles during the temperature testing: The water was actually 5 degrees colder after six hours in the bottle, thanks to melted ice and vacuum insulation. According to Takeya, the bottle will keep hot liquids at the same temperature for 12 hours, and cold liquid frigid for 24 hours. We were also impressed with the lid of the bottle, noting that it’s “just the right size so that you can get as much water as you want without spilling and can get a perfect flow of water from it.” Its 24-ounce capacity means you won't have to buy multiple bottles of water, so it's also a money-saving travel product . Along with the double-walled stainless steel material of the main bottle, the lid is insulated to prevent condensation from building up and lowering the water temperature. When we walked around with the bottle, a few drops did escape, but there was no leaking when we shook it. The size of the bottle was a great fit for a backpack holder, but is too tall to rest securely in a vehicle cup holder. While the bottle might be too big for some car commuters, we think it’s a great everyday companion that will keep your water cold all year long.

The Details: 24 ounces | BPA-free stainless steel | Chug spout

Best Collapsible

Nomader collapsible water bottle.

• Drinkability 4.5 /5
• Portability 5 /5
• Insulation 2 /5
• Durability 4 /5

The silicone bottle rolls into a small pouch and still feels stable to drink from without any plasticky aftertaste.

This bottle is not insulated and won’t keep water cold for long.

Our top pick for the best collapsible water bottle, the Nomader Water Bottle impressed us with its ability to seamlessly roll up into a small pouch and expand into a full-size water bottle that remained leak-proof during heavy shaking. Although the silicone water bottle isn’t insulated, the water tasted normal and didn’t have any plasticky aftertaste. The lid was pleasant to drink from, although the cap does touch your face when you do so. The Nomader felt stable despite being made of squishy silicone; when we dropped the bottle onto its lid, however, the plastic cap cracked a bit. Meanwhile, the body bounced off the floor without leaving any scuffs or damage. Ideal for packing, the Nomader water bottle will keep you hydrated and save space in your bag. 

The Details: 22 ounces | BPA-free silicone | Dishwasher safe | Chug spout

Best with Straw

Brita insulated filtered water bottle.

 Amazon

• Seal 4.5 /5

The lid flips open and clicks shut, providing a durable seal to prevent leaking.

The aluminum base wasn’t as durable as the other bottles we tested.

The Brita Stainless Steel Filter Bottle has a sleek design with eight matte colors to choose from in 20- or 32-ounce sizes. During testing, we loved the pure taste from the internal water-filtering straw. The bottle comes with one filter that will need to be replaced once every two months, per Brita’s instructions. The lid of the cap flips open to reveal a silicone mouthpiece, and while we were skeptical of the texture, it ended up being comfortable to drink from. When we shook the bottle around, not one drop escaped from the mouthpiece, but when we dropped it lid-down, the base dented easily and the seal broke, causing the cap to leak a bit. The bottle fits in a standard backpack and cup holder, and there is a wide handle on the top of the lid that is smooth to hold when you need to carry it. After sitting out for six hours, the ice inside of the bottle melted, and the water temperature decreased by three degrees. The Filter Bottle comes in an array of unique colors, including ruby and jade. If you’re looking for a bottle that will keep your water chilled and filtered, this Brita design is a great option, but we recommend handling it with some care so it won’t dent. 

The Details: 20 and 32 ounces | Stainless steel | Straw

Best Stainless Steel

Hydro flask 24 oz standard mouth bottle.

• Insulation 3.5 /5
• Durability 3.5 /5

The bottle is comfortable to hold with a solid grip, and the wide mouth was pleasant to drink out of.

There were a few dents after dropping the bottle, and the water temperature went up after six hours.

If you’re in search of a no-frills stainless steel water bottle, the Hydro Flask Standard-mouth Flex Cap Bottle is a wise choice. During testing, the bottle performed well and impressed us with a sturdy grip, and the width of the mouth made for a comfortable lip to drink from. We thought the jointed loop handle was easy to hold and allowed the bottle to sway and move around naturally. However, someone with bigger hands might find the loop of the handle to be too small. If that’s the case, the bottle fits perfectly into a backpack water bottle sleeve and a car cup holder. Although the body of the bottle dented when we dropped it, the flaws were only cosmetic, and the functionality remained intact. Over time, the bottle would likely get dented and scratched, but it would stay functional and leak-proof for everyday use. If feel is more important to you than aesthetics, this could be the right bottle for you.

The Details: 18 ounces | 18/8 Pro-grade stainless steel | Dishwasher safe | Canteen lid

Best for Biking

Camelbak podium bike water bottle.

• Drinkability 3 /5

The bottle had a solid grip while being held, and it was unaffected by our durability tests.

The spout needs to be pulled out by hand, and this is not an insulated bottle.

The CamelBak Podium Bike Water Bottle is a lightweight, BPA-free water bottle optimized for cycling. We were impressed with the bottle’s durability, as it had no issues being dropped on the ground several times. It sustained no leaks, cracks, or scratches, which is ideal for mountain or terrain biking where there’s a possibility that your bottle could fall out of a holder at high speeds. The plastic design of the bottle can’t keep water cold, but it has more give to securely fit into a bike’s holder without rattling around like a clunky stainless steel model. When we shook the bottle to test for leaks, it remained secure without any drops coming out of the spout. The spout does require a hand to open, so you may need to stop to drink from it when you’re on a bike. We had to squeeze the bottle to access water, since there is no straw or wide-mouth cap. While this bottle can’t keep water cold for the duration of an extended bike ride, we think its durability and lightweight design make it a reliable piece of gear for your next ride.

The Details: 21 ounces | BPA-free plastic | Chug spout

Best Filtering

Grayl ultrapress filter bottle.

• Insulation 2.5 /5

The non-slip rubber base had a comfortable grip and prevented damage to the plastic body when we dropped it. 

The water temperature increased after six hours.

With a high-grade water filtration system, the Grayl Ultrapress Water Purifier and Filter Bottle is a great asset to have when camping or hiking. The manufacturer claims that the filtration system removes 99.9 percent of viruses, bacteria, and protozoan cysts and filters out dirt and chemicals. We were impressed by the bottle’s durability and comfort while drinking from the vented spout. The hard plastic material is coated with a soft grip cover that was comfortable to hold, and the jointed handle was easy to grasp. Drinking from the spout felt natural, and it closed securely without any leaks occurring during testing. While the price point is higher than most bottles, we think the durability, ease of use, and filtration system are worth it. 

The Details: 16.9 ounces | Polypropylene | Chug spout

Corkcicle Canteen

It's easy to drink from and comes in multiple fun colors and designs.

It dented badly after being dropped.

This chic water bottle is easy to drink from and doesn't leak even when shaken. The bottle isn't too large and has a smooth-but-not-slick exterior that is easy to hold or store in most bags' side pockets. During our insulation tests, this bottle had one of the best performances, keeping water cold even after six hours in our lab (it's advertised with the ability to keep liquids cold for up to 25 hours.) The bottle did, however, dent during our drop test, so it may not be as durable for everyday use as other stainless steel options, but makes for a stylish statement water bottle to bring on low-risk adventures.

The Details: 16 ounces | Stainless steel | Canteen lid

Best Plastic

Yeti yonder water bottle.

• Insulation 3 /5

It's completely leak-proof.

It isn't insulated.

This Yeti bottle is made of 50 percent recycled plastic and BPA-free plastic for a lightweight alternative to heavier stainless steel bottles. The tether cap is easy to use and prevents leaks, even if you toss it into your backpack or carry-on for a full day on the town. It also fits into all standard-sized cupholders and water bottle pockets for easy access. Throughout our tests, the bottle was dropped and thrown around more times than we could count — on grass, tile, and carpet — and it didn't suffer any scratches or scuffs. While this water bottle isn't insulated, the lighter material makes for a sleek option perfect for those who want to minimize bag weight.

The Details: 20, 25, 34, and 50 ounces | Plastic | Dishwasher safe | Canteen lid

Best Filtered

Larq bottle filtered.

It keeps water cold for hours, even in extreme temperatures.

The filters need to be replaced every two months and are $20 each.

To ensure you have access to safe drinking water wherever you go, consider this filtered water bottle by Larq. While the large filter does take up some room in the body of the bottle, it's definitely worth it to make sure you stay hydrated wherever you go. Simply fill your bottle from your nearest water fountain or bathroom faucet and enjoy crisp, clean water every time. During three months of tests, the bottle never leaked, even when brought on planes, trains, buses, and the subway inside bags and clipped to the outside with the built-in carabiner. We even used this bottle in Egypt in the middle of July and it kept the water cold for hours. This is a pricey bottle, but constant access to reliable drinking water (especially when traveling) makes this bottle well-worth the price.

The Details: 17 and 25 ounces | Stainless steel | Straw

Best with Handle

Stanley 40 oz stainless steel h2.0 flowstate quencher tumbler.

It's perfect if you're going on a road trip or driving as it will last you a long time and keep your water pretty cold.

It is not leak proof and water will come out if it turns on its side.

At this point, Stanley Tumblers are synonymous with it-girl-hydration. These large bottles keep water cold for hours, feature a convenient straw, and come in a variety of sizes so you can pick your favorite. Plus, the sturdy and convenient handle is great for travel — whether you're going for a walk or heading to the airport. While the tumbler can get quite heavy, it's the perfect choice for taking to the gym or bringing on your next road trip since it holds plenty of water. We prepared our water with ice before bed and waking up the next day, the water was still cold. The exterior is also shockingly durable and looks brand new even after we've dropped it on the sidewalk several times

The Details: 14, 20, 30, 40 and 64 ounces | Stainless Steel | Dishwasher safe | Straw

Best for Hiking

Wondery fifty states bucket list water bottle.

The stickers are well-designed and a fun motivator to head to new destinations.

Be sure to store your unused stickers in a safe space as replacement stickers cost extra.

This water bottle is such a fun idea, you'll want to buy one for yourself and your favorite hiking buddy. The Wonder Outdoors Bucket List Bottles come in the Fifty States design, The Original Parks of the USA , Euro Trip , and more. Each bottle comes with several sticker sheets, so as you travel to new destinations, you can peel off the sticker and add it to the outside of your bottle. Perfect for new travelers, youngsters, and bucket list adventurers, this bottle is even dish washer safe (although hand washing will help the stickers last longer.)

We love that the bottle comes with a sturdy handle that you can use for holding or as an attachment piece for the outside of your pack. It's also a great size for hiking, at 32-ounces, it provides plenty of water for shorter hikes, but doesn't add too much weight to your set-up.

The Details: 32 ounces | Stainless steel | Dishwasher safe | Straw

We tested dozens of popular water bottles in our New York City lab and in the real world to find out which ones have the best drinkability, durability, portability, insulation, and leak-proof levels.

We first filled up their water bottles one-quarter of the way full of ice, and the remaining space was filled with cold water from a machine. We then measured and recorded the water temperatures. Then, we each took sips from our bottles while standing, walking, and sitting, to evaluate how comfortable each one was to drink from, whether there was any spilling, and how easy or difficult it was to take big gulps. To test the seals, we shook the closed bottles, hold them upside down for one minute, and then place them in a backpack and walk around for five minutes. The bags and bottles were carefully inspected to see whether any drops had escaped.

Our portability tests included having the testers grip each bottle as well as carry it with any included handles to judge the weight and how natural it felt to hold. We placed each water bottle in a standard-size car cup holder and a backpack water bottle pocket to see how convenient it would be to transport them in these common ways. 

Next, we assessed durability by dropping the bottles onto the ground from the height of a table. The bottles were dropped three times so that they landed on their bodies and three times with the lid facing the hard floor. That allowed us to see how easily the bottles got dented or scratched and whether the lids broke and rendered the bottles unusable.

Lastly, we tested the insulation of each bottle by letting them sit in the sun for six hours, taking the temperature again halfway through the wait period and then one final time after the full six hours.

Other Water Bottles We Liked

There were some water bottles that almost made our list, but a few weaknesses during testing meant they didn’t make the cut.

Purist Mover : While we thought the bottle was easy to grip and drink out of, it was easily dented during the durability test and even leaked afterwards. The bottle didn’t perform as well as we had hoped, given its somewhat lofty price. 

Kleen Kanteen Insulated TKWide 32-ounce with Chug Cap : Although this bottle was durable and retained temperature well, there was nothing remarkable about it that stood out in comparison to other insulated bottles we tested. 

Tips for Buying a Water Bottle

Consider the material’s durability and insulation.

The material of a water bottle affects its durability, ability to retain water temperature, and weight. We found that insulated stainless steel bottles were the most effective in keeping the water temperature cold after six hours. While stainless steel is generally durable, you can expect a few cosmetic flaws after prolonged use, like dents or scratches. Although plastic water bottles won’t keep your water cold over time, they are ideal for someone who is looking for a lightweight, travel-friendly bottle—especially the folding bottles that are perfect for saving space. Since glass bottles have the potential to break or shatter, we recommend being mindful of the activities you would use them for. 

Certain types of lids and spouts suit different activities 

There are several common types of lids for water bottles, including straws, screw tops, chug caps, and sports caps. With a straw lid, there will be an external straw spout that flips up on the cap and attaches to the internal straw. A screw-top lid untwists to allow you to drink out of a wide-mouth water bottle and can often come with a handle on it for easy carrying. Ideal for a gym workout or other high-intensity activities, a chug cap has a wider spout designed for quick gulps. Commonly found in plastic water bottles, a sports cap has a plastic or rubber piece that opens and closes to release water when the bottle is tilted or squeezed. 

BPA stands for Bisphenol A , which is a type of chemical that is commonly used in manufacturing plastic materials used for water bottles and other food containers. While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that the presence of BPA has affected the reproductive systems of laboratory animals, it is unknown what the effects of low BPA exposure are on humans.

A water bottle will generally come with cleaning instructions that will indicate whether it’s dishwasher-safe or not. Not all water bottles are dishwasher-safe, so it’s important to check the manufacturer's instructions before washing the bottle, to avoid ruining its functionality. When a dishwasher isn’t an option, most bottles can be sufficiently cleaned by hand using soap and water. You can also opt for a brush cleaning set to help scrub all the way to the bottom of the bottle as well as the small ridges in and around the lid.

Glass water bottles are usually chemical-free and made from natural materials, but they aren’t always the most practical while traveling due to breakage risk. While often durable, plastic water bottles have the potential to leak bacteria and chemicals into your drinking water. When it comes to clean and safe water bottles that will also withstand long trips, look for those made of durable and toxic-free materials like stainless steel.

Why Trust Travel + Leisure

Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at Travel + Leisure, where she writes and reviews travel products. She has been travel writing since 2018, and product testing since 2021. Anna worked with travel editors and expert product testers to determine the results for the best water bottles, based on a series of tests completed in our New York Lab.

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16 of the Very Best Water Bottles

Always be hydrating..

In this article

• Best overall
• Best lightweight
• Best vacuum insulated
• Best for kids
• Best for hiking
• Best for running
• Best for biking
• Best with straw

My water bottle is attached to my hip. I carry it around the house all day, leave it by my bedside at night, and take it with me pretty much whenever I go on errands, walks, and trips. Before I found my ideal one, though, I cycled through quite a few that ended up unused (too big to be practical for my lifestyle, didn’t keep water cold enough when I was out all day, or made me worried about spilling in my tote). What elevates a water bottle from just an okay water bottle to an excellent one is, first and foremost, whether it does a good job keeping your water cold. Then, I think it’s important that a water bottle be adaptable — that it can conform to your needs throughout the day, or week, whether you want to bring it to work, take it on a hike, or just casually tote it around the house with you.

Fortunately, there is no shortage of options for every type of water drinker: vacuum-sealed mugs for summertime road-trippers, squeezable bottles for runners training for a marathon, and gallon-size vessels for those who hate to refill. To figure out the best water bottles out there, I spoke to more than 20 people across the food, fitness, and sustainability spaces about the bottle they feel most passionate about, from the dentproof Yeti that’s ideal for children to the plastic cycling bottle that tastes “like you’re drinking right out of a glass.” Then, over the course of several months, I got to testing: on sweltering days, long car rides, and commuting around the city, swapping out my Hydro Flask (my personal favorite and our best overall pick) for hours or days at a time to see how they stacked up. And if you’re looking for the best reusable coffee mugs , we’ve got you covered there, too.

What we’re looking for

Most of the bottles on this list come in multiple sizes that hold varying amounts of water. If that’s the case, I’ve given details accordingly. Logically, if you’re going to be toting your water bottle around all day with nowhere to refill it, you’ll want something bigger. If you only plan on using it for a few hours, you should be fine with something smaller.

The type of lid on your reusable water bottle will make a difference in how you experience drinking from it. Some have bigger mouths, some smaller. Some lids fully detach, while others twist off but stay attached. Some flip open and lock shut; others have a “sport” cap from which you can suck out the water. What you choose will depend on what you find comfortable to drink from, as well as what you’ll be doing as you sip, swig, or chug (sitting at a desk, exercising, running errands, driving or whatever else). It’s also worth noting that many of the brands below sell various types of compatible lids beyond what the listed bottle comes with. Again, if that’s the case, I’ve noted so in the description.

Some bottles on this list are insulated stainless steel that keeps your water very cold for long periods of time. But others are plastic, glass, or non -insulated steel, as several of the people I spoke with prefer room-temperature water (or at least don’t mind when the liquid doesn’t stay cold all day).

Best water bottle overall

Volume: Multiple sizes, 18 ounces to 40 ounces | Lid type: Detached screw top | Material: Insulated stainless steel

I’m a Hydro Flask devotee. I’ve owned my 24-ounce bottle for three years now and it’s in as good shape as when I bought it. The stainless-steel insulated interior keeps water cold for hours at a time (though I usually go through it faster than that, I’ve savored it over long car rides and afternoons walking around in the hot sun with no perceptible temperature drop). Mine has a straw lid (which you can purchase from the get-go or separately if you want both options).  It’s a feature that has made me drink far more water than I did before. Because there’s nothing to unscrew unless it needs a refill, I tote it around the house all day and night long, constantly sipping with ease. And the straw clicks securely down so there’s no leaking when I throw it in a tote bag. As for maintenance, I throw both pieces in the dishwasher every couple of weeks and give the straw an extra scrub with a long and narrow brush like this one . Basically, it hits the mark in every way: great temperature retention, a leakproof cap, a durable body, and sleek form.

Several folks I talked to — not to mention many members of Strategist’s own team — love their Hydro Flasks, too. LaToya Tucciarone, founder of SustainAble Home Goods in Atlanta, and her family have been using various models for many years — “five years, maybe ten, I can’t even remember,” she says, “but they’re not degraded at all.”

Bettina Stern and Juan Dromogoole, respectively founder of and director of operations at Chaia in Washington, D.C., are most hyped on Hydro Flask’s insulation ability. “If I’m going on a run, or a bike ride, I will take my Hydro Flask, which fits into my cup holder in my car, and I’ll fill it with cold water,” says Stern. “ And then when I finish, I have something to come back to. It’s just as cold as when I left it.” Journalist and cookbook author Lesley Téllez also swears by the brand, noting that it’s not too heavy to carry around all day.

While we’ve listed our favorite bottles for outdoor activities like hiking and backpacking below, Strategist writer Jeremy Rellosa has used this lightweight Hydro Flask on the trail before and says it’s a good option for someone who prioritizes cold water on the go. “I value weight and volume more, but for those who want the insulation, I’d point them to this,” he says.

Best less expensive water bottle

Volume: 17 ounces each | Lid type: Fliplock lid | Material: Insulated stainless steel

For the same price of the smallest 18-ounce Hydro Flask, ThermoFlask sells this set of two 17-ounce bottles with the same double-wall insulating technology (as well as a notably similar design and name). I put my own Hydro Flask to the side to test it. The flip-up mechanism is similar to my Hydro Flask, but instead of a straw, it reveals a wider opening. Not only do I generally prefer that to the caps you have to fully unscrew to drink from, but I found that sipping was easy and tidy thanks to a U-shaped enclosure around the hole that guided a steady stream of water out of the bottle and into my mouth. I also appreciate the handle, which made the bottle comfortable to carry around on walks when I didn’t bring a bag with me. The size is smaller than my Hydro Flask, which means I didn’t take it with me when I was planning to be out for more than an hour or so, but it’s a bit lighter-weight.

The set was recommended by cookbook author and recipe developer Lukas Volger , who appreciates that they “don’t have tons of tiny crevices in the cap that make them impossible to ever get properly clean,” he says. He also likes that the lid can be opened and closed with one hand, which helps while exercising and in the car. I found the lid convenient, too, even while doing nothing but sitting around.

Best lightweight water bottle

Volume: Multiple sizes, 16 ounces to 48 ounces | Lid type: Attached screw top | Material: Plastic

First popularized by hikers during the environmental movement of the 1970s, Nalgene’s plastic bottles enjoy cult status today among mountain climbers and podcast merch designers alike. This bottle, made from HDPE plastic, is even lighter than the brand’s regular bottles. It weighs a mere 3.75 ounces when empty, whereas classic Tritan plastic Nalgenes come in at 6.25 ounces, which Strategist editor Maxine Builder says “really make a difference when you’re toting around a bottle full of water every day or going hiking or schlepping through the subway.” Recipe developer and cookbook author Jessie Sheehan loves that its massive 32-ounce size “holds a lot of water, which is helpful for those of us obsessed with drinking eight glasses a day,” but that the HDPE construction means it’s “still so lightweight.” And Emily Fiffer, co-owner of Botanica in Los Angeles — who refills hers multiple times a day — says the water never tastes plasticky, the lid doesn’t leak, and “it literally just can’t break” no matter how many times you drop it.

Best vacuum-insulated water bottle

Volume: Multiple sizes, 12 ounces to 20 ounces | Lid type: Fliplock lid | Material: Insulated stainless steel

Zojirushi’s insulated bottle has the build locked in. To start, water stays cold all day long thanks to an insulated steel layer between the inside and outside of the bottle. I took mine on a recent cross-country trip, filled it with ice and water at the airport, and found it in the exact same state by the time I landed and got where I was going. Cookbook author and recipe developer Carla Lalli Music , who swears by hers, had a similar experience on a blazing-hot day at the beach. “It was literally anchored in the sand in full sunlight,” she says. “At the end, there were still cubes inside. You don’t have to keep it in a cooler. It is a cooler.” New York deputy editor Alexis Swerdloff also loves it , calling its stay-cold capabilities “mind-boggling.” (For comparison sake, my Hydro Flask will certainly keep water cold for hours on end but won’t retain solid cubes.)

Music also praises Zojirushi’s vacuum-sealing lid, calling it “the most bustproof cap in the biz.” In my own testing, I found this to be true as well. I even purposely held it fully upside down and jostled it all around with no spilling. The cap clicks closed and you have to press in to release it, so it never accidentally flips open and leaks. And while I overall prefer drinking from a straw, the flow of water out of the open mouthpiece is quite comfortable and controlled.

Best water bottle for kids

Volume: 12 ounces | Lid type: Straw cap | Material: Insulated stainless steel

The best water bottle for kids needs to be able to withstand some rough-and-tumble. Cookbook author Erin Gleeson says that while her three kids have been especially “hard on water bottles” in the past, none of them have yet been able to make a dent in these “tough” bottles from Yeti. Not only is the brand’s thick, steel construction incredibly drop-resistant, but this design also has a handle for little ones to grip, and, at 12 ounces, is slightly smaller and more manageable than your typical adult-sized bottle , which come in five sizes from 18 to 64 ounces. (Gleeson also says the smooth, stainless-steel interior keeps them “not grimy,” and appreciates that both the lid and bottle are dishwasher-safe.)

Best less expensive water bottle for kids

Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio swears by Thermos’ Funtainer, which both of her kids, ages four and seven, have been using for the past year. “They aren’t going to hold ice for 24 hours or anything, but they are insulated, non-sweating, and very solid on keeping water cold for at least a few hours,” she says. They have a silicone handle for comfortable carrying, and a ring around the bottom in the same material to help prevent scratches and nicks. “I’m shocked that they’re not way more dented given how they throw the things around,” she says. And then, there’s the fact that they come in a myriad of fun colors and prints (both licensed, like Pokémon, and generic, like a rainbow design). Trolio isn’t the only one who loves them: In our recent story on what kids are bringing back to school last year, the Funtainer got the most mentions among the preteen set.

Best water bottle for families

Volume: Multiple sizes, 12 ounces to 27 ounces | Lid type: Sport cap | Material: Stainless steel

Klean Kanteen makes bottles in three different sizes — the 18 ounces listed above, a bigger 27 ounces , and a child’s-size 12 ounces — with universal-size lids that can easily be mixed and matched. “My family has about a dozen of them,” says Mei Li, co-owner of Mei Mei in Boston and writer of Food Waste Feast . “They come in lots of colors (important when you have opinionated children) and are super easy to clean. I appreciate that they don’t have tons of fussy little bits that are easy to lose and that the same tops fit all of them so I don’t have to keep track. It allows you to switch in between super easily.” There are also several different styles of lids , so you can buy a handful of them and pick out whichever one you need for whichever bottle you or any other member of your family might want at any given time — say, a sippy cap for a younger child and a loop cap for an older one. Li also notes that the bottles keep water fairly cold for a while, but not all-day ice cold.

Best large water bottle

Volume: One gallon | Lid type: Attached screw top | Material: Plastic

This gallon-size motivational water bottle first came across our radar in 2019, as recommended by Caroline Goldfarb. It became her emotional-support water bottle before that was a thing: “The jug is my best friend, my personal trainer, my mean Persian mom, my fears, my desires, all melted into one BPA-free bottle.”

It was a “day-five pandemic purchase” for content creator and recipe developer Dan Pelosi , who was looking for an easier way to drink a lot of water every day. (The vessel has personal-trainer-style phrases down on the side that encourage you to drink to the next line down every two hours, which Pelosi says kept him “laughing, and peeing, too.”) Years later, he’s as much a fan of the bottle’s design quality as he is of its sense of humor: “It’s so thick and wide that you can’t knock it over,” he says, adding that the spout closes with an “audible click that really works.” Indeed, while you can find variations of this design online, this one has a convenient straw spout that makes it extra easy to drink from. The lid also has a very tight seal. “I would turn it sideways and do dumbbell curls and it was fine — no spilling,” Pelosi says. And Goldfarb thinks there are other benefits to drinking that much water: “When I consistently drink a gallon a day, I find my skin is clearer, my bloat is down, and (perhaps best of all) I don’t feel as gross after a night of drinking booze.”

Best foldable water bottle

Volume: Multiple sizes, 16 ounces to 50 ounces | Lid type: Fliplock lid | Material: Plastic

Another activity-friendly option — even just for running around the city all day, as contributor Caroline Bankoff explains — is the Vapur Element. When empty, the flexible plastic scrunches up , seriously downsizing the footprint it takes up in a carryall (or , yes, your pocket). It has a handy carabiner attached in case you want to carry it with you that way too. “The best thing about the Vapur is that the size adjusts to the amount of water that’s in it, so I can fit it into any bag (or dump out water if I need to make more room),” says Bankoff. It’s also lightweight and dishwasher-safe.

Best water bottle for backpacking

Volume: 22 ounces | Lid type: Straw cap | Material: Plastic

Rellosa has backpacked everywhere from Patagonia to Nepal and swears by his LifeStraw to keep him hydrated. He can fill it from any stream or pond and the filter inside cleans out pollutants. He says it’s also more efficient than gravity filters such as the Berkey below that’s better suited for camping, and it weighs less than large filtration apparatuses. “And though you can pop iodine tablets in your bottle to purify the water, they won’t filter out debris like this will,” he says.

Best water bottle for running

Volume: 12 ounces and 18 ounces | Lid type: Push/pull lid | Material: Insulated plastic

A water bottle for running needs to be comfortable to hold and not too heavy when full. Philip Speer, co-owner and chef of Comedor in Austin, (an avid runner, he’s participated in ultramarathons, and even started a run club with his restaurant colleagues that meets multiple times a week), turns to the ingeniously-designed, insulated Nathan QuickSqueeze to stay hydrated on any runs longer than a 5k. It comes with a “super comfortable” attached strap that secures around your hand — to use it, Speer says you just “lift your hand up to your face, bite down around the top, squeeze it, then put your hand back down.” Helpfully, the strap includes a zip pocket for keys and credit cards, and even an elastic pocket for a smartphone – though you’ll want to size up to the $40 18-ounce edition for any larger devices.

Best water bottle for biking

Volume: 22 ounces | Lid type: Watergate cap | Material: Insulated plastic

If you’re serious about cycling, consider this bottle from Specialized. With lightweight, simple cap options that are all catered toward easy maneuvering, and the right silhouette to click into bicycle cages, they’re specifically designed for drinking while riding. “The Purist bottle, made from insulated plastic like the Nathan above, is widely regarded as the default cycling bottle by most shops,” says Eighth Hour Bike Studio owner Ronnie Garcia, adding that you’ll find customized versions at almost every bike retailer. But Garcia also appreciates the quality of the insulated plastic: “Cheaper bottles will start to deform and end up not fitting so well,” he says. Brooklyn Bicycle Co. president Ryan Zagata notes that the material doesn’t leach out any unpleasant taste, another issue with cheaper plastic models. “It tastes like you’re drinking right out of a glass,” he says.

Best water bottle with straw

Volume: Multiple sizes, 14 ounces to 40 ounces | Lid type: Straw cap | Material: Insulated stainless steel

If you live in a particular part of TikTok, you’ve likely seen this water bottle; it went viral earlier this year. (If you need more proof of its virality, both Nicola Peltz Beckham and former Bachelorette Hannah Brown recommended it to us.) But it’s not just a trend.

Strategist writer Arielle Avila has owned the 40-ounce for many months now and swears she drinks more water than when she used a Nalgene. This is, she says, thanks to the straw. Because there’s nothing to unscrew, she sips from it even when she’s not actively thinking about how she should be hydrating. She also appreciates how the large handle makes it easier to carry around, especially for such a large vessel, and the fact that it keeps water cold all day long. She does warn that it’s big and fairly heavy when full, so she drinks from it mostly at home and at the gym in her building. (The Stanley does have an option to sip from a slightly larger open hole, but Avila rarely uses it because the bottle is a bit heavy to tilt back comfortably, she says.)

And even Mrs. Beckham — who claims she was “never a person who brought water bottles around with me” — says the Stanley has converted her. “My mom sent me one, and I absolutely made fun of her. I was like, ‘I’m never going to bring that thing anywhere with me. That’s so embarrassing.’ Now, I’m that person who can’t go anywhere without it.” Hannah Brown, meanwhile, admits, “it’s such a basic-girl thing, but they’re great and fit in the cup holder. I love being able to hold the handle. What’s not to love? There’s a reason everybody’s obsessed with them.”

Best water bottle with straw and sip lid

Volume: Multiple sizes, 19 ounces to 40 ounces | Lid type: Straw and sip lid | Material: Insulated stainless steel

This past year, it became clear to me that the Owala is the status water bottle — and I think it’s here to stay. Anecdotally, I see it out in the world frequently (at the grocery store, at the gym, on the street). But it’s not just that: 11 Strategist staffers (as well as Lance Bass and Samantha Irby ) are enthusiastic owners and love it for the same reason: There are two options for sipping. One opening allows you to suck water through a straw, while the other reveals a wide-mouth hole with a protruding angled border to help guide a stream of water for gulps. (This is unlike my Hydro Flask, which has a straw lid you have to unscrew completely if you want to reveal the wider opening, and the Stanley, which has a separate straw you have to put in and take out of a designated hole, and is a bit more cumbersome overall.)

Our junior writer Brenley Goertzen bought an Owala in June and, after using around ten other models in the years before, has become a total convert. She uses the straw most of the time because it allows her to sip thoughtlessly — so much so that she says she’s more than tripled her daily fluid intake. But she says she likes the big opening for really chugging after running without having to worry about “accidentally pouring water down my shirt, which happened all the time with my Hydro,” she says. Strategist senior editor Winnie Yang also points out that the sip hole allows her to get the last bit of water out once she reaches the bottom and the straw isn’t able to draw any more out. And Strategist senior editor Jen Trolio says she finds the straw mechanism itself is much more pleasant to drink from than ones that stick out.

The dishwasher-safe bottle’s cold retention is also great: Ice stays solid for a couple of days, Goertzen says. (Bass says the same.) And Trolio notes that when clicked close, the lid is leak-proof even when jostled around in a bag.

Most maximalist stylish water bottle

Volume: 17 ounces | Lid type: Detached screw top | Material: Stainless steel

Lund’s water bottles are distinctive: I love their playful frames and pretty colors. But according to Strategist writer and self-proclaimed “hydrating freak” Ambar Pardilla , the charming look of this bottle doesn’t mean it lacks in practicality: The lid screws on tight and the water stays cold, she assures. She points out the aesthetic is, in a certain way, the opposite of the bulkier Nalgenes and Hydro Flasks. “I loved the design immediately when I saw it,” she says. “It looks like one of those silly little sculptures you’d use to beef up a toddler’s bookcase. And the color combinations are so wacky — they shouldn’t work together, but they somehow do. It makes me happy whenever I drink from it.”

Best minimalist stylish water bottle

Volume: 17 ounces | Lid type: Detached screw top | Material: Glass

On the other end of the spectrum, I find this Japanese-designed Kinto bottle to be satisfyingly understated. It comes recommended by Downtime founder Alishia Ramos, who bought it because of “the design, first and foremost,” she says. “It’s eye-catching even though it’s minimalist.” It’s made from copolyester, a thermoplastic resin that has the appearance of glass, but is much more durable and lightweight. “I really like the way my hands can fit around the profile of the bottle,” says Ramos. “It’s a little skinnier than a lot of others, and I never have to worry about it fitting in a cup holder or my purse.” One more plus? “There’s no obvious branding. It says ‘Kinto’ on the bottom, but you can’t really see it.”

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Our experts

•  Arielle Avila , Strategist writer • Caroline Bankoff, Strategist contributor • Maxine Builder , Strategist editor • Juan Dromgoole, director of operations at Chaia • Emily Fiffer, co-owner of Botanica • Ronnie Garcia, owner of  Eighth Hour Bike Studio •  Erin Gleeson , cookbook author •  Brenley Goertzen , Strategist junior writer •  Carla Lalli Music , cookbook author and recipe developer • Mei Lei, co-owner of Mei Mei and writer of Food Waste Feast •  Beverly Nguyen , stylist •  Ambar Pardilla , Strategist writer •  Dan Pelosi , recipe developer and content creator of GrossyPelosi • Madison Powers, co-founder of LA Hike Club • Alishia Ramos, founder of Downtime •  Jeremy Rellosa , Strategist writer •  Jessie Sheehan , cookbook author and recipe developer • Philip Speer, co-owner and chef of Comedor • Bettina Stern, founder of Chaia •  Alexis Swerdloff , New York deputy editor •  Lesley Téllez , journalist and cookbook author •  Jen Trolio , Strategist senior editor • LaToya Tucciarone, founder of SustainAble Home Goods •  Winnie Yang , Strategist senior editor •  Lukas Volger , cookbook author and recipe developer • Ryan Zagata, president of Brooklyn Bicycle Co.

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