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.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall:
Best Overall, Runner-Up:
Best Budget:
Best for Portability:
Best Splurge:
Best Overall
Takeya Actives Water Bottle
Our Ratings
Drinkability
5/5
Seal
4/5
Portability
4/5
Insulation
5/5
Durability
5/5
What We Like
Intelligent lid design
Top loop offers another carrying option
Passed the drop test with no damage
Superior cold holding
What We Don't Like
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
Best Overall, Runner-Up
ThermoFlask Bottle with Chug Lid and Straw Lid
Our Ratings
Drinkability
5/5
Seal
5/5
Portability
4.5/5
Insulation
4/5
Durability
4.5/5
What We Like
Lids for different scenarios
Functional silhouette
Overall excellent value
What We Don't Like
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
Our Ratings
Drinkability
4/5
Seal
5/5
Portability
3.5/5
Insulation
4/5
Durability
3.5/5
What We Like
Several colorways
Testers rated the seal and drinkability highly
Solid insulation
What We Don't Like
Heavy and no extra features
Not the most durable
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
Best Value
Brita Insulated Filtered Water Bottle
Our Ratings
Drinkability
4.5/5
Seal
4.5/5
Portability
5/5
Insulation
5/5
Durability
4/5
What We Like
Excellent insulation, holding temperature for six hours
Improves quality of water
Good for carrying and holding
What We Don't Like
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
Our Ratings
Drinkability
4/5
Seal
5/5
Portability
3.5/5
Insulation
2/5
Durability
5/5
What We Like
Inexpensive
Cap offers additional carrying options
Impressively hardwearing
What We Don't Like
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 our tester still remembers getting their 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
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Best for Portability
Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle
Our Ratings
Drinkability
4.5/5
Seal
5/5
Portability
5/5
Insulation
3.5/5
Durability
3.5/5
What We Like
Comfortable to carry
Fits everywhere
No issues with leakage
What We Don't Like
Not great durability
Insulation 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
Our Ratings
Drinkability
5/5
Seal
5/5
Portability
4/5
Insulation
4/5
Durability
5/5
What We Like
Narrow mouthpiece helps prevent spills
Insulates well
Very strong and durable
What We Don't Like
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
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Our Ratings
Drinkability
4.5/5
Seal
5/5
Portability
5/5
Insulation
5/5
Durability
3.5/5
What We Like
Excellent drinkability
Functional, durable lid
Top-notch insulation
What We Don't Like
Sustained some cosmetic damage
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
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Final Verdict
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.
Other Travel Water Bottles We Tested
We tested about two dozen bottles for this roundup. Here are some of the others we tested that didn't make our list:
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.
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.
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 still 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.
Product Selection
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.
How We Tested
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
Materials
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.
Insulation
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I clean and wash my water bottle?
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.
What kind of water bottle can I take on a plane?
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.
How do you carry a water bottle while traveling?
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.
What Trust TripSavvy
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.