Tester feedback: “My bestie bought me this adorable whale-adorned Sip by Swell bottle years ago, and I’ve been using it since—after all, the cuter the drinking vehicle, the more likely I am to hydrate, no?” says commerce editor Sarah Han. “S’well offers tons of colors and designs so you’ll find one that’s just right for you.”
Material: stainless steel | Size: 9 oz, 17 oz, 25 oz | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best Straw: Hydroflask Wide Mouth Water Bottle
Why it’s worth it: Another beloved stainless steel drinking buddy, the Hydroflask Wide Mouth checks all the boxes for a best-in-class bottle: 24-hour cold retention, a leak-proof straw, plenty of cute color options, and zero metallic flavor transfer. Want to switch things up? Hydroflask offers a lineup of interchangeable accessories, including a long-straw lid, a loose-leaf tea infuser attachment, and a Chug Cap—perfect if you’d rather gulp straight from the bottle than sip daintily through a straw.
Tester feedback: Associate beauty director Sarah Kinonen counts herself among the bottle’s many fans. “I have three of [these] and used to commute with two every single day—one for water and one for coffee,” she told Allure.
Material: stainless steel | Size: 24 oz, 32 oz, 40 oz | Dishwasher-safe: yes
Best Self-Cleaning: Larq Bottle PureVis
Why it’s worth it: The sophisticate of the bunch, Larq’s PureVis Water Bottle brings science to every sip. Inside the cap, you’ll find a UV light that zaps heterotrophic bacteria, the culprits behind funky-tasting, weird-smelling water—and in some cases, even E. coli growth. Before you freak, yes, you can eliminate bacteria in the aforementioned, less hi-tech bottles with a good old-fashioned warm-water scrub—but let’s be real, constant cleaning is annoying. Larq’s self-sanitizing tech makes life a little easier and your water a whole lot cleaner. Just press the button on the cap to activate the UV light, or let it run automatically every two hours. Regular washes are still a good habit, but for the less regimented among us, this bottle has your back.
Material: stainless steel, UV light | Size: 17 oz, 25 oz | Dishwasher-safe: yes, but hand-washing recommended
Best for Hot and Cold: Yeti Rambler 36 Oz Water Bottle
Why it’s worth it: For those who bounce between iced and hot bevvies, Yeti’s Rambler is the ultimate pick. It comes with a spout lid, but you can mix and match other Yeti lids depending on the day’s drink agenda. No matter what’s inside, this bottle keeps hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold from clock-in to clock-out. It also fits most cup holders and comes in a ton of chic colors. Hydration (or caffeine) never looked better.
