You're probably already well aware of how important it is to stay hydrated. But if you've had days when the clock strikes 5 p.m. and you've barely taken a sip of water, you likely also know how easy it is to forget.
Whether you're slipping it in your bag for running errands or placing it on your desk as you work, having a water bottle on hand can be a helpful reminder to drink more water. Not to mention, they're eco-friendly: If you have a sturdy water bottle, you won't be stuck having to buy a single-use, plastic one when you're in a pinch.
If you're wanting to up your H2O intake in the new year, we found the best of the best in terms of water bottles. From bottles that track your water consumption to ones that will keep your drinks cold for days on end, keep reading to shop the best water bottles to help you reach your hydration goals.
Shop TODAY Travel Gear Awards winners
Brita Premium Filtering Bottle (26 oz.)
- Leak proof
- Functional
- Easy to clean
- Mixed reviews on straw
Award: Best budget | Value: 5/5 | Quality: 4/5 | Satisfaction: 4/5 | Overall score: 4.3/5 | Capacity: 26 oz. | Colors available: 4
For under $25, you can purchase a long-lasting water bottle with a built-in filtering system, giving you endless sips of crisp, purified water on the go. That alone is enough to justify why this Brita bottle won the award for Best Budget Water Bottle in the Travel Gear Awards 2024, but that's not the only reason.
Aside from the affordable price point, this bottle passed our leak tests. We tipped the Brita bottle partially and completely, but no drips or drops occurred.
Stanley IceFlow Bottle
- Easy to handle
- Durable
- May scratch easily
Award: Best insulated | Value: 4/5 | Quality: 4/5 | Satisfaction: 5/5 | Overall score: 4.3/5 | Capacity: 16, 24, 36, 50 oz.| Colors available: 15
Given its durable, double-wall stainless steel construction, it's no surprise that the beloved Stanley IceFlow took home the gold for Best Insulated Water Bottle in Shop TODAY's Travel Gear Awards 2024.
Curious about just how well it works? Our team put this bottle to the test and filled it with water that was 44.6 degrees Fahrenheit. After 24 hours, the temperature of the water only rose 5.4 degrees (and that's without ice). Impressive, huh?
Start TODAY x Shop TODAY Wellness Award winners
Meitagie Motivational Water Bottle
- Includes spill-proof lock
- Spout is easy to drink from
- Delivery and packaging issues
Award: Best motivational | Capacity: 26, 32 oz. | Colors available: 29
For those who need a little extra motivation to stay hydrated, this is the bottle for you. Backed by positive encouragement (and accountability!) this water bottle will become your new best friend.
TODAY.com parents editor Rebecca Dube was skeptical at first but went on to say, “I had wondered if a timed water bottle would help me, and it did. If you like checking things off a to-do list, this is sort of the water equivalent of that. It’s harder than it looks to drink this much water!”'
Nalgene Sustain Water Bottle
- Leak-proof
- Long lasting
- Few colors aren't transparent
- Decals might wear over time
Award: Best for outdoors | Capacity: 32 oz. | Colors available: 40
Loved and trusted by outdoor enthusiasts everywhere, it’s easy to understand why Nalgene is still getting well-deserved attention after 70+ years in the business.
I can’t remember a time that I hit the trails or went camping without my trusty Nalgene, which is why I was so excited for reviewers to try this bottle out. To my delight, they were as satisfied as I am by saying things like, “I love that this bottle is lightweight, especially in comparison to other bottles I own,” and “I liked that it was clear so I could see how much water I was consuming each day.”
Plus, these bottles are created using 50% waste plastic, further offsetting the use of fossil fuels and lowering greenhouse gas emissions, according to the brand.
Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle
- Truly keeps drinks cold
- Can sip or chug
- Can get heavy to carry around
Award: Best for travel | Capacity: 24 oz. | Colors available: 22
Whether you’re in the mood to drink from a straw or looking to get a big gulp, this water bottle is multi-talented. Editorial operations manager Jill Ortiz coined this her new emotional support water bottle by bringing it any and everywhere with her.
“I love the built-in straw. I love sipping and then having the option to chug. I like that it keeps my water pretty cold for a few hours and that the bottle itself is easy to grip. I LOVE the flip cap, which prevents my straw from being out in the open,” says Ortiz.
Better yet, this bottle is available in 10 funky, vibrant colors so you’ll no doubt be able to find your favorite shade.
Yeti Rambler
Award: Best overall | Capacity: 26 oz. | Colors available: 8
If you're looking for a water bottle that will keep your drinks ice cold like TODAY art director Jen Prandato, look no further than the Yeti Rambler.
"I loved that it kept my water SO cold — I’d put ice cubes in it in the morning before I left at 6 am and they’d still be there keeping my water cold all throughout the day," says Prandato.
This pick is also expert-approved. "What’s nice about the Yeti Rambler is that it’s incredibly well-constructed, durable and insulated," says Dr. Carl Giordano, Co-Founder and Chief Science Officer of Rebesana. "I personally tie a cord through the handle and let it hang off of my neck." It's no wonder that this water bottle received an almost perfect 5-star rating from our reviewers.
Stanley Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler
- Truly keeps water cold
- Not leak-proof
Award: Best splurge | Capacity: 40 oz. | Colors available: 14
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've probably seen Stanley cups everywhere. Our team is obsessed with their iconic, signature tumbler and we really wanted to put it to the test during these awards. However, to no one's surprise, it won with flying colors.
TODAY.com weekend editor Maddie Ellis struggled with drinking enough water throughout the day until this Stanley came into her life. " I am someone who normally doesn’t get enough water, but the combination of chic aesthetic, which I admit comes from being influenced by TikTok, plus the bottle’s ability to keep the water cold made me love this product. I was almost doubling my normal water intake for the day just by refilling the bottle a few times."
More top-rated water bottles
Ello Syndicate Glass Water Bottle with One-Touch Flip Lid
Capacity: 20 oz. | Colors available: 5
If you hate the taste of metal in your water (yes, there’s a taste!) or are trying to stay away from plastic, a glass bottle is a great alternative. This one has a locking, one-touch lid for easy open. The silicone sleeves protects the glass from potential cracks or breaks.
Iron Flask Sports Water Bottle
Capacity: 14, 18, 22, 32, 40, 64 oz. | Colors available: 44
This water bottle is consistently well-reviewed — it has a 4.8-star average rating from more than 132,000 ratings. The stainless steel design keeps your water cool, and you can switch between the straw, flip or stainless steel lids, depending on how you like to drink your water.
Hydroflask All Around Travel Tumbler
Capacity: 20, 28, 32 and 40 oz. options available | Colors available: 30
Associate editor Sierra Hoeger recently put Hydroflask to the test — seeing how it ranks against Stanley in terms of durability, insulation, portability and more.
This water bottle managed to beat out Stanley in terms of durability and how leakproof it was.
LifeStraw Go Series 1L Water Bottle
Capacity: 18, 22, 24 oz. and 1L options available | Colors available: 6
If you're like production coordinator Camryn Privette, you know that not all water tastes the same. This water bottle includes a filter that clears water of all contaminants.
"I use it while traveling and other places when I don't have access to my at-home filter system," she says. "The best part is that the company provides safe drinking water for a child for a whole year for every purchase."
LARQ Insulated Self-Cleaning and Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Capacity: 17, 25 oz. | Colors available: 5
You're probably not washing out your water bottle enough, but thankfully this bottle does part of the work for you. It uses UV-C to kill bacteria in the bottle. While it still does require the occasional wash, one Shop TODAY writer said it's "worth it for some added peace of mind during the weeks when my lazy side takes over."
How we chose
While choosing the absolute best water bottles out there, we sorted through hundreds of new launches, editor recommendations, trending products flooding our social media pages (looking at you, Stanley) and tried and true products to curate a list of must-have travel items worth reviewing for our awards.
We then tried the products in our studios, putting them through practical experiments (such as leak and temperature tests) to see if they meet requirements when it comes to durability, function and quality for travel gear.
We also included various winners from the Start TODAY x Shop TODAY Wellness Awards, as well as highly rated water bottles that shoppers seem to be loving based on reviews they've given.
Has your product been featured?
Shop TODAY is editorially independent and our team of editors and writers work hard to pick the best products to share with our readers and viewers. We may license our logo to brands or products that have been featured on Shop TODAY. Click here if you’re interested in licensing your inclusion in Shop TODAY content or to learn more from our licensing partner, Wrights Media.
