This 2-in-1 Water Bottle Is My Secret to Staying Hydrated

Drinking more water is like trying to get better sleep: way easier said than done. In my experience, adding fruit to your H₂O, substituting flat water with seltzer, or trying any other number of hydration hacks only goes so far. If you’re in the same boat, I have a theory for you. The problem isn’t you or your water—it’s your water bottle.

Take it from someone who downs a doctor-ordered 2 to 2.5 liters a day: Sometimes all you need to hit your ounce goal is the right bottle. I’ve tried dozens, from no-nonsense plastic gallons to sculptural glass styles, but I’ve finally found one that makes drinking enough water better (if not—dare I say it?—easy).

Owala’s FreeSip Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle ($23 to $33, amazon.com) is colorful, easy to clean, and well-designed—basically everything I look for in something I use every day. After relying on it for over a year, I’m convinced it’s the only contraption I’ll drink from again. Here’s why.

The design

On the outside, the FreeSip is a bright, stainless steel water bottle with a smooth exterior and a triangular lid. It comes in four sizes (16, 24, 32, and 40 ounces) and 22 modern color combinations, including Celestial Sphere, a mix of bright cobalt, electric yellow, and plum; and Summer Sweetness, a tropical blend of turquoise, red, orange, and lime green.

To open the bottle, all you have to do is lift the handle and press a small button, which makes the lid pop up (no more screwing and unscrewing tricky caps). The FreeSip’s best feature lies underneath: its unique, two-in-one design. Owala bottles have a spout that’s split into two sections—a large opening for chugging and a smaller one that’s attached to a straw for sipping. This means you can choose how to drink every time you open the lid (a major game-changer).

When you’re finished drinking, press the FreeSip’s lid closed until you hear it click. And if you’re guzzling on the go, push the handle all the way down over the bottle’s button to lock it; that way it stays completely leak-proof during travel. No more accidental spills in your bag—your phone, laptop, earbuds, and Kindle have never been safer.

Another plus: The Owala FreeSip keeps your water really cold. The wide mouth makes it easy to add ice cubes of all shapes and sizes, while two layers of insulation ensure the contents stay chilled for up to 24 hours. I’ve often filled it before bed so I have ultra-crisp H₂O to wake up to the next morning (and isn’t that the best way to start your day?).

Not as fun, but definitely worth noting: The bottle’s wide opening isn’t just great for adding ice cubes to your beverage. It’s also crucial for cleaning the stainless steel container, since it isn’t dishwasher safe (although the lid and straw are, according to the brand).

Easy to use, clean, and carry around makes the Owala FreeSip almost perfectly designed, in my book. The only other downside I’ve found is that it’s not made for holding warm liquids, so (hot) coffee and tea will need to go in a separate thermos.

The durability

If I’m going to invest in a water bottle, I want one that I can carry with me everywhere—and it has to be able to handle the occasional drop or collision. I’ve had my Owala FreeSip bottles for over a year, and in that time, I’ve accidentally thrown them around on hardwood floors, concrete, and grass. But somehow all of my Owalas are still pristine (and I can’t say the same for my plastic and silicone-coated glass bottles, which have scuffs and scratches galore).

Still, if you’re looking for an extra layer of protection, I recommend adding Owala’s Water Bottle Boot to your cart. It’s a thin silicone sleeve that fits around the base of the bottle to keep it looking like new. Even better, it prevents that incredibly loud and embarrassing clanging noise that usually sounds when you inevitably drop your bottle on a hard surface (the worst).

The competition

Sure, Owala’s FreeSip isn’t the only stainless steel water bottle on the market. There are lots of options to choose from. To each their own, but I’ll choose my Owala every time.

• I also own Stanley’s Quencher H2.0 FlowState Tumbler, and I’ll be the first to admit that it went viral for a reason. Although I love its darling design and helpful handle, I’m often disappointed that it only keeps my water cold for 11 hours, compared to Owala’s 24.
• HydroFlask’s Wide Mouth Water Bottle features a convenient straw cap and comes in beautiful jewel tones. However, there’s no lid to protect the straw, meaning it’s left exposed to dirt, germs, or whatever else might make its way into your work bag (yuck).
• S’well’s Stainless Steel Traveler has a sleek silhouette, comes with a separate handle, and keeps drinks cold for up to 60 hours—impressive! But it weighs more than the FreeSip, and the wide mouth feels like a spill waiting to happen (I speak from experience).
• While Yeti’s Rambler holds more water (it’s 46 ounces compared to most other brand’s 40), has a much smaller opening, and is completely dishwasher safe, the rubber cap tends to strip easily if you’re not careful about twisting it on and off, according to Amazon reviewers.

Plus, all of these competitor bottles cost between $7 and $17 more than the FreeSip.

Bottom line

My Owala FreeSip gives “emotional support water bottle” a whole new meaning. I’m convinced that once you try the two-in-one spout, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. Trust: SELF’s commerce director tells me that she was anti-straw in water bottles until she tried the Owala. Oh, and I’ve already yapped about it enough to convince a few friends and family to pick up their own (mostly so they’d stop borrowing mine).

But the FreeSip isn’t just my go-to—it’s also a huge winner with Amazon shoppers. “Are you freaking kidding? I wish I had known about this bottle sooner. It’s my favorite one I own,” reads one of the 42,000 five-star reviews. “Goes with me to gym, work, friends’ houses, the couch, bed, walking, and everywhere in between. If you have a Stanley or any other metal cup for that matter, stop, drop, and roll, and do yourself a favor and get the Owala bottle.” Couldn’t put it better myself.

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