You might wonder if investing in a high-quality water bottle is worth it. After all, water already comes packaged, and you could find cheaper options if you want to fill your own bottle. However, that might not be a good trade. If you opt for a standard bottle, you'll likely end up with a lukewarm beverage that might even come with unwanted tastes. It could also be clunky to handle and carry.
But most importantly, we all know where millions of plastic bottles end up: in the ocean. Even without other drawbacks, this alone should make everyone reconsider their choice.
With a tactical, insulated stainless steel water bottle, you'll have a reliable and reusable container to take with you on all occasions. Whether you want to carry cold or hot drinks, a stainless steel bottle keeps the liquid fresh like a thermos. Best of all, you'll contribute to preserving our environment. Here are some of the best water bottles you can find on the market today.
Best Tactical Water Bottles — 2023 Edition
The Best Overall Water Bottle: Zojirushi Insulated Mug [Buy]
The Most Innovative Water Bottle: LARQ UV Sanitizing [Buy] / [Full Review]
The Most Packable Water Bottle: Hydrapak UltraFlask Collapsible [Buy]
The Best Water Bottle for Keeping Temperature: Klean Kanteen TKWide [Buy]
The Most Durable Water Bottle: YETI Rambler [Buy]
![Zojirushi]()
Key Features
Optimized for cold beverages
Easy-to-clean
Safety lock
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
This stainless steel water bottle is designed exclusively for one purpose: to keep cold drinks cold. If you pour some iced coffee into it and top it off with ice cubes, the beverage retains its temperature for at least six hours. This is possible due to the vacuum insulation that doesn't allow any heat to break through. The bottle also includes a drinking straw mechanism that can be disassembled for easier cleaning. And if you take your drink on the go, don't worry about accidental spills. It has a safety lock to prevent any liquid from escaping, making it ideal for hikers and biking.
![CamelBak]()
Key Features
Leak-proof when closed
BPA-free
Dishwasher safe
Specifications
Material
Eastman Tritan Copolyester
The CamelBak Eddy+ is made of advanced plastic rather than stainless steel. Yet, the material can match other top-quality choices. The plastic is BPA-free and highly sturdy, and the bottle is insulated and leakproof. A unique straw lid allows up to 25% larger sips than usual. CamelBak provides a lifetime warranty on all their products.
![Iron]()
Key Features
Three leak proof lids
Available in different sizes
BPA-free
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
This Iron Flask product fits the bill if you're looking for a functional bottle with various uses. Made of 18/8 stainless steel, the bottle is completely BPA and rust-free and features not one but two layers of insulation. It comes with three lids, all resistant to spillage. There's a double-straw carabiner lid, a flip lid, and a stainless steel flip-top lid. Switching between different lids gives this bottle unique versatility.
![Platypus]()
Key Features
Highly packable and collapsible
BPA-free
Made in the USA
This plastic collapsible water bottle offers a unique experience. It defies the standard rigid design yet is surprisingly stable. The material is free of phthalates, BPS, and BPA, leaving no strange tastes in the beverage. The main advantage of this bottle is how easy it is to carry, store, and maintain. It features a carry handle with a clip for seamless attachment and, once empty, can be folded and stored without issues.
![Otterbox]()
Key Features
Sweat-resistant design
Wide range of lid types
Available in a variety of colors
The 36 oz Elevation Growler is an insulated stainless steel bottle with unique features. This is a wide-mouth bottle with a variety of lids for different occasions. The bottle accommodates hot and cold drinks, keeping them at the same temperature for hours. This feature is due to the excellent insulation. To ensure the bottle looks pristine from the outside, there's a particular anti-sweat layer that leaves no visible traces of handling.
![Takeya]()
Key Features
Leakproof spout lid
No-sweat powder finish
Lifetime warranty
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
The Takeya Actives food-grade stainless steel bottle is not only durable but also rust-resistant and won't retain any flavors. It features double-walled vacuum insulation to keep cold drinks cold for 24 hours and hot ones for up to 12 hours. The bottle's outside has also been powder-coated for durability, extra grip, and to prevent it from "sweating." It has a leakproof Universal Wide Mouth lid that fits all Takeya bottles. Rounding out its features, you'll find an articulating wide loop handle for easy carrying.
![Hydro]()
Key Features
Wide mouth straw lid
No-sweat powder finish
Limited lifetime warranty
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
If you want to have a little more water with you, having a straw built into the lid makes it easier to use when you want a drink. This updated version of the tried-and-true Hydro Flask water bottle has a cleaner aesthetic, eliminating the trademark symbol next to the logo. However, you'll still get all the things that made the original great: BPA-free stainless steel construction, the external powder-coating for grip, and the stainless steel collar. Like other Hydro Flask options, it features double-walled vacuum insulation. This makes sure that your cold liquids stay cold for up to 24 hours and your hot ones stay hot for up to six hours. The lid features a small attachment loop on the side for carrying options.
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![YETI]()
Key Features
Quick access chug cap
Shatter-resistant lid
No-sweat DuraCoat finish
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
YETI is known for its highly popular and highly durable coolers, so it makes sense that they ventured into the world of water bottles. The bottle's stainless steel construction and color coating were built to last. It features DuraCoat Color, which means no fading, peeling, or cracking. Living up to its reputation, it comes with double-walled vacuum insulation to keep its contents cool for a long time. Give it half a twist to access its crush-proof Chug Cap, making it easier (and faster) to drink from. A wide top handle makes it easy to carry and open.
![Klean]()
Key Features
High-performance threaded cap design
Comfortable wide mouth
Slim design
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
Sometimes simplicity is best, and the Klean Kanteen is simply effective. It features a Climate Lock double-walled vacuum insulation that keeps liquids cold for up to 75(!) hours and hot for up to 22 hours. With its stainless steel construction, the TKWide is ready to hold your liquids and stand up to a lot of punishment. Living up to its name, the TKWide features an extra wide lid that can fit ice and allow easy filling and pouring. It's available in various sizes, from 12 to 64 oz.
![Nalgene]()
Key Features
BPA-free
Leakproof design
Durable construction
This made-in-the-USA bottle was designed to be your companion in the gym, office, outdoors, or wherever your adventures take you. Built out of BPA-free Tritan, this bottle is virtually indestructible and completely leakproof. This also keeps the bottle lightweight at only 6.25 oz. It includes volume markings on the outside to measure how much water you have left. Paired with a unique screw-top lid you can both pour and sip from, it's a versatile bottle no matter what you're drinking.
![Hydrapak]()
Key Features
Designed for hydration vests
Collapsible design
Auto-seal bite valve
If you're running out of space in your bag, this might be what you're looking for. The UltraFlask is a compressible water bottle that conforms to any pocket and one you can roll up once it's empty. To withstand the wear and tear of EDC, it features a TPU construction that is both abrasion resistant and BPA- and PVC-free. Another unique feature about the UltraFlask is that it comes with two caps: a regular cap and an adjustable tube cap for compatibility as a hydration bladder. However, both caps auto-seal after each sip, eliminating accidental spills.
![Zojirushi]()
Key Features
Locking, button-activated lid
6-hour heat retention
High-flow vented spout
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
While it might look pretty, the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug is not just for show. Made from a combination of stainless steel and BPA-free plastic, it's ready to take on your daily travels. The interior is coated with NonStick, which makes it easy to clean and prevents it from retaining any unwanted tastes. Its vacuum insulation can provide up to six hours of temperature retention. But what truly makes this steel mug special is its unique 2-step lid. It's designed to allow any built-up condensation to fall back into the mug instead of spilling or going to waste. The lid also features an air vent on the mouthpiece, which works against gushing and overflowing. Finally, a safety lock prevents any accidental openings.
![LARQ]()
Key Features
UV-C sanitizer
One month battery runtime
IPX7-rated micro USB
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
Since the pandemic, you might be looking to update your carry with cleanliness in mind. As its name would suggest, this self-cleaning bottle features a UV-C LED, which helps sanitize water and clean the inner surfaces of the bottle, neutralizing bacteria and viruses. At the touch of a button, it starts and completes its cleaning process in 60 seconds. It activates every two hours to keep your bottle clean and odor-free. It also includes insulation to keep your liquids cool for 24 hours and hot for 12 hours. It recharges via micro-USB, and on a full charge, it'll give you about a month's worth of self-cleaning.
![Coleman]()
Key Features
Locking, button-activated lid
High-flow spout lid
Protective spout cover
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
The Freeflow AUTOSEAL's self-sealing lid is the star of the show here. A quick button press allows the free flow of liquid but seals back up once you're done with your sip. The lid also comes with a safety lock, preventing accidental presses of the activation button. A protective cover keeps the spout free from dirt and germs. The bottle features BPA-free, 18/8 stainless steel construction. Its double-walled vacuum insulation ensures that your liquids keep their temperature for up to 31 hours.
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![Kinto]()
Key Features
Stylish design
Optimized for hot beverages
Leakproof
Specifications
Insulation
Double-walled vacuum
This stainless steel insulated tumbler is a great option for your morning coffee or tea. It features a clean design with an ergonomic lid that allows easy carry, even without a handle. The lid is divided into two parts, sealed with o-rings to minimize leaks. Its insulation provides up to six hours of temperature retention. All the plastic and silicone parts are BPA-free so that they won't retain any unwelcome odors or bacteria. This tumbler is available in two different sizes and six different colors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which brand of water bottle is the best?
It should be no surprise that Zojirushi is our pick for the overall best water bottle since the brand is featured twice on this list. Although other bottles might excel in one aspect, Zojirushi provides an all-encompassing premium experience.
What is the healthiest water bottle to use?
Our pick for the healthiest water bottle would have to go to the Platypus DuoLock SoftBottle. While this bottle is made of plastic, the material is entirely free of dangerous matter, on par with the famous Nalgene bottles.
Which water bottle keeps drinks cold the longest?
With its 75-hour temperature retention, Klean Kanteen TKWide is ideally suited for the job. Your drink will stay cold for days in this exceptional bottle.
What water bottles are better than YETI?
If we had to choose a brand that surpasses YETI, it would have to be LARQ with its exceptional UV Sanitizing Water Bottle. Self-cleaning is rarely seen in water bottles and requires due recognition for its functionality.
What is the best water bottle for hiking?
The Platypus DuoLock SoftBottle, with its unusual design, might be the best option for hikers. The bottle is flexible and easily attached to a backpack, making it easy to carry on long hikes.
Which water bottle is most popular?
It can be argued that YETI is the most popular water bottle brand, and for a good reason. Their Rambler Water Bottle is celebrated for its sturdiness and temperature retention.
How we picked
Decades of experience and deep connections in the everyday carry industry give us a unique viewpoint on the market to inform our product recommendations. We have the depth of information for thousands of products that have come before and an extensive eye on the market to see what’s new and trending for each piece of gear. The result is a buying guide that we feel is informative and useful for EDCers of every trade, industry, and budget.
What is Everyday Carry?
Everyday Carry is both the concept of what people carry in their pockets and the process of picking out gear that thoughtfully considers what one wants or needs in their daily lives. It encompasses everything from style to preparedness to utility, meaning an entire industry full of valuable tools and essentials to choose from.
Why you should trust us
Our team has decades of combined experience in all aspects of everyday men’s essentials, from wallets to pens to bags and everything in between, and we know where to find great gear ideas that you may not come across at your local stores or when shopping online. Our expertise with the industry and familiarity in design, materials, and usability help you make more informed choices when it comes to picking up your next piece of gear.
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