Best water bottles: insulated and reusable options reviewed

The best water bottles will help you cut down on plastic waste and save you money when you're on the go.

We've tested both non-insulated and insulated water bottles from brands such as Air Up, Chilly's, Stanley and Ion8 to find the best options whether you're hiking, commuting or heading to the gym. 

Our tests covered ease of use, leakage, durability and more.

Three water bottles impressed us enough to be named Best Buys, including an excellent cheaper bottle that we've also named Great Value.

The best insulated water bottles

Only logged-in Which? members can view the insulated water bottle test results below. 

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The insulated water bottles we tested 

All the insulated water bottles we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best insulated water bottles from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Chilly's Original water bottle

Also available from Chilly's (£24)

Colours Many available, including black, lichen, whale blue, blush pink

Dishwasher safe No

Need to know 500ml, 300g, double-wall insulated, stainless steel, BPA-free

Chilly's Series 2 water bottle

Also available from Chilly's (£32)

Colours Many available for the bottle, collar and loop, including black, lichen, whale blue and blush pink

Dishwasher safe No

Need to know 500ml, 300g, double-wall insulated, carry loop, stainless steel, BPA-free

Frank Green Ceramic Reusable water bottle

Also available from Frank Green (£34.99)

Colours Many available, including lilac haze, sky blue, midnight and neon orange

Dishwasher safe Lid only, bottle is hand-wash only

Need to know 595ml, 350g, range of lid types available including flip straw, switch, button and grip, ceramic, BPA-free

Lululemon Back to Life sport bottle

Available from Lululemon (£38)

Colours Legacy green, sonic pink, wisp yellow, cherry mist, true navy

Dishwasher safe Lid only, bottle is hand-wash only

Need to know 710ml, 350g, double-wall insulated, stainless steel, polypropylene lid

Find out how to choose the best kids’ water bottles

Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel water bottle

Colours Camo cool, denim, dreamy field, foggy tide, iced breeze, summer sweetness

Dishwasher safe Lid only, bottle is hand-wash only

Need to know 700ml, 400g, push button lid with lock, stainless steel, BPA-free

Stanley AeroLight IceFlow Stainless Steel drink bottle

Colours Frost, black, citron, lilac

Dishwasher safe Yes

Need to know 600ml, 400g, double-wall insulated, carry handle, stainless steel, BPA-free

Yeti Rambler 18oz bottle

Colours Many available, including daybreak yellow, sandstone pink, key lime and wild vine red

Dishwasher safe Yes

Need to know 532ml, 500g, double-wall vacuum insulation, stainless steel, BPA-free

The best non-insulated water bottles

Only logged-in Which? members can view the non-insulated water bottle test results below. 

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The non-insulated water bottles we tested 

All the non-insulated water bottles we tested are listed in alphabetical order below.

Only logged-in Which? members can view the best non-insulated water bottles from our tests.

Join Which? to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations below.

Air Up Classic bottle

Available from Air Up (£29.99)

Colours Charcoal grey, electric orange, hot pink, ocean blue, royal blue, vibrant green

Dishwasher safe No

Need to know 650ml, 200g, various flavour pods available, BPA-free Tritan plastic

Air Up Gen2 bottle 

Available from Air Up (£34.99)

Colours Cobalt blueberry, charcoal grey, purple lavender, red poppy, green sage 

Dishwasher safe No

Need to know 650ml, 200g, various flavour pods available, BPA-free Tritan plastic

Find out how to choose the best travel mugs and reusable coffee cups

Camelbak Podium Chill Sports water bottle

Colours Many colours and designs available, including black, blue dot, navy, silver, purple and stone blue

Dishwasher safe No

Need to know 621ml, 400g, lockable cap, polypropylene, BPA-free

Ion8 500ml water bottle

Colours Many available, including aqua, black, blue, coral, dark green, dark red and deep teal

Dishwasher safe Yes

Need to know 500ml, 150g, carry handle, flip cover, lockable lid, Recyclon (plant-based plastic), BPA-free

How we test water bottles

We shortlist the most popular water bottles from UK retailers and put them through our test programme. We buy all the products we test, so you know our reviews can be trusted.

We regularly revisit the water bottles on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing, and when we find them we do.

Ease of use 

We score the water bottles for ease of opening and closing, comfort while drinking and holding, and ease of filling and emptying.

Leakage 

We fill the water bottles to the brim, seal them tight and hold them at a range of angles, then shake them vigorously to check for any leakage.

We also simulate the bottles not being closed properly in your bag or backpack by dyeing the water with food colouring and leaving them slightly open, lying on kitchen roll, to see how much water escapes.

Ease of cleaning 

Even though some are dishwasher safe, we wash each of the water bottles by hand, noting any tricky issues we encounter – such as awkward spouts, lids and straws.

Durability 

Water bottles often get dropped at some point. We conduct a drop test from desk height to see how well the bottles stay intact. The best emerged without a scratch but the worst cracked or were dented significantly.

Insulation

For insulated water bottles, we fill them with chilled water and periodically check to find out whether they keep the liquid cool over a period of several hours.

Why you can trust us: at Which? we're free from manufacturer and retailer influence. Find out more about our impartiality and how your support helps us to stay editorially independent.

Which type of bottle is best for drinking water?

• Metal water bottles: usually made of stainless steel, these generally keep your drink cooler for longer. While they're generally durable, some can dent easily. They're often more expensive, heavier and bulkier than plastic alternatives, and most need to be washed by hand.
• Plastic water bottles: these are often highly durable and usually won't break if dropped. They tend to be lighter and cheaper than metal bottles, and it's easy to see how much water you have left too. But some plastic bottles can affect the taste of your drink. Picking a bottle with a built-in filter could help.
• Glass water bottles: borosilicate glass bottles have similar benefits to plastic, although they are usually pricier. Most have soft silicone sleeves to absorb shocks and make them easier to hold, and the water taste shouldn't be affected by the glass.

Other features to consider include sports lids, straws and spouts, which will come in handy if you want to take regular sips on the go. 

What is the healthiest water bottle?

Nowadays, most plastic water bottles are BPA-free, so they're much less likely to 'leach' chemicals over time.

But if you're worried about reusing plastic water bottles, you could buy a stainless-steel or glass water bottle instead.

Stainless-steel bottles are corrosion-resistant and don't rust. But they can also hold the residual taste of drinks, especially hot ones like tea or coffee, if you don't clean them well.

Glass bottles tend not to hold residual tastes, but are much more vulnerable if you knock or drop them.

How many bottles of water should I drink a day?

The NHS recommends you drink six to eight cups or glasses of fluid per day. Not getting enough fluids can lead to dehydration.

A refillable water bottle is a great way of ensuring that you have access to regular water while also cutting back on plastic waste. 

You may need to drink more if you're in a hot environment, exercising, ill or recovering from illness, pregnant or breastfeeding. 

How to clean a water bottle

Once you've picked your reusable water bottle, you'll want to keep it in good condition. Here's how:

• Rinse out after each use. An obvious tip, but an important one. If you rinse out your water bottle after each use, you won't have to deal with stains on the inside. Cleaning the bottle regularly also prevents odours.
• Pay attention to the lock. If your reusable water bottle has a complex lock mechanism to prevent spills, make sure you clean it thoroughly. Dirt can build up around the lid over time in tough-to-reach areas.
• Dry it with the lid off. As most reusable water bottles are leakproof, leaving them to dry with the lid on is likely to trap moisture and odours inside. 
• Use baking soda and vinegar for a deeper clean. Pair baking soda with white vinegar to clean the inside of your water bottle thoroughly. Wait for the fizzing reaction to finish, rinse out and repeat if necessary.

If your bottle has a narrow neck, you may find a slim brush is handy for getting inside. Some manufacturers sell these as accessories with their bottles.

You can also soak tricky parts, such as drinking straws and lids, using effervescent water-purification or sterilising tablets.

Is it worth getting an Air Up bottle?

A key consideration is the premium you pay to be a part of the Air Up Pod craze. Not only are the bottles more expensive to buy than competitor brands, but there's also the ongoing cost of the Air Up Pods. 

Without a pod attached, the bottle doesn't work – you'll have to keep an empty pod attached if you just want to use it as a normal water bottle.

We've reviewed the Air Up Classic and Gen2 bottles above, so check out how they stack up against others.