By now it’s a well-known fact that disposable water bottles are hurting our health and the environment.
Over the years we have been using plastic; we have single-handedly killed off countless amounts of wildlife/animals.
On top of this we have poisoned the water we drink and the soil we grow our crops.
Yet we still proceed to buy disposable water bottles and careless chuck them away with very little to no thought (I’d be lying if I said I hadn’t done this at some point in my life).
The thing is when there are so many amazing reusable water bottles out there, do we need to use the single-use plastic options?
Contents
What To Look For When Buying Water Bottles
When looking for your new water bottle there are few things you should be thinking about.
I’ve compiled a list of things I think about before I make my purchase. Understanding what each water bottle offers you, will help you to make the right decision.
Price
For many people the price of an item will be the deciding factor for them; a lot of people don’t like forking out too much money for a water bottle.
Weight
If your bottle for water is heavy when empty, then imagine what it’s like when it’s full of water. If you do a lot of walking or running a lightweight water bottle might be what you’re looking for.
Insulation
For me, this is an essential thing. After 24 hours of hiking/ camping in jungles, all you want is cold water. If your water bottle can’t provide that, you might be looking at people in awe while they take sips of ice-cold water.
Straw
There are various methods when it comes to drinking from your bottle. Knowing how you like to drink will help guide you with your choice.
Volume
If you drink as much water as me then knowing the volume of water your bottle can hold is an important factor. There’s nothing worse than running out of cold water.
Material
With so many materials being used to make water bottles, it’s an important thing to think about. If you climbing mountains than glass water bottles might not be a good option for you.
Wide Mouth/Neck
There’s nothing worse than trying to fill your water bottle with ice only to find the neck isn’t thick enough. Luckily a wide mouth bottle can save you the hassle of chipping away at ice cubes.
Leak/Spill Proof
If you’re on the clumsy side, choosing a spill-proof bottle is just what you need. It allows you to knock over the bottle without spilling a drop.
The Best Reusable Water Bottles For 2021
If you are struggling to decide which is the best reusable water bottle for you – then don’t worry!
Because we are going to take a deep dive into each of them below-
Contigo Autoseal Insulated Stainless Steel
Made from stainless steel this stylish water bottle can come in varying colors to suit you.
The vacuum insulated stainless steel features a push-button auto seal system.
If your worried about accidentally pressing the button while it’s in your bag there is no need to fear.
The button is entirely lockable so it can will not accidentally open in your backpack.
The wide neck allows you to feed it ice with ease. The nice thing about this is you can expect your drink to stay cold for up to 12 hours.
Key Features
- Auto seal button
- Leak/ spill-proof
- 16-24 Oz volume
- Wide mouth
Overall this is nice looking and very functional bottle, although you need to think about the fault I mentioned earlier.
Pros
- Leak and spill-proof
- Keeps drinks at a good temperature
- Easy to drink from
- Lifetime guarantee
Cons
- Color chips off
- The pressure can make water squirt out
- Leaks from the button
Camelbak Eddy+
Available in stainless steel and plastic, this bottle is completely spill and leakproof by design.
One thing to think about before purchasing is whether you need insulation if the answer is yes, you should be looking at the stainless steel model.
The Camelbak Eddy+ uses a specially designed fold-out straw that pops out from the cap.
It’s said to give you 25% more water with every sip.
One problem I’ve always found with straw designs is the lack of water, so this is an excellent addition to their improved model.
Key Features
- 20-30 Oz
- Enhanced straw technology
- Spill/leakproof
- Wide neck
- Made for BPA free plastic
Their new model seems to be a massive hit, and with the new straw technology, I can see why.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Enhanced Straw
- BPA plastic free
- Lifetime guarantee
Cons
- Hard to clean the lid and the straw
- Soft rubber attracts mold
- No insulation with the plastic version
Yeti Rambler
Yeti water bottles have always been at the top of their game, and they haven’t disappointed with the Rambler model.
The vacuum insulated stainless steel bottle is simple, modern, and nearly indestructible.
A nice feature is a clear cap; it allows you to keep track of how much liquid you have left.
This is Yeti’s first line which can comfortably fit within your hand. If your hands are on the smaller side, there is no need to worry.
The DuraCoat system provides extra grip, which they claim doesn’t peel, crack or fade.
Key Features
- DuraCoat
- Wide neck
- BPA free
- 100% leak proof
- Puncture and rust-resistant
Yeti has always been great at making durable and long-lasting water bottles, and by the looks of it, they haven’t disappointed.
Pros
- Holds temperture well
- Very strong
- Leak-proof
Cons
- Expensive
- May need extra accessories
Kemier Collapsible Silicone Water Bottle
The Kemier is made using a medical-grade collapsible silicone sleeve, which collapses to 1/3 of its original size.
Although it’s not insulated the wide neck allows you to easily fill it with ice to keep your water cool throughout the day.
Considering it’s made from a BPA silicone sleeve, it’s surprisingly durable.
The bottle is capable of holding liquids of varying temperatures with no issue.
If you’re storing hot liquids, the container can become very warm to touch.
Key Features
- Wide neck
- Medical grade silicone
- Collapsible
- Holds 26 Oz
A great idea, but having the taste of silicone in my water doesn’t sell it to me.
Pros
- Flexiable body
- Returns back to orignal shape
- Easy to clean
Cons
- You need to squeeze the bottle to drink
- Clip tends to break
- Hard to get rid of silicone taste
Lifestraw GO
Made from BPA free materials this bottle is lightweight and very robust.
It features a 2 stage water filtering system which prevents bacteria and parasites from passing through the straw.
The straw is great for travelers that might be in areas where the water might not be OK to drink.
One thing I love about these bottles for water is that they pledge that every bottle they sell, they will provide clean water for one child in need.
Not only does it give you peace of mind when traveling, but you help people in need, it doesn’t get better that.
Key Features
- Built-in filter
- Doesn’t leak
- Wide neck for ice
- BPA free materials
It also claims that the filter will last five years, although by the sounds of it only one of the stages will last that long.
In my eyes, it was a great idea, just poorly executed. I’ll look forward to seeing if they perform better next time.
Pros
- Built in water filer
- Provides clean water to childern in need
- Makes your water taste better
Cons
- Can be hard to drink from
- Filter doesn’t last as long as suggested
4ocean Reusable Bottle
Another simple/modern design, this vacuum insulated stainless steel bottle is said to be able to keep water cool for up to 24 hours in the right conditions.
I love the little sustainable bamboo cap, which has a rubberized seal to prevent leaks.
If you’re looking to do some good in the environment, then this is the bottle for you.
Every bottle brought helps to remove one pound of trash from our ocean and coastlines.
So, not only are you helping the environment, but you’re getting a top class bottle.
Key Features
- 25 Oz capacity
- Wide neck
- Leakproof
- Sustainable cap
By far this is my favorite, great design and a fantastic cause to buy in to.
Pros
- Stays cold
- Cleans the ocean
- Rubber seal prevents leaking
Cons
- Doesn’t fit all cup holders
- Expensive
Why Use A Reusable Water Bottle?
Let’s start with some stats to get us thinking:
Every year, around 50 billion water bottles are consumed in the US and only 23% of them are thought to be recycled. If this is the case, that means around 38 million plastic bottles end up in landfill sites, on the floor, or in our oceans.
That’s 38 billion water bottles every year polluting our oceans and poisoning our soil, I don’t know about you, but these figures make me feel sick.
Why use a reusable water bottle?
If nothing else it lowers the amount of plastic that’s used, disposable water bottles may seem convenient, but using plastic comes at a cost.
Now, I know not everyone is concerned about the damage plastic is doing to the earth.
So if I can’t change your mind for the better of the planet, maybe I can stop you using plastic by saving your wallet.
Yes, buying a plastic water bottle might seem like the cheaper option at the time, but it’s not. The average American spends around $200 every year on single-use water bottles.
To put that into perspective, you could buy 4-5 high-end water bottles for that price, and if you look after them, they will last you years.
And let’s be honest are plastic water bottles really that convenient?
I mean, yes you can get them quickly, but the time you spend queuing in or traveling to shops, then it really isn’t that convenient.
There are a few other reasons I love reusable water bottles:
- Firstly, you can control what goes into your water bottles, but I’ll go further into that later.
- Secondly, you can keep track of how much water your drinking though out the day, which (if your a little bit of a health freak like me) is a good thing.
- And last of all, being able to keep my coffee hot and my water cold. My insulated waterbottle has been a lifesaver while traveling around tropical countries.
Well, this leads to me nicely on to my next point:
Is It OK To Reuse Plastic Water Bottles?
The short answer no, reusing plastic water bottles is not a good option. And here’s why:
Single-use water bottles are made from PET plastic (Polyterephthalate), which is known for contaminating water.
Over time, the plastic will start to leach from the bottle, which occurs even quicker during hot weather.
That means the water that’s advertised as fresh spring water is now contaminated with plastic fibers. Which then makes it’s way into your system as you drink it.
It gets worse for disposable bottles:
A study showed that your kitchen tap water has less toxic chemicals than the “natural spring water” we find in bottled water.
Like I mentioned before, a massive benefit of a reusable water bottle is the ability to control what goes in there.
So no, reusing plastic water bottles is not OK.
Which is why purchasing your own water bottle is:
- Cheaper
- Safer
- Sustainable
In Summary
To wrap it, you need to pay attention to a few things before you purchase your water bottle. The first thing is to have a price in mind and stick to as closely as possible.
You should also be thinking about where you’re going to be using this water bottle as I mentioned before, having a glass water bottle to go walking up mountains isn’t the best option.
Think about what conditions you’re likely to be out in if you’re spending your days inside an insulated water bottle might not be necessary unless you enjoy a hot coffee.
If you want to lower your carbon footprint further, then you should check out the best metal straws. They’re a great way to cut down on plastic.
My last point is to think about what you really need, so you’re not disappointed with the reusable water bottles performance.