Best water bottles 2026: insulated and reusable options reviewed

The best water bottles reduce plastic waste and save you money, without being a drain to use. 

We've tested water bottles from Owala, Lululemon, Stanley, Yeti and more to find the best options, whether you're hiking, commuting or heading to the gym. 

Unlike our competitors, we evaluate insulated and non-insulated bottles differently. While we assess both types for durability, ease of cleaning and how leakproof they are, we put insulated bottles through an additional eight-hour cold-retention test.

Two insulated water bottles impressed us enough to be Best Buys; another was named a Great Value pick. The only non-insulated bottle to earn a Best Buy recommendation costs less than half the price of some models we tested. 

The insulated water bottles we tested

The 10 most popular insulated water bottles and the biggest brands are listed below.

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A selection of the insulated water bottles we tested is listed in alphabetical order below.

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

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Chilly's Series 3 Water Bottle

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Many colours available, including pacific blue, lotus pink and limelite

Dishwasher-safe No

Need to know 500ml; 298g; double-wall insulation; stainless steel; carry loop; BPA-free

Frank Green Ceramic Reusable Water Bottle

Available from Frank Green (£35) 

Most recently tested August 2024

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

Dishwasher-safe Lid only, bottle is handwash only

Need to know 595ml; 350g; ceramic; range of lid types available; BPA-free

Hydro Flask Standard Mouth with Flex Straw Cap 

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Many colours available, including indigo, agave and purple

Dishwasher-safe Yes

Need to know 621ml; 361g; double-wall insulation; stainless steel; carry loop; range of lid types available; BPA-free

Ion8 OneTouch Insulated Steel Water Bottle

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Many colours available, including ash navy, red and yellow

Dishwasher-safe Yes, on a cool wash cycle

Need to know 500ml; 265g; double-wall insulation; stainless steel; carry loop; lockable lid; BPA-free

Lululemon Back to Life Sport Bottle

Available from Lululemon (£38)

Most recently tested August 2024

Colours Many colours available, including nomad, cherry ember and starch blue

Dishwasher-safe Lid only, bottle is handwash only

Need to know 710ml; 350g; double-wall insulation; stainless steel; polypropylene lid

Get soft, fresh-tasting water to fill your bottle using one of our best water filter jugs

Ninja Thirsti Travel Bottle

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Many colours available, including mint, coral and evergreen

Dishwasher-safe Yes

Need to know 700ml; 367g; triple-wall insulation; stainless steel; BPA-free

Owala FreeSip Sway Stainless Steel Bottle

Available from Owala (£28)

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Many colours available, including very very dark, open air and rainforest

Dishwasher safe Lid only, bottle is handwash only

Need to know 532ml; 414g; triple-wall insulation; stainless steel; carry loop; lockable lid; BPA-free

Sho Newt Premium Insulated Water Bottle

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Many colours available, including apricot, denim and peony 

Dishwasher-safe Yes

Need to know 500ml; 340g; stainless steel; carry loop; includes two lids: straw and standard; BPA-free

Sistema Hydrate Multicolour Stainless Steel Bottle

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours White, grey, teal, charcoal and dusty rose

Dishwasher-safe No

Need to know 750ml; 310g; double-wall insulation; stainless steel; BPA-free

Stanley IceFlow Bottle Flip Straw 2.0

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Many colours available, including hot pink, indigo and dark navy

Dishwasher-safe Yes

Need to know 710ml; 390g; double-wall insulation; stainless steel; carry handle; range of lid types available; BPA-free

Yeti Rambler 18oz Bottle

Most recently tested August 2024

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

Dishwasher-safe Yes

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

More insulated water bottles from our tests

Here are the rest of the insulated water bottles we've tested, listed in alphabetical order.

Always on the move? Find out how to choose the best travel mugs and reusable coffee cups

The non-insulated water bottles we tested

The six most popular non-insulated water bottles and the biggest brands are listed below.

Only logged-in Which? members and free account owners can view the non-insulated water bottle test results.

Register for free to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations. 

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

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

Register for free to get instant access to our test results and Best Buy recommendations.

Air Up Classic Bottle

Available from Air Up (£25)

Most recently tested August 2024

Colours Charcoal grey, hot pink and pearl white

Dishwasher-safe No

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

Air Up Gen2 Bottle

Most recently tested August 2024

Colours Midnight black, rose cobalt, lagoon green, blue lilac, stormy blue, berry pink

Dishwasher-safe No

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

Asda George Water Bottle

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours No other colours available

Dishwasher-safe No

Need to know 450ml; 114g

Camelbak Podium Chill Sports Water Bottle

Most recently tested August 2024

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

Dishwasher-safe No

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

Ion8 500ml Water Bottle

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Many colours available, including aqua, black and deep teal

Dishwasher-safe Yes

Need to know 500ml; 150g; carry handle; lockable lid; recyclon (plant-based plastic); BPA-free

Nike Refuel Locking-Lid Bottle

Most recently tested July 2026

Colours Black, pink spell, metallic gold, game royal, volt, natural 

Dishwasher-safe Yes

Need to know 710ml; 123g; carry handle; BPA-free

How we test water bottles

We buy the bestselling water bottles and put them through our tough tests. We don't accept freebies from product manufacturers or retailers. 

We regularly revisit the water bottles on sale to see if there are any more popular models that need testing. 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 can be put in the dishwasher, we wash each of the water bottles by hand. We smear every groove and crevice with Vaseline (which glows under UV light), then we clean the bottles. Under UV light, the bottles are inspected for how much Vaseline remains.

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 whether they keep the liquid cool over several hours.

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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 they're 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 to ensure 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. 

Are you a keen runner? See our round-up of the best running shoes

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. 

How to clean stainless steel water bottles 

Stainless steel bottles are generally much easier to clean than plastic water bottles because the non-porous surface limits the build-up of residue.

But they can still be prone to smelling. If so, here are two suggestions for giving your stainless steel water bottle a deep clean: 

1. Put one teaspoon of baking soda in your bottle and fill it with warm water. Give the bottle a good shake, soak it for at least 10 minutes (or overnight if it needs a more thorough wash), then rinse it with cold water; or,
2. In your bottle, mix two teaspoons of distilled vinegar and half-fill with warm water. Let it soak for a few minutes and rinse. Repeat if necessary.

More cleaning tips

Tools For narrow bottlenecks, a slim brush is a handy cleaning tool. Some manufacturers sell these as accessories with their water bottles.

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