From Stanley Quenchers to HydroFlasks and Owala Freesips, metal water bottles have become a popular necessity advertised to keep your water ice-cold all day. They come with a wide variety of colors, patterns and styles that allow you to express yourself, and of course, they’re reusable. But what is hidden behind the pastel pinks and dark blues?
HydroFlask popularity arose very quickly, hitting its peak in 2019. They were known for their bright colors and covering them in fun stickers was the latest trend. My Hydroflask has many great qualities. It’s big, so I don’t need to refill it much throughout the day, it keeps my water cold for up to two days and it has never leaked. However, it has one dysfunction that really stands out to me—its ability to dent so easily. The first time I dropped my HydroFlask was because it fell from my desk, and not much to my surprise, when I picked it back up, its whole upper side was caved in. Even though this isn’t uncommon with metal water bottles, it’s upsetting since they’re not cheap. Ranging from $20 to $50, I’d want my HydroFlask to last a long time, which I guess they do—but not while staying pretty.
Stanley water bottles have been around for a very long time, their interest spiking these past few years. The Quencher was very quickly a water bottle you would see advertised all over social media and it felt like everyone had one. What I don’t understand is how anyone finds them practical. The handle is terrible because it prevents you from putting it in your backpack; therefore forcing you to hold it. Since the handle is on the side, it tilts when you walk, and not being leakproof, the tilting causes you to spill all your water. I also find it very heavy to hold from the side, which is impractical. However the Stanley Flip Straw Tumbler is completely different and a very great water bottle. It fits into car cup holders and backpacks and is completely leakproof. The handle is over the top, making it easy to hold so I almost never drop it. When I do drop it, it rarely dents. The only negative thing I’ve noticed is that the paint scratches rather easily.
Owalas are the latest trendy water bottle. With their different style cap and color combinations. They have many great qualities: a unique straw to drink from, a locking feature, a sturdy handle and they are very aesthetically pleasing. However, that is the big controversy with the Owala. Some love their color options while others hate them. I think the brands choice of combination isn’t the best. They often have very mismatched colors together. That leads to people switching the caps and the bottoms to their liking. This can be frustrating if you go to the store and the original water bottle you wanted has a completely different cap or bottle than you expected. Although the caps are something new, they aren’t all that great. They are a hard plastic that is easily breakable. While other bottles dent, the Owala cracks. This causes it to leak and any drop is a risk of breaking it permanently.
Personally, I think all these water bottles have many positives and negatives. But the one that sticks out the most is the Stanley Flip Straw Tumbler. It has the best durability and the best attributes as a whole.
