Written by Mia Aponte. Graphic by Charlotte Beck.
If you’ve been on the internet recently, then you know about trendy water bottles. It seems like everyone is loyal to their favorite brands to the point of obsession. The main three that I have seen are Stanleys, Owalas, and the classic Hydroflasks. Each is unique in its way, but there’s no denying that out of the three one remains supreme. Let’s explore the big water bottle debate.
Let’s start with Stanley. I did not know that Stanley has been around for over a century and has been known for their durability and timeless designs. But if I’m honest, every time I see Stanley it reminds me of a mini trash can. Specifically, the 40 oz. handle tumblers. I can never unsee that from TikTok. Although I don’t mind a big water bottle, something about it just gives off the energy that I’m trying to carry everything all at once. And I have seen it first hand not being leak-proof so they claim. Because once that bottle falls, it’s game over. I will say though the other styles seem okay, I don’t know if I could see myself using them. Not trying to judge anyone who has it but I love a big water bottle I can tuck away and not have to worry about it spilling. I think overall, that’s my biggest issue with them.
Next, let’s talk about the koala in the room. Owala’s burst onto the water bottle scene very quickly and I have heard nothing but good things. Besides the fact that when drinking you look like a Koala, their FreeSip spout is interesting to me. Like other water bottles you have to raise it to drink, the Owala doesn’t do that. With the spout you can sip it, not having to worry about if you tightened the cap right or if it will leak. I have honestly been thinking about making the switch to Owala, I’m not gonna lie. Even though I have been a loyal Hydroflask girlie, I love having a sip straw on my water bottle. I don’t know if there’s something about it, what can I say?
Lastly, my personal favorite and quite frankly a water bottle that I have had for a while is Hydroflask. One thing that I will say I really like about Hydroflasks is that without a doubt it will always be super cold water which is something I will always prefer. Also, I had over the years different sizes and there’s nothing like having a decent size water bottle that you can actually put inside your bag and not have to lug around. However, I have had some water leaks from the star cap at times, it has never been so bad where I have had severe damage. It’s super durable and if need be a weapon honestly. But I do wish the style was a bit more elevated like the other options.
So in the never-ending debate between Stanley, Owala, and Hydroflasks, there really is no definite victor— everyone has their personal preferences for emotional support water bottles.
