The Water Bottle Wars Are Still Raging — These Are the Front-Runners

Waterdrop Steel Bottle ($52)

This water bottle is unique and great for people who want something more modern-looking than the typical stainless-steel bottles. This comes in various colors with a neutral wood-finish lid, but the bottle doesn't compromise on the benefits of stainless steel, like keeping your drinks cold for hours. The standout feature of Waterdrop is the flavor cubes you add to your water to give it a punch of taste without the sugar. You can read our full review of the bottle here.

Editor Quote: "The variety of Microdrink flavors is a game changer, each offering unique benefits with different ingredient formulations. Beyond addressing skin goals like 'youth' and 'glow,' the brand also caters to cravings, introducing its latest flavor: Cola." — Marisa Petrarca, Contributing Editor, Commerce

BrüMate Water Bottle ($30)

This leakproof, cup-holder-friendly tumbler is a step away from the cold-looking water bottles and takes a dip over to the more fun side with cute colors and finishes like Onyx Leopard and Glitter Rose Gold. This keeps your cold beverages cold for 24-plus hours and hot beverages at the perfect temperature for six. It even washes perfectly in the upper rack of your dishwasher, so it's very low load to use every day. Read our full review of the BrüMate bottle here.

Editor Quote: "If you're looking to up your water intake but being busy or clumsy is holding you back — I definitely recommend investing in the BrüMate Era. It's easy to take everywhere with you, thanks to the slim design, and you won't have to worry about constantly cleaning spills (or even holding it upright as you run out the door)." — Jordan Shalhoub, Lead Social Producer

Stanley Aerolight IceFlow Water Bottle ($35)

For those who love the Stanley brand but need a leakproof cup, the Aerolight IceFlow bottle is exactly that. It has everything that's made this brand popular again — the stainless-steel material, the ability to keep things really cold or really hot, and the durability — while offering more comfort for those who prefer a spout over a straw. Read our full review of the Stanley Aerolight here.

Editor Quote: "The bottle's double-wall vacuum insulation helps to keep any liquids cold for up to 10 hours, making it a great tool for staying hydrated on long days outside of the house. I'd recommend this bottle to anyone who wants to ensure they stay well-hydrated throughout their day-to-day, and all without having to lug around a clunky, oversize tumbler." — Kyley Warren, Assistant Editor, Commerce

Air Up Water Bottle ($32 and up)

This water bottle is more than just a holder of water; it's the perfect compromise for someone who wants to increase their water intake but keep their favorite La Croix flavors. The bottle is made of durable frosted plastic and comes with a straw and a cap, but the biggest selling point is the Air Up pods, which use scents your nose can smell to give you the sensation that you're drinking flavored water. Read our full review of the Air Up here.

Editor Quote: "If you like to dabble in flavored water every so often but aren't necessarily committed to buying flavor boosters or flavored cans or bottles, then Air Up could be a great option — you can slip a pod on when you feel like flavoring and use it as a normal bottle the rest of the time.

"Another person who may want to go all in on Air Up is anyone who loves flavored waters but wants an option with no sugary add-ins or vague 'natural flavorings.'" — Mirel Zaman, Health & Fitness Director

Contigo Uptown Dual-Sip Tumbler ($29)

This Dual-Sip 18-ounce stainless-steel tumbler is perfect for your morning coffee on your way to work and water later in the day after the gym. It keeps cold drinks cold for up to 20 hours and hot drinks at the perfect temperature for seven, and it's so versatile. Read our full review of this tumbler here.

Editor Quote: "If you're anything like myself, a spiller, you know the difficulties of having a tumbler that leaks all over the place when bumped in the wrong direction. This tumbler provides options for sipping and is nice if you want to use it to switch between hot and cold beverages. It's an all-in-one cup that you can switch between rather than having multiple cups for multiple purposes, and that alone is a good reason to purchase it." — Haley Lyndes, Former Assistant Editor

Simple Modern Insulated Tumbler Cup With Flip Lid and Straw Lid ($26)

This versatile cup has all the perks we'd want from a water bottle, like a leakproof flip lid (perfect for hot beverages) and a splash-proof straw lid (ideal for cold drinks), and the vacuum-sealed stainless-steel cup fits most cupholders. It's important to note that the lids are dishwasher safe, but the bottle must be handwashed. Read our full review of the Simple Modern water bottle here.

Editor Quote: "I like this bottle for a few key reasons. Firstly, it doesn't make water taste weird or like aluminum, as so many stainless-steel reusable bottles are wont to do. Secondly, it keeps the water the exact desired temperature. If I put cold water in, it stays cold, and if I choose room temperature, it doesn't get hot or gross in any way." — India Yaffe, Former Associate Editor

Hidrate Spark ($70)

The stand-out feature of this bottle is the LED smart sensor puck that really helps push you to drink up your water. The puck sits at the bottom of the bottle and lights up as a reminder to take another sip. It syncs with your smartphone with a free app (yes, for iOS and Android) for that gentle push to take a moment to hydrate. Of course, it's also BPA-free, vacuum-insulated, and made with stainless steel, which helps keep your drinks at the perfect temperature. Read our full review of this smart water bottle here.

Editor Quote: "When you first get the bottle, you have to calibrate it so the puck can accurately detect the weight of an empty bottle, full bottle, and everything in between. The puck will send water intake data to the app via Bluetooth throughout the day, and you can view your progress in real time with numerical results. By far, this feature is what makes the bottle worth it!" — Anvita Reddy, Assistant Editor, Commerce

Larq Water Bottle ($99)

This water bottle is not like any other you've probably used, and that's what makes it so special. This bottle is "self-cleaning," which means the inside of your bottle stays clean, but it goes one step further by purifying your water, all with the touch of a button. With this feature, it needs to be charged but it only needs to be charged once per month. It can be used for both hot and cold beverages, keeping hot drinks at the right temperature for 12 hours and cold drinks cool for 24 hours. Read our full review of the Larq water bottle here.

Editor Quote: "Here's what makes this bottle so special: it's self-cleaning. I'll let that sink in for a second before proceeding. If you've ever had a water bottle that does not pass the sniff test, you know what a game changer this is . . . the TL;DR version is that it uses UV light to both clean the bottle and purify the water. So if you need to fill your bottle up at a place where you're not confident on the water quality, you'll be happy you have your Larq bottle." — IY

Stanley IceFlow Tumbler ($45)

This tumbler is ideal for anyone struggling to keep their water bottle full. It comes in a range of sizes from 20 ounces to 96 ounces and a slew of colors to fit your vibe. Plus, it keeps drinks cold for up to 14 hours and keeps ice frozen for up to two and a half days, which is hard to beat. Read our full review of the Stanley IceFlow here.

Editor Quote: "I know Stanley is the go-to for many of my friends who are big on camping — think: on-the-go coffee brewers and portable coolers. But since I'm more of a city girl, the 40-ounce Flip Straw Jug from their new IceFlow™ collection is much more up my alley and checks every box. Plus, it comes in those cool-girl colors I'm looking for." — Rayna Rossitto, Associate Editor and Social Media Strategist, Branded

Yeti Rambler Water Bottle ($50)

The Yeti Rambler has been a favorite among celebrities like Olivia Wilde, who's been spotted with the bottle post-workout. This bottle is leakproof and double-wall vacuum insulated, which means it will keep cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. Another unique feature is the Chug Cap, which allows you to drink up faster if you need to quickly quench your thirst after a workout.

Editor Quote: "It's easy to see why Wilde chose this particular water bottle from the increasingly crowded market of trendy options. The stainless-steel drinkware is insulated, keeping beverages icy cold for long periods of time, and the leakproof Chug Cap is ideal for mid-workout water breaks. There's also a nifty top handle for easy carrying." – Victoria Messina, Former Senior Editor

Owala FreeSip Water Bottle ($28)

On TikTok, the Owala Water Bottle vies with the Stanley tumbler for the position of most beloved water bottle. These bottles are BPA-, lead-, and phthalate-free and touted as being leak-free. The FreeSip comes in a variety of sizes and colors, with a built–in straw and spout, allowing users to drink as quickly or as little as they want. The insulation keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours, though hot liquids aren't compatible with this one.

Editor Quote: "When put to the test (and by that, we mean flipped completely upside down on camera), Stanley simply didn't hold up against other trendy tumblers, including the leakproof Owala. But even beyond that, people on TikTok say Owala water bottles just make more sense in their day-to-day lives." — Chandler Plante, Assistant Editor, Health & Fitness

Healthish WB-1 ($13)

This Healthish option has a great minimal but modern look with a white bottle and rose gold lid. Etched on the bottle are time markers to help you stay on top of your hydration throughout the day. The bottle holds one liter of water and has accessories you can purchase to increase the function of your water intake, including a brush to help clean the inside and the lid, plus ice trays that make ice the perfect size and shape for the bottle.

BuildLife Gallon Motivational Water Bottle ($18)

For the really thirsty water drinker, this gallon water bottle ensures you're set for drinks for a while while on the go. The bigger size is ideal for someone who will be out for a full day or more, and it even has motivational phrases to encourage you to stick to your water intake goals. It's a little heavier than some other bottles because it holds so much water, but that's an easy trade-off for some people.