I have a confession: I’m not a big fan of water. Much to my doctor’s chagrin, I prefer coffee, tea and various sugary drinks. In fact, I don’t remember the last time I reached my recommended hydration goal (which, according to National Academy of Medicine, is nine glasses of water per day for women over 19). That said, I also like going to the gym, and the plastic water bottles I used to buy for $2 to $5 each were adding up — and weren’t very good for the planet, either. So I put on my deal-hunting hat, determined to find the best reusable water bottle. Reader, I found it: say hello to Owala FreeSip.
Amazon
This sleek bottle comes in four sizes (16, 24, 32, and 40 ounces), and the 24-ounce is narrow enough to fit in most car cup holders.
Lightning in a bottle
It’s strange to describe a bottle of water this way, but I’ll say it: Owala FreeSip It’s stunning. It was difficult to choose just one shade – all 20 colors are equally stunning – but I chose Iced Breeze. First impressions aside, it’s not much different from most other quality chuggers: it has the same stainless steel body, powder-coated exterior, and carrying handle for easy portability.
It’s easy to dismiss the FreeSip as a bottle that prioritizes form over function, but don’t let appearances fool you. To experience its magic, you need to open the lid. It’s called FreeSip for a reason. The dual-purpose spout allows you to sip or drink your drink without having to change the lid or remove the lid. Want to have a sip? You got it, thanks to the wide mouth opening. Prefer to go slow? Use the built-in straw. Can’t decide? Technically, you can use both, but I advise against it (unless you want to get your face and shirt wet). I’d even go so far as to say that having two ways to get water daily makes reaching those intake goals more fun — either way, it works for me.
Leaks?
It’s safe to say I’ve tested this water bottle. It was turned upside down in my gym bag and knocked off the kitchen counter by my cat. He even rolls around in the backseat of a car during hours-long trips. I never saw a drop of water escape. I have the bottle’s carefully designed locking cap to thank: It has a button opening that feels more secure than a traditional twist cap. As soon as I hear that click, I know spills won’t destroy my bag or floor. Take that, Stanley. Talking about…
Owala compared to Stanley
O Owala FreeSip and the Stanley Quencher They’re both true social media catnip, but they’re not interchangeable.
For starters, there is a price difference. The 40-ounce Owala FreeSip costs $38, while the Stanley Quencher costs $45 for the same size. The discrepancy also applies to smaller sizes – the 32-ounce Owala is $33, while the Stanley is $35. The 24-ounce Owala is $28, the 20-ounce cup of Stanley is $30. from Owala are also frequently offered for sale.
The Owala and Stanley are quite similar in terms of aesthetics: they’re both stainless steel, have a matte finish, and come in a ton of cute colors. And when it comes to temperature retention, both keep water cold for up to 24 hours.
The biggest difference is spill resistance. FreeSip can be turned upside down without leaking. If you do this with Quencher, your contents will come out of the straw. If you’re still undecided, our Commerce Manager waxed poetic about Stanley. We will leave the decision up to you.
Final thoughts
I stayed true to mine Owala FreeSip over the past few months, and I really can’t imagine going back to any of the other bottles I’ve tried. It has withstood a fair amount of wear and tear but still looks new. Most importantly, I find myself reaching for my water bottle instead of bad-for-me drinks more often. And hey, anything that can make water a little less boring is a win for me.
What Amazon Shoppers Say
I’m far from FreeSip’s single fan. In addition to its huge TikTok fan base, the bottle has gained a huge following among Amazon shoppers; in fact, it’s the retailer’s best-selling insulated water bottle, with more than 36,000 reviewers giving it a perfect five-star rating.
A fellow fan (who called the Owala “the hottest on the market”) wrote: “I would say these are better than the ones from Stanley or anything out there. I prefer to have a mouthpiece that doesn’t require a straw to stick out. The large 40-ounce bottle is perfect for working out.”
I totally agree with This reviewer’s statement that the bottle’s straw design is “… pure genius. I usually sip mindlessly while working or driving, and not having to crane my neck for every sip is a game changer. … This bottle also takes ‘hydration hero’ seriously. My water stays refreshingly cold for hours, even on scorching days. No more tepid disappointments – just consistent, fresh sips of satisfaction.”
That final reviewer may have said it best, albeit with a little sadness: “My girlfriend is a nurse and she loves this bottle more than me. I think the promise [of] more bottles of Owala are the only reason she’s still around right now.”
Owala
Turn, twist, shake: no matter how rough you are with your Owala, it won’t leak.
The revisions cited above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
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