Best Insulated Water Bottles: Affordable & Durable

CamelBak Podium Big Chill 24oz Insulated Water Bottle

Yes, this is a CamelBak water bottle at the very beginning of this review, which means that it is the cheapest option. You can get it for about $12 in the Prime Purple color, and that’s pretty insane! Especially considering that this is CamelBak – the quality and the performance are guaranteed to be there.

One thing to note is that this insulated water bottle is this cheap only in that specific color; other styles can go up to $25, so be careful what you’re purchasing.

The Podium bottle uses double-walled construction to keep your drinks cold longer than regular sports bottles. However, this is the only bottle I’m showing that is not made from stainless steel – that’s the catch behind the attractive price tag. Because of that, it’s not really something you can use with hot drinks.

But if you’re looking for a bottle that will keep your water cold when you’re out riding your bike or hiking, then this is an excellent option. It’s cheap, durable, and actually performs really well.

The cap features a self-sealing Jet Valve, which is leak-proof, spill-proof, and delivers high water flow. However, it’s a nightmare to clean – you have to take apart the entire spout, which requires watching some online tutorials.

And if you don’t manage to take it apart, there’s a good chance the interior will get moldy. But the rest of the bottle is fairly easy to clean, even though it is not dishwasher safe.

Drinco Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

The Drinco insulated water bottle is a good option if you’re on a really tight budget. It’s a vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottle that can keep drinks hot up to 12 hours and cold up to 24 hours – nothing too remarkable, but pretty great for the price point.

It is only available in two sizes (20 ounces and 30 ounces), so you don’t have a lot of options there. But, both sizes are BPA-free and you can actually get a pack of both of them for less than $30.

The cap has a loop that you can use to attach this bottle to your backpack with a carabiner. However, it is not the most durable; the lid is made from plastic, and if you drop it and it lands at a nasty angle, it will break.

In addition to that, the Drinco bottle features a very simple lid, which doesn’t have any remarkable leak-proof features. All you need to do to get access to that drink is unscrew the lid, which is nowhere near as sophisticated as on some other bottles you will see. Because of that, you should try to keep this bottle upright, to prevent any leaking.

The great thing about this water bottle is the price – both sizes are under $20, so it’s perfect if you’re looking for something inexpensive. However, keep in mind that it is not going to perform as well as a bottle that costs twice as much, so don’t be too disappointing if your tea doesn’t stay warm for 15 hours.

Contigo Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle

The Contigo bottle is another good inexpensive option. It is under $25, and you can even get some of the colors for only $15 – definitely check out Scuba, Monaco, and Very Berry. The only issue with the Contigo is the size range – there really isn’t one. You can only get the bottle in the 24 ounce size – if that’s too small or too big, you should skip ahead to the next bottle.

This bottle is made from double-walled vacuum insulated stainless steel with Thermalock technology, which ensures that the temperature of your drink stays the same temperature for a long time. Contigo claims that their bottle can keep a drink cold for up to 28 hours, and that is really good.

There is no information on how long it can keep a drink hot, so I’m assuming that it doesn’t perform too well in that area. However, if you’re looking specifically for something that can keep your drink cold, then this is still a very good option.

The lid is dishwasher safe, but the body of the bottle is hand wash only. But, the lid of the bottle is really good – it has a carry handle so that it’s convenient to take this bottle anywhere. It also features an autoseal button that seals the lid between sips, which ensures that there are no leaks or spills.

Another thing worth noting is that the Contigo bottle has a protective cover on the spout, which protects you from germs and bacteria.

Coleman FreeFlow AUTOSEAL Insulated Water Bottle

Coleman FreeFlow is a great bottle if you tend to spill a lot. First, you can’t get a sip from it unless you push the button in the back. And you can also completely lock that button in place, with a slide lock on the top of the cap.

This means that you can block the flow completely, which is perfect if you would just throw this inside your bag. With the security latch, you don’t ever have to worry about spilling water all over your stuff.

The Coleman bottle is available in two sizes, 24 and 40 ounces. That is not the best size range you will find, but it’s decent enough for the price point of this water bottle.

The inside of the bottle is made from durable, double-walled stainless steel, which does a great job at retaining the temperature of your drink. Coleman claims that the bottle can keep drinks cold up to 58 hours and hot up to 20 hours, but that is a little optimistic.

Realistically, you will get maybe 10-15 hours for a hot drink, and about 20 for (ice) cold ones. But that is still pretty good.

This insulated water bottle is completely BPA-free, so it is safe for both the environment and your health. However, it is not entirely dishwasher safe – you can throw the lid in the dishwasher, but you will have to wash the actual bottle by hand.

Another thing I want to mention is the pricing – be sure to check the prices of all colors, because you can get the bottle for 50% in certain styles.

Thermoflask 50063 Double Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle

Thermoflask is one of the brands that make outstanding insulated water bottles. You can rarely go wrong with one of their products, and that also applies to this insulated water bottle here.

It is made from vacuum-insulated double-walled stainless steel, and it will keep drinks hot up to 12 hours, and (ice) cold up to 24 hours. The latter means that you need to add ice to your water in order to keep it cold; do not freeze water inside this, unless you want to have a block of ice in the bottle the entire day.

One issue is the size variety; this bottle is only available in 24oz and 40oz. But it does come with two lids, and that is pretty great. One of them is a straw lid, which is best for casually sipping water. This lid is not insulated, so keep that in mind.

The other one is the chug lid, which is perfect for when you’re really feeling thirsty. Both lids are completely BPA-free and allow for one-handed hydrating. They are also leak-proof, so you don’t have to worry about water getting everywhere, as long as you re-seal the bottle properly after drinking.

Overall, the Thermoflask is a really good mid-range option. It is not as cheap as some of the other bottles, but it’s also not really that expensive – both sizes are under $30. When you take into consideration the quality of build and performance of this bottle, this easily becomes the best value for money you can get.

Iron Flask Sports Water Bottle

The Iron Flask insulated water bottle is one of the best affordable options. It’s under $25, and that is great value for money considering just how much product you’re getting.

The best thing about this bottle is that you actually get three lids and two straws with it. You get the stainless steel lid, the straw lid, and the flip lid, all of which are dishwasher safe. I think that’s insane value for money, especially when you check out some other brands that only give you a basic lid, and that requires another $15-20 for a more functional one.

Another thing worth noting is that only the straw lid features a loop that you can use to attach a carabiner; the other two don’t.

The bottle itself is not dishwasher safe, as is the case with all double-walled vacuum insulated stainless steel bottles. It can keep your drinks hot up to 12 hours and cold up to 24 hours, which is pretty good.

There is not a lot of size variety with the Iron Flask insulated water bottle – it is currently available only in 32oz and 40oz. However, it is usually available in two more sizes (22oz and 64oz), and they should be back in stock fairly soon.

One downside of the bottle is the durability of its exterior; just like Klean Kanteen, it has a powder coat finish. However, unlike the pricier alternative, the finish of the Iron Flask is not chip-resistant, so don’t expect this bottle to look new for a while. Especially if you’re taking it outdoors.

Takeya 50015 Originals Vacuum-Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Bottle

The Takeya bottle is a good mid-range option. It’s a very popular choice because it is a really good stainless steel insulated water bottle, and it’s not too expensive. The bottle can keep drinks hot for some 12 hours, and cold for about 24 hours – but that’s only if you put ice in the bottle.

It is usually available in 5 sizes, which is pretty great even though the 14 ounce bottle is not available at this moment. The one I’m talking about here is the 32 ounce bottle, and the price point for it is pretty good. Additionally, the 40 ounce bottle is only about $1 more expensive, and that is pretty cool. The wide mouth also helps when you want to throw some ice cubes in there!

The lid is leak-proof and it features a spout, as well as a convenient carry handle. You can also use the handle to attach the bottle to something with a carabiner, which is pretty convenient.  And what makes it even better is that the lid is dishwasher safe!

This should be a very durable bottle; the exterior is double powder coated, for a more secure grip and improved durability. It is not supposed to chip easily; in fact, some customers even reported washing this in the dishwasher, and not experiencing any issues with insulation or chipping.

But I would not recommend that, as it can seriously damage the double-walled insulation of the bottle. And the exterior does scratch somewhat if you rub it against other metals.

Healthy Human Classic Collection Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle

Healthy Human insulated water bottles are available in 4 sizes and lots of different colors. All of them are made from food-grade stainless steel and feature 5-layer insulation. The TempMax double-walled insulation promises to keep drinks hot up to 12 hours and ice cold up to 24 hours.

That doesn’t sound as impressive as the 50 hours of some other brands, but it is a very realistic estimate.

Another thing worth noting is that this bottle has a fairly wide mouth, and it can easily fit ice cubes. This also means that it’s easy to clean, which is a big bonus, considering that nothing about this bottle is dishwasher safe.

The lid of this insulated water bottle is very interesting; it is designed so that it fits any Healthy Human Stein bottle, regardless of its size and shape. In addition to that, it has a wide loop that allows for three-finger carrying, which is pretty convenient. It also comes with a carabiner, so that you can attach this bottle to your pack when you’re outdoors.

The interior of the lid is lined with steel so that your drink never comes into direct contact with plastic. It is also completely leak-proof, meaning that it is completely safe to just throw this bottle into your purse. However, this lid doesn’t have a spout or a straw, so you do have to remove it completely whenever you want to take a sip.

You can purchase the Healthy Human Flip N Sip lid that’s a lot more functional, but that adds another $15 to the price of the bottle. Additionally, the Flip N Sip lid is not recommended for use with hot drinks.

Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Water Bottle

The Klean Kanteen bottle is a good option if you want something pricier that you can use for a long time. It is available in three sizes – 20oz, 32oz, and 64oz – and in lots of different colors.

This double-walled stainless steel water bottle features Climate Lock insulation, which is able to keep drinks cold for up to 100 hours (64oz bottle), and hot up to 30 hours. Now, that does sound like an overstatement, but even if you only get half that time, it is still more than enough to get you through the day. And better than lots of cheaper bottles.

One small downside of this insulated water bottle is that you can’t drink directly from the cap. You need to unscrew it first, and then screw it back every single time you want to take a sip.

That’s not really ideal, and it also means that you could spill your drink if you’re not careful. However, there are plenty of other Klean Kanteen lids you can buy, that are more functional than this one.

And not everything is that bad about the lid you get on the bottle – it is completely leak-proof, so no liquid will leak when the bottle is properly closed. In addition to that, it has a loop that allows you to attach this to your backpack with a carabiner, and that’s pretty convenient.

The Klean Kanteen bottle is completely BPA-free, and it features a Klean Coat powder finish, which is chip-resistant and durable. Because of that, your bottle should look brand new for a while, especially if you take care of it properly. Hand washing is recommended, so avoid putting this in the dishwasher.

Hydro Flask Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle

Hydro Flask is a brand known for its high-quality insulated water bottles. Their bottles are not cheap at all, but they easily outperform most of their competitors. And the same goes for this water bottle – its interior is made from double-walled stainless steel that does an amazing job when it comes to retaining the temperature of your drink.

The also helps with that, since it is also insulated. However, the basic lid you get with this bottle is just bad – it screws over the mouth of the bottle and that’s it. There is no spout or any kind of mechanism on the leak-proof lid, and that’s a bit disappointing.

The good news is that Hydro Flask makes lots of different lids, so you can buy something a bit more functional. But, one of their lids will cost you as much as a cheaper water bottle, which sucks.

If you can afford to spend a bit more money on a water bottle and a cap, then I would highly recommend Hydro Flask. The quality of it is undeniable – the TempShield technology can keep any drink hot for up to 6 hours and your cold water cold for up to 24 hours. And, the wide mouth options are great.

That might sound a bit disappointing when you compare it to 50 hours other companies promise, but Hydro Flask is much more realistic in their estimates.

The Hydro Flask insulated water bottle is available in four sizes – 18oz, 32oz, 40oz, and 64oz. And there is also a lot of color variety, so it should be easy to find something that’s exactly your style.