Best water bottles: reusable, BPA-free and filter bottles

Modern insulated water bottles are genius bits of kit, designed to offer all the insulating functionality of a traditional thermos in a smaller, budget-friendly package. Obviously, you compromise some of the capacity and weight with double-lined insulation.

We tested a range of stainless steel, glass, plastic and foldable water bottles on the market, to bring you our unbiased list of the best water bottles to buy.

For over 400 buyers' guides including on buying the best dishwasher and the best dishwasher tablets, visit our product reviews section. You'll find honest reviews of the best sports water bottles, reusable coffee cups, best lunchboxes and much more.

Jump to:

• Best water bottles at a glance
• Best water bottles to buy 2024
• How to choose the best water bottle
• What is a BPA-free plastic water bottle?
• How we tested water bottles

Best water bottles at a glance

• Best overall water bottle: Camelbak Eddy+ insulated bottle, £28
• Best water bottle for bags: Hip water bottle, £16.99
• Best water bottle for travelling: Lifestraw Go stainless steel bottle, £80.80
• Best blow-out insulated water bottle: Hydro Flask water bottle, £35
• Best water bottle for filtered water: BRITA Active water filter water bottle, £11.99
• Most versatile water bottle: Bobble Plus water bottle, £8.99
• Best glass water bottle: Black + Blum glass water bottle, £21.95
• Best lightweight water bottle: Dopper bottle, from £12.95
• Best hydration tracker water bottle: Hydrate water bottle, £9.99
• Best canteen-style bottle: Elephant Box single wall water bottle, £15

Best water bottles to buy in 2024

Camelbak Eddy+ insulated bottle

Best overall water bottle

Pros:

• Keeps water cold
• Unique straw won’t leak
• Eco-friendly

Cons

• Straw can take some getting used to
• Heavy for plastic

Star rating: 5/5

There’s very little we don’t like about this bottle, which is a step up from the classic Camelbak Eddy+ bottle, offering insulation via its double-walled plastic shell. Sturdily made, it sits between double-walled aluminium bottles and single-walled plastic in terms of weight, has a sturdy carrying handle and a unique ‘flip, bite, sip’ straw.

Biting on the straw opens the sealed end so you can drink from it, which takes a bit of getting used to but means the bottle is spill-proof even when the straw is lifted up from its recess – a godsend for klutzes. The lid is also secure and survived our leak test without any problems.

Available in jewel-bright purple or blue, this bottle looks the part and its green credentials go beyond simply reducing plastic waste, as it’s made from 50 per cent recycled material. Even better, the whole thing is dishwasher-proof. Although it doesn’t make any specific insulation claims, we find that it keeps water cool throughout a day in the office. The thoughtful design of this bottle makes it a winning all-rounder.

Hip water bottle

Best water bottle for bags

Pros:

• Stylish, unusual look
• Lightweight and easy to carry
• Dishwasher-safe

Cons:

• No insulating capabilities

Star rating: 5/5

This great-looking, good-value flask is flat, so it can be carried in a car door or wide pocket as well as a bag (or simply in your hand, thanks to the grippy silicone sleeve and a carry handle that's sturdy enough to use when the bottle is full). It’s a relatively lightweight bottle, but that doesn’t stop it being pretty robust, with the silicone protecting it nicely during our drop test.

A wide neck makes it easy to fill and it's even big enough for ice cubes. The clear top allows you to see how much water you’re putting in (up to 650ml). Although it has no straw, it’s nice to drink from – no water was lost during the testing of this bottle while drinking from it or in transit.

Although it doesn’t have any insulating properties, this bottle is dishwasher-safe, which is always a bonus. Overall, we mostly enjoy whipping this bottle out thanks to its unusual, vintage-meets-modern look – it comes in 11 colours, from hot pink to black, so you’ll be spoilt for choice.

LifeStraw Go stainless steel water bottle

Best water bottle for travelling

Pros:

• Unbeatable double filtration
• Sturdy

Cons:

• Expensive
• Hard to drink from

Star rating: 5/5

At a shade under £62, this model offers top-of-the-range filtration, making it ideal for trekking and camping. The only bottle we tested that comes with a user manual, it can filter bacteria, parasites, chemicals, pesticides and the microplastics we’re all trying to reduce by using a reusable water bottle in the first place.

Its built-in membrane microfilter removes 99.99 per cent of E.coli and can filter an impressive 4,000 litres. An activated carbon filter at the top of the bottle also reduces chlorine and organic chemical matter such as pesticides. It’s even got a conscience: for every product purchased, a child in need receives safe drinking water for a full school year.

It’s not ideally designed when considered purely as a drinking vessel: the filtration levels mean there is a lot of drag when you drink through the bottle’s straw and filling it is a pain when the filter soaks up water and is so bulky – you have to leave room for it so the bottle doesn’t overflow.

It’s also incredibly heavy: built like a dumper truck with a carabiner attached, it’s a whopping 1,240g when filled – although these are probably small concerns when you’re up a mountain on the hunt for clean water.

Hydro Flask water bottle

Best blow-out insulated water bottle

Pros:

• Double-insulated TempShield wall vacuum insulation
• Lifetime warranty

Cons:

• Pricey
• Screw top means you need two hands for drinking

Star rating: 4.5/5

One of the great advantages of this Hydro Flask reusable water bottle is that you’re given the functionality of a thermos flask in the tiny package of a normal water bottle. Portability and style have both been given equal weight, but functionality has been prioritised.

As claimed, the double-walled vacuum insulation keeps liquids cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. The BPA- and phthalate-free cap screws into nicely engineered screw threads, so you avoid that squeak of metal on metal that sometimes accompanies stainless steel bottles. Made from 18/8 stainless steel, it also doesn’t retain tastes or flavour.

Its insulated 'flex cap' has a novel rubber handle secured by two large circular rivets – they add to this bottle’s style and sturdiness. It also helps with the unscrew afterwards. There were no leaks after being left upside-down for 24 hours, or when thrown around inside a bag.

Hydro Flask's ‘standard’ bottle opening is broad enough to add ice cubes or fresh fruit. A sports cap can be bought separately for the bottle, which is a good alternative for activities or grabbing while driving.

A matte finish gives the bottle a nice non-slip quality. The exterior never feels hot to touch, even when filled with boiling water, making it safer for screwing the lid on.

Although it feels heavy-duty, this is a lightweight insulated bottle that could easily be taken on adventures. It ultimately gives you control over your drinks, whatever the weather, and is available in a selection of cheery, bright colours.

BRITA Active water filter bottle

Best water bottle for filtered water

Pros:

• Effectively filters water
• Comes with cup/lid and sports cap
• Dishwasher-safe

Cons:

• Needs replacement filters

Star rating: 4.5/5

While most of us agree that carrying a reusable bottle is a sensible step towards helping reduce plastic waste, one drawback can be that filling it from the tap or a public water fountain doesn’t give you water as pure as the bottled stuff. There are a few good filter bottles on the market, but our favourite is this one from BRITA.

It comes with one free filter that can tackle chlorine and trace impurities while preserving minerals, and it's easy to fit after a minute’s soak in warm water. It should last for four weeks (or 60 litres/100 uses), and replacement filters cost around £3 each, so although the bottle itself is great-value at £13, the ongoing cost should be taken into account – although it’s still a bargain compared to bottled water.

In terms of function, this bottle performs robustly: you might experience some drag when drinking through the sports cap if your tap water is particularly crammed with particles, but even then, the squeezy sides make drinking a cinch.

A large lid that doubles as a cup and fits onto the bottom of the bottle helps prevent leakage, but the sports cap doesn’t drip anyway. Made from lightweight plastic, it’s a compact size for its 600ml capacity and includes a small carry loop that could be clipped to a backpack.

On the downsides, it doesn’t have any insulating properties and is fairly functional-looking, but those are small niggles. If you want your water to taste clean, this is a great option, and if you change your mind it even has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Bobble Plus water bottle

Most versatile water bottle

Pros:

• Features an infuser
• Dishwasher-safe

Cons:

• One size only

Star rating: 4/5

If you're looking for a versatile, reusable water bottle, the Bobble Plus is our recommended best buy. It’s a step-up from Bobble’s original filter bottle and features a new modular cap system to make water taste better.

A filter cage with honeycomb holes attaches to the mouthpiece which you screw onto the bottle. It acts as a filter for fruit or vegetables that will infuse the water. An easily loaded charcoal filter is also provided – simply drop it into the filter cage before attaching to the mouthpiece.

Instructions recommend you squeeze one bottle's worth of water through the new filter before drinking to wash through any carbon residue. After doing so, the water clarity is perfect and there's no tang of chlorine or fluoride that you often get with tap water.

You will have to buy replacement filters, but they're inexpensive and each lasts the equivalent of 300 plastic water bottles. A nice feature is the soft-touch lid that sits snugly over the plastic drinking cap for hygiene. It’s connected to the bottle by a strong silicone strap – great for hooking onto a finger.

BPA-free, there is no chemical smell on opening and no chemical taste when drinking without the filter (even after leaving water in it overnight).

A range of colours are available, so for a bottle you can personalise in multiple ways – as well as get purified water on the go – the Bobble is a reasonably priced and versatile option.

Black + Blum glass water bottle

Best glass water bottle

Pros:

• Carry handle
• Stylish look with a wide choice of colours
• Unique bottle neck

Cons:

• No insulation
• Heavy, and could break if dropped on a hard surface

Star rating: 4/5

We tested a few glass water bottles, but this was our favourite. Although heavier than plastic and lacking the insulating properties of aluminium, glass does allow for extra style and eco-credentials and eliminates any issues with water absorbing the taste of the inside of the bottle. This Black + Blum model is the best of the glass bunch.

Made from tough borosilicate glass wrapped in silicone to prevent condensation, potential slippage and breakage from knocks (although we didn’t perform the drop test this model), it looks great and performs well. A slim shape and secure lid make it suitable to carry in a bag or hold by the carry loop threaded through the lid – although when full it’s quite heavy, so it’s perhaps best kept to hand on your desk.

A lot of thought has gone into the design: it’s easy to fill, with a neck wide enough to fit an ice cube, and, uniquely, the thread is inside the neck instead of the outside, making it pleasant to drink from and setting it apart from similar models. It also comes in a choice of seven understated colours and is recyclable.

Dopper bottle

• Available from Alpine Trek (£11.95)

Best lightweight water bottle

Pros:

• Easy to carry
• Comes with its own cup

Cons:

• Low capacity
• No insulating properties

Star rating: 4/5

Although a fairly basic reusable bottle, the Dopper bottle comes with plenty of benefits to make it well worth it. Slimline and lightweight (coming in at just 104g when empty), this bottle is the perfect size for slipping into a small bag or large pocket when you’re out and about.

A small neck (about the same size as a standard plastic bottle) makes it easy to drink from while walking and textured sides stop it slipping out of your hand. At first look, it has an odd-looking lid, until you realise the whole top third of the whole bottle unscrews and turns into a drinking cup complete with (non-suction) base. It’s a clever feature that helps with cleaning too, but this bottle is also dishwasher-safe. The wider top allows you to add ice cubes to your drink, too.

And, of course, as this is a Dopper product, you’re doing some good: Dopper gives 5 per cent of its net turnover to the Dopper Foundation, which helps reduce plastic pollution and provides drinking water to those who need it. This bottle might not have the bells and whistles of other models, but it’s got plenty else to recommend it.

Available from:

• Alpine Trek (£11.95)

Hydrate original hydration tracker bottle

Best hydration tracker water bottle

Pros:

• Tracks water consumption
• Impressively compact
• Wide neck, so easy to fill

Cons:

• No insulation

Star rating: 4/5

Although the debate over exactly how much water we should drink every day rages on, this bottle will help you stay hydrated all day. Marks on the sides of the bottles remind you to keep drinking, including encouraging slogans such as ‘keep drinking!’ and ‘nearly there’ to keep you topped up from 8am to 6pm.

As well as offering emotional encouragement, this bottle is functional. Impressively slim and lightweight, we're surprised by its 900ml capacity. As well as fitting into a moderately sized bag, it features a carry loop. Its wide neck is easy to fill and fits ice cubes, while a recessed flip-straw encourages regular sipping but doesn’t leak. It’s also perfectly robust and comes in four pastel shades.

It’s a shame the straw isn’t rounded, as its square edges feel odd to drink from at first, but that’s a small niggle, as is the fact that this bottle isn’t insulated. It’s clearly designed for your desk or the gym rather than a hike, so that’s unlikely to be a big issue. Handwash only, it comes with a straw cleaning brush, as well as a ‘healthy pee chart’ to check the colour of your urine. This is a bottle that really wants you to stay hydrated and is prepared to put in the effort.

Elephant Box single-wall water bottle 500ml

• Available from Elephant Box (£15)

Best canteen-style bottle

Pros:

• Classic design
• Built to last
• Lightweight

Cons

• No insulation
• Attracts fingerprints

Star rating: 4/5

This was the best of the canteen-style bottles we tested and is ideal if you’re looking for a compact, sleek, lightweight water bottle. Elephant Box’s eco credentials put them ahead of the bunch, with a commitment to making hard-wearing products designed to reduce plastic waste. This bottle comes with a 15-year warranty, making the fairly high £18 price tag money well spent. It’s also made from up to 50 per cent recycled steel and claims to be infinitely recyclable – a great choice for the eco-minded.

This bottle has a wide neck that’s ideal for plopping in some ice cubes and a secure lid. It easily passed our drop test, and its compact size makes it easy to carry in your hand or bag or by the carry loop. As it’s made from single-wall brushed aluminium, it doesn’t offer insulation but is impressively lightweight (180g when empty) and sleekly stylish in a utilitarian kind of way. But, it does tend to attract fingerprint smudges.

It’s also leakproof and, apart from the lid, dishwasher-safe. We feel like this bottle will see you through years of adventures, making it a winner for us.

Available from:

• Elephant Box (£15)

How to choose the best water bottle

As a starting point, think about your lifestyle and what you really need. Are you always on the move and in need of something light, or would you prefer a bottle you can use one-handed? Perhaps it’s filtered water on the go for travel and exercise or simply for keeping on your desk.

Whether you’re looking for a bottle to carry on your commute, a stylish one ideal for gifting or something a bit more robust for adventures, a bottle has been built to suit every imaginable need.

What is a BPA-free plastic water bottle?

BPA is an abbreviation of bisphenol A. BPA, a chemical found in common polycarbonate plastics and resins, can leach into foods and liquids, according to research. It can also have a negative effect on health, so we’ve only tested products that are labelled BPA-free.

How we tested water bottles

We tested a representative sample of water bottles and marked them against the following test criteria:

Ease of filling: is the lid easy to open? Is the neck wide enough to fill without spilling?

Water flow: is it easy to drink from? Do straws work well?

How much liquid it holds versus its overall size: would it be cumbersome in a bag?

General ease of carrying: does it fit comfortably in your hand?

Quality of the materials: is the bottle hardy, sturdy and robust?

Weight: with some cooling materials being quite heavy, water bottles can end up weighing a tonne when carried around all day.

Cooling properties: we looked for bottles with the ability to cool water and keep it cool. In some cases, this feature wasn't available but we made sure the bottles had other redeeming qualities to compensate.

Aesthetics: we looked for bottles with a bit of character and style. Any additional features, such as folding straws or fruit-infusing compartments, were taken into consideration.

Water retention: every bottle was put through our 'bag test'; filled to the top, closed tightly shut and then shaken around in a bag before being checked for leaks. Any bottles that didn't pass the bag test were disqualified.

Robustness: each bottle was dropped from chest height onto a wooden kitchen floor. Any damage was recorded and if elements broke or caused leaks, the bottle was disqualified.

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