Takeya Actives with Spout Lid Review

Likes

Our testers love the 32-ounce size of the Takeya Actives bottle that kept us hydrated during an unseasonably hot spring in California. The bottle features a wide carry handle that comfortably fits a few fingers through and a leakproof design that's safe to toss into your pack. The bottle also includes a unique silicone “bumper” around the base to protect the exterior and make it more stable on your desk or gym bench. The spout lid makes it easy to hydrate on the go, though we wish the flow rate were faster.

The Takeya Actives bottle features a bumper for increased stability on slippery surfaces.   Credit: Trish Matheny

The handle isn't our favorite but does fit two fingers for easier transport.   Credit: Trish Matheny

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Dislikes

The Takeya Actives is a larger-bottle design that features a wider mouth opening and an intricate plastic lid, both of which are difficult to clean between uses. While it is dishwasher safe, we found the dishwasher couldn't fully clean the bottle's interior lip, so we ended up using a flexible brush to remove any residue. The plastic lid includes multiple gaskets that must be removed from the small spout and the wide-mouth connector to clean beneath.

Unfortunately, the Takeya Actives bottle really holds onto flavors between beverages, making it difficult to rotate between various forms of caffeine and hydration tablets. We suspect that most of the flavor transfer occurs in the plastic spout lid; because it features a more complex design, it can be difficult to remove all remnants of your last drink. If you purchase this bottle, we recommend just using it for water, pure and simple, rather than rotating between coffee, tea, and electrolyte drink mixes.

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Should You Buy the Takeya Actives with Spout Lid?

If you're interested in purchasing a water bottle dedicated solely to hydration rather than rotating between beverages, the Takeya Actives with Spout Lid isn't a bad choice. It doesn't leak, and it's slightly more affordable than other options. However, we aren't convinced it's worth it; other bottles do the job just as well without worrying about mildew and bacteria in the cap.

What Other Water Bottles Should You Consider?

The Takeya Actives isn't a bad option for those who just want a durable, insulated bottle. That said, there are many other bottles we'd buy over the Takeya. We prefer the Stanley Quencher H2.0 Flowstate as our hydration vessel if we have a big day of driving ahead of us, because it has a cupholder-friendly base, a straw, and a grab handle that makes it easy to use one-handed. We also love the more basic Yeti Rambler for its durable design that's perfect for hot and cold beverages, featuring a wide mouth that's easy to clean and a two-part spout for easy hydration. If you're on a budget and don't need insulation, the Nalgene Wide Mouth is a great budget-friendly design constructed from BPA-free plastic.