Finding the right water bottle for each activity requires lots of real-world testing. We tested these water bottles by using them daily, taking them on road trips, using them at the office, and bringing them on weekend adventures. They also accompanied us on more mundane outings where hydration is necessary, like days at work, trips to the gym, and yoga class. Through all of this travel and use, we filled these bottles from municipal faucets, springs and wells, and rivers and streams around the world. We found out the hard way when they leaked.
Drinkabilty
No one likes a leaky water bottle, that's why we designed this controlled test to determine which bottles could be counted on as leakproof and those prone to leaking a little (or a lot) if thrown in a bag or left on their side. We filled the bottles with blue-dyed water, sealed them tight, and left them on a white sheet of paper on their side for 24 hours. In the end, it was clear to see which bottles formed a perfect seal and which ones were not to be trusted. We also measured the utility of the closure and how easy it was to operate within a variety of lid shapes, sizes, and modalities.
Besides our extensive leakproof testing, we also carefully evaluated how easy it was to drink from the bottle, the size of the mouth opening, whether or not we could take a sip on the go, and whether you could open up the bottle with one hand. We then combined the performance of the lid with how user-friendly we found each design in order to determine the overall drinkability of each water bottle we reviewed.
Everyday Convenience
Next up, we used each bottle design extensively in our day to day lives. We took them to the office, around town for errands, while hitting the trail, and making our fitness gains at the gym. After getting to know each design, we noted which bottle was easy to toss into a pack, whether it fit into the cup holder in our car, how easy it was to carry on its own, and whether or not the bottle featured an ergonomic design that was easy to grasp. After using each bottle at home, in the office (coffee shop), at the gym, and on trails, both on day hikes and longer backcountry treks, we awarded the most convenient and aesthetic designs with the highest scores.
Cleaning
No one loves sipping their daily hydration from a smelly water bottle, so we took the opportunity to evaluate each design by how easy it was to clean between uses. We noted which bottles were dishwasher safe as well as those that required a special brush and elbow grease to get the job done. We paid special attention to how easy it was to clean the lip of the bottle, (where your mouth contacts the bottle) as well as how easy it was to remove each component for a good scrubbing. The designs that combine a wide mouth that's easy to clean along with a user-friendly lid with a small opening for better drinkability scored the highest in this metric.
Durability
Material quality and overall durability are key components of a water bottle design, especially the more expensive options you hope will provide a return on your investment for many years ahead. We aimed to distinguish between lower-quality (plastic) and higher-quality (metal/glass) materials. Bottles were analyzed for any materials, design, or features that contribute to quality and longevity. The highest scores were given to bottles that are both constructed of high-quality materials and have features that contribute to longevity.
Taste
While most manufacturers are now ensuring that their materials are free from bisphenols (BPA, etc.), water from a plastic bottle can still taste like plastic if left in the car on a hot day. For this metric, we measured how likely the materials are to leach plastic taste into the water bottle. We filled each bottle with 100 degree F water, let it sit for 30 minutes, and then tasted with a couple of fine-tuned palettes to determine whether or not any taste leached from the materials into our liquid. We also rotated between our morning brew, lemon water, electrolyte tablets, and protein shakes, to see how much flavor would transfer between beverages.
