We often test water bottles in the Verywell Testing Lab. To find the best stainless steel options, we first research dozens of popular models from the most trusted brands. We also ask experts like Kristina Todin, RDN, a registered dietitian nutritionist, for her advice on how to shop for a stainless steel water bottle that's both functional and durable. We were initially impressed by MIRA's 17 Oz Stainless Steel Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle because of its leakproof seal. But it dented easily, and its heavy weight made it uncomfortable to hold. While the design may seem basic, we love how easy it is to sip from this bottle's wide mouth. It's also leakproof, for a tight seal you can rely on while traveling your favorite trails. But we noticed it tends to dent easily, so you may want to invest in a silicone sleeve from the brand to protect the base. We love that this sturdy bottle doesn't leak, even when dropped or flipped upside down. But unlike Takeya's Actives bottle, it did dent after multiple falls. Available in a range of jewel tones and sizes, you can grab a smaller bottle for sitting in your car's cupholders or a larger size to cut down on your refill trips. Just note that the larger sizes can start to feel heavy, weighing between 1 and 2 pounds each.

Sleek and well-designed, Hydro Flask's Standard Mouth Bottle is our recommendation for a stainless steel water bottle with a wide opening that's easy to drink from. We like that the mouth is the perfect width and features a comfortable lip. The size and shape makes adding ice, fruit, or other ingredients to your water a breeze.Water bottles can range in size from 12 ounces all the way up to 84 ounces (or even more). "When choosing a stainless steel bottle, consider what you’ll be using it for," Todini says. "If you’re active in sports choose a lightweight and slim bottle that can easily be carried, or if it’s your everyday water bottle choose one that fits in your bag or car’s cup holder." For a stainless steel water bottle that comes with a filter built in, we love this option from Brita. It filters out unpleasant tastes and odors, for fresh-tasting water with every sip. We like that the filter is included at a similar price to most other bottles on our list (although you'll need to replace it regularly to reap the full benefits, according to the brand). To test how portable the water bottles are, we try fitting them in a standard car cupholder and carry them around using their handles, if applicable. Finally, we drop each water bottle from waist height six times (three on its side and three on its lid). At the end of the test, we give each bottle a rating from 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (would recommend) in 6 key categories: drinkability, seal, portability, insulation, durability, and overall value. This lightweight bottle features a sleek, stylish design that comes in almost 40 colors and patterns, from solid hues to botanical prints. We love that it's leakproof, with a secure, screw-on lid. Available in three sizes (9 ounces, 17 ounces, and 25 ounces), the narrow silhouette makes this bottle easy to carry with you, sliding in most bags and cupholders with ease. The 64-ounce Iron Flask Water Bottle is our favorite large capacity option if you want to space out your refills. (However, we also stand by the other five sizes if you're in the market for something smaller.) We love that it comes with three different caps: a straw lid with a carrying loop, a flip lid, and a stainless steel cap that covers the bottle's wide mouth opening.

verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{ Next, we select a set bottles to test for ourselves. To see how effective each bottle's insulation was, we fill them with ice and cold water. We use a liquid thermometer to measure the temperature of the water immediately after we pour it, 3 hours later, and 6 hours later, as the bottles sit on a sunny windowsill.While this bottle keeps our water cold for hours, preserving ice cubes overnight with ease, Owala notes that it's not meant to hot hold beverages. Instead, we recommend S'well's Water Bottle for your tea or coffee. The double-walled insulation kept our water icy cold. Thermoflask notes that the bottle will chill drinks for 24 hours or keep them hot for 12, making it a solid choice for your morning coffee or tea. The attached handle is easy to hold, although we wish it could be folded down when not in use. Made from 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel, this Hydro Flask is BPA-free. But while it kept our water cold for three hours, we noticed the temperature had increased by 8 degrees after six hours—meaning this bottle's double-walled insulation isn't effective as others we tested. If insulation is important to you, we recommend investing in Takeya's Actives Water Bottle or Thermoflask's Water Bottle instead.