Owala FreeSip Sway Named Best Stainless Steel Water Bottle

The Owala FreeSip Sway is the best stainless steel water bottle, according to a test of 11 models by Serious Eats. The bottle features a built-in straw, keeps water cold, is leakproof, and fits into a car cup holder.

A tester from the publication used each bottle for 24 hours, assessing ease of drinking, cleaning, durability, and cold retention. The goal was to find a reliable, everyday companion for activities like going to the gym or running errands. While reusable plastic bottles exist, stainless steel was noted for superior insulation and durability.

Spouts and Straws Made Drinking Easier

The test lineup included bottles with spouts, straws, narrow mouths, and flip-top caps. Models with straws were found to make sipping especially comfortable and helped the tester drink more water overall. They provided a steady stream and were convenient for use while driving, as they did not require tilting the head back.

The top picks, the Owala FreeSip Sway and Owala FreeSip, have a hybrid design. Their straws are integrated into the sipping port, creating a narrow opening for sipping, but the bottles also feature a larger spout for chugging water. Spouts were appreciated for delivering a heavier, controllable stream, ideal after a workout. The RTIC 32oz Outback Water Bottle, with its small flip-top opening, was an exception among the winners, as it still allowed controlled drinking.

Bottles with simple narrow mouths, like the S'well, were less pleasant. The tester reported that the plain stainless steel opening sometimes knocked against their teeth.

Wide Mouths Simplified Filling and Cleaning

Bottles with wide mouths-at least two inches in diameter-were effortless to fill from a faucet. Their larger openings also allowed a sponge or brush to fit inside for hand-washing. Narrow-mouth bottles were difficult to deep clean. The S'Well, with the narrowest mouth at 1.25 inches, was not dishwasher-safe, forcing the tester to rely on rinsing.

Design Features for Portability and Security

All favorite bottles had some form of handle for carrying or attaching to a bag. The tester preferred folding handles, like on the Owala FreeSip Vacuum Water Bottle, for saving space, and grippy silicone handles. Bottles with diameters under 3.25 inches generally fit in car cup holders, a noted convenience. The Owala Sway's tapered design allowed the 30-ounce bottle to fit comfortably.

Most bottles were leakproof, often featuring locking mechanisms like buttons or switches. The tester noted feeling at ease storing them in a bag. One outlier was the Hydro Flask 24 oz Wide Mouth With Flex Straw Cap. "After taking a sip from its flip-up straw and pushing it back down, it would sometimes fling droplets of water," the tester reported, likely due to trapped water.

Durability and Cold Retention Results

For durability, each bottle was dropped from waist height onto concrete five times. All sustained dents and scratches, but none broke or became unusable. The YETI Rambler 26 oz Bottle With Straw Cap had the fewest marks.

In cold retention tests, seven favorite bottles were filled with 43°F water. Temperatures were monitored every 30 minutes for three hours. All bottles kept water reasonably cold, with none rising above 47°F. The Stanley IceFlow Fast Flow Water Bottle stood out, maintaining 43°F for a full hour.

The tester's criteria for the best bottle included a comfortable spout or straw, a wide mouth, a leakproof design, and a handle. Based on the tests, two Owala models were highlighted as top picks.

The Owala FreeSip Sway was praised for its trendy design, double-locking system, and portability. The smaller 24-ounce Owala FreeSip was noted as a great alternative with similar features and enhanced portability due to its size. Both bottles require hand-washing of the main body, but their wide mouths make the task easy. The test concluded that the right cap style and design details significantly improve the daily water bottle experience.