Best Water Bottles (2025) | Garage Gym Reviews

From hard and soft coolers to tumblers and bottles, YETI is widely recognized for making products that keep food and beverages at the ideal temperature. In our hunt for the best overall water bottle, the company’s 36-oz. Rambler stood out from the pack thanks to its build quality, and excellent temperature retention. 

Rugged, reliable, and made with premium features that support a stress-free sipping experience, the YETI Rambler earned 5-out-of-5 ratings for materials and durability. 

“This is maybe the most sturdy-feeling water bottle I have ever used. I feel like I could drive over it with my car without damaging it more than aesthetically,” our product tester reported. 

Made with kitchen-grade stainless steel, this double-walled bottle has YETI’s signature shatter-resistant and dishwasher-safe “Chug Cap,” making it easy to quench your thirst without having to worry about leaks. While the design and capacity earned perfect scores, it’s important to note that its large size (36 oz) makes it too bulky for standard cup holders. 

“However, it’s easy enough to carry that I really don’t notice the size much,” our tester noted, giving this bottle a 3 out of 5 for portability. 

You shouldn’t have any troubles keeping your YETI clean, either. The wide-mouth opening and modular lid is easy to clean, and the Rambler is dish-washer safe. 

Finally, we’ll give a tip of the cap to YETI for knowing how to keep liquids cold. Our tester rated the temperature retention a 4.5 out of 5, stating that water stays cold for hours—even in the sun. While $50 seems steep for a water bottle, we believe it’s well worth the higher-than-average cost. Plus, YETI includes a five-year limited warranty that should give you added peace of mind about making that investment. 

Just like high-quality insulation helps a house retain its temperature, the right materials can help a bottle keep water cold for hours on end. Made of stainless steel with triple-layer insulation, the Owala FreeSip earns the nod as our best insulated water bottle. During testing, this 32-oz. Bottle kept water cold for up to 18 hours, earning a 4 out of 5 for temperature retention. 

“I had ice stay unmelted throughout most of the day, but by bedtime it had melted,” our tester reported. “The water was still cold even though I knew it probably wasn’t going to stay that way overnight.”  

Available in multiple sizes, the FreeSip has an innovative dual-function lid that allows you to sip through the built-in straw or tilt it back and chug. This user-friendly feature saves you the trouble of having to swap lids, earning the FreeSip a 5-out-of-5 rating for design and capacity. 

It also earned high marks for materials and durability (4 out of 5 stars), with our tester noting that the base of the bottle is super sturdy. 

“I feel like I could swing it around and it wouldn’t break. Even the plastic on the bottle feels strong, and after two weeks of use, the unlocking mechanism has no issues,” she says.

You also get excellent value with the FreeSip, which costs around $30 and comes with a lifetime warranty. 

“Having both the straw and regular top in one is worth the price point,” our tester says.

Want the convenience of drinking with a straw without worrying about sipping, tipping, and spilling? Our team voted the HydroFlask 32 oz Wide Mouth with Flex Straw Cap as the best option, with our testers praising its functionality and comfort. 

GGR managing editor and ISSA CPT Amanda Dvorak has owned multiple Hydro Flasks for six years and still uses them to this day. Although they have a tendency to get dented if you drop them, she gave the design and capacity a rock-solid score of 4 out of 5. 

“It doesn’t have line markings, but it is insulated, and it comes in multiple colors. There are also different caps you can get for most bottles, like a sport cap with a straw or a flex cap. I also like that you can get “boots” to put on the bottom to help prevent dings and dents on the bottom,” Amanda says. 

Besides the convenient built-in straw, the most impressive feature about the Hydro Flask is its ability to retain temperature. Amanda rated it a perfect 5 out of 5 in this all-important category. 

“I’ve known people who leave their Hydro Flasks full of ice in a hot car, and the ice is still there after several hours. For most people, they usually finish whatever’s in their bottles in less than 24 hours, but other customers online seem to say that ice can last up to two days,” she explains. 

Although the $45 price tag may seem steep, Amanda still gives the Hydro Flask a 3-out-of-5 rating for value. One of our other product testers agrees with that assessment. 

“They often have sales making it cheaper, there are a ton of different color options and these are built with strong materials,” our tester noted. 

Between its stainless steel construction, built-in straw, and double-wall vacuum insulation, the Camelbak Eddy®+ earns the nod for the best stainless steel water bottle. Available in several colors and capacities,  this highly rated bottle earned a perfect 5-out-of-5 design rating from our tester. 

“It holds 20 ounces, which is a good average size, it’s easy to carry, and it comes in a variety of colors,” she noted. 

In addition, our tester rated the materials and durability a 4 out of 5, with the stainless steel design showcasing its resiliency.

“It’s held up well even with a few drops already,” our tester explains. “However, it didn’t remain as cold as I would like for a heated workout class.” 

Despite earning a slightly disappointing 3-out-of-5 rating for temperature retention, this Camelbak model earned top marks for ease of cleaning and portability/leak-proofness. 

“Easy to carry and didn’t leak when flipping it over,” our tester reported. “All components are dishwasher safe, which made it very easy to clean before the first use.”

Another area where Camelbak stands out is customer experience. Our tester gave a perfect score in this category for several reasons. 

“They offer a lifetime warranty and also a free return policy, depending where you buy the item from,” she explains. 

At around $30, the Eddy+ provides good value, especially when you factor in the lifetime warranty. 

Whether you’re crushing a kettlebell HIIT workout or powering your way through Leg Day, you need to have water on hand. Our team nominated the Hydro Cell 40 oz Wide as the best gym water bottle thanks to its no-frills, high-volume design and affordable price point.

“This water bottle seems very durable upon first look at it. The metal feels nice and strong and I like the matte powder coating,” our tester noted, giving the Hydro Cell a 3-out-of-5 rating for materials and durability. 

Unfortunately, this bottle is not built for temperature retention. If you’re expecting cold water to stay cold, you should look elsewhere. 

I filled this water bottle up with all ice and water and it did not even last an hour. I got the water from one of our self-service water bottle stations so the water should be cold enough to keep the ice intact. I was very surprised how quickly it melted,” our tester noted, rating it a 1 out of 5 in this category. 

Luckily, though, that shouldn’t be a major issue if you’re primarily using this bottle during your workouts, as most folks should be finished within an hour. Really, this is the best option for the gym because it can hold 40 ounces of water — a great capacity if you’re working up a serious sweat. 

However, despite a wide-mouth design, our tester ran into some issues during cleaning. 

“I couldn’t reach my hand inside to get it clean. While it was easier for getting ice in, I still needed a long, large bottle brush to get to the bottom well,” she explained. 

Always on the go? Then you already know you need a water bottle that can fit anywhere and won’t leak inside your backpack or car. If you need a travel-friendly option, look no further than the BrüMate Rotera. 

Our testers appreciated its sleek, modern aesthetic, lightweight construction (a huge plus for traveling), and built-in straw with a twist-to-close mechanism that prevents any spills or leaks. 

“You can walk around with it, drink from it, shake it vigorously, or throw it in a gym bag without worrying about it leaking at all (when the straw is closed),” our tester explained, giving a 3.5-out-of-5 rating for portability and leak-proofness. 

Meanwhile, the design and capacity earned a slightly higher score of 4 out of 5. 

“It comes in a pretty neutral light tan color and has extra features like insulated walls. I also like that it holds 25 ounces, which is a good amount,” our tester noted. 

Unfortunately, the Rotera doesn’t retain temperature effectively. It earned one of the lowest scores out of all the bottles on this list in this category (2.5 out of 5). 

“It only provides a few hours of temperature retention—definitely well under 12 hours for cold that we like to see,” our tester explains. 

She also gave the same score for value, cautioning that the Rotera is “more expensive than competitors that have a similar number of features.

Bisphenonal A (BPA) is a chemical used in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins that’s been shown to be potentially harmful¹ when ingested. As such, many health and wellness-oriented folks aim for BPA-free products—including water bottles. If you’re looking to steer clear of BPA, we recommend the RTIC Outback Bottle. 

Earning a 4-out-of-5 rating for materials and durability, our testers noted that while it sustained minor dents after drops, it held up well with everyday use. 

“It’s very durable, BPA-free, and overall it’s just a good bottle,” she explains. 

Available in two capacities (32 ounces or 40 ounces), this stainless steel bottle features double-wall vacuum insulation that provides solid temperature retention. Our tester rated it a 3.5 out of 5 in this category, reporting that cold drinks stayed chilly for 25 hours and hot ones retained their temperature for up to six hours.

In addition, our tester likes that the Outback comes in several great colors and has a sippable option that allows you to quench your thirst without opening the entire bottle. As a result, she rated the design and capacity a 5 out of 5. 

The Outback also earned perfect scores for ease of cleaning and value. 

“It’s only $20, which is a good price for the features,” our tester summed up.

One callout: There isn’t any information on the warranty or return policies through the RTIC website. Therefore, our tester rated the customer experience a disappointing 2 out of 5. 

Out of all the options on this list, they don’t come bigger (literally) than the HydroJug Pro Jug V2. This hefty bottle impressed our testers with its size, affordable price tag, and functionality, earning the nod for best value water bottle.

Offering a capacity of 73 ounces (just over half a gallon), this bottle is designed for those who take their hydration seriously. 

“My recommended water intake is around 90 ounces a day, so I could finish two of these and easily be good to go,” our tester explained, giving the HydroJug Pro Jug V2 a perfect score of 5 out of 5 for design and capacity. In addition to its large capacity, this bottle features a secure flip-top straw, large carry handle, and wide-mouth opening  that makes it easy to add ice. 

Of course, a bottle of this size wasn’t going to earn great marks for portability (just a 3 out of 5). And because it’s made of plastic (BPA-free!), it doesn’t retain temperature well. 

“This bottle without the sleeve will not keep ice cold for very long. Around an hour I noticed my ice had melted already, and I filled it up about a third of the way with ice. Online it says you can buy a sleeve but when I went to search their site I could not find one compatible with this version of water bottle,” our tester noted, giving a 2-out-of-5 rating.

However, you can’t argue with the value you get, as this bottle is typically on sale for around $10-$12. 

“While the cold retention is almost non-existent, you just can’t beat the price,” our tester explains.

The Iron °Flask Camping & Hiking Hydration Flask takes home the title of best metal water bottle by offering excellent durability and dependability. This makes it a great choice if you’re a nature enthusiast who enjoys hiking, trail running, and other outdoor activities. With a rugged stainless steel design, this bottle scored a near-perfect 4.5 out of 5 for materials and durability. 

“The bottle feels very similar to a YETI bottle that I have used for years. The material feels thick and tough, while the cap and top appear to be sturdy plastic,” our tester explains. 

Earning a slightly lower score for capacity and design (3 out of 5), the Iron °Flask Camping & Hiking Hydration Flask has a flip-top straw cap that has a clip-on section to attach it to your belt or bag. 

“The straw design is a little flawed, as it doesn’t have a bevel edge, so with ice in the cup, the straw can get clogged relatively easily,” our tester notes. “You can fix that by swirling the bottle once or twice, but it’s still inconvenient.” 

Most importantly, though, you’ll never have to worry about leaking when you’re hiking, climbing, or partaking in strenuous activity. Our tester rated it a 5 out of 5 for leak-proofness. 

“I’ve used it for two weeks and had it upside down, on its side, and thrown around and have never seen a leak,” she reports. 

Although it didn’t quite earn a perfect score for temperature retention, the Camping & Hydration Flask still received a strong mark of 4 out of 5 in this category. 

“I found ice stayed in ice form for about three hours while using it outside in 80-degree weather, which feels like a pretty good amount of time,” our tester reported.