I found ice cubes in this $25 stainless steel water bottle 24 hours after filling it
The Insider Picks team writes about stuff we think you'll like. Business Insider has affiliate partnerships so we get a share of the revenue from your purchase.
- Takeya's Actives Insulated Stainless Water Bottle ($23-$36) is cheap, but it works really well.
- It's easy to drink out of, as much as $22 cheaper than Hydro Flask, and consistently maintains temperature. I use the Takeya water bottle in the office, gym, and at home.
- When I filled it with ice and cold brew at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday, there were still ice cubes in it when I checked back at 9 a.m. on Wednesday.
- It also has a lifetime warranty, and a clip that can attach to a gym bag by a carabiner.
If you're looking to cut out plastic water bottles - or just seeking ideal, preternatural temperature control - you're probably going to wind up shopping the hallowed aisles of stainless steel, double wall vacuum-insulated bottles. And, while you're there, you should check out the cheap but efficient Takeya Actives Water Bottle ($22-$36), especially if you lead an active lifestyle. Over the last couple of months, it has become my go-to companion for everything from the office to home to nightly workouts.
Takeya makes my default recommendation for an inexpensive, convenient, and effective at-home cold brew maker, so I was willing to bet their take on the stainless steel water bottle would be good too. And it is - it's easy to drink out of, big enough not to require too frequent of refills, and a standout at keeping beverages at their ideal temperature.
When I filled it with ice and cold brew at 9 a.m. on a Tuesday, there were still ice cubes floating in it when I checked back at 9 a.m. on Wednesday. By comparison, another popular option for temperature control is Hydro Flask's 32 oz stainless steel sports water bottle. The Hydro Flask claims to keep hot drinks hot up to six hours, and cold drinks cold up to 24 hours. Takeya claims to keep hot drinks hot for up to 12 hours, and cold drinks cold for up to 24 hours. Though Insider Picks reporter Brandt Ranj found Hydro Flask's numbers to be conservative, Takeya stacks up. Takeya is also up to $22 cheaper; the Hydro Flask usually retails for $40 on its site and $45 on Amazon, though a straw lid is included in Amazon's price and sold separately ($10) on Hydro Flask. For some athletes, the wide straw lid also isn't as convenient while working out as Takeya's twist-off. You can purchase an insulated sport cap on Hydro Flask, too, but it's $10 more and not compatible with hot liquids.
In fact, Takeya's lid deserves its own little shoutout.
It's insulated, outfitted with leak-proof technology that hasn't failed me yet, and the spout is convenient enough for the one-handed pouring of tea into a cup or water into your mouth during a fast-paced workout. The stainless-steel pin also locks the hinge when it's flipped open, so you can drink without getting smacked by the cap when you tilt the bottle upwards. Additionally, the design has a loop for easy clipping onto your bags.
Another smart feature Takeya's bottle has in common with more expensive options is a wide-mouth design that's easier to accommodate ice and cleaning than a narrow opening.
It's also designed for durability with a powder finish and removable silicone bumper, so you can knock it around without worrying. And what's more, it has a lifetime warranty.
All in all, the Takeya Actives Water Bottle has been a great value for $25. If you're looking for cheap, convenient, and effective temperature control in versatile sizes and colors, it's definitely worth checking out - especially if you're using it in workouts, or if you like the sound of an always ice-cold drink for up to 24 hours.