The Folio Presents: Pour Decisions - Testing 5 Top Water Bottles in Promo

If you’ve been in the promotional products industry for a minute, you won’t be shocked to hear that drinkware landed in the top ESP searches for The Advertising Specialty Institute (ASI) again in 2023. According to their recent report, “water bottle” placed 3rd in the most searched terms in Q4 of 2023. Whether your clients have pledged to stay more hydrated this year, are striving to cut back on plastic waste, or are looking for the next “IT” bottle, we have the scoop on five top water bottles in the industry and put them to the test.   

But first, let’s meet our contestants 

1. Hydro Flask® Wide Mouth 24oz Bottle with Flex Straw Cap - PCNA 
2. Owala Freesip 24oz - ETS Express 
3. CamelBak Chute® Mag Copper VSS 20oz - PCNA 
4. Larq Purevis Bottle - ETS Express 
5. 20 oz. Double Wall Stainless Steel Bottle - Tekweld 

TEST 1: Drink  

These water bottles are designed for on-the-go travel, so we decided to test the drinkability of each water bottle. We first drank from the water bottles standing still, testing the ease of drinking from the spout and any extra spillage. Then we walked around the office to see how easy it is to drink and walk with the bottle simultaneously. 

Results: 

Hydro Flask: Drinking from the Hydro Flask was an enjoyable experience. The wide-mouth straw gives you a nice, steady flow of water without having to work too hard. I liked how easy it was to flip the straw up and the handle makes toting the bottle around easier. The wide mouth opening is perfect for an ice-cube-friendly gulp.  

Owala: Whether you’re more of a sipper or a chugger, this water bottle offers both a sip opening and a built-in straw. Walking and drinking from the bottle was smooth with the unique push-button mechanism. The opening was wide enough to get a nice drink out of without worrying about it splashing back. With the built-in straw, it was easy to get every last sip of water out of the bottle. 

CamelBak: The magnetic carry handle made drinking from the CamelBak a cinch while traveling from meeting to meeting in the office. With the cap secured to the bottle, I was free to sip or chug from the wide-mouth opening.  

Larq: Nice opening to drink water and enjoy an occasional ice cube, especially while sitting at your desk or resting after an intense workout. The slim design made for an easy, comfortable grip while drinking on the go.  

Tekweld: Sipping through the straw was smooth. The handle on the bottle makes it the perfect travel water bottle perfect for clipping onto your backpack if you’re on the go. I could hold it in one hand or easily clip it onto my backpack for a hands-free experience. 

TEST 2: Leak 

Test: Nothing is worse than a water bottle that leaks! So, we put these bottles to the test by giving them a nice shake. For 10 seconds each, we turned the water bottles upside down, shook them side to side, and put them through the ultimate leakproof test. 

Results: 

TEST 3: Cold 

Test: Next, we tested the insulation of the bottles. More than likely, these water bottles will be filled with water, so we wanted to see how long these bottles will stay cold. We filled each bottle to the brim with ice. We then set them aside and came back after 24 hours to see how they stacked against each other. 

Results:  

Each water bottle claims to keep your drinks cold for up to 24 hours. The verdict? After leaving the bottles in our studio throughout the entire workday and overnight, all of the bottles still had ice in them.  

Conclusion 

Whether your clients are a chugger or a sipper, these water bottles are sure to fit their needs no matter the scenario. Share The Folio's Water Bottle Test with your clients to help them get their hands on the latest must-have bottles or their next go-to portable canteen.