I tested 42 water bottles to find the best for leaks, looks and sustainability: here are my favourites

Ditched single-use plastic bottles but can’t find a good reusable one? I spent two months putting dozens through their paces – these are the ones worth buying

• The best travel mugs and reusable coffee cups for hot drinks, tested

If you think a water bottle is just a water bottle, it’s time to wake up. In 2025, there’s a lot riding on your choice of drinking vessel. The heady combination of worrying about the planet and, on a more day-to-day level, staying hydrated has made reusable water bottles a must-have.

Once the preserve of hikers and gym-goers, water bottles have become a small but significant act of environmental virtue signalling. Not all bottles are created equal, though. Some are insulated, some leak, some weigh as much as a toddler, and some even infuse your water with hydrogen (more on that later). The choice is dizzying.

Best water bottle overall:
Owala FreeSip

Best budget water bottle:
Ion8 stainless-steel water bottle