I Think Stanley Tumblers Are Overrated—You Need This Water Bottle Instead

Every January for at least the past five years, when I sit down to write my goals for the new year in my journal, “drink more water”’ is consistently at the top. I admit that it might sound strange because water is quite literally the key to sustaining life, but it’s always been an afterthought in my day to day. So in my quest to experiment with methods that trick me into drinking water, I have tried it all (yes, even putting cucumber and lemon slices in my water glass). In the process, I’ve tried out alot of different water bottles — at least five in the last year. My favorite one of the bunch is made by a surprising brand. And no, it’s not the Stanley tumbler. 

Owala was generous enough to send me the FreeSip water bottle, and I have been using it on a daily basis for about six months. It’s the only water bottle that has actually encouraged me to drink more water throughout the day, and better yet, it’s only $28.

Owala 24-Ounce FreeSip Water Bottle

On the outside, the Owala FreeSip looks like little more than a basic water bottle, but I far prefer it over the Stanley tumbler, which I also own but rarely use. First of all, it’s made from insulated stainless steel which means that it keeps water cold for up to 24 hours (it’s worked up to eight hours for me, but to do be far I’ve never tested it longer than that)and is difficult to dent, even if I drop it or leave it to roll around the floor of the car.  Speaking of it toppling over, the leak-proof lid is actually leak-proof by the way. Unless the top is unscrewed, it’s never caused a spill — this is not the case with the Stanley, which has a hole in the lid where the straw is inserted, so water inevitably leaks out if it tips over.  

At less than a pound, the Owala FreeSip  is lightweight in comparison to the Stanley, which weighs 1.4 pounds, and it actually fits in the caddy I attached to my daughter’s stroller. But the fact that it's actually convenient to carry around is just one reason that it helps me drink more water. 

There are two ways to drink out of this water bottle. You can take a swig, or you can use the built-in straw — and that’s where this water bottle really shines. The straw attaches to the inside of the bottle, so you can take long pulls of water straight from the mouth piece. This seamless water delivery system doesn’t require maneuvering around an unwieldy straw that never seems to stay put and sticks out of the top, getting in the way of everything you’re trying to do if it's not firmly planted in a cup holder.

The lid of the Owala water bottle also snaps shut with a satisfying click, and it's locked into place by a loop of plastic which can be lifted up and hooked around your fingers (to pop the top open just use the button on the front). However, since it’s not a tumbler, it doesn't have a handle. This feature (or lack thereof) isn’t necessarily a bad thing, though, because it makes it much less bulky than other options, like the Stanley.

As trendy as 40-ounce travel tumblers might be right now, they are heavy, cumbersome, and as hard as it might be to accept, just not compatible with life outside of the car (that being said, I did try, and enjoy, the Owala travel tumbler because it feels much lighter than the Stanley, and the straw is softer). My family goes on a lot of long walks, and on the weekends I can usually be found running around the park with my daughter. And to be honest, a tumbler that weighs more than a pound knocking against my leg as I try to play is so bothersome that it outweighs the tumbler’s usefulness. 

And best of all, while the Stanley tumbler is relatively expensive compared to other water bottles, while this one is only $28. So ignore the trends and viral TikTok videos, and grab the Owala FreeSip instead. You can trust this water bottle will actually make staying hydrated a task that is easy to check off your to-do list. 

Shop More Water Bottles

Owala 40-Ounce Travel Tumbler

Yeti Rambler 26-Ounce Water Bottle

Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle 

CamelBak 32-Ounce Water Bottle

Simple Modern 40-Ounce Tumbler 

At the time of publishing the price was $28.