If you want to stay healthy and hydrated while outside, you’ll need to get yourself a water bottle that can handle the rough and tumble nature of outdoor adventure. Water bottles, such as the Hydro Flask, that are made from durable, high-quality materials are an excellent option for the outdoor recreationalist because they’re meant to last a lifetime.
Unfortunately, Hydro Flasks are absurdly expensive. Thankfully, it’s possible to get a high-quality stainless steel water bottle without spending your life’s savings. If a Hydro Flask just isn’t in your budget, you’ll want to opt for a similarly constructed alternative stainless steel water bottle instead.
But how does one choose between all of the different stainless steel water bottle alternatives to find the bottle that’s right for you? Since there are so many different options available, we’ve decided to help you find the perfect match with this ultimate guide to Hydro Flask alternatives. Here we go!
5 Awesome Hydro Flask Alternatives
This is all about Hydro Flask alternatives, we found the next best options that are equally as awesome and won’t break the bank! Let’s get to it 🙂
HYDRO CELL Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Hydro Cell’s super colorful stainless steel water bottles are available in four different sizes to keep you hydrated day in and day out. Engineered for the utmost in vacuum insulation performance, the Hydro Cell Stainless Steel Water Bottle can keep cold liquids cold for up to 24 hours and hot liquids near boiling for up to 8 hours.
Plus, Hydro Cell’s water bottles are made with oxidation and corrosion-resistant stainless steel with a powder coating, which improves your grip on the bottle and prevents leaks. Oh, and if you weren’t impressed yet, these water bottles from Hydro Cell even come with a bonus sport cap with a straw so you can hydrate quickly during intense activity. What’s not to love?
Pros:
- Corrosion and oxidation resistant stainless steel
- Powder coating provides non-slip layer for a better grip
- Leak and sweat-proof design
- Comes with a screw-top and straw lid
Cons:
- Only keeps water hot for 8 hours
- Bulky and heavy
- PERFORMANCE: Our Insulated Water Bottle is made from 100% Virgin Sourced 18/8 Food Grade Stainless Steel. 100% resistant to oxidation, rusting, and corrosion. 100% BPA Free. Cold 24 hours. Hot 8 hours.
- DESIGN: Triple -Walled. Vacuum Insulated. Inner Copper Plating. Grip-Tech Powder Coating. Hydro Cell sets the standard for new colors/styles and ensures Thermos manufacturing excellence not found elsewhere. 64, 40, 32, 24, 18, 14 ounce sizes available.
- STYLE: Purchase Includes Stainless Steel Bottle, Screw Cap (100% Airtight), Bonus Sports Cap with Straws (Cold Temp ONLY). Hydro Cell offers the largest selection of matching Paracord Handles, Bottle Boots, and Color Replacement Caps: Sold Separate, Linked Below. Customize your Hydro.
- PROMISE: We are 100% Committed to Pure Base Materials & Production Excellence. If you are not 100% Satisfied, Contact Us Directly, and we will Refund/Exchange your Water Bottle. Customer First Brand.
The Coldest Water Bottle Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel
Let’s be honest with ourselves: there’s nothing better than an ice-cold drink of water as you’re charging up a trail on a hot, sunny day. Thanks to the Coldest Water Bottle, this can be your reality. This double-wall, vacuum-sealed stainless steel water bottle is designed to keep water ice-cold for up to 36 hours, so you never have to be without a refreshing beverage.
The Coldest Water Bottle is a BPA-free drink vessel explicitly designed for high-octane activities, where you can’t settle for second best. This easy-to-clean, durable, leak-proof water bottle is strong enough for everyday use and stylish enough that you’ll want to show it off to all of your friends.
Pros:
- Keeps water cold for at least 36 hours
- No-sweat exterior with a rubber grip
- Floats in water so you won’t lose it
- Durable and leak-proof
Cons:
- Bulky
- Relatively heavy
- Relatively expensive
- THE COLDEST WATER BOTTLE - Seriously Cold up to 36 Hours or More! Built with True Stainless Steel, Double Wall, Vacuum Sealed
- VACUUM INSULATED - True stainless steel - No mess around your work areas. Built for athletes and high performers, Outdoors, Cyclists, Runners, Hiking, Camping,Soccer, Baseball, Basketball, Office,Outdoor Water Bottle.
- Bottle with Handle - Easier to carry, super sturdy, and you can take it anywhere you want to go. Keeps drinks Cold 36+ Hours, 13+ hours hot and floats in Oceans!
- INSULATED STAINLESS STEEL - Solid durable build with Premium Grade Durable 18/8 Stainless Steel, BPA free Sports Bottle, Gym Water Bottle 21 oz
Klean Kanteen Wide Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle
Designed specifically to fit in most cup holders, the Klean Kanteen Wide Insulated bottle is the go-to drinkware option for any activity. Klean Kanteen is dedicated to making quality, environmentally-friendly products that are free of BPA, phthalates, lead, and other toxins, so you can be confident in your purchase for your health and your world.
One of the world’s first stainless steel water bottles, the Klean Kanteen Wide Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle is a simple, yet durable drink vessel. Lightweight and leak-proof, this water bottle from Klean Kanteen relies on a vacuum seal between the bottle’s double walls to provide high-quality insulating properties for hours.
Pros:
- Environmental and health-friendly design
- Double-walled vacuum insulated construction
- Lightweight and sized to fit in most cup holders
- BPA, phthalate, lead, and toxin-free
Cons:
- Wide mouth opening can be difficult to drink out of
- Klean Kanteen bottles are known to scratch and dent easily
- Made with double-walled construction and high quality 18/8, food-grade stainless steel, the vacuum between the bottle walls offers superior insulating properties
- Lightweight and perfectly sized to fit in most cup holders and the leakproof Loop Cap clips onto just about anything
- Free of BPA, phthalates, lead and other toxins, stainless steel caps create a 100-Percent stainless interior
- Can be used with the Klean Kanteen Flip D-Ring Cap and the new Café Cap
Hydrology Sports Water Bottle
Ever wish you had a water bottle that can do it all? Well, look no further than the Hydrology Sports Water Bottle, a highly versatile Hydro Flask alternative for any adventure. Built to last with premium-grade stainless steel, the double-wall vacuum insulated Hydrology Sports Water Bottle keeps ice-cold for up to 48 hours and hot drinks hot for up to twelve hours.
Plus, the Hydrology Sports Water Bottle comes in four different sizes, from 22 ounces to 64 ounces to help you stay hydrated throughout the day. If that wasn’t good enough, each Hydrology Sports Water Bottle comes with three leak-proof lids, including a flip-top lid, a straw lid, and a classic stainless steel lid, so you can stay hydrated, wherever life takes you.
Pros:
- Four size options to choose from
- Each water bottle comes with three different lids
- Double-wall vacuum insulated premium stainless steel
- Keeps ice cold for 48 hours and hot drinks hot for 12 hours
Cons:
- Only comes in a wide mouth option
- Relatively heavy
- BLOWOUT CLEARANCE! ALL INVENTORY MUST GO! Double Wall Vacuum Insulated 18/8 Premium Grade Stainless Steel
- ICE COLD for up to and above 48 hours, HOT for up to 12 hours. *NOTE: Only 22 oz. fits standard cup holders.
- Includes 3 Leak-Proof LIDS! Carabiner Lid, Flip Lid, and Stainless Steel Lid. *NOTE: NO STRAW LID FOR THIS BOTTLE! STRAW LID ONLY WITH H2 BOTTLES!
- BPA Free and Powder Coated Finish for easy handling and no condensation/sweat. The logo is LASER ENGRAVED to ensure premium quality.
Drinco – Stainless Steel Water Bottle
User-friendly and built with superior insulation, the Drinco Stainless Steel Water Bottle is an affordable alternative to a Hydro Flask for the everyday adventurer. Made with food-grade stainless steel and a powder coating paint treatment, the Drinco Stainless Steel Water Bottle is a robust drink container for outdoor use.
The Drinco water bottle features a vacuum insulation system with a copper coating that helps retain heat and cold for up to 12 and 24 hours, respectively. These environmentally friendly water bottles help us reduce our dependence on plastic disposable alternatives when we’re out and about. Simple, stylish, and practical, the Drinco stainless steel water bottle is a hydro flask alternative for people who just can’t skimp on quality but don’t want to break the bank.
Pros:
- Affordable
- Double-wall vacuum insulation with copper coating
- Keeps hot beverages hot for 12 hours and ice cold for 24 hours
- Powder coating paint treatment for scratch-resistance
Cons:
- Durability concerns with the flip-lid system
- Only available in 20oz and 30oz sizes
- ✅ PREMIUM QUALITY: The Drinco water bottle is constructed with rust-resistant (18/8) food-grade stainless steel double walled body, a material lauded for its durability. The powder coating paint treatment makes the insulated water bottle virtually indestructible, scratch resistant and restricts temperature transfer.
- ✅ SUPERIOR INSULATION: stainless steel water bottle construction made from copper coating helps the water bottle to retain the cold or heat. Effective insulation with a sport lid helps to maintain the temperature up to 24 hours for cold and 12 hours for hot beverages. These premium quality water bottles are safe and easy to clean.
- ✅ COMPATIBLE & USER-FRIENDLY: Our vacuum insulated water bottle is designed with a wide mouth simple modern silhouette and comes with a textured grip for sweat-free. It comes with a sport top which keeps your beverage safe and its compact shape fits into your hand.
- ✅ ENVIRONMENTALLY- FRIENDLY: Take our insulated water bottle along with you and keep yourself hydrated and enjoy every sip of your beverage. Our product is BPA free and complies with FDA standard. Say no to one-time use cups with these insulated bottles. It's less harmful to the environment and is a better option than those single-serving containers.
What to look for in a Hydro Flask alternative
Hydro Flask made a name for itself in the outdoor industry by creating incredibly durable stainless steel water bottles for the regular person. While Hydro Flask is renowned for its quality, unfortunately, many people can’t afford their high brand name prices. Thus, many of us look for alternative stainless steel water bottles to keep us hydrated when we’re out and about.
Before you commit to that new water bottle, however, there are a few things you ought to know about buying a hydro flask alternative. Here are some key features to keep in mind:
Size
A water bottle’s size is directly correlated with the amount of water you can carry with you, so it’s a pretty important feature to keep in mind when you’re shopping around. Generally speaking, the standard water bottle size is one liter (32 oz), though many stainless steel bottles also come in half-liter (16 oz), one and a half-liter (24 oz), and two-liter sizes (64 oz), among others.
While it might seem like a good idea to get a larger water bottle so you can carry around more water, larger options tend to be both heavy and bulky. Thus, many people opt to get two smaller water bottles, rather than one larger one as this is often easier to carry around in your pack. However, you’ll want to consider your own hydration needs and habits before you settle on a given water bottle size.
Insulation
The main attraction of a Hydro Flask water bottle is the company’s proprietary vacuum-sealed insulation system that can keep drinks hot or cold for hours on end. While insulation is not a requirement of water bottle construction (consider the non-insulated plastic Nalgene), it does make the bottle more versatile as it can also double as a thermos for coffee or tea. Plus, who doesn’t like a cold glass of water in the middle of a hot day on the trail?
That being said, not all insulation is created equal. While some water bottles can keep a drink hot or cold for an hour or two, others can maintain a beverage’s temperature for upward of a couple of days! Often, this comes down to the thickness of the bottle’s insulation, as well as the quality of the bottle’s vacuum seal.
However, insulation does come with some downsides. First and foremost, insulated bottles tend to be more expensive than non-insulated alternatives. Additionally, insulated water bottles often come with a hefty price tag in exchange for a sip of that ice-cold water after half a day on a hot climb. Thus, it’s worth taking the time to consider if you need an insulated water bottle or if you could go with a simpler option.
Caps
A water bottle cap might seem like a simple thing, but it can actually totally change your experience of the water bottle. With so many different possible water bottle lids out there, you can truly customize your water-drinking experience, so long as you know what to look for. Here are some of the potential water bottle caps you can choose from for your Hydro Flask alternative:
Screw cap
The screw cap water bottle lid functions much as you think it does – it simply screws on to the water bottle to keep your drink contained and can be twisted off to give you access to your beverage. The main downside to a screw-on water bottle cap is that they require two hands to open and close, which can be problematic if you’re driving or otherwise engaged. However, they tend to be both lighter and more durable than alternative cap options.
Flip-top
A flip-top or “sport” cap flips open to reveal some sort of straw that allows you to drink water without ever opening the cap. Many people prefer these caps because they provide easier access to your water and can be operated with just one hand. Additionally, since flip-top water bottles are so convenient to drink from, many people find that they consume more water while using this style of cap.
On the other hand, however, since flip-top caps have moving parts, they are more prone to damage and breakage. Additionally, these caps tend to get dirty pretty quickly, which can be problematic if you’re spending a lot of time in the backcountry. Finally, flip-top caps are more likely to open up accidentally in your pack and leak water over your gear, so they require extra care when packing!
Durability
One of the main draws of a stainless steel water bottle is its durability. Thanks to their steel construction, most of these Hydro Flask alternatives are pretty robust, even when put to the test in an outdoor context. However, while stainless steel water bottles excel in terms of structural integrity, some models are very prone to scratches and dents.
While this doesn’t usually affect the bottle’s ability to hold water, it does lead to cosmetic blemishes over time, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors. Usually, the bottles that are most susceptible to this kind of damage are the lightweight, non-insulated steel bottles as they just don’t have the thickness to hold up to these scratches and dents.
Materials
For the most part, Hydro Flask alternatives use stainless steel as their material of choice, as this is what Hydro Flask uses in their own bottles. As far as a water bottle materials go, stainless steel is a pretty solid option due to the metal’s durability.
However, stainless steel is not without its faults. It is a relatively heavy material that is prone to denting and scratching when dropped onto hard ground, though this is more of a cosmetic and aesthetic issue than a functionality-related one when it comes to water bottles.
Unless a stainless steel water bottle is insulated, it can actually be too hot to touch when hot water is poured inside. Thus, if you’re going to use your water bottle for hot drinks, make sure you get one that’s well insulated!
The Verdict
Water bottles may seem like simple pieces of gear, but there’s actually quite a lot of technology that goes into making the perfect bottle. Especially when you’re considering dropping some major dough on an insulated bottle, it’s important to do your research to ensure that you’re getting the water bottle you want.
If we were going to choose just one stainless steel water bottle from our review to be our Hydro Flask alternative, we’d have to go with the Hydrology Sports Water Bottle for its multiple cap options, durable design, and highly-insulative properties that can keep water cold for up to 48 hours and hot for 12. What more could you want?
