Americans reportedly toss more than 2.5 million plastic bottles an hour (that’s about 700 a second) — a plastic Everest, or several, that could take more than five centuries to decompose. So switching to insulated water bottles is a small decision with a huge positive impact. You want your insulated water bottles to be durable, easy to clean, and leak-proof. Because a soaked backpack can put a damper on a day of hiking. Also key is finding an insulated water bottle that doesn’t retain flavors. Coffee-flavored water just doesn’t sound all that refreshing. “You should get something in the 20 to 24 ounce range,” says outdoors expert Bryan Rogala. “Stainless-steel is best because it doesn’t get funky if you throw in a hydration-mix tablet, and for me it holds up longer than aluminum bottles. You also don’t get any off-flavors in your water.” The best-quality insulated bottles don’t sweat, meaning there’s no condensation on the outside of the bottle or a small puddle of liquid underneath it. And the true winners won’t leak a single drop, though most leaks are the result of user error. Every product on Fatherly is independently selected by our editors, writers, and experts. If you click a link on our site and buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
