Having a cool, trending water bottle has become the new hot thing these past few years, especially among teenagers and young adults. Water bottles have become a status symbol in schools across the country, including here, at Lincoln East High School. Last year, Stanleys were all the rage, but more recently, they are gradually being replaced. This can lead high schoolers to wondering whether their expensive water bottles are really worth it for the quality they’re receiving.
Staying hydrated is important and having a functional, quality water bottle is crucial in order to stay hydrated. Using students’ opinions from a recent survey that was sent out to over 100 East students regarding their water bottle preferences, I’ll identify which water bottle brand is best for a high schooler. This will be determined by discovering what different brands have to offer and features students prefer to have in a water bottle.
Hydro Flask
Hydro Flasks became extremely sought after in 2019 and since then have remained well known for their iconic look and style. Hydro Flasks are instantly recognized by their classic design and forever iconic logo.
Hydro Flasks offer countless sizes including ten oz kids cups, all the way to a 128 oz bottle and the average price is around $45. These water bottles are known for being completely leak proof and perfectly insulated for hot or cold drinks. 51% of students said that the most essential feature in a water bottle is having good insulation and 38% said that being leak proof is the most important. The standard 32 oz bottle comes in nearly 30 colors but limited edition designs are available frequently. 16% of students said that Hydro Flasks were their favorite water bottle brand.
Stanley
Stanleys have been around since 1913, but the water bottle started taking hold of people’s wallets when they became a huge social media trend in 2020. The specific style of Stanley that became so viral is called a Quencher, which is a type of tumbler available in 5 sizes ranging from 14 oz to 64 oz. This very aesthetic water bottle has countless different designs and color combinations, but usually costs upwards of $50. 23% of students said their water bottle needed to be aesthetic for them to buy it. The open straw and protruding handle design make the water bottle likely to spill and not very portable. Although, accessorizing Stanleys has also become extremely common with items like straw covers, boots, charms, covers, and more.
Owala
Owalas were created in 2020 but they just took off in popularity recently. In 2023 Owalas won the Time Best Inventions award. 35% of students said that Owala was their favorite water bottle brand. They offer five different styles of water bottles, including their best selling style called the FreeSip and the average price is around $40. The Owala website describes the FreeSip water bottle as having a, “cool FreeSip spout, fancy triple-layer insulation, dazzling color options.” The FreeSip has a very unique lid design with a straw and a hole to drink from as well as a completely leak proof seal. Product sizes range from ten oz to 40 oz, ensuring several options that cater to whatever customers want. Owalas are best known for their vast collection of color combinations to choose from, with new ones dropping nearly every month.
After taking a deep dive into these three overall amazing water bottle brands, I’ve decided that buying an Owala is the best choice for a high school student. Using the opinions of fellow East students and facts about the water bottle itself, Owalas distinctly stand out as the overall winner. It’s many options, from sizes to colors and its conveniently portable design makes it perfect to put in a backpack or just carry with you. The top four most important factors for East students were insulation, size, leak proof, and price. An Owala clearly has great attributes to match these features and is overwhelmingly a crowd favorite! To buy an Owala stop by the nearest Target, Walmart, or visit their online store!
