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Associated Press

If you like to stay hydrated no matter where you go, chances are you have got a reusable water bottle or two. Or 10 – the collectors know who they are.
Whether you are a tech enthusiast, fashion trendsetter, hiker, commuter or just an eco-conscious consumer, there is a bottle out there for you.
There are bottles that sterilise themselves. Bottles that remind you when to drink. Bottles designed for sustainability. And bottles transformed by a paintbox of colours and imagery into mini artworks.
Hydration has become more than a necessity. It has got a personality.
Kit Dillon, a writer for product review site Wirecutter, says four things make a good water bottle: “It has the right size. It [is] leakproof. It feels good. It insulates well.”
Which one works for you depends on what you use it for, he says. Eva Bleyer, who tests kitchen appliances for the American lifestyle media brand Good Housekeeping Institute, agrees.

Some people go for a favourite sipping straw, while others value a comfortable carrying handle. For collectors, social media feeds light up with the launch of new colours and patterns.
“While I can confidently recommend which ones performed best in our tests, choosing the right water bottle is incredibly personal,” she says.
It is all a far cry from the mundane mugs of yesteryear.
An early maker of light, plastic water bottles was Nalge, in the US state of New York, which found that the unbreakable containers it was making for science laboratories in the 1960s were being used by employees on backpacking trips. The Nalgene reusable water bottle soon went on the market.
Hundreds of plastic and bioplastic versions from various makers have been joined over the decades by stainless steel and aluminium versions, with as many iterations of the lids – straws, screw-ons, flip-ups.
The tech keeps evolving, says Bleyer. “I’ve seen and tested everything from filtering water bottles to the Air Up, which uses flavour pods to enhance the taste, as well as newer options that carbonate your water or track your sips.”

Some examples:

Self-cleaning bottles could be helpful in countries or areas where water quality is questionable. Philips’ GoZero Smart bottle got top ratings in Men’s Health magazine’s testing lab for self-cleaning bottles. Its month-long battery life might make it useful for off-grid camping or trekking. Integrated UV-C LED technology sanitises the bottle every two hours, or whenever you push the cap button.


The LARQ Bottle PureVis 2 is another self-cleaning water container. The company says the plant-based filter in the lid removes chlorine, forever chemicals – polluting compounds called PFAS – and bacteria. The bottle also tracks your consumption. It has made it into the Museum of Modern Art’s design store in the US.


The HidrateSpark Pro comes with a Bluetooth tracker to keep you updated on consumption, based on your age, weight, activity level and other factors you add to the app.


Lo-tech but reliable, Wirecutter has put the Hydro Flask on its “best” list since it started testing water bottles in 2014, citing simple, yet dependable features like good insulation, sturdy steel construction, wide or narrow mouth options and dishwasher-cleanability.


New colour and design drops generate the kind of buzz that fashion drops get. Owala’s FreeSip bottles usually go for about US$25-US$40, but limited-edition designs can sell in the US$400 range.
A Valentine’s Day pattern and a St Patrick’s Day pattern called “Clover the Rainbow” – released on February 29, a leap day, in 2024 – are now on eBay for over US$200.
S’well has collaborated with illustrator Steffi Lynn, known for her cheery, youthful prints and murals that feature upbeat messages, and also with art supplies company Crayola for a series of bottles that look like giant crayons. New patterns for the brand include a deep, moody floral called Midnight Botanical.
S’well also offers customisation, perhaps for an event, team or a gift for a special someone.
Italian company YouBottles did a collab with street artist Banksy; the artist’s Girl with Balloon and Flower Thrower murals are a couple of the patterns.

Colour trend giant Pantone has its own collection of bottles in eight vibrant colours.
Snazzy carry bags for your water bottle include insulated ones that keep the drink cold or hot. PackIt has one with a cross-body strap in sturdy nylon. Versions come in sunflower or starry-night prints, and feature a phone pouch attachment.
WanderFull’s bag has made “Oprah’s Favorite Things” list, featured on the American television host Oprah Winfrey’s show twice. The bag, available in colourful puffer-coat fabric, comes with a nylon cross-body strap.
There is a vegan leather version as well, with an additional chain strap for dressier occasions.


Style Edit: Louis Vuitton’s spring/summer 2025 collection continues the brand’s ‘soft power’ vibe with the versatile LV Biker bag and hybrid Sneakerina, each blending elegance with functionality

This week in PostMag: upcycled eggshells and eco-friendly practices

5 of the best things to do in Hong Kong this weekend April 25-27, including a dog run

How to channel old Hollywood glamour: from Audrey Hepburn and Elizabeth Taylor, to Marlon Brando and James Dean, we unveil the secrets behind these stars’ iconic looks

Fashion

Owala or Hydro Flask? Choosing the right water bottle has become intensely personal

Insulated water bottles from Legami Milano at a homewares trade fair in Germany in 2025. Photo: AP

As for this woman hiking in the woods, there is a reusable water bottle out there for you, whether you are a fan of tech, a fashion trendsetter, an outdoor enthusiast, commuter or just an eco-conscious consumer. Photo: Getty Images

A selection of Lifestyle WD water bottles featuring animals at a homewares trade fair in Frankfurt, Germany. Photo: AP

A collection of Midnight Botanical-themed S’well bottles and tumblers. Photo: AP

Water bottles by Italian company YouBottles, made in collaboration with street artist Banksy. Photo: AP

The places tap water tastes so good you don’t need to buy the polluting bottled kind

A medical travel insurer analysed Reddit reviews to come up with a list of countries and cities with the tastiest tap water.

The Geiranger Fjord is a Unesco World Heritage site in Norway. The country is one of several described by Reddit users as having the tastiest tap water in Europe. 

What’s with the Stanley cup craze? Trendy water bottles from the Hydro Flask to the Owala, and what your choice says about you

The water bottle you carry around with you says a lot about you – at least, according to social media. Photo: TNS

Kimora Johnson with a Stanley cup outside her high school in California. Photo: TNS

Leslie Compean shows off her Hydro Flask. Photo: TNS

Compean’s bottle was a gift from her sister for the holidays. Photo: TNS

Priscilla Ramirez packs a Hydrapeak water bottle she bought because it keeps her water cold. Photo: TNS

Fancy a cuppa? Hong Kong brand Camel introduces a portable vacuum flask

The Cuppa28, by Hong Kong brand Camel, comes in several colours. Photo: Handout

Raymond Leung, grandson of Camel Founder Leung Tsoo-hing

Swollen, puffy face? You might have ‘moon face’. Experts explain, share how to reduce it

“Moon face” or “cortisol face”, a condition in which the face appears swollen and puffy, is a health concern that has been popping up online. Photo: Instagram/mamamiaaus

The most common cause of moon face is long-term use of corticosteroid medications. Photo: Shutterstock

Lifestyle

Food & Drink

Gadgets

Fashion & Beauty

With features like self-cleaning tech and personalised designs, there is a water bottle out there for everyone, from Owala to Hydro Flask


With features like self-cleaning tech and personalised designs, there is a water bottle out there for everyone, from Owala to Hydro Flask.


Architecture and design

Philips

Food and Drinks