How to Choose Insulated Water Bottles? Step by Step Guide

What Is Insulated Water Bottle?

An insulated water bottle is a stainless steel water bottle with a vacuum insulation layer that helps drinks, beverages, and water retain their temperatures. This is either hot or cold without interference from the external environment.

The following are some examples of insulated water bottles; Insulated stainless steel water bottles, insulated water bottles for bikes, insulated water bottles for cycling, insulated water bottles for kids, and insulated water bottles with a flip-flop.

Since insulated water bottles were invented, there has been a question of how to keep the liquids hot or cold by retaining their respective temperatures. Insulated water bottles either use the form of an insulating vacuum layer. An insulated water bottle is heavy-duty, a container within a container.

The bottle has either an insulated vacuum layer or foam between the inner and outer walls of the container. Bottles with a vacuum insulated layer help keep liquids hot, whereas bottles with foam help keep cold beverages cold.

Insulated water bottles have been in the market since 1900 and have become common among hikers, campers, travelers, athletes, and even the ordinary busy person.

The first-ever insulated water bottle was designed by Sir James Dewar, an English scientist, in 1892. James made the first insulated water bottle by sealing one bottle inside another. He sucked out the air between them, forming an insulating vacuum layer that acted as a perfect insulator.

James Dewar never patented his work; Albert Aschenbrenner and Reinhold Burger first started producing insulated bottles for Dewar. Although insulated water bottles have become familiar through the generation, the following is their disadvantage: the insulated water bottles weigh more than other bottles due to their design.

Why Need To Choose Suitable Insulated Water Bottles?

With the already existing knowledge and understanding of what an insulated water bottle makes from a two-layered stainless-steel wall and its effectiveness in keeping beverages hot or cold for quite some time.

It is therefore categorical to consider suitability. There is a variety of many bottles to choose from in the market. Insulated steel water bottle remains to be the best choice in the market for several strong reasons presented below:

Reusability

Water is an essential resource to all humans due to keeping the human body hydrated and energized frequently. There are various issues associated with using plastic water bottles that individuals buy and dispose of after use.

Insulated water bottles can be reused many times without disposing of, making them eco-friendly. The water bottle is the best choice during summer when there is heat. It can also be used in the gym, office, beach, etc.

It's healthy and toxin-free 

Plastic bottles use BPA, BPS, PVC, or Phthalates during manufacturing; these products are toxic and can leach into hot beverages. Plastic bottles are non-biodegradable; hence they are not sustainable for the environment. Aluminum bottles also react to some liquids causing leaching.

Although glass is safe to be used as a material in the manufacture of water bottles, it is pretty heavy, thus not convenient to be carried everywhere, and it can break easily if dropped. Stainless steel insulated bottles are the best option because they are reusable and don't react with any liquid, thus preventing any health risk.

No condensation – Steel insulated water bottle is free from condensation. There will be no water vapor condensing on its outer wall.

Odorless – The vacuum insulation layer of the stainless steel water bottle keeps the liquids hot or cold and keeps the drinks fresh and odorless, like a fridge.

Durability – When it comes to considering plastics and glass, stainless steel water bottles have the highest level of durability. The insulated bottles are not susceptible to heavy dropping.

Using and drinking water from a reusable water bottle has numerous benefits. It saves money, health, and the environment. When buying a stainless steel water bottle, one should buy 18/8 food-grade stainless steel.

The best material for an insulated water bottle

Stainless Steel insulated water bottles.

Studies have shown that stainless steel is better than glass, plastic, and aluminum. Although stainless steel is better than the other materials, it is not 100% risk-free. Some insulated stainless steel bottles have been found to contain some toxic lead levels. These lead metal microelements are located at the base of the sealing dot of a double-wall stainless steel bottle of low quality.

The safest stainless steel insulated water bottles available in the market are the 18/8 food-grade stainless steel. A metal composition with 18% chromium and 8% nickel is commonly considered an 18/8 stainless steel. 18/8 is the highest grade of stainless steel available in the market and does not leach.

Plastic insulated water bottles

Plastic insulated water bottles are typically heavy and usually hold a minuscule amount of water given the same dimension as non-insulated water bottles. The advantage of plastic insulated bottles is that they are vacuum-sealed; this helps maintain the temperature of the beverages inside them for long hours.

Plastic insulated water bottles are preferred in the gym, office, and house. The varieties of plastic insulated water bottles available in the market are wide-mouth insulated water bottles, double-wall insulated bottles, and insulated water bottles with a straw.

Plastic insulated water bottles should not contain boiled water because of BPA. BPA is a harmful chemical used in the manufacture of plastic. When hot water is put in a plastic insulated water bottle, it causes the decomposition of BPA and polymer, which eventually dissolve into the hot liquid. These chemicals are harmful to the human body as some are carcinogenic; hence they can trigger cancer in people.

Plastic insulated water bottles should be replaced frequently because they start to break down after continuous use, which leads to tear and wear. Therefore, it is recommended that plastic insulated water bottles be replaced once every year.

Choose BPA Free Plasticinsulated water bottles.

Choose BPA-free plastic insulated water bottles – BPA, commonly known as Bisphenol A, is a building block of some plastics. BPA is known as an endocrine-disrupting compound; once this compound enters the human body, it can act as a hormone or disturb the normal hormonal functions that regulate everything in the body.

Therefore it is advisable that when one shops for plastic insulated water bottles, one should pick the bottle with the sticker that shows 'BPA free.'

Glass insulated water bottles are also recommended for their safety and are known to be eco-friendly. The only disadvantage of glass water bottles is their weight, making them inconvenient.

So which exactly is the best-insulated water bottle?

A stainless steel water bottle is considered the best among all insulated water bottles. We already know that an insulated water bottle is double-walled stainless steel. The bottle effectively keeps beverages hot or cold for quite some time.

There is a variety of many bottles to choose from in the market. Below are some reasons why an insulated steel water bottle is the best choice: the stainless steel bottle is durable, has a fair price, and is eco-friendly because it is 100% recyclable.

How Do I Choose The Right Insulated Water Bottles？

Water bottle features and trends do not change as quickly as smartphones and other devices. Therefore, before choosing the right water bottle, one should consider the following factors; durability, environmental impact, pricing, customization, size, and weight, insulated or un-insulated.

Durability is a fundamental factor when choosing a suitably insulated water bottle. Plastic and glass bottles are not as durable as steel insulated water bottles. Stainless steel water bottles are more durable than ones made from plastic or glass.

Pricing – Plastic water bottles tend to be cheaper, followed by glass bottles. Stainless steel water bottles are pretty. So if one is looking for a more affordable water bottle, then plastic bottles are the option.

Environmental impact – manufacturers and industrialists have been growing concerned about using eco-friendly materials due to global warming resulting in climate change. Plastic is non-biodegradable and hence not eco-friendly. Stainless steel and glass are recyclable, making them eco-friendly.

Size and weight – this factor also plays a critical role when it comes to the selection of water bottles. Plastic is light compared to glass, and stainless steel is lightweight compared to glass. Plastic makes very light water bottles, then comes the stainless steel water bottles and drink, considered the heaviest on this list.

Because of the lighter weights of plastic and stainless steel can be made in different sizes depending on the customer's taste and preference.

Customization – stainless steel and plastic are easy to customize than glass.

Choose insulated water bottles by size.

Insulated water bottles have multiple varieties that range from preference to convenience. Each size serves a different purpose, from small-sized to large-sized. Some insulated water bottles are specified for outdoor temperatures, whereas some are made for indoor purposes such as office, gym, etc.

How big of a water bottle should I get?

An insulated water bottle with a volume between 473mm-708 mm, or a Size between 16 to 24 ounces, makes the best recommendable size. The size between the specified range above makes an optimal size enough to ensure that an individual is hydrated and the body can sustain this level of hydration throughout the day.

This recommended size is also considered very portable. We have bottles of up to 32 ounces for more needs water then. If one wants a much lighter water bottle, a range of 16 to 32 ounces is recommended; this bottle can easily fit into any bag.

In the same way, if an individual intends to have their water last for 24 hours onwards, for instance, for overnight camping, then the recommended size of the water bottle would range between 40-64 ounces.

A 16-ounce water bottle is suitable for a hiking trip, a 64-ounce water bottle is ideal for the workplace, 10-ounce water bottles are eligible for the kids, and a 16 to a 17-ounce water bottle is considered average enough for daily activities.

The amount of water one can consume daily is essential when selecting the best water bottle. The following are some of the hydration guidelines. On average, men drink 13 cups of water daily, women drink 9 cups, pregnant women 10 cups, breastfeeding women 12 cups, and children take 6 to 8 cups.

Sizes of a water bottle and their most common use

Small-sized water bottle – We have bottles ranging from 6 to 8 ounces and are commonly used by long-distance runners. This bottle is easy to lift and can be placed around the waist of an athlete.

A 16-ounce water bottle is also classified as a small-sized water bottle. This bottle can fit in a backpack and is commonly used on short hikes, home, work, and travel.

Medium-sized water bottle – We have 20-ounce water bottles in this category. This site doesn't require many refills, and it is generally lightweight. It is commonly used in average-length hikes, home, picnics, travel, and work.

Large-sized water bottle - We have 32 water bottles in this category. This site can meet all daily water consumption requirements. The bottle is refillable twice a day. It has excellent size and weight as compared to the other bottles. It is commonly used in longer hikes, gym, day trips, and athletic training.

Choose insulated water bottles by Lid Types.

The sports cap with nozzle is the commonly used lid for water bottles; it is a soft and insulating material. This type of lid is super durable and 100% leakproof.

Choose insulated water bottles by Mouth type.

Standard mouth water bottle – This bottle is compatible with all standard bottles; it has honeycomb insulation that helps keep hot drinks and cold drinks cold. The common mouth water bottle is Phthalate-free and BPA-free. It has high durability and stainless steel pivots allow the straps to move quickly.

Wide mouth lid bottle – This bottle is available in four types 16, 20, 32, and 42-ounce. It has double-wall vacuum insulation that keeps hot and cold liquids cold.

The bottle is BPA-free, doesn't sweat, has a threaded lid for leak force performance, and is made of 18/8 stainless steel material that meets beautiful designs.

Narrow mouth water bottle – This bottle has a screw-on cap that makes it leakproof, preventing liquid and beverage leakages.

Choose insulated water bottles by Finish.

Different surface finishes have other effects on insulated water bottles. Finishes help the water bottles resist external corrosion due to humidity. Finishes enhance the durability of any water bottle.

It is important to note that surface finishes on the water bottles have different prices depending on the application procedure and the raw materials needs. For example, the raw materials make a matte surface finish more expensive than a polished surface finish.

Polish surface finish- this Finish leaves behind an insulated water bottle with a mirror-like appearance.

Matte surface finish – this Finish leaves behind an insulated water bottle that is dull and has a gray surface produced by grit blasting controlled on hard chromium plated deposit. Matte Finish usually absorbs any ray of light rather than reflecting it. The Finish helps hide flaws and other bumps on the insulated water bottle.

Electroplating surface finish – electroplating is an industrial process involving applying one or more metal layers to another. This is possible by passing an electric current that is positively charged through a molten solution that contains the anode and another negatively charged current through the metal to be plated.

Refined metal layers are bonded with another metal surface at the molecular level during this process. The electroplating process involves the creation of an electrolytic cell that moves molecules using electricity. The electroplating process creates strong electroplating surface finishes.

Powder coating finish results from dry finishing that applies a dry coating material. The coating material can be made of fine ground particles and other additives for hardness or gloss. A spray gun is used to apply the dry powder coat.

Choose insulated water bottles by shape.

The following shapes for insulated water bottles are available in the market.

• Boston round plastic bottles
• Square plastic bottles
• Oval plastic bottles
• Oblong plastic bottles
• Wide mouth plastic bottles
• Narrow-mouth plastic bottles
• Cosmo round plastic bottles
• Cylinder plastic bottles
• Specialty-shaped plastic bottles.

How To Identify Good Quality Insulated Water Bottles？

Good quality insulated water bottles have become common in many people's lives, especially during the hot summer. These bottles are mainly used both in indoor activities and outdoor activities.

Insulated water bottles have become common in the gym, home, office, and outdoors. Water bottles can keep water cold for longer than ordinary home water storage.

Most of these bottles have a layer of insulated vacuum between the inner and outer walls, which acts as an insulator preventing entry and exit of heat from the external surrounding. The following points to consider when identifying a good quality insulated water bottle.

Check the surface of the bottle: the surface of the insulated water bottle sprayed with powder or painted by polish surface finish, matte surface finish, electroplating surface finish, and powder coating shall never have any scratch made by a human being or a fault that occurred during the manufacturing process.

Check whether there is any bruise on the inside of the cup – there should be no bruise inside the insulated water bottle; there should be no dust, debris, or dirt inside the insulated water bottle. The polishing should be smooth and uniform, and the water bottle's mouth should be flat and smooth.

Identification of the insulation performance – when it comes to insulation performance, the inner wall of the insulated water bottle is always referred to. Rotate the lid clockwise after filling the insulation water bottle with a hot liquid.

Then, after two to three minutes, touch the upper and bottom parts of the water bottle; if it feels warm, it means the insulation performance of the insulated water bottle is not perfect. If the insulation is excellent, one should not feel warm when touching the upper and bottom parts.

Insulated bottle sealing – fill the insulated water bottle with water and tighten the lid clockwise. Invert the water bottle for a few minutes and then turn it upright. Check for any traces of leakage. The water bottle sealing performance is perfect if there is no water leakage.

Whether the accessories are environment friendly and healthy is an essential parameter; if the insulated water bottle is made of good-grade plastic, its odor will be slight. There will be an odor if the water bottle is ordinary plastic. For the manufacture of eco-friendly plastic, then Tritan material is available.

Identification of stainless steel material – The quality of the material used is essential, especially for insulated stainless steel water bottles. Many stainless steel product specifications are readily available in the market today.

But there is only one product that meets the standard of green products: stainless steel 18/8, which ordinarily means 18% of the product is made of Chromium, and 8% is made up of Nickel metal.