YAHOO LIFESTYLE: Best Stainless Steel Water Bottles

When you’re hitting the great outdoors, you need to stay hydrated. And the most eco-friendly and practical way to do so is by carrying the right insulated water bottles.

You want your insulated water bottles to be leak-proof, easy to clean, and durable. Because a soaked backpack makes for an unhappy hiker. You want your bottles to be BPA-free, of course, and if you’re opting for an insulated steel bottle, you won’t want it to retain any flavors. Coffee-flavored water just doesn’t sound all that appetizing. Or refreshing.

“You should get something in the 20-24 ounce range. If you need more water than that I’d recommend a non-insulated bottle or better yet, a hydration bladder,” 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, but we should also point out that often, leaks are the result of user error.

Some bottles are trickier than others to clean, so make sure you always follow the manufacturer’s recommendations. And speaking of recommendations, these are our picks, based on personal experience, Amazon’s top sellers and user reviews.

Takeya Originals Vacuum-Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Bottle

It keeps your libations cold for 24 hours, and hot for up to 12 hours, thanks to its double-wall insulation. It doesn't sweat, and it comes with a very cool spout lid that lets you drink one-handed.

Pros: This bottle does not leak. It can go through hell, and it looks a good as new. Twenty-four hours after a refill, the water is still as frigid as you’d want.

Cons: One caveat to the no leaks promise…if you don’t screw to spout cap on tight, yes, it can leak.

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