7 Types of Water Bottles With Pros and Cons

An average human being must drink about 2 liters of water everyday to stay healthy. Although well aware of this fact, most of us fail to meet this limit. Our busy lives make us forget to do basic things like drinking water! One way to get back on track is investing on a nice water bottle which looks inviting and make you want to sip on your fluids all throughout the day.

But with some many different types of water bottles in the market, how do you know which one is best for you? To know that, you must read this article to find out which one best suits your lifestyle and requirements!

7 Different Types of Water bottles with Pros and Cons:

Walk into any supermarket and you are likely to find a big aisle of colorful water bottles. Some are made in plastic, some in stainless-steel and copper, while others come in insulated models. To know which is the best among them, you must know its functionality, durability, comfort and most important – health benefits/associated risks.

1. Plastic Water Bottles:

From school children to gymgoers, everyone prefers to carry plastic water bottles as they are more convenient and cost-effective. However, using disposable bottles meant for single-time use can be hazardous to your health due to chemicals leaching into water. Instead, you must choose reusable plastic bottles that are free from BPAs and Phthalates. It's always a good idea to use these bottles for no longer than 6 months, unless you are sure of its quality.

Pros: Affordable, light-weight, ideal for travelling, unbreakable, leak-proof, easy to clean and maintain, can be easily stored in refrigerators, comes in different shapes, colors, sizes and designs like printed bottles, sports water bottles, travel water bottles, bike water bottles, hiking bottles, running bottles, sippers, school water bottles etc.
Cons: Harmful to environment, cheap plastics can increase health risks, not meant for long time use, not recommended for drinking hot water, some plastic bottles cannot handle heat or sun and turn water into a toxic substance.

2. Glass Water Bottles:

Glass water bottles are considered to be safer alternatives to plastic bottles. Glass is a BPA free material that will not release any color or odour into the water. So, water in a glass bottle tastes better than a plastic one. Also, glass bottles add an aesthetic look to your table or desk and last for a long time (unless you drop them accidentally). Borosilicate glass bottles are considered best because they can higher temperatures compared to other types of glass and work well for drinking hot liquids.

Pros: Looks stylish, multi-functional, sustainable and reusable, do not cause any chemical leaching into water, easy to clean, less chances of bacterial or fungal growth
Cons: Heavy in weight, extremely fragile, not recommended for school going children or older people, expensive, reusability of glass is a big question, can be dangerous if handled with negligence.

3. Stainless Steel Water Bottles:

Stainless steel is a non-reactive, culinary grade material which does not leach chemicals or change color, odour of the substance inside it. This is why, Stainless steel water bottles are considered safe for regular use. They are 100% recyclable and be used for a very long time, almost for a few years without the worry of breakages, rust or mold formation. Also, steel bottles do not pollute the environment and require very little water for manufacturing them.

Pros: Reusable, can last upto 10-12 years, unbreakable, corrosion-resistant, environment-friendly, Free from BPA and harmful toxins, prevents growth of mold and bacteria, will not retain flavours from previous drinks, easy to clean, retains temperature of water for a long time.
Cons: Slightly heavy in weight compared to plastic bottles, higher initial cost, only food grade stainless steel is good as most bottles in market are made with aluminum disguised as stainless steel.

4. Copper Water Bottles:

Copper is one of the oldest known metals used by mankind for utility purposes. Studies show that pure copper water bottles offer many health benefits to us. Copper is known to reduce the risk of anemia and also kill infecting causing microbes in water. As per the Ayurveda, drinking water from copper containers can aid in better digestion, balance all the three doshas (vata, pitta and kapha), along with reducing free radical damage. However, you must ensure that the bottle is made only of pure copper as cheaper materials increase the risk of contamination.

Pros: Sturdy material, releases positive ions into the water, offers many health benefits, available in different sizes and shapes.
Cons: High on maintenance, must be cleaned everyday to kill fungal growth, water tastes a little bit like copper, not recommended to store water for more than a day (due to high concentrations of copper in the water).

5. Insulated Water Bottles:

Insulated water bottles are designed to store hot or warm water and other liquids for a long time. They are also called thermos water bottles or flasks which are made of a stainless steel material on the inside and rubber or plastic on the outside. You have an option to choose from double wall insulation or triple wall insulation, in which the two or three steel walls inside are separated by vacuum. Insulated water bottles are great for those who like to carry water for a long time while constantly maintaining its temperature.

Pros: Long-lasting, best for travel purposes, Sleek designs to fit in a bag, Reusable bottles, free from chemicals and toxins, retains cold and hot temperatures for a long time, Eco-friendly.
Cons: Heavy weight bottles, expensive, not suitable as school water bottles due to their weight and cost, cannot be stored in refrigerator as external temperatures will not effect the temperature of the contents inside.

6. Clay Water Bottles:

Remember those days when we used to drink water from earthen pots? The water tastes much sweeter and cooler than from bottles. Thanks to a few creative minds, you can now experience the same type of water on-the-go with clay water bottles. These self-cooling water bottles are made with terracotta clay, a type of porous material burnt in fire. Buying it from a good organic brand can rule out the possibilities of chemicals or harmful materials.

Pros: Eco-friendly, adds an ethnic feel to your dining table, contains no harmful chemicals, requires no electricity to cool the water
Cons: Heavier than most materials, extremely fragile, not very easy to clean, not suitable for travel or school purposes, expensive considering its handmade.

7. Silicone Water Bottles:

Silicone water bottles are made with Silicone, a flexible and rubbery material primarily made with silica. Food grade Silicone bottles are free from BPA and harmful toxins and do not leach chemicals into the contents inside. Collapsible silicone water bottles are very popular with hikers, school going children and travelers as you can adjust the size of the bottle or collapse it when not in case. You can simply put in your pocket or handbag and expand it into a full-size bottle whenever needed.

Pros: Food grade material, light weight, contains no harmful toxins, unbreakable, travel-friendly, not very expensive, leak proof material, stylish looks, wide choice of colors.
Cons: cleaning silicone bottles require some effort, poor quality materials can leave a bad taste in your mouth

Those are the 7 different types of reusable water bottles available for you! Having them handy can save you a lot of money (and guilt of adding to plastic waste) whenever you go out. Apart from quenching your thirst on-the-go, these bottles also work as an extension of your stylish personality. So, which one do you prefer and why?