The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32 oz meets
the Owala FreeSip 24 oz
The everyday bottle the testing labs keep crowning. We tested it head-to-head against the Owala FreeSip 24 oz across 6 key dimensions.
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32 oz
“The everyday bottle the testing labs keep crowning”
Owala FreeSip 24 oz
“Sip or chug from one clever one-handed lid”
Head-to-Head Breakdown
Strengths & Weaknesses
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32 oz
- Top pick in the three most rigorous lab tests we found, winning OutdoorGearLab, GearJunkie, and Wirecutter outright
- Wide mouth fills and cleans easily, and the same bottle accepts straw, chug, and flex lids so it adapts to how you drink
- Backed by a limited lifetime warranty and a multi-year reliability record that reviewers treat as the category benchmark
- At 15.5 oz empty it is heavy when full, and GearJunkie flagged the wide body as too broad for some cup holders
- Wirecutter found the Flex Chug cap does not stay tethered, so it is easy to set down and misplace
- Premium pricing at $44.95 sits well above value picks like the Owala FreeSip and Takeya Actives
Owala FreeSip 24 oz
- CNN called it the best-drinking bottle it tested, and the FreeSip lid lets you sip through the straw or tilt back for a fast chug with one hand
- Won Food Network's 26-bottle test outright and took GearJunkie's Best Budget award at around $30, half the price of premium steel bottles
- Held water without a single degree of temperature rise over 24 hours in CNN's cold test
- Prudent Reviews found the spring-loaded lid failed its leak test and can flick water when moisture is trapped under the button
- CNN saw the lid dent and the body warp after a four-foot drop, so it is less rugged than the Yeti Rambler
- Wirecutter notes the multi-part lid is fiddly to clean and the gasket can trap moisture if you rush it
The Verdict
Our Bottom Line
The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth won because it took the top spot in the three most rigorous tests we found. OutdoorGearLab, which weights closure at 35 percent and runs dyed-water leak trials, named it Editors' Choice at 89 out of 100. GearJunkie's four-person team scored it 9.2 out of 10 as Best Overall after 150 hours on Colorado trails and 3,000 road miles. Wirecutter, which has tested more than 120 bottles since 2014, calls it the pick for most needs.
Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 32 oz
The Hydro Flask Wide Mouth won because it took the top spot in the three most rigorous tests we found. OutdoorGearLab, which weights closure at 35 percent and runs dyed-water leak trials, named it Editors' Choice at 89 out of 100. GearJunkie's four-person team scored it 9.2 out of 10 as Best Overall after 150 hours on Colorado trails and 3,000 road miles. Wirecutter, which has tested more than 120 bottles since 2014, calls it the pick for most needs.
- You want one proven bottle that keeps water cold from morning to night
- You like the option to swap between straw, chug, and flex lids as your day changes
- You value a limited lifetime warranty and a long reliability record over saving money
- You are willing to pay a premium for the bottle that testing labs rank first
- You fill from a wide mouth and want it to take ice and clean easily
Owala FreeSip 24 oz
The Owala FreeSip delivers most of what makes a great bottle for around $30, roughly two-thirds the price of the Hydro Flask. It won Food Network's 26-bottle test outright and took GearJunkie's Best Budget award. Wirecutter named it Best for One-Handed Use, and CNN said it had the best drinkability of everything it tested.
- You want excellent cold retention and an easy one-handed lid without spending $45
- You like having a straw and a chug pour in the same lid
- You mostly drink at a desk, in a car, or at the gym rather than dropping the bottle on rocks
- You are buying for a commute or a kid and want something forgiving and affordable
- You are happy to clean a multi-part lid in exchange for the FreeSip experience