By now, there’s no way you’ve not heard of Stanley’s Quencher, the sellout travel mug turned viral marketing triumph following a TikTok demonstrating it had survived a fire, ice cubes inside still intact. The hefty 40oz bottle has done what no drinking vessel has done before and become a household name, an icon; it’s the Always Pan of the hydration world, achieving a rare combination of aesthetic appeal, functionality and vocal fanbase.
But nothing is perfect, and despite being dubbed a travel mug, we’d actually argue the airport is one place not suited to your Stanley tumbler. For one, it’s massive, so takes up serious space in your in-flight bag – and with that carry handle? Forget squeezing it into your backpack’s cup holder. No, frequent travellers need something different, something – dare I say – better. And that, for me, is the Owala FreeSip.
This vibrant stainless steel bottle, available in 14 cheery colours and four sizes, has been quietly gaining traction on social media, racking up over 272 million views on the #owala hashtag on TikTok, and garnering resale values of over £300 for limited edition colours on sites like eBay.
It has a slim shape that slips neatly inside a tote or backpack bottle holder, plus a carrying loop to attach it to your bag, which is handy for times you’re hiking and so on. Like the Quencher, there’s a 40oz version, which should last nearly all day, along with three smaller offerings we’d recommend for travelling days. It’s also cheaper than Stanley’s viral cup, at £31 for a 40oz bottle in comparison to £44.99 for the Quencher.
Functionality-wise, it’s leakproof, triple-layer insulated, and the lid is dishwasher-safe (like all insulated bottles, the body has to be hand-washed). “I love that the lid goes into the dishwasher because I think cleaning these water bottles can be fiddly,” says global audience development manager Abigail Malbon. “I also like that you don’t need two hands to unscrew the lid. It lifts and pops open, so you can sip on the go.”
Commerce editor Lauren Burvill, who owns an Owala FreeSip, the famous Stanley bottle and a Yeti Rambler, also rates the Owala top when it comes to plane travel. “The Stanley cup might be fine for taking on a walk, but this bottle is much better suited to stowing in your hand luggage,” she says. “It’s light, it can store more water, and it doesn’t leak.”
The leakproof claims have held true for us in the office. So far, I’ve taken my Owala bottle from my house to the gym to the office, and back with no issues, something I especially appreciate as I keep my laptop in my backpack. It’s also stayed cold throughout the day, which has, in turn, encouraged me to drink more.
But all that aside – and like the Always Pan’s genius built-in spoon rest – there’s one feature that elevates this bottle for me above its competitors; a simple tweak that improves its functionality in a genuinely useful way. The internal straw. This addition alone makes this bottle worth the hype for me.
So many times I’ve taken an urgent swig from my now-relegated S’Well bottle after a tough workout, only to spill a load of water down my chin. My trainer, smiling sympathetically, once told me that he “does that all the time, too”, but I think he was just being polite. Now I can rehydrate without needing to tip the bottle back at all, thus avoiding embarrassment forevermore. I didn’t know what I was missing until I had it.
“It’s a game changer,” agrees audience development manager Amber Port. “You can choose between using the built-in straw or a wide-mouth opening. There’s no doubt I’ll be using this bottle all summer.”
A reusable water bottle is a must-have item from both a health and sustainability perspective, so it pays to invest in the best. If you’re looking for a reasonably-priced option that’s perfect for slinging in your carry-on, the Owala FreeSip is officially Traveller-approved. Shop the full range (including the new FreeSip Plus, which is suitable for both hot and cold drinks) on the brand’s website.
Owala water bottle review – the pros:
- Good range of colours
- Built-in straw inside the spout, plus an open mouthpiece for chugging
- Vacuum-insulated stainless steel
- Completely leakproof
- Keeps drinks cold all-day
- BPA-free
- Available as both a stainless steel water bottle and a cheaper tritan plastic option
- Limited lifetime warranty
Owala water bottle review – the cons:
- Like all insulated water bottles, it’s not dishwasher safe
- Ships from America so can take a while to arrive, unless you pay extra for third-party shipping on Amazon
