What are the markers of a good water bottle? Is it something you can easily stow and take on-the-go? Or a water bottle large enough where you only have to fill it up once or twice throughout the day?
Known for their viral collaborations and more rugged-looking cooking accessories, Stanley soared in popularity in recent years (despite being founded in 1913), going mega-viral with their Quencher water bottle. Our editors quickly took to the trend, with their water bottles a common sight amongst cubicles.
Hydro Flask is a more recent brand, (they were founded in 2009!) their water bottles and coffee mugs are another staple among some of our editors. Most of them are clad with stickers, while others opt to keep theirs plain and simple.
If you’re looking for a new water bottle to replace your current one, or are wanting to expand your collection, these two brands seem to dominate the space. But which one is right for you? Do you prefer durability over size? Or insulation over versatility?
We asked our team why they prefer one over the other, and what features they appreciate about their everyday water bottles.
Hydro Flask vs. Stanley
Which has better insulation?
To test insulation, we filled the water bottles with cold water and placed 16 ice cubes inside each one. Then, we checked the temperatures after initially filling them up, at the end of the workday and then at the 24-hour mark.
- Hydro Flask: Each Hydro Flask water bottle has an interior crafted with the brands "TempShield double wall vacuum insulated technology." They promise that if you put ice cubes in you water bottle in the morning, they'll still be there in the afternoon. So we decided to look into that promise — out of the 16 ice cubes placed inside at 10:45 a.m. to test for insulation, only three were left at noon.
- Stanley: The Stanley Quencher water bottle has a double wall vacuum insulated interior, with a promise to keep your drink cold for "hours." A graphic on Amazon in the product description shows that the brand promises to keep things iced for up to two days. At noon, nine out of the 16 ice cubes were remaining.
“In the summer, I would add a ton of ice cubes and water and it would be so satisfying when you’d unscrew the lid and see the ice still in there,” says social media video producer Anita Chomenko of her Stanley water bottle.
10:45 a.m.: Stanley’s interior temperature was 46 degrees Fahrenheit, while Hydro Flasks interior temperature was 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
4:15 p.m.: Stanley's interior temperature was 39 degrees Fahrenheit, while Hydro Flasks interior temperature was 43 degrees Fahrenheit.
After 24 hours: Stanley's interior temperature was 55 degrees Fahrenheit while Hydro Flasks interior temperature was 61 degrees Fahrenheit.
Which is more durable?
When performing a drop test, both water bottles withstood a drop from shoulder height onto a concrete surface.
- Hydro Flask: Dropping a Hydro Flask water bottle resulted in a few paint chips on the exterior, dents surrounding the base and damage along the lid. While there were dents around the base of the water bottle, it still stands as it typically should, free of tilts.
“I can 1000% say I believe mine is almost indestructible,” says production coordinator Camryn Privette of her Hydro Flask. “I’ve had it since my freshman year of college and she’s still going strong even with her many bumps and bruises. At this point, it’s almost a game to see how long I can use and abuse it.”
- Stanley: Stanley suffered more damage around the metal base of the water bottle, with dents, paint chips, and scratches scattered across it. There's also damage to the rim of the lid, on both the plastic and metal parts.
“I’ve had each for just under a year and I’d say they fare pretty well,” says associate editor, Kamari Stewart, of the two Stanley water bottles she owns. “My office one doesn’t really go through much but I’m pretty rough with the one at home (constantly dropping it and knocking into stuff) and it’s still in great condition.”
Visually, both water bottles look okay after a drop test, as most of the damage is on the bottom. There are little scratches and paint chips scattered throughout the body of each water bottle, that are visible to those who are seriously looking at it. I wouldn't say these damages impact the use of each water bottle.
Which is more leakproof?
We filled up both water bottles and tilted them at 45 degrees, then fully upside down to see if any water would spill out. Then, we knocked them over on a countertop to see how much they would spill.
- Hydro Flask: We hypothesize that the reason why Hydro Flask's bottle leaks less when tilted at either of the aforementioned angles is because of the suction at the straw and the suction at the lid. Little to no water leaked out of the Hydro Flask water bottle that didn't come straight through the straw. Even when we tipped it over on the counter, there was a very little amount of water that spilled out.
- Stanley: Any of our editors will be quick to tell you that Stanley water bottles are not leakproof. Immediately when tilting it over at both angles, water gushes out of it. And, when knocking it over, nearly half of the contents spilled out of the lid and straw.
Which is easier to clean?
Both water bottles are inherently easy to clean.
- Hydro Flask: The All Around Tumbler has three parts that are easy to take apart and clean.
- Stanley: Stanley does have more parts than the Hydro Flask water bottle, meaning there are more spots for debris and mold to potentially hide and build-up. The straw adapter (that can be adjusted to reveal a drink spout that you can use, sans-straw), is difficult to take out of the lid and re-insert when cleaning.
Which is more portable?
Both can be taken on the go, and are easier to do so than other more traditional water bottles thanks to the thinner bottoms that fit into most car cup holders. When commuting to work via public transit or walking, the water bottles don't exactly fit into a backpack side pocket or designated water bottle pocket very well, due to the handle. I had strapped both into the side pockets of my backpack, to secure them in place while on the subway.
- Hydro Flask: Before commuting to work, I was reassured by the way Hydro Flask had performed during the leak and spill tests, knowing that even if it had spilled, the damage would be less severe than Stanley's. The Hydro Flask performed as expected, making it to the office without spills, leaks, or any water dripping out.
- Stanley: Stanley exceeded my expectations, which were very low due to how it performed during the leak and spill test. Similar to Hydro Flask, there were no spills, leaks or any water dripping out during the commute to work.
My personal pick
As someone who's constantly on the go, Hydro Flask is my water bottle of choice due to its durability and leakproof qualities. I appreciate the fact that if it tumbles off a treadmill, or gets kicked over during hot yoga, it will suffer minimal damage and not spill water everywhere.
And, I can trust that it won't get the contents of my bag wet when I travel.
What to consider
Depending on what is important to you in terms of a water bottle: insulation, durability, ease of travel, how easy it is to clean or whether or not it's leakproof — should be guiding your decision on which one to commit to.
If you want a water bottle that will keep your water truly cold for hours, Stanley is the brand for you. However, for a water bottle that can withstand bumps, bruises and being knocked over, you might want to invest in a Hydro Flask.
Why trust Shop TODAY?
We performed a series of tasks to test these water bottles in terms of durability, cleanliness, insulation and how leakproof they are. We also polled members of Shop TODAY who are loyal users of either Hydro Flask and Stanley to gauge their thoughts on the water bottles they love and use every day.
Personally, I've been using Hydro Flask for over five years — and many of our editors have and use multiple Stanley water bottles at a time, keeping one at their desks and one at home. These water bottles were also tested during Shop TODAY's 2024 Travel Awards, with Stanley earning the award for "Best insulated water bottle."
