After Comparing 6 Tumblers and Water Bottles, This is the One I Use And Recommend the Most

“Guys, look at this cute water bottle! I think I—,” but I’m quickly cut off before I can even finish my sentence. My friends know that I have absolutely zero need for new tumblers and water bottles. Any link, photo, or product screenshot I send their way of a limited-edition water bottle pattern or a newly-launched design are promptly met with a “You don’t need this.” 

Until, that is, I came upon my latest obsession: the Owala SmoothSip Slider. This leakproof tumbler (yes, fully leakproof) has a slider that you push into place that engages the lock to prevent any spills. You can actually shake up your shaken espresso directly in the tumbler, swirl your iced matcha latte with your wrist, and chuck your full-to-the-brim tumbler into your bag without any worry of losing precious beverage liquid. (And I have done all of the actions above to test it.) 

Owala SmoothSip Slider

Fellow water bottle and tumbler aficionados most likely won’t be surprised to hear that I have both the 12-ounce and 20-ounce versions—a girl needs her options. I’ve owned the two SmoothSip Sliders for over five months now, and they’re my preferred choices for both hot and iced drinks when I’m commuting and traveling. The color combinations, the sleek shape, the easy-to-use lid lock, and the smooth-sip spout of the lid make it perfect for my needs. The “regular” Owala water bottles are also a favorite of mine—particularly the FreeSip—because you can drink via a straw-connected spout and as a regular bottle.

While there are plenty of leakproof tumblers on the market, the Owala SmoothSip Slider has the fewest “steps” to leakproof-ify the tumbler; you simply push up the slider. The slider also stays so firmly in place that when it comes time to remove it for cleaning, I need the aid of a spoon and a solid amount of wrist action to snap it off the lid. (The other elements of the tumbler are very easy to remove for cleaning.) However, I’d much prefer that bit of arm work than a leaky cup. 

Other brands’ leakproof styles I considered either had colors or design elements that weren’t to my liking, or they only had straw options for leakproof lids. Brumate’s Nav series has a lid feature that you flip then slide to lock into place, but I didn’t love the aesthetics of the cup itself. Stanley’s AeroLight Transit bottle felt too utilitarian in design, and same goes for Hydroflask’s coffee tumbler with the Flex Sip lid. I also don’t love the black handle on the Hydroflask lid. Yeti’s Rambler Tumbler lid is leak resistant but not proof. 

Simple Modern’s Voyager tumbler was the closest contender in terms of design and function; it has a curved, sleek shape, available in a variety of pretty colors and patterns, and has the simplest one-step lock mechanism that’s activated by pushing down the top of the lid. One of its most favorable design points is actually my personal biggest worry: the 360-degree drinkable edge. With all the stuff I carry in my bags during my commute and on the daily, I knew that even if the lid was locked, something in my bag would press onto it and release the lock for potential spilling from all 360 degrees. Plus, the Voyager’s lid has a lot of grooves inside that can be hard to access for a thorough clean.

While the discrepancies don’t dramatically differ, it’s those little elements that contribute to whether or not I gravitate towards one tumbler or bottle over another. My Owala SmoothSip Slider hits all the marks in terms of my personal design preference, plus it’s great at keeping my iced drinks cold as I drink, and my hot coffee is still relatively warm by the end of the day. It’s also worth noting: I don’t test how long my drinks stay hot or cold, because every tumbler I’ve used always can keep my drinks cold and hot enough for the up-to two hours I’m sipping on it.

The majority of people in my circle own more water bottles and tumblers than necessary, but many have selectively added the SmoothSip to their rotations for all the pros that I uncovered while testing. Even my picky mom liked it and has gifted it to others, and with so many color variations, there’s a style for everyone. 

Owala Smoothsip Slider 12-Ounce

Owala FreeSip Water Bottle

Owala FreeSip Twist Water Bottle

Owala Travel Tumbler