Before Stanley and Yeti cups, you might remember there was a third contender: Hydro Flask. While the brand is still totally around, it’s definitely not as hyper sought after as it once was. But, despite this, so many users still think it’s the greatest of the Big Three when it comes to handheld tumblers that make a statement. Looking through Amazon, you’ll see plenty of reviewers say that the Hydro Flask is “better than Yeti and Stanley” due to its spill-proofing, durability, and uncanny ability to keep drinks hot or cold for hours. There’s no shortage of praise for this cup, and right now, it’s paired with one impressive discount: up to 50% off select colors of its 32-ounce tumblers on Amazon.
This tumbler will keep drinks hot or cold for hours on end, is dishwasher-safe and, yes, will fit into your car’s cupholder.
Built from stainless steel with double-wall insulation, these cups keep drinks hot or cold for a long, long time; some say hours, others say practically all-day. It also features flexible straw, instead of those harsh plastic or metal ones, a splash-resistant lid that features a tight closure to prevent leaks and comes in plenty of colors.
Hydro Flask has some major pros over its competitors, according to several reviewers, but if you ask me, the biggest is with keeping it clean. You can stick the cup, straw and lid into the top rack of your dishwasher to clean and sanitize them. Other brands recommend hand washing only to preserve color, but not Hydro Flask! That saves the pain of using bottle brushes.
“It’s worth the hype — I love it,” says a user who grabbed a pink cup. “Perfectly aesthetic, and I appreciate that it’s easy to wash. Keeps my water cold all day. It’s sturdy, the lid quality is great, slides on and off easily while still being nice and snug when on its on. I’ve tipped it over a couple times already and the lid stays put.”
These Hydro Flask tumblers are on sale for a very limited time, so grab one (or two) while you can! And take a look below to see what people are saying about this fan-favorite cup.
“Love hydro flask. Keeps my drinks hot and cold drinks cold even in the warmest weather. Dishwasher safe.” — Tbm
“It’s worth the hype - I love it!! Perfectly aesthetic and I appreciate that it’s easy to wash. Keeps my water cold all day. It’s sturdy, the lid quality is great, slides on and off easily while still being nice and snug when on its on. I’ve tipped it over a couple times already and the lid stays put. I was able to get it on discount but even without it, I think it’s worth the cost. It’s well made, and high quality. Would definitely make a great gift!” — Alex
“[…]
I LOVE THIS TUMBLER!
I was worried about the lid because I’m not a fan of plastic straws. In the past, I’ve purchased glass straws but after living with this a bit, I’ve fallen in love!
The tumbler straw is in two parts. The upper is silicone which is very easy to maintain clean. It pops out of the lid so you can clean it easily. Having a flexible upper straw is so convenient because there are times when you need to pull the straw close to you. The lower straw is plastic and slides into the silicone one. I did purchase replacement straws for the lower part of the tumbler so I can swap them as needed.
Now, let’s talk about leaking. I have knocked it over multiple times on the sofa. If my straw cap is on, it doesn’t leak (purchased separately which fits easily). If the straw cap is off, the most that will happen is you’ll see a drop or two. There’s a tiny vent hole in the lid that controls leaks too. Overall, this tumbler is leak proof!
Last...performance. If I fill this tumbler 1/2 with ice and the rest with water, the ice will remain through the day, even as I continue to add water. I’ve traveled with it, and left it in the hot car and again never any concerns about my water not remaining cold.
Bravo...lead free, leak free, keeps water ice cold, easy to clean, and fits in your cup holder. Perfect!” — Angie (This review has been edited for length. Read the full review.)
“I LOVE this tumbler. My favorite part is the flexible silicone straw. Keeps my water icey cold for a long time. Fits my car cup holders, which has always been an issue for me. The handle makes it easy to carry around. Overall excellent cup and great value for the price.” — Kimberly A Youngblood
Still trying to find the BEST water bottle or want a few to compare? No worries! We pulled three solid options below worth peeking at — including two on sale for up to 38% off.
A sleek and simple S'well bottle (28% off)
Highlights: Wider color and pattern range, can hold hot or cold beverages, triple-layered insulation
I've owned two stainless steel S'well bottles since the late 2010s and probably won't feel the need to acquire a different bottle for another few years, at least: The S'well is durable, sleek, keeps my water cold, fits in a standard cup holder and does everything it needs to.
The only gripes I have are the lack of a handle, which can make it a little more difficult to tote around on the go, and the narrower opening on this original bottle, which can make it tough to add ice cubes depending on their size and can be a little trickier to scrub clean. (I also own the wider Traveler, which doesn't have this problem but is less easy to hold — and looks a little less chic, in my opinion.)
Drawbacks: Narrow mouth opening can be tricky to clean, no handle for carrying, not dishwasher-safe, only available in smaller sizes
Bottom line: No handle and a narrower opening make the S'well slightly less convenient than others on this list, but you don't have to worry about cleaning the nooks and crannies of straws or other gizmos, and the triple-layered insulation that also works on hot drinks gives this an edge. It's also 28% off in select colors so make your move!
The lesser-known lightweight Stanley IceFlow Fast Flow with an angled spout (25% off)
Highlights: Lightweight, angled spout for fast drinking, made of recycled stainless steel, double-wall insulation, dishwasher-safe, carrying handle
Not all Stanley cups are created equal. Available in bright, muted and neutral tones, as well as four sizes, this bottle can keep your drink iced for up to four days, according to the brand (though you can't use it for hot beverages).
The stainless steel construction is designed to be 33% lighter than standard drinkware made with stainless steel, a huge perk for a bottle you'll be lugging around all day (with the convenient carrying handle, no less). The bottle's angled spout and wide mouth ensure a quick pour that you can comfortably drink up.
Drawbacks: More expensive, not usable for hot beverages, reviewers say colored drinks can leave stains
Bottom line: This Stanley bottle is a good option for a durable, lightweight bottle that keeps your cold drinks cold. However, based on the reviews and brand's guidance, you might be limited to putting only plain cold, light-colored beverages in this. If you're a heavy water drinker, that shouldn't be a problem though, of course.
The seemingly universally beloved Owala FreeSip
Highlights: Unique and convenient dual drinking spout, double-wall insulation, leakproof lid with lock, carry loop, wide mouth opening, fun color combos, wider size range
In early 2024, former HuffPost shopping writer Haley Zovickian predicted that the Owala FreeSip would "unseat the Stanley" as the trendy bottle du jour. Over a year and a half later, the FreeSip is still a favorite of many in the HuffPost newsroom, so much so that we gave it a HuffPicks award.
Available in a 16-, 24-, 32- or 40-ounce size, the FreeSip offers two ways to drink: You can sip through the built-in straw while holding the bottle upright, or take a swig from the spout opening. The double-wall insulation can keep your drink cold for up to 24 hours, and the lid has both a lock to keep the bottle leakproof and a carry loop so you can easily take it on the go. Choose from a truly mind-boggling amount of colors, with plenty of fun pastels and neons or classic neutrals.
Drawbacks: Only the lid is dishwasher-safe, not usable for hot liquids
Bottom line: For the price and the convenient features, you can't go wrong with the FreeSip. This is our top pick for those reasons.
The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)