The 10 Best Glass Water Bottles
Special Honors
Purist Founder 32 Ounce The Purist Founder 32 Ounce stands apart from the competition by offering an interior glass finish to complement the stainless steel construction, giving you the best of both worlds: the completely taste-free drinking experience you expect from glass, with the robust durability of steel. Count on it for either hot or cold beverages. puristcollective.com
Precision City Etched Custom Your coworkers or family members won't be tempted to claim your Precision City Etched Custom as their own, since you can have your name added to the bottle and your initials to the lid. You'll find plenty of fonts to select from, including stylish script choices and simple block letters. etsy.com
H2OPal Smart Bottle You no longer have to hope that you remember to drink an adequate amount of water throughout the day; instead, let the H2OPal Smart Bottle help you stay on top of your intake. This high-tech option uses both an integrated hydration tracker and an app to measure how much water you consume, and to encourage you to drink more throughout the day. h2opal.com
Editor's Notes
November 21, 2020:
You can meet your daily hydration goals with any one of these glass bottles, but at this time, we think the Takeya Classic deserves the top spot. As with any version sporting a silicone sleeve, you can expect it to attract a little more dust and hair than, say, a metal Hydro Flask, but this is a small price to pay for the protection such a sleeve offers. For those who want some protection, but without the silicone, we added the Equa 25 Ounce. Its felt sleeve doesn't offer perfect security or insulation, but its modern aesthetic is stylish and different from much of the competition.
We've also selected the Contigo Quick-Twist as a new addition. Its shape makes it a bit harder to clean than many, even with a high-quality bottle brush. On the other hand, many appreciate its spout, which makes it easier to drink from than many other options, such as the Lifefactory Straw Cap. Like most, this Contigo model comes in several colors.
Finally, for those who want something a little different, we kept the Grosche Copenhagen Infuser, an infuser water bottle, just as its name suggests. For those who dislike drinking plain, boring water, it can be a big help. We especially like its neoprene sleeve, which provides a comfortable grip and isn't too tough to remove.
November 12, 2019:
There are a few good reasons why more and more people are switching from plastic to glass water bottles. First, glass is more environmentally friendly than plastic. It can be recycled again and again, so you don't have to worry about it eventually ending up in a landfill. Second, glass really does do a superior job of preserving the flavor of water. You may be thinking, wait a minute — water doesn't have any flavor. You're right, but the flavors of chemicals in plastic and previous beverages can spoil the taste of whatever you're drinking. Glass is easy to clean in the dishwasher, too, and it is quite insulating, so you can count on your hot or cold drink maintaining its temperature much longer than you could with a plastic bottle.
The Grosche Copenhagen Infuser and Xtremeglas Time Marked are the newest additions to the list, the former chosen for its appealing fruit/tea infusion capability, and the latter for its durable construction and printed hour lines that indicate how much water to drink and when in order to stay sufficiently hydrated throughout the day. By contrast, the BKR 500ml and Pratico Kitchen 18 oz 6-Pack have been removed due to complaints about leaks.
Staying Hydrated And Healthy
Do keep in mind that while it is difficult to consume enough water to cause an issue, there is such a thing as drinking too much water.
If there is one thing you can do to help yourself stay healthy, it is keeping yourself properly hydrated. While each person requires a different amount of H2O for proper hydration, a rule of thumb many in the medical community espouse is the "eight by eight" approach, which directs a person to consume eight glasses of water, measuring eight ounces each, every day. That adds up to 64 ounces of water, better known as a half gallon or two liters.
Some people may need more water daily, and some less; trust your thirst and always consume plenty of water when you feel you need it, and make sure to watch out for signs of dehydration. This is as important when you are out for a long hike as it is when you are simply going through your workday: many experts believe that most people are chronically dehydrated.
Educate yourself about the indicators of dehydration, which include a darkened color of your urine, headaches, a dry mouth, and fatigue. (In fact often that sleepiness that sets in during the mid afternoon is a result not of the hours spent at work or due to your digesting your lunch, but rather to moderate dehydration -- drinking a serving or two of water may give you renewed energy and alertness.)
Your body's fluid needs are dynamic, with the amount of water you need affected by the ambient temperature and humidity levels, the amount of exercise or work you complete, the condition of your health, and the types of food you eat in a given day. It's important to adjust your fluid intake as needed based on activity and conditions, and always try to increase your hydration before you feel the effects of the heat, exercise, or any other factor: it is easier -- and healthier -- to stay hydrated than it is to rehydrate.
Do keep in mind that while it is difficult to consume enough water to cause an issue, there is such a thing as drinking too much water. If you consume too much water in too short a period of time, you can cause a condition called hyponatremia -- also known as water intoxication -- that causes the level of sodium in your blood to drop dangerously low. The risks for this rare condition are raised after you have been sweating during exercise. Again, it is rare, but it can be fatal, so make sure to stay hydrated but not to overdo it.
Why Glass Bottles Are Clearly Ideal
Bisphenol A, more commonly known as BPA, is a chemical that has seen wide production and use in various types of plastics since the middle of the 20th century. BPA helps to make plastics more pliable and durable, and one of the most common uses it has seen has traditionally been in food and beverage containers, such as water bottles. BPA may slightly impede proper thyroid functions, and in some cases it may be perceived by the body as a hormone, leading to mild hormonal imbalances.
BPA may slightly impede proper thyroid functions, and in some cases it may be perceived by the body as a hormone, leading to mild hormonal imbalances.
Most studies have concluded that BPA has either no detectable deleterious effects on the human body, or that those effects are quite minimal. Still, considering how easy it is to avoid Bisphenol A these days, one might as well not take the risk until conclusive evidence, one way or the other, has been published and reviewed.
The best way to stay well hydrated while also avoiding BPA is to use a glass water bottle as your primary method of hydration. Glass bottles contain no potentially harmful chemicals, and their nonporous material resists the buildup of bacteria, chemicals, molds, or other unwanted substances. A glass bottle can be cleaned in a dishwasher or even boiled for ideal sterilization. Glass will not impart any flavors into your water, nor will it take on the flavors left by another liquid, such as juice or coffee, that you might place in the bottle.
Glass water bottles also tend to be robust and durable, lasting for many years in many cases, and thus their use also means less reliance on disposable materials. That makes glass bottles a great choice for the environmentally conscious consumer, and for the economically conscious, as well: it's cheaper to refill a bottle over and over again than it is to keep buying new bottles of water.
Choosing The Right Glass Bottle For You
If you're simply looking for a fine glass bottle to keep on your desk at work or by your bedside for nighttime thirst, then it's hard to find a glass bottle that won't serve you well. Many people prefer bottles with wide mouths that handle just like a water glass for these casual uses.
If you're looking for a glass water bottle you can use during exercise, on the other hand, you need to put a bit more effort into your pre-purchase research. First, make sure you get a bottle that will fit onto your bike for use while cycling, into your hydration belt for hiking or running, or that's simply comfortable enough to keep in your hand for use during a good, long walk.
Also consider a bottle with plenty of added protection in the form of a silicone or rubber sleeve if you're going to be using it while on the go: while glass bottles are strong and durable, they certainly aren't shatter-proof.