In this world, aesthetics are paramount: the number of colours in your collection is a symbol of status.
Owala is a brand swept up in this social-media fuss. But are its bottles all flash and no substance? I tested Owala's newest offering, the Owala FreeSip Sway, to see if it's worth the hype.
Owala FreeSip Sway
Also available from ColoursDishwasher safeNeed to knowMy first impressions
At first encounter, I'm pleasantly surprised.
It's an undoubtedly stylish insulated bottle. I especially like the cartoonish pops of colour. On mine ('Teal Splishy Splashy'), there's a dark cyan body, a turquoise handle, and a marigold and aquamarine lid. It's a little Andy Warhol.
It's also easy to carry. The bucket-style handle comfortably fits my hand without squashing my fingers. Plus, the indents on the bottle's body are easy to grip when sipping, despite the bottle's wide circumference.
I'm impressed with Owala's patented sip-or-swig spout too: thanks to its built-in straw, it lets you sip delicately or chug greedily when you're particularly parched.
The lid perhaps pings open with a little too much enthusiasm. After opening, it drums against the top of the bottle quite a few times before settling, which can be annoying.
My expert verdict after testing
Trendy products on TikTok are usually gimmick or gold. So which is the Owala FreeSip Sway?
Neither, really. When I put it through our rigorous water bottle test with lots of other bottles, it didn't completely flunk, but nor did it outshine its rivals. It scored 70% – perfectly respectable, but nothing special.
First, its insulation isn't great. Compared with the other insulated water bottles I tested, it was one of the worst performers at keeping the water cold. The handle broke during the durability test, too.
Second, cleaning is a particular pain. You have to disassemble the bottle, removing the rubber gasket and separating the straw from the lid. Then you have to squeeze your sponge into the numerous crevices, which is especially difficult around the spout. All in all, it's a tedious process.
On the plus side, it's pretty leakproof – only a few water droplets dribbled out when I shook it vigorously as part of the test. It's also ergonomically designed and very easy to use.
Not swayed? Here are 3 higher-scoring bottles we'd recommend instead
Our score and verdict
ProsWe've tested three generations of Chilly's water bottles, and each iteration improves on the last – making the Series 3 the best of the bunch.
Its insulation is brilliant. After our eight-hour test, the water remained perfectly chilled.
It's completely leakproof, too. Whether the top is screwed on tightly or left slightly loose, no water escapes.
The wide spout simplifies cleaning (though it isn't dishwasher-safe), but also makes accidental spills more likely.
Our only other quibble is that the cap is detachable, which makes it easy to misplace.
Our score and verdict
ProsEverything about the Stanley AeroLight is wonderfully ergonomic. It's incredibly easy to carry, as you can either use the large handle that snugly fits your fingers or you can grip the bottle's indented body.
You also needn't worry about a wet bag. We found it to be entirely leakproof, even when the lid was left slightly loose.
While sturdy, it picked up some dents during our durability test, though this is common with metal bottles.
Although it's dishwasher-safe, the crevices around the lid are slightly tricky to clean.
It's also quite a pricey bottle – but we think it's well worth it.
Our score and verdict
ProsIf you're looking for a basic and reliable bottle – and you're not fussed about extras like silicone straws or spring-loaded lids – our Great Value pick is perfect.
It's uncomplicated: there's only a lid and body. The rubber grip on the lid is a nice touch, making it very easy to open.
The bottle is leakproof and simple enough to clean, too – though you can't put it in the dishwasher.
On the downside, the lid completely separates from the bottle, and there isn't a carry handle.
It's also not as durable or as insulated as the top two scorers. But when it comes to insulation, it's no slouch – it still managed to keep our water chilled all day.
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All water bottles are assessed for the following:
Ease of use: Leakage: Cleaning: Durability: insulated bottles through an additional eight-hour cold-retention test:Insulation:source https://www.which.co.uk/news/article/is-owala-worth-it-aYPX75P0Kupu