I Love Reusable Water Bottles, And When It Comes To Functionality, None Compare To Takeya

These handle-adorned bottles keep water cold for a full day, all without ever leaking or becoming prone to drops.

Another day, another review by yours truly. Let's get straight to it, shall we? I'm here to tell you about an item that often finds itself in the background of my photos and everyday life; something I use daily that doesn't get nearly as much IG story time as it deserves.

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Enter: Takeya's Actives Water Bottles, which are sold in over a dozen colors and a handful of sizes. Point blank, these double-insulated stainless water bottles have earned the top spot in my mental list of water bottles. And I've tried them all. S'well, Corkcicle, Nalgene, Hydro Flask, BrüMate—you name it, I've tried it—nothing holds a candle to Takeya.

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From first look, you might think, "Cool, they're vibrant, so what?" But they're SO 👏 MUCH 👏 MORE 👏 than just colorful. Hear me out.

Takeya / Via Instagram: @takeyausa

Takeya Actives Water Bottles are double insulated, which allows them to retain icy-cool contents for up to 24 hours (or steaming hot for up to 12). This design also means that any condensation is trapped on the inside of the bottle, rather than dripping down the outside. While the bottles themselves don't sweat, they're designed with a built-in silicone coaster which helps to cushion the stainless bottle's impact with any surfaces (which means no banging sounds from setting it down).

Takeya / Via Instagram: @takeyausa

Oh, but that's not all. The lid — whether you opt for the spout bottle cap or straw lid — is leakproof, so you don't have to worry about throwing it in your bag or on the floor of your car (just me?). Additionally, the Actives bottles come with a built-in durable handle for easy carrying. And it's spacious enough that you don't have to cram your fingers within it, the way some other handled-bottles force you to do.

Another thing to love about Takeya water bottles? (Apart from the fact that they help you become more sustainable one sip at a time thanks to their reusable nature, of course.) They come with a lifetime warranty. While dents, scratches, and other signs of normal wear and tear aren't covered, if any of the materials prove defective, Takeya will replace the part or the bottle as a whole to ensure you're as satisfied as possible with your purchase.

The size range is truly applaudable. Rather than going up to a mere 32 ounces, Takeya's size range extends all the way up to 64 ounces. And yes, that size comes with a handle, too.

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In fact, the brand recently released its new Pickleball collection which features a new variety of colors with even larger, sturdier handles for easier carrying. 

Now, just because I adore my Takeya water bottles doesn't mean that I have zero qualms with them. I have but one. And it's that the Actives Straw Lids — which are my personal favorite — are only sold in seven colors. This means that, while I love a color-block moment, I don't have the option to match my lid to some of my bottles.

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Is that a dealbreaker though? As the picture above indicates, clearly not. 

Also, while on the topic of Takeya, while the Actives bottles — specifically the ones with straw lids — are my be-all, end-all, when it's cold outside, I also adore my 17oz Traveler Insulated Leak Proof Mug With FlipLock™ Lid, which keeps my coffee, hot chocolate, or tea warm while protecting my bag and car from spills.

Rebecca Norris / BuzzFeed

Point is, I'm confident saying that no matter what you buy from Takeya, you're bound to be impressed. 

But back to the bigger picture... If you don't believe me about just how wonderful these water bottles are, by all means, take the word of a few of the many, many Takeya devotees. (No, really, the Actives bottles have over 14,000 5-star ratings on Amazon alone.)

Takeya / Via Instagram: @takeyausa

"I drink a lot of water and found that my 24-oz bottle I use most days wasn't cutting it. I purchased the white 40-oz bottle and am loving it. The wide mouth makes it easy to clean and add ice, although the height of the bottle makes it difficult to reach to the bottom with my scrub brush. I will have to purchase a longer one. Love the small screw on top because it allows you to drink ice water without pieces of ice trying to escape. I have seen some reviews say that the bottle sweats, or that the cap sweats when it has ice in it, but that hasn't been the case for me. The bottle stays dry. It also has a little removable rubber bumper on the bottom that helps keep my desk at work from getting scratched, kinda like a built-in coaster. The bottle is pretty large and not super light, so it may not be ideal for people who travel a lot and like to keep things light. But it seems to be sturdy and holds plenty of H20 goodness. I would def recommend and purchase again." –Haley P.

"I have been on a quest for the perfect reusable water bottle for years. I probably have ten or twelve different brands. Before I bought this, my favorite was a 32oz plastic Nalgene bottle, but it wasn't THE perfect bottle. Finally, FINALLY, I've found it. Here is what I love about this bottle: My ice water actually stays cold for... a long time. Twice I've left it overnight and 21-ish hours later, I can shake it and still hear ice. It doesn't sweat! No ring of water on my table, the surface isn't slick with condensation minutes after I fill it. The large size means I don't have to keep refilling it! Lasts me a whole workday (teaching). It isn't cold to the touch like stainless steel water bottles I've tried. The lid is nice, I like being able to just open the smaller opening and not splash myself in the face as sometimes happens with a wide bottle opening. And I like that I can just hook it onto one finger and not drop it when my hands are full. It's super easy to wash. When the lid is off completely, the mouth of the bottle is wide enough for full-sized ice cubes. I love the variety of colors it comes in! The light teal is my favorite color ever and it's so pretty. Do yourself a favor and buy this water bottle. It is worth every penny, and I already want another one." –Hanna B.

"Hands down the best thermos I've ever owned. I've purchased three of these. One for my brother, and one as a replacement because I kept drinking tea out of my first one but did not clean it as frequently as I should've (the rubber sealant rings are great for sealing but also can get a little bit grimy from tea—SO CLEAN YO SEALANT RINGS!). I put ice cubes in water in it and picked it up a day later — A DAY LATER — and there were still remnants of the ice cubes and the water was ice cold. I've burned my mouth because I forgot that things don't cool down in this thermos as the speed they do in other thermoses." –E. Zeitgeist

All this to say, if you've never quite been fully satisfied with your reusable water bottle, it's time to turn your attention to Takeya. The born-in-Japan, raised-in-California water bottle brand is designed specifically with athletes and folks on the go in mind. Sold? Get it from Amazon for $19.41+ (available in six sizes, 17 colors, and two lid types) or from Takeya's site, where even more options live.

Takeya / Via instagram.com

While that might seem pricey, considering competitors are a hefty chunk higher than that, not to mention the fact that it's a one-time fee versus endless cash spent on single-use plastic bottles, it's really quite the deal.

Of course, if you prefer smaller or bigger bottles, Takeya has you covered with those, too. Specifically, they offer 14- and 16-ounce bottles targeted toward kids, as well as 18-, 32-, 40-, and 64-ounce options. And that's just for their Actives collection. The brand also offers travel-friendly coffee/tea bottles, insulated tumblers (complete with flip-top straws), clear Tritan bottles, and more. The biggest difference is that every bottle in the Actives collection comes with a silicone bumper (which is basically a built-in coaster) and a handle for easy carrying.