Experience this story and others in HIGHEnergy, a print magazine by Highsnobiety, available from retailers around the world and our online store
Experts recommend drinking eight glasses of water a day. Experts, obviously, don’t go outside. In the last few years, a swell of stylish cisterns have upgraded the humble water bottle from utility to accessory. It’s no longer enough just to bring some sips with you. Choosing the right reusable is as crucial as choosing the right shoes (especially if you’re not standing by the sink all day). Is the Jonah glow-up to blame for our bottle thirst? Well, he was there when it happened. With summer in full swing, we drank it all in to find the season’s best bottles.
YETI
Austin-based YETI is known for its overbuilt, tough-as-nails coolers. Their Rambler series of stainless steel bottles ain’t far from the tree. A chunky plastic cap locks drinks in tight. Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps them cold for hours. One pro snowboarder we know brings YETI bottles in the backcountry because they’re tough enough to survive hard falls. They also do fine for walks to the bodega.
Nalgene
The maker of the original big bottle hasn’t stood still. For those quite literally pushing the envelope, Nalgene (best known for its gorp-y plastic liter jugs) offers the Cantene, a packable, squeezable, reusable bottle. The Cantene’s sack silhouette makes it perfect for those traveling fast and light, especially on hikes and runs. Bladder up.
Que
It’s actually not what it looks like. Que’s Collapsible Bottle is a head-turning design with clever functionality. Filled up, it’s a helical desk toy in a slew of fun colors. Empty, the Que collapses into itself, measuring just 4.8 inches tall. The bottle’s silicone construction makes it both dishwasher and tote bag safe, but buyer beware: Whipping out a Que in mixed company will get more than a few “what?”s.
MOBOT
Hydrating and stretching are independently good. Together, they’re absolutely wild. LA-based MOBOT launched the “original foam roller water bottle” back in 2013. Its signature 40-ounce jug (nicknamed “Big Bertha”) has since become a cult icon in boutique studios all over the world. While you can roll out on a MOBOT, something about chugging from the object that just cupped our butts didn’t really connect. What did: the bottle’s distinctive looks and impressive build quality. There are few statement bottles. The Big Bertha is one.
Snow Peak
While many know Snow Peak for its tasteful apparel, the brand has its roots in high-quality gear. This 350 Kanpai Bottle is made from ultralight titanium (wet weight: around 20 ounces) and also features double-wall insulation, keeping cold things cold (or vice versa). At seven inches tall and packing 13 ounces, it’s far from an all-day bottle. But you don’t scoop the Snow Peak for pure utility. The Kanpai is more like the black Issey Miyake turtleneck of bottles.
Marine Serre
Fashionable bottle brands made bottles fashionable. Now, proper fashion brands are diving in themselves. This Marine Serre silver-tone bottle comes with a bottle holder and a cross-body strap, recontextualizing sports functionality to make a vessel a valise. Logo details and metallic accents round out this aqueous accessory. From this bottle, all water is sparkling.
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