It's a tough bottle, too, suffering only light scratches after we dropped it 10times, when full, onto a hard surface. Both of our three-year-old and five-year-old testers were able to fill and tighten up this bottle without it leaking. It also came out completely clean from the dishwasher, and again when we washed it in a sink, with no tough-to-reach spots where dirt and bacteria could be left to linger.

This bottle has handy measurement lines on the side, so you or your child can trace the amount of water drunk through the day. Finding a glass water bottle with a straw can be difficult, but we think we've found the ideal solution in this option from BLUEGO. The wide mouth is large enough for adding your favorite ice, fruit, or other flavorings. We also love that it has a silicone sleeve to protect it from impact, so you can toss it in a bag or your passenger seat without a second thought. The exterior is powder-coated to keep it from slipping and to help reduce condensation. You will have to hand wash it, but it comes with a lifetime warranty, so you know it’s built to last. We've also noticed that cleaning the straw is easy, as it detaches from the lid to allow for a thorough scrubbing.

Our product journey

All of the stainless steel water bottles with straws on our list are insulated in some way. But Owala's viral FreeSip is our favorite because it keeps our water cold for longer—and has a range of innovative features that set it apart. The smaller sizes fit in most cupholders, whether you're sipping in the car or on an exercise bike. But like Owala's FreeSip, SimpleModern's water bottle is meant for cold drinks only. For hot drinks, try investing in a high-quality insulated tumbler.

Owala claims the FreeSip's double-walled insulation keeps water cold for up to 24 hours, which we've found to be true in testing. We love that the wide mouth allows us to add ice to keep our water at the perfect temperature all day long. Plus, the outside is just slightly textured for the right amount of grip, and even the largest 40-ounce size is easy to hold with one hand. If you need to keep hydrated but don't have the opportunity to refill your water bottle often, whether you're gearing up for a hike or a long day out and about, we recommend Iron Flask's 64-ounce water bottle. We like that this half-gallon bottle has three lids, including a straw lid that we found easy to drink from, even while standing or walking.

It comes in several sizes and an array of colors. A carrying clip is built into the cap so you can easily take it on the go. The price is right, too, as you can score the 24-ounce model for less than half the price of other bottles on our list.

At the end of the testing period, we give each water bottle a score of 1 (would not recommend) to 5 (would recommend) in each of the key categories listed above. We also take the bottles home so we can continue to test them—we'll update this story with new insights as we use them in our daily routines. It doesn't have many difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies so it can be cleaned easily in a dishwasher or a sink. It also survived our tough drop test with only superficial scratches. Dishwasher: we smeared the inside, bottle caps and drinking spouts with greasy Vaseline and then washed each bottle in a dishwasher on its hottest setting. After washing we shone a UV torch on each bottle and examined them for any uncleaned spots (Vaseline glows under UV light). A water bottle with a built-in straw eliminates the need for single-use straws and is easier to sip from during workouts. When shopping for a water bottle, it's also a good idea to consider which materials it's made from—glass, stainless steel, or plastic are common—and the manufacturer's care instructions. Most water bottles are not dishwasher-safe, so read the description carefully if that's important to you.It came out of the dishwasher with lots of dirty spots still on it, particularly around the spout and underneath the lid. These spots were also hard to clean when handwashing, and we'd wager they would often be missed. Still, we appreciate the bottle's modern design, which comes in a few stylish, muted colors. It offers two middle-of-the-road sizes, 20 and 32 ounces—enough to keep you hydrated all day long. Just note that it's hand wash only and can't go in the dishwasher. We also like that the triple-layered insulation keeps beverages hot for up to 12 hours or cold for up to 24. Leakproof and shatterproof, it's sturdy enough to withstand constant use. And the carrying handle on the straw lid is a nice, convenient touch. Julie Evans is an experienced wellness writer whose work has appeared in USA Today, CafeMom, SheKnows, and more. Julie understands the importance of proper hydration and won't leave the house without her favorite water bottle. She takes care to only recommend the best products to her readers. Our verdict: Easy to use and watertight, this practical water bottle from Ion8 also sailed through our durability tests.