Our Honest Review of the Owala FreeSip Water Bottle

Just when you thought Gen Z had exhausted every possible water bottle craze, they've managed to do it again. Owala has been crowned this year's trending water bottle brand — so much so that customers on TikTok claim it even replaced the Stanley. (I know, right?) While the Owala FreeSip is available in several vibrant color combinations and four different sizes, the hype primarily comes from its 2-in-1 drinking spout. The bottle has a built-in straw and a wide mouth opening so you can choose to sip or swig. The straw is protected by a flip-top opening, which helps keep the cap clean and there's never a straw sticking out of your bag, when carrying your water bottle from home to the office, the gym, the airport, on hikes — you get the idea.

Owala has taken over the TikTok platform, tallying 14.6k posts under the hashtag and totaling millions of views. Most of these videos are customers raving about their favorite features of the Owala or showing an aesthetically pleasing unboxing and cleaning process. Owala takes pride in its customers' loyalty and engages with them by reposting their videos on Instagram, and also uses the platform to promote new color drops every month — my current obsession is the vibrant FlipFlop Flashbacks for summer.

Physicalities aside, we wanted to test what makes the Owala FreeSip so great. Is it its leak-proof lid, triple-layer insulation, easy one-button access, a convenient carry loop that doubles as a lock for even more protection? Here's what we think.

What is an Owala Water Bottle?

Trove Brands launched Owala in March 2020, which soon after became the fastest-growing brand in the competitive water bottle industry. The founders invented the idea of the FreeSip by studying consumer research from Trove Brands' other water bottle inventions like Avana and the BlenderBottle, concluding that water bottle users are divided between sippers and swiggers. Thus, the Owala FreeSip was born, appealing to most water drinkers and becoming the leading contributor to the crazed hydration inflation.

The FreeSip is incredibly accessible: Amazon, Target, Urban Outfitters, Dick's Sporting Goods and Macy's all carry it, so you can find an Owala on every shelf and in everyone's carts. And just when you thought Owala has claimed every color of the rainbow, Urban Outfitters offers exclusive combinations only sold at their stores. Who doesn't love a rare purchase?

While the FreeSip is known as Owala's best-seller, the brand sells other water bottle variations like the FreeSip Twist, 40oz. Tumbler and SmoothSip. Kids can also hydrate with Owala from these fun-sized bottles made specifically for little ones.

How We Tested

In addition to using the Owala FreeSip in my everyday life for over six months (hello emotional support water bottle), my evaluation process consisted of three experiments to test its special claims. I filled the bottle with water and vigorously shook it upside down to note any spillage, dropped the Owala — a tester, because I couldn't risk breaking my own precious bottle — from a height of three feet to look for damage and recorded a temperature change in the water after leaving it at room temperature for eight hours.

I also took the time to hand wash every part of the FreeSip to see if anything was hard to reach or challenging to clean. Note that the lid, straw and spout gasket are the only dishwasher-safe parts of the bottle, while the cup must be hand-washed to preserve its stainless steel finish.

What We Like About the Owala Water Bottle

I've said it once and I'll say it again: The versatile 2-in-1 spout is game-changing. The ability to sip upright from the built-in straw or tilt back to chug from the wide-mouth opening lets you choose how to drink based on your preferred method or given situation. If you're winded after physical activity or your mouth is just feeling dry, the option to quickly swig is just as available as it is to mindlessly sip.

Minimal effort is needed to get a nice, smooth gulp from the straw. The one-button lid snaps open with ease and the spout is designed to comfortably purse your lips around it. The FreeSip is as seamless as it gets.

The flip-top lid encloses the spout to protect it from outside germs, making the FreeSip very travel-friendly and a convenient choice knowing the spout can't graze an unsanitized surface. The carry-loop is a unique and easy way to hold the bottle when on the move. The best part of all is that the loop can fold down and lock in place when not in use, which is what helps keep the FreeSip leakproof. And after multiple scenarios of forcefully shaking a full Owala, I can confidently say that nothing was spilled. I know I can rely on this water bottle to roll every which way in my bag without spilling a drop. The 24-ounce FreeSip is even cup holder friendly, which is important for everything from busy morning commutes to long road trips.

The triple-insulated stainless steel body did not come to play. The water temperature in my FreeSip only rose five degrees after being left in the bottle at room temperature for eight hours. While not exact, the water still tasted pretty cold. I even took my Owala to a Florida beach recently and it certainly kept me cool in the blazing sun. If you're someone who craves ice water, you're in luck because the FreeSip opening is wide enough to fit cubes of any size. I have yet to see any melted ice in my Owala when I fill it with ice water.

And of course the FreeSip's claim to fame: the colors. Whenever I see Owala's out and about, they are very rarely one and the same. From the 15 plus colors on the website, monthly color drops and exclusive combinations at select retailers, there is a FreeSip for everyone. You can go as tame or as extravagant as you wish, the color choices are endless.

What the Owala Water Bottle Could Do Better

Unfortunately, the FreeSip did not pass our drop test (though it could've failed much worse). A pinky-nail-sized dent formed on the bottom of the bottle after it was dropped on hardwood from three feet high. It is not a noticeable dent when the Owala stands up, however, and the bottle still works good as new. The water did not leak from the bottle when it made contact with the floor, either. So while a fallen Owala may dent, you know the water inside won't escape. Although it would be a nice reassurance to know your Owala is dentproof if you're someone with butter fingers.

After using my Owala for more than six months, the lid doesn't flip open as consistently as it used to. Sometimes the top only opens a sliver with one push, so I have to use my other hand to pry it all the way open. Maybe I'm just an avid water drinker and open and close the lid a ridiculous amount, but I'm finding myself missing the strength of the spring in the flip top. It is one of the many reasons why the Owala is so fun to drink from.

We used the 24-ounce FreeSip in testing, which is pretty compact for someone who drinks a lot of water. Although the FreeSip comes in 30- and 40-ounce sizes as well, these bottles are much bigger, heavier and harder to travel with. They do not fit in an average-sized cup holder either, so you may have a harder time transporting these bigger sizes if you prefer to travel with more than 24 ounces of water.

The spout gasket and sealing ring, which are rubber seals that live underneath the lid to stop water from leaking, are small yet crucial parts of the Owala that can be hard to find and take out for cleaning if you're unaware of them. While the gasket has a thin tab attached that helps pull it out, the inner sealing ring does not. I recommend using a thin knife or fork to lift it. Nothing is too challenging to wash once the Owala is taken apart, but it still would be more convenient for every part to be dishwasher-safe.

Bottom Line: Who Should Buy This?

Whether you drink a lot of water or are just beginning your hydrating journey, the Owala FreeSip is for everyone. It's easy to use, adorably chic and is the perfect travel companion thanks to the slim silhouette and leakproof lid. The versatility of the bottle leaves no man left behind, as the spout appeals to all water drinkers alike. It is also reasonably affordable, making for an amazing gift or a treat yourself moment without breaking the bank. I can already tell this water bottle won't fall victim to my yearly reusable water bottle rotation — it's here to stay.