Cheapism
It's 2022, and since we live in a world where iPhones exist, there's no reason we should still be suffering through room temperature water. Hydro Flask and YETI are two of the biggest brands in the insulated water bottle market, each claiming unbeatable temperature control. Naturally, I grabbed one from each brand and decided to put them to the test.
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YETI: $30 and up from Yeti
Hydro Flask: $30 and up from Hydro Flask
While both brands are similar in price, YETI provides more value when you start scaling up in volume. Both YETI and Hydro Flask price their 18-ounce options at $30, but as soon as you get to 26 ounces, YETI starts to become cheaper — $40 versus Hydro Flask's $45 for 24 ounces.
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Each brand has the option for a straw-based upgrade, but YETI's is significantly better.
The fact that Hydro Flask's straw swings on a hinge has two distinct disadvantages. First, you're going to be touching it with your grubby little fingers all the time and that's gross, especially if you are outdoors and surrounded by dirt. Second, as with any gadget, this will eventually wear down and become looser.
YETI has models with straws, but there is another option as well. The "Chug Cap," which is a name they should change, stays put in a screw-top second layer of the cap, meaning you probably don't have to touch it and it will never wear down.
I figured the best way to test each water bottle's cooling capabilities would be to track how quickly a single ice cube melted in each bottle. Placing them both in the sun, I checked back every hour to monitor the progress.
Big surprise! They were exactly the same, and each melted in about six hours. I then moved on to a much higher level of scientific sophistication: Filling each bottle with water, tasting the water, and writing down my subjective opinion. Surprise again! The water tasted exactly the same.
Though YETI and Hydro Flask function similarly, YETI has a slight advantage when it comes to price and upgrades. Sorry, Hydro Flask. Talk to me when you've got a chug cap.