What Makes the Owala FreeSip Water Bottle So Special? We Tested It to Find Out (2024)

As someone who tests kitchen products for a living and has been doing so for nearly 10 years, I have strong opinions about water bottles. Almost everyone I know does too — or maybe that's just because they know I'll listen to anything they have to say on the subject. Recently, a lot of questions about Owala's FreeSip have been sliding into my DMs.

In fact, I've been using the Owala FreeSip for more than six months. It's the insulated water bottle I reach for most often (even though I have at least 10 favorites at home) and even choose to travel with.

In the Good Housekeeping Institute, our experts in the Kitchen Appliances Lab has been testing water bottles for years. Just this past month we put more than 35 new and old favorites to the test so we could find out which retained temperature the best, leaked the least, could stand up to drops and were easy to use and clean. We also sent several samples of each water bottle home with consumers to see how they held up in real life.

If you're considering purchasing Owala's FreeSip water bottle, here's everything you need to know, based on our testing and my real-life experience.

What's so good about Owala water bottles?

My absolute favorite thing about the Owala is that you can drink out of the spout like it's a straw or you can tilt it upwards to take bigger gulps. I'm not a fan of water bottles with straws (they require so much work to drink out of and clean!) but this one is a game changer.

It requires barely any effort to drink out of; all you have to do is purse your lips a little around the spout and use the smallest amount of pressure to get a full, smooth drink of water. It's almost as if the spout is customized to the shape of your individual lip — some might even say it's like a pillow for your bottom lip to rest on. One tester thought that it would be too flat to get a good grip on, but said "it was so seamless to use."

In addition to being a joy to drink out of, the Owala is slim and comfortable to hold. While its base is round and can fit into standard cup holders, the sides are flat so you can get a better grip. The lid snaps close and opens quickly and easily with the push of a button. The carrying handle offers a nice touch, too; it folds down into the cap when not in use. All these features make it perfect for travel.

Lastly, let's not forget about all the fun color options. There's one for everyone whether you're looking for one that'll stand out or blend in. One tester specifically commented on how she loved the appearance and colors of the FreeSip. "I like how pretty it looked to carry, like an accessory," she said.

Another fun feature that GH Lab Analyst Eva Bleyer pointed out is the straw is colored so it makes it easy to know which water bottle it belongs to if you have a bunch at home.

What to know before buying an Owala water bottle

• Owala recommends you hand wash the FreeSip, but I will say that I put mine in the dishwasher and you'd never know the difference.
• There's a silicone tab in the lid that needs to be removed for cleaning. If you're anything like me, you might forget to put it back on and you'll wonder why your Owala is leaking. But I only made that mistake once!
• The lid benefits from being washed with a bottle brush to get into all the little crevices.
• The 24-ounce size might seem small for people who are trying to load up on water. If you're looking for something bigger, you can get the 32-ounce or 40-ounce, but they're wider and don't fit in average sized cup holders.

How we tested

In the Lab, we tested the Owala alongside more than 35 water bottles.

In our tests, the Owala FreeSip did an excellent job at retaining temperature when we tested it with cold water. After one day, the water temperature only increased 13º, while some of the lesser performing water bottles increased more than 20º. For comparison, the best performing water bottles increased only 6º.

The Owala FreeSip was amongst the best when it came to leaking. It didn't leak or spill in any of our three tests. The seal held its ground when it was knocked over, shaken and slid around.

Testers really enjoyed using the Owala at home. All five mentioned that they were surprised by how much they liked the drink spout and carrying it around. Two of us used it while traveling, and one said she wishes she remembered to bring it with her because she liked how easily it would have fit on the side of her backpack. (I can confirm that feature is a nice touch!) I also personally like how the drink spout is fully covered, which allows me to worry about germs a little less on the plane and when moving about.

Do Owala water bottles dent easily?

Unfortunately, the Owala water bottle did not stand up to our drop test. It dented a little on the bottom and leaked after being dropped three times from a height of three feet. It did not break, however, unlike some of the other water bottles we tested.

I have not yet experienced any dents on mine while using it in my everyday life.

Are Owala water bottles safe?

After the news about Stanley cups containing lead in their base went viral, many people wondered if Owala bottles are safe. Owala claims that their water bottles do not contain lead. The base is made of stainless steel and the lid and straw are made of plastic.

Is the brand called "Owala" because you look like a koala when you drink out of the bottles?

This theory we learned about on TikTok made us giggle. When we reached out to Owala for comment, they said: "We’ll keep that close to the vest, but we sure love hearing everyone’s theories!"

Should I get an Owala?

In our opinion, yes — they're worth the money. I love mine and so did our testers, who were pleasantly surprised when they started using theirs and now continue to do so often.

Stefani Sassos, our Nutrition and Wellness Lab director, says she particularly likes bringing the Owala to the gym with her. She says: "I love the carrying loop and being able to put it on the exercise bike during a ride; it fits perfectly in the slot."

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Kitchen Appliances Lab in the Good Housekeeping Institute. She uses several water bottles a day and is constantly trying new ones, even though it's hard to put down her favorites. She oversaw the most recent water bottle testing and worked with consumers to get their feedback about the Owala water bottle. Most importantly, she's been hands on with the FreeSip for months and continues to use it day to day.