I'll be honest, I bought this because TikTok wouldn't shut up about it and my old Nalgene was scratched to hell. The Owala FreeSip 24oz in that denim blue color — yeah, I gave in.
The sip mechanism is actually clever. You can drink through the built-in straw OR tilt it back like a normal bottle. I didn't think I'd use the tilt option but it's great for chugging water after a workout. The flip-top lid opens with one hand which is nice when you're driving.
Insulation is legit. I filled it with ice water at 7am before work and there was still ice floating at 5pm. In Houston heat. That impressed me.
It fits in my Honda Civic's cupholder which sounds dumb to mention but my Hydroflask didn't fit and that was annoying every single day.
Now the not-so-great parts:
- The straw is hard to clean. Like really hard. You need a tiny brush and even then I feel like there's always something stuck in there. I ended up buying a straw cleaning kit separately which feels like it should be included at this price.
- 24oz is kinda small if you're trying to hit those "drink a gallon a day" goals. I refill this thing 4-5 times a day. The 32oz might be better but then it probably won't fit in the cupholder.
- The lid gets water trapped in the hinge area. Every time I open it, a few drops fly out. Minor but annoying when you're at your desk near a laptop.
For $28 it's a good water bottle. The insulation and cupholder fit are the real selling points. Just buy a straw brush with it and manage your expectations on the size.