By: Kelly Lue
There is a new unifying factor that links a good amount of Milpitas High students together now. No, it’s not students’ stress over grades or our undying love for the Milpitas blue and gold. Milpitas students are now brought together by a fervent passion for water bottles—specifically, Hydro Flasks. It seems like Hydro Flasks are everywhere. When I walk across campus, I pass by countless numbers of people carrying the big, colorful hunks of metal around.
Though Hydro Flasks are definitely both visually appealing and functional, they’re undoubtedly very expensive. There are other water bottle options on the market, and though they may not be the famed Hydro Flask, they could be just as good, if not better. Here is a list of five water bottles that are worth looking into:
- Klean Kanteen: Klean Kanteens accomplish the same things as Hydro Flasks do—for a much cheaper price. For a 40-ounce, wide-mouthed water bottle, you can get a Klean Kanteen for eight dollars cheaper than a Hydro Flask. The Klean Kanteen is made of durable stainless steel and features the same double-walled insulation technology that the Hydro Flask offers. They’re both visually pleasing and the Klean Kanteen comes in a variety of different colors, just as the Hydro Flask does. For a water bottle so cheap and so similar to the Hydro Flask, the Klean Kanteen might be more worth your money.
- Yeti: Yeti stainless steel water bottles are more or less the same as Hydro Flasks. They sport a very similar design and feature the same BPA-free insulating technology. Yeti water bottles come with a nice variety of lids, as do Hydro Flask water bottles. However, Yeti does not offer as wide a range of colors, nor does it have as many sizes as the Hydro Flask. Despite these shortcomings, Yeti is a great alternative to the expensive Hydro Flask.
- Takeya: In terms of functionality, material, and insulative technology, the Takeya Thermoflask and the Hydro Flask are again, both very similar. Both promise the same 12-hour hot and 24-hour cold insulation, and in terms of appearance, both are essentially the same. The Thermoflask, however, is much cheaper and lighter. Though it doesn’t have as many color options and accessories, it’s a very practical option if you don’t want to spend money on a Hydro Flask.
- Klear: Klear water bottles are a much cheaper alternative to Hydro Flasks. A 60-ounce Klear bottle is actually cheaper than a 40-ounce Hydro Flask! Much like the other brands, Klear is BPA- and toxin-free. Klear lacks the plethora of accessories and colors that Hydro Flask offers, but their water bottles are still sleek and practical—a good competitor in the water bottle market.
- Nalgene: Nalgene was the water bottle of my childhood. A little different from the rest of the water bottles on this list, Nalgene is made of BPA-free plastic rather than stainless steel. Because of this, Nalgene bottles are significantly lighter, and you can actually see what you’re drinking. Characterized by wide mouths and volumetric markings, Nalgenes are a much cheaper water bottle compared to all the other water bottles on this list.