FOUR Country Living Editors Put the Popular Owala Tumbler to the Test

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It's easier than ever to keep refreshing, ice-cold water in arm's reach wherever you are, and one the trendiest slices of the water bottle market pie is the insulated stainless steel tumbler. Recently, four Country Living editors put one of the most popular tumblers out there, the Owala tumbler—to the test.

In the water bottle category, Owala has already made a splash with a leak-proof lid design for its FreeSip and new FreeSip Twist bottles. It's also a super-trendy brand that keeps pace with Stanley's instant-sellout celebrity collabs and limited-edition holiday releases. Owala's Target Valentine's Day collab was gone in a flash, and its nostalgic birthday bash collection, inspired by the '70s, '80s, '90s, and '00s, sold out in two hours.

The Owala tumbler has the hallmarks we have all come to expect in this style of vessel. Large-capacity cup with a base that fits easily in your car's cup holder? Check. Easy-carry handle? Check. Stainless steel construction (BPA, lead, and phthalate-free) with double-walled vacuum insulation that keeps drinks cold or hot for an impressive length of time? Check. Stylish color options, from neutrals to pastel green, blue, and purple to eye-popping watermelon pink. Check!

Two features that set the Owala tumbler apart are its slightly lower price and its 2-in-1 "sip or swig" lid that touts impressive splash-resistant capabilities. Is the Owala tumbler the right choice for you? Here's what we found.

How the Owala tumbler's price compares

The 40-oz Owala tumbler rings in at just under $38. That's $7 less than comparable Stanley and Yeti tumblers, and $2 less than comparable Hydro Flask and Corkcicle tumblers.

We also tested the 24-oz Owala tumbler, without a handle, which sells for $25-$28.

Overall design and function

“I tested the 40-oz tumbler and, out of all the trendy cups and water bottles I have, this one is my favorite! Despite its large size, it's more lightweight than a lot of my other cups, and I love that you can pull the straw out without having to take off the whole lid," said Anna Mahan, CL Associate Commerce Editor. "And I love all different colors there are to pick from!”

Beth Branch, CL Editorial Assistant, who also tested the 40-oz size, added, "I love it! I love the size and that it still fits in the cup holders in my car."

The 2-in-1 lid design with a removable straw is convenient for sipping or swigging. In comparison, some competitors have only a straw drinking option. And while the Stanley tumbler has a three-position lid that lets you close it or drink with or without a straw, the straw is located near the edge.

"On the Owala tumbler, I like the center placement of the straw that makes it easier to sip whichever direction I'm grabbing it from," said Terri Robertson, CL Senior Digital Editor. "While I would prefer a flexible straw (like the Hydro Flask tumbler offers), I like also having the option to swig without a straw like the Owala tumbler allows."

Putting the Owala tumbler's splash-resistant lid to the test

Owala does not claim its tumbler lid is leak-proof, but it does tout that it is "seriously splash-resistant." None of our testers reported issues with spills, splashes, or leaks. "It seems pretty spill-resistant," Beth said. "I've knocked the whole thing over twice and it didn't spill a drop, which is definitely not the case with some of my other tumblers!"

In the office, we put the Owala tumbler through a few more tests:

• Turned on its side, with the straw inserted, the Owala tumbler lid did not leak. (You must ensure the open/close drinking tab is pushed all the way closed.)

• Turned upside down, with the straw removed and the drinking tab pushed firmly closed, there were a few drips at first. Then the drips stopped thanks to the clever design of the silicone vent seal that stays closed when the straw is not in place.

• Turned upside down, with the tab closed and the straw inserted, a tiny stream of water flowed from the Owala tumbler—not from the straw, but from the silicone vent seal that grips the straw. (We did the same test side-by-side with another editor's go-to Stanley Quencher, and the Stanley leaked significantly more as soon as it was tipped 90 degrees.)

Cold and hot temperature-keeping performance

“This is my first trendy insulated stainless steel tumbler, so while I cannot compare it others, I am seriously impressed with the Owala tumbler's capacity to keep ice well past 24 hours," Terri said. “And when I fill it with cold filtered water without ice, it also holds the temperature very well."

Maggie Horton, CL Associate News Editor, was our only tester to try out the smaller, handle-less 24-oz Owala tumbler with a 2-in-1 lid. She, too, was impressed with its hot-cold dual functionality. “I have the 24-oz tumbler. I love its dual function with the straw and the option to use it as a to-go mug for hot coffee," Maggie said. "Personally, I switch between iced and hot coffee, so being able to just have one multipurpose tumbler instead of two is a game changer.”

Well, that's one way to test durability…

One of our testers placed the Owala tumbler, filled with water, on top of her car on a windy day… twice. And it rolled off and hit the pavement hard with a loud thwack… twice. So we learned all about the Owala tumbler's durability.

The first hard fall created a dent on the bottom. The second hard fall loosened the handle. Other than that, neither incident affected the tumbler's ability to hold hot and cold temperatures. Its lid also maintained its integrity and barely spilled a drop during these falls.

While the Owala warranty does not cover accidental damage or normal wear-and-tear, it does cover material and workmanship issues. The abuse described above is certainly outside of warranty, but for good measure, we combed through the reviews on Owala's product page. We found only four reviews mentioning handle issues not caused by accidental damage; in each of those cases, customer service received props sending a replacement quickly.

Tip: Though Owala makes a silicone boot accessory for its FreeSip water bottle to protect against dents and scratches, the boot is not currently available to fit the Owala tumbler.

How you clean an Owala tumbler

While the lid is top-rack dishwasher safe, Owala recommends hand-washing the tumbler cup to preserve its finish. A straw brush is absolutely essential for cleaning the straw. Owala also sells a bottle and straw brush combo kit as well as natural cleaning tablets that make the process even easier.

Water Bottle and Straw Cleaner Brushes

Bottle Cleaning Tablets

FreeSip 24-oz Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Straw

FreeSip 18-oz Twist Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle with Straw

SmoothSip 20-oz Insulated Stainless Steel Coffee Tumbler

Kids Flip 14-oz Insulated Stainless-Steel Water Bottle with Straw and Locking Lid

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