I finally got my hands on the Owala bottle I’ve been eyeing since summer. I never thought I'd be an emotional support water bottle gal, but it happened, and here's why I'm ready to tell - make room for a new queen.
It’s been two weeks but one thing I can already tell you is that Owala is underrated - it’s an underdog brand that people have been sleeping on.
Owala's FreeSip bottle is what gives them an edge on the competition. The unique design has a thin flat straw, so you can sip, but it also has a wide mouth - so you can chugg it for when you're hella thirsty - game-changer!
Let me just quickly show you what I mean:
Rightttttt?? I know - to say I’m obsessed is an understatement.
Before we get into all the detail - yes, Owala is finally available in NZ and you can choose from 12 different colours and sizes. We all know overseas shipping ain't it in a cost of living crisis, so it's great there's another option available in Aotearoa now.
What's so great about Owala's FreeSip (710 ml)?
My first thought after my first sip: I'm about to be the most hydrated girl ever.
The built-in straw really got me all excited - not me finishing half the bottle just by showing everyone how it works.
The next thing I did was flip my bottle and shake it cause the packaging said no leakage - and yup, it passed the no leakage check.
The bottle is sleek and it opens via a push button mechanism. You might think 'Ooooh I might pop it open by mistake! Well, when I say Owala thought about this design, they really did. The bottle’s got a push and pull lock which makes it impossible for it to pop open when locked in place.
Owala also claims to have epic insulation, which meant I had to check the longevity of ice cubes.
I got in at work at 6 am, I filled the bottle with cold water and 10 ice cubes to check if it lasted till I finished. At 7.30 am I did a quick shake, and yup the ice cubes rattled!
Every few hours, I shook the bottle to see if there was ice, and every single time it rattled.
After an 8 hour shift of hard mahi (of course) There were 7 cubes left! It was at that moment I was like: ‘bottles have come and gone over the last 26 years of my life, but this one is here to stay’.
Their website says the bottles are ‘triple insulated’, so no wonder!
I can happily say the FreeSip exceeded all my expectations, and it’s now a crucial part of my day-to-day life. I use it at my desk and on the go, but the best is using the open mouth feature to scull a heap of cold water after our lunchtime b-ball games at work. It's also super convenient to carry and pop in my bag.
What are the pros and cons of Owala's Tumbler?
Along with the FreeSip, I also had the pleasure of testing Owala’s Tumbler bottle, which holds approx 1.18 litres, and looks similar to the iconic Stanley ones.
It’s like FreeSip’s older brother. Along with its straw feature, it also has a sip hole - Owala really said DUALITY! And it's got dual insulation.
This is perfect for someone who drinks litres and litres of water or who prefers a bigger bottle.
It's cool to see that the straw is removable and since it's a super tight fit, it doesn’t leak unless you really go hard and flip it upside down. Since there’s a sip hole with a lid - you can easily open/close and sip it rather than using the straw.
For someone like me who throws everything in my bag and likes to be hands-free, it's probably not the best choice.. On the days I used this bottle I didn't love that I always had to hold it in one hand. Regardless of how good it is - turns out I prefer smaller bottles when I’m out and about.
In saying that, the Tumbler has found a permanent space on my side table.
I did the same ice cube experiment as with the FreeSip, and although the water was cold at the end of my 8-hour shift, the ice cubes didn’t last due to the straw’s opening on top.
Comparing Owala's FreeSip and Tumbler:
Both the bottles have straw features, which is a must-have. I don’t know about you, but for me straws help me drink more water than drinking from a glass - it just tastes better.
The FreeSip’s inbuilt straw which folds away allows it to stay clean from dust and germs, as opposed to the Tumbler’s where the straw is exposed.
Just a quick heads-up, although both the bottles are incredible with their insulation, the bottles are not made for hot, carbonated or perishable liquids!
One drawback of the FreeSip bottle is that it doesn't fit in all car cup holders. The FreeSip didn't fit in my Mazda Axela, however, it fits well in the work ute, and my boyfriend’s Mazda CX-5. To be really honest, it doesn’t bother me much cause it’s either in my bag or is all good on the passenger seat, but for some people this would be a big dealbreaker. On the other hand, the Tumbler fits well in all the cars!
In the end, it comes down to personal preference and lifestyle. If you’re someone like me who can’t be bothered carrying a big bottle everywhere, then FreeSip is for you. But if you want less refills, then the Tumbler will be a winner.
Owala provided Arju with the FreeSip and Tumbler for this review.
