Technology is slowly but surely making our entire world smarter. This is largely happening through devices — we’ve got a “smart” version of everything these days. From smart thermostats to smart plugs and smart lamps to smartphones it feels like every device you use on a day to day basis now has a smart twin that’s faster, more efficient and includes more features. We love these improvements, and every time there’s a new category of “smart” devices we’re pumped to check them out and see whether the updated features actually make sense and are worth the (usually) larger price tag. A new addition to this column of aspirational smart objects? Smart water bottles.
I know, why does a water bottle need to be smart? What even IS a smart water bottle? As vessels that holds the key to our livelihood — water bottles play a pivotal role in our ability to care for ourselves in a day to day basis, and smart water bottles are simply trying to make that process more efficient. Some of them contain UV lights that kill bacteria, keeping them cleaner and you healthier in the process. Some of them track your hydration throughout the day and send reminders to meet your drinking goals. Some of them can hook up to your Apple Health app or FitBit trackers and sync with other health data. Some glow. High tech.
There are only a few notable ones worth sipping from at the moment and they’re not crazy expensive. We’re going to cover the main ones worth considering in this piece. Overall, if you’re a new mom who’s dehydrated and needs a buddy to remind you to sip throughout the day, or an athlete who needs your gym bag water bottle to not be gross — these are going to be helpful. If you’re a regular person who likes high tech stuff? Why not indulge on yet another tech-y object to make your world, top to bottom, smarter? Here are the best smart water bottles you can order online at the moment.
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1. Hidrate Spark 3 Smart Water Bottle
BEST OVERALL
This smart water bottle from Hidrate comes in a few bright, glowing colors like this coral and has sensor technology that tracks your water intake. It syncs with a hydration tracker app via Bluetooth and will make sure you stay on track with your health, wellness and hydration goals. The glow feature illuminates the entire bottle to remind you to drink throughout the day — either at regular intervals or whenever it notices you’re behind. It has a long-lasting battery that’s easy to change. The bottle is also BPA-free and has a silicone sleeve that gives you a good grip even when there’s condensation.
2. ICEWATER 3-in-1 Smart Water Bottle
RUNNER UP
This 22 ounce water bottle from ICEWATER also glows to remind you to stay hydrated throughout the day and brings the party everywhere it goes with a built-in speaker! The speaker is built for 360° sound and is water-resistant making it perfect for the gym, beach, yoga and more. It has a resonant design that amplifies the sound when on a wooden table and the lights have a “dancing” mode if you really want to turn it up. The modular design makes it easy to change the battery and refill, and it’s made of BPA-free plastic.
3. Joseph Joseph Dot Hydration-Tracking Water Bottle
BEST MANUAL
This water bottle doesn’t have a tech component, but the simple tracking feature makes it smarter than other water bottles, but with a much more affordable price tag. One dot under the lid equals one bottle of water drank, and you can turn the dials yourself every time you finish a bottle to track how much you’re consuming. This bottle is also dishwasher-safe, has a leak-proof lid, and new dots only appear when the bottle is refilled and lid is closed.
4. LARQ Insulated Self-Cleaning Water Bottle
BEST SELF-CLEANING
LARQ was one of the first “smart” water bottles I had ever heard of because of its self-cleaning feature, which continues to be effective at killing bacteria to this day. Did you know you have to clean your water bottle regularly? Like, every day? Otherwise grimy stuff grows in there. Unless you have a LARQ — that activates UV-C LED technology every two hour to keep your bottle fresh, stink-free and healthy to drink from. It’s also double-wall vacuum insulated to keep your water cold for 24 hours and hot for 12. It also has a long-lasting Li-polymer battery that lasts for a full month on a single charge.
5. ICEWATER 3-in-1 17oz Smart Water Bottle
MOST PORTABLE
This smart water bottle has a smaller capacity of 17 ounces, making it a more compact and portable design than some of the other options. If you need a smart water bottle that can accompany you on the journey, this is the one to go with. It has some of the same features as the other — with a double-wall vacuum insulated construction, a leak-proof lid, a glow to keep you on a hydrated track and a built-in speaker. It’s also made of 18/8 food-grade stainless steel and comes in two different colors.
6. Hidrate Spark Steel Smart Water Bottle
QUALITY PICK
This is another design option from Hidrate of a similar water bottle that comes with similar features. This one has more color options, a straw lid and glows multicolor if that’s what you’re into. It has an LED smart sensor puck on the bottom that reminds you when it’s time to drink, tracks how much water you’ve had, and syncs with their free HidrateSpark app. It also has a carry loop so it’s easy to take on the go. It also has two size options to choose from — 17 ounces and 21 ounces, so you can pick the size that’s right for you.