Ditching single-use plastic water bottles for a reusable one is probably one of the easiest things you can do to decrease exposure to things like microplastics, phthalates, bisphenols, and other toxicants.
One 2024 study found roughly 240,000 detectable plastic pieces in a typical liter of bottled water.
Microplastics are now being found in every corner of the earth and every organ of the human body. While the health effects of microplastic consumption aren’t well understood, they’ve so far been linked to everything from oxidative stress and inflammation, heart attack and stroke, and all-cause mortality.
In general, any reusable bottle is going to be better for you (and the earth) than a single-use one—even if that reusable bottle is still plastic.
But ideally, you’ll want to get a non-toxic water bottle that’s made of stainless steel or glass instead.
I’ve got plenty of good options for you to choose from in this guide!
RELATED: My guide to plastic-free travel mugs!
Here's what this guide covers:
- How to choose a non-toxic water bottle
- Toxic chemicals in plastic water bottles
- Some plastics are safer than others…
- The Best Non-Toxic & Plastic-Free Water Bottles
- Stainless steel
- What to know about lead in stainless steel water bottles
- My favorite stainless steel water bottle brands
- Other stainless steel water bottle brands
- Glass + Silicone
This guide contains product recommendations and we may receive compensation if you purchase through certain links. As always, we only make recommendations that are genuine!
How to choose a non-toxic water bottle
First of all: we’re about progress over perfection around here.
If you’re used to buying single-use Aquafina on the regular, then simply switching to any reusable water bottle (even if it’s plastic!) is a step in the right direction.
How much plastic are you okay with?
Bottles that are made primarily out of stainless steel or glass are the best.
However, a lot of stainless steel or glass water bottles still use small amounts of plastic for the lids and/or straws. So, you’ll have to decide where you draw your line and how much plastic you are okay with using based on your priorities.
Personally, I’m fine using a water bottle with a screw-off plastic cap. My mouth never touches the plastic, and the water barely does either.
I’m not a big straw person, but if I was, I might swap out my plastic straw for a silicone or stainless steel one.
Lifestyle preferences to consider
Outside of materials, there are other things you’ll want to consider when choosing the reusable water bottle that fits your lifestyle. (This is important to think about because if you don’t actually like using your water bottle, then it’s pointless. We want to make lifestyle swaps that truly fit into our life for the longterm.)
Here are some things to consider:
- Where and how will you be using it? (For example, if your kid will be taking it to school, you probably don’t want to do glass.)
- What kind of lid do you need? Do you want/need a straw? Standard or wide-mouth? Screw-top or flip-top?
- What size do you want? Does it need to fit in your cupholder? Your backpack sleeve? Your work bag?
- Does it need to be insulated for temperature retention?
- Do you want/need to be able to throw it in the dishwasher, or is hand-wash-only okay?
Toxic chemicals in plastic water bottles
Here’s a quick breakdown of the main toxicants found in plastic water bottles:
- Bisphenols (like BPA and BPS): These are more likely to be found in harder, reusable plastic water bottles. Bisphenols can mimic hormones, potentially disrupting your endocrine system. Even “BPA-free” bottles often use BPS, which may be just as harmful.
- Phthalates: These are more likely to be found in single-use plastic bottles (rather than reusable plastic ones). These chemicals make plastics more flexible but have been linked to hormone disruption, developmental issues, and more.
- Antimony: Used as a catalyst in PET (polyethylene terephthalate) plastic production, antimony can leach into water over time. Long-term exposure is linked to health concerns like respiratory irritation and even cancer.
- Microplastics: Not only do microplastic particles pose a risk in and of themselves, but they also act as “carriers” for other toxic chemicals. So they can increase the amount of other toxicants that make their way into your body.
Heat and time are two things that increase the amount of toxic chemicals that leach from the plastic into the water.
Therefore, if you do need to use a plastic water bottle, you’ll want to keep it away from the heat. If you end up leaving it in your hot car, dump out that water and refill it with fresh water.
Some plastics are safer than others…
Not all plastics leach toxic chemicals at the same rate. If you’re going to use a reusable plastic water bottle, you’ll want to ideally look for brands that use Tritan plastic.
Tritan is the “least bad” type of plastic—you can read more about that here.
I understand there may be some instances where plastic just works better and you may need to make concessions. For example, if you’re a long distance hiker/cyclist/runner and every ounce of weight makes a difference.
So, here are the brands that use Tritan plastic for their water bottles:
- Nalgene | Amazon | Walmart
- Takeya (also has stainless steel) | Amazon | Walmart | Target
- Thermos (also has stainless steel) | Amazon | Walmart | Target
- CamelBak (also has stainless steel) | Amazon | Walmart | Target
- Epic (also has stainless steel & glass) | Amazon
Many of the brands below use Tritan plastic for their plastic parts (like lids) too.
The Best Non-Toxic & Plastic-Free Water Bottles
Okay, now let’s get to my recommended brands!
Stainless steel
Stainless steel is my top choice for a reusable water bottle—I’ve been using them for years. A well-made one will last a really long time, and I like how they help keep my water cool during those hot months.
Pros of stainless steel:
- Very durable—a good stainless steel water bottle can last you years!
- Great insulation for hot/cold drinks (if double-walled).
Cons of stainless steel:
- Can dent with drops. (It’s also so loud if you drop it! 😆)
- Heavier than plastic.
- Might give a metallic taste to water if uncoated. (However, I have not found this to be a problem with the brands listed below.)
You may have heard that stainless steel can leach certain metals like chromium and nickel, but this is not something I’m personally concerned about. (Members can take a deep dive into this question here!)
The only people who I recommend being careful about stainless steel are those with a nickel sensitivity/allergy (which is ~5-10% of the population). I would recommend those folks stick to glass to be safe.
What to know about lead in stainless steel water bottles
You probably heard about the Stanley lead scandal in 2024, when people realized that Stanley cups contain a small amount of lead.
Here’s the most condensed summary of the situation I can give you:
- At the bottom of the cup, the two layers of stainless steel are soldered together. Lead is used in that soldering process to attach the stainless steel layers together.
- If you turn your Stanley over, you’ll see a little circle disc on the bottom of the cup. The lead is underneath that disc. As long as the disc at the bottom of your cup remains undamaged, the lead is not leaching into your drink, nor is it coming into contact with your skin as you hold the cup. In other words: as long as your cup is in good shape, the lead is not something you need to worry too much about.
- This process of using lead-soldering is how ALL stainless steel cups and bottles have been manufactured until recently. Hydro Flask was apparently the first brand to figure out how to do it without lead in 2014. Nowadays, some brands are 100% lead-free and some are not. (I’ve noted below which brands are and are not lead-free.)
My favorite stainless steel water bottle brands
Klean Kanteen (99% plastic-free option)


Types: Regular water bottles (insulated and non-insulated), tumblers, water bottles for kids, cups & mugs, and more
Klean Kanteen is up there as one of the best non-toxic water bottle brands. They’re mostly made from stainless steel (a lot of which is recycled), they’re splash-proof, dishwasher safe, and many of them fit well into cup holders and backpack sleeves.
Klean Kanteen’s bottles are also intentionally made so that you only need one. Not only are they built for long-term durability, but you can also swap out the lids, so you can turn your water bottle into a travel mug, add a straw, switch to a flip-cap, or whatever you need.
One thing that really sets Klean Kanteen apart is that they have a (99%) plastic-free lid. (The only plastic part is the small gasket ring.) While most of their bottles do come with a plastic lid, you can always swap it out for the bamboo & metal one.
Klean Kanteen is lead-free as well!
Pura (100% plastic-free)


Types: Sport water bottles, straw bottles, sippy/baby bottles
What I love about Pura is the way they are truly meant to last a lifetime. You can buy a Pura baby bottle, then swap out the lid to make it into a sippy cup or a straw-lid, then turn it into a sport water bottle for teens and adults.
They’re also the only brand I’ve been able to find that has managed to make a 100% plastic-free water bottle.
They use 18/8 stainless steel for the bottle and 100% medical-grade silicone for the cap and sleeve.
The only potential downside to Pura is that they don’t have as many options in terms of sizes and types of bottles. (They don’t have travel tumblers, for example.)
They also recommend you hand wash them instead of putting them in the dishwasher.
They are lead-free.
Use code THEFILTERY for 10% off.
Hydro Flask (low-plastic)


Types: Regular water bottles, travel tumblers, kids bottles, cups, to-go mugs, and more
Hydro Flask water bottles are definitely high-quality. I’ve had a few of them over the years and have never had an issue (which is one of the reasons why I decided to go use them for my Filtery branded water bottles—pictured above!)
Their bottles are made primarily of TempShield®️ double-wall vacuum insulated stainless steel, which keeps drinks cold up to 24 hours and hot up to 12. But I have never found them to have that metallic taste you can sometimes get from a metal water bottle.
I love how their bottles are very “lifestyle friendly.” Most of them are made to fit in cupholders, the lids have handles for easier carrying, they are leak-proof and dishwasher safe, etc.
Some of the tumblers also use a plastic straw. As I mentioned, I personally am not a huge straw person, but I know some people love them! You could try swapping it out for a silicone straw if you want (like these).
Hydro Flask was also the first brand to switch to being 100% lead-free. (It took them several years and millions of dollars to make it work!)
BTW, you can use the code CLEANWATER to get 15% off your Filtery water bottle!
S’well (low-plastic)


Types: Regular water bottles in various sizes, ones with straw-lids, tumblers, and more
S’well offers a great variety of options in terms of bottle size, mouth-width, straw/no-straw, etc.
Most of their bottles are made primarily of triple-layered, vacuum-insulated stainless steel to keep your drink hot or cold.
Like many of the other brands, their caps do use some plastic. But, I do like that they offer a Tumbler that has a stainless steel straw! (The bottom part of the lid still uses plastic, but again, I’m not super concerned about that small amount.)
I did reach out to S’well a while ago to find out if their bottles are 100% lead-free, but unfortunately, they never answered me. I’m not super concerned about this (more info on that above), but they get docked a point in my book for the lack of transparency.
Other stainless steel water bottle brands
Here are some other low-plastic water bottle brands to consider:
- Owala: The trendy kid on the block! These are made of stainless steel on the inside, but most of them do use plastic for the lid. The plastic they use is Tritan though, which is okay. They’re BPA-free, phthalate-free, and lead-free, too. They have lots of different options—straws, no straws, travel tumblers, etc. Overall, a pretty good option. | Amazon | Target | Walmart
- Ohelo: This is a great brand if you’re in the UK. They offer a variety of water bottles and to-go cups which are made primarily of stainless steel. Like a lot of the other brands, minimal plastic is used for the lids. They’re lead-free!
- Stanley: If you’re a Stanley lover, don’t worry. It’s a pretty good option, all things considered. Although Stanley does use some plastic in their lids & straws, the fact that they are mostly made of 18/8 stainless steel is great. They do use a mix of plastic types, including Tritan. Stanley is not lead-free, but like I said earlier, as long as your cup remains in good condition, you should not have to worry about the lead coming into contact with you or your drink. | Amazon | Target | Walmart
- YETI: YETI is very similar in that they use mostly high-quality stainless steel, with some Tritan plastic used for the lids and straws. They are not 100% lead-free, but the lead soldering should not come into contact with you or your drink as long as the bottle remains in good condition. Again, all things considered, this is a fine choice—especially if you’re already brand loyal to YETI. | Amazon
Glass + Silicone
Glass is another great option for a non-toxic reusable water bottle. The main reason I personally recommend stainless steel over glass is the durability factor. My water bottles tend to take a beating, and I simply trust stainless steel to hold up better!
Pros of glass water bottles:
- Totally non-toxic & non-leaching.
- No worries about potential metallic taste.
- Adding a silicone wrapper around the outside of a glass water bottle minimizes the ‘breakability’ problem.
Cons of glass water bottles:
- Not as durable as stainless steel; can break if you drop it.
- Can still be heavy compared to plastic.
- They can be more difficult to clean with the silicone sleeves on them.
W&P (low-plastic)


Types: Water bottles of various shapes & sizes, mugs, barware, insulated drinkware, and more
W&P’s water bottles and other food & drink storage essentials are not only made from safer materials, but they come in a variety of beautiful colors and and elevated, minimalistic design.
Plus, they’re leak-proof, dishwasher safe, and fit in most car cup holders.
The bottle itself is made from food-safe borosilicate glass and then wrapped in a LFGB-certified (aka food-safe) silicone sleeve. The whole water bottle is CA Prop 65 compliant. The lid is made out of BPA-free plastic, though, so it’s not 100% plastic-free.
They offer several different kinds of water bottles, including standard and wide mouth, insulated and non-insulated. They carry a ton of other drinkware options as well, including tumblers, wine glasses, and more.
Life Factory (low-plastic)


Types: Water bottles, tumblers, baby bottles, & more
Life Factory actually has both glass and stainless steel options.
Their glass water bottles have a silicone sleeve that covers most of the bottle to prevent breakage.
The stainless steel ones are made of double-walled insulation for temperature retention and they have a silicone bottom for increased grip and durability.
The cap is made of plastic, which again, is not ideal, but it’s not the worst either.
Life Factory is a brand I like in general—I have found their stuff to be high-quality when I’ve used it in the past!
They’re dishwasher safe, too (top-rack recommended).
bkr (low-plastic)


Types: Water bottles, insulated cups, “Sip Kits” with straws, and more
bkr’s spiked water bottles have a unique look to them!
They offer some nice glass water bottles that are totally wrapped in silicone. The lids are made of polypropylene plastic (which is at least BPA & phthalate-free).
Some of their bottles fit in cupholders and some don’t. (And they have a chart to show you.) They’re top-rack dishwasher safe.
They also offer “Sip Kits” which are basically just straw bottles. Even though the caps are still made from plastic, I do like that the straws are made of silicone!
Other glass water bottles
- Love Bottle: This one is actually all glass (no silicone sleeve), so it’s even more breakable than the others listed. But you might be okay with that! Love Bottles are made in the USA and are totally plastic-free (the lids are made of ceramic and metal).
Reusable filter water bottle
If you want or need a reusable water bottle that can actually filter your water on the go, here’s what I recommend:
Epic (low-plastic)


Types: Stainless steel, glass, and plastic (Tritan) filter water bottles
Our contributor, Lauren, is obsessed with her Epic filtering water bottle. She has the stainless steel option, but they also offer glass and Tritan plastic (Nalgene brand).
They have two types of water bottle filters:
- The EveryTap filter is meant more for use with tap water in the U.S. and other places with treated drinking water. It’s made to reduce common contaminants like chlorine, microplastics, lead, and PFAS.
- The Everywhere filter not only targets those common contaminants like lead and PFAS but also tackles outdoor contaminants like bacteria, viruses, and microbial cysts like cryptosporidium and giardia.
The filters are 100% made in the USA and are meant to last 3-4 months. They also have a generous warranty and a recycling program!
Use code THEFILTERY for 15% off your first order.
Other filter water bottle brands
- Clearly Filtered: I haven’t had the chance to try Clearly Filtered’s filtering water bottles yet, but I have used their pitcher and I like it! They offer filtering water bottles in stainless steel, glass (with a silicone sleeve), and Tritan plastic. These water bottle filters are meant to be used with tap water, not outdoor/untreated water.
- Lifestraw: This is the go-to brand for portable drinking water filters that can handle bacteria, parasites, and more. In addition to their stand-alone straws, they do offer filtered water bottles. Unfortunately, they only offer plastic bottles right now, but they are made of Tritan.
What about 100% silicone water bottles?
The collapsable/foldable silicone water bottles (like STOJO, for example) seem like a great idea… Great for travel, hiking, etc.
Unfortunately, it seems like manufacturers haven’t quite figured out how to get them to work right. They’re prone to leaking. And worse, they’re very difficult to clean and can develop mold and weird smells pretty easily.
For those reasons, I don’t really recommend silicone water bottles for a long-term, daily-use solution.
I hope this guide has been helpful as you shop for a reusable water bottle and minimize the plastic in your life!
If you have any other questions that weren’t addressed here, let me know in the comments below.
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