Staff Picks: Our Favorite EDC Water Bottles Right Now

Staying hydrated is key to helping you stay focused and productive throughout the day. And a good EDC water bottle will keep that hydration at the ready while keeping leaks at bay. Not to mention, with so many to choose from you can find one that best suits your needs, whether you prioritise top-notch durability, super compact and lightweight design, or are looking for a way to ensure warm drinks stay toasty throughout the day. But where to start? Get a little inspiration with staff picks highlighting our favorite EDC water bottles…

Taylor Welden

SIGG Traveller Aluminum

If I were to choose JUST one…

My choice is the iconic SIGG Traveller aluminum water bottle in the raw aluminum finish with a red cap.

I love it because it successfully holds water which is the whole point, it’s perfectly extremely simple, and there’s no XYZ crazy unnecessary fluff “features” or marketing nonsense. It is by far the sexiest, most minimal and cleanest Swiss design of any bottle on Earth. It’s effortlessly lightweight yet strong, and the robust cap can fit a carabiner through it for carrying externally on a pack. It’s also environmentally friendly and can be 100% recycled if you ever manage to somehow damage the bottle on your adventures. The manufacturing story is amazing as each bottle starts out as a solid aluminum “hockey puck”, and they’re actually manufactured in the beautiful country of Switzerland. Lastly, it meets all 10 criteria for Dieter Rams’s famous “Ten Principles for Good Design”; my favorite of the ten principles, “Less, but better”.

Even better? You can enjoy a refreshing 15% discount by using the code CARRYOLOGY at checkout on SIGG’s site. Nice!

Melisine

GSI Outdoors MicroLite

I’m currently in love with the GSI Outdoors MicroLite Collection which are vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottles that are a third lighter than other brands. As a photographer, I am often traveling with my camera gear and try to reduce the weight I carry as much as possible with high performance lightweight products. The walls of this bottle are thinner than most single wall plastic bottles, so the bottles are compact and light, perfect for my active lifestyle.

David Vo

Zojirushi Stainless Steel Mug

If I am planning on carrying hot beverages for consumption in another location, over an extended period, I am reaching for the Zojirushi every time. Many people take thermoses for granted and while you can buy them from a dozen different brands at your local home goods store, there is only one brand that stands above the rest when it comes to performance. The Zojirushi is made with an 18/8 steel interior, has a grippy and durable matte exterior, and is compact without being overly tall. It fits into all car cup holders and your fingers can wrap around it comfortably. It features a wide-mouth opening and the lid has a simple locking mechanism that I trust enough that I’ll pack the thermos full of hot coffee, alongside my MacBook, in my bag. All the important parts are completely removable and easy to clean and most important of all, it keeps beverages warm for hours. Honestly, I’ve come back from morning back-to-back meetings, and my coffee is still a satisfying sipping temperature.

CamelBak Chute

I like to bring a large water bottle on any car trips that last longer than two hours. And, for the past two years, the bottle I have been reaching for is the CamelBak Chute. I have the stainless version so it’s a little beefier and heavier than your typical bottle but it sits in my car’s cup holder so weight isn’t as much of a concern. It’s a nice wide-mouth opening so you can take big gulps without having to suck a straw or risk having too much come out at once; it’s just the right amount. The screw top to the drinking port is easy to install and remove, and the whole top itself is a threaded affair as well for easy filling. The cap also stows into the carry loop though I find that interface not so elegant, and my only gripe about this pretty awesome bottle.

Frank Sedlar

Vapur Element

One of my biggest first world pet peeves? Carrying an empty water bottle with me. That’s why my go-to bottle is the Vapur Element. It collapses and folds down to be non-existent when not full of water, there’s a carabiner on the lid, and drinking out of a pouch isn’t as crazy as it sounds. Super lightweight, super good.