Electropolishing is an electrochemical process that removes metallic material from workpieces to achieve a smoother metal surface. It is used to remove defects and burrs from the surface of metal, reducing their height and making the overall surface smoother. Electropolishing is particularly useful for high-purity and ultrahigh-purity pipe system components, ensuring cleanness and maintaining cleanliness.
The process involves using nitric acid and hydrofluoric acid to remove the outer layer of “skin” on a metal part, addressing microscopic imperfections within its finish. The treatment time varies depending on the temperature and contamination level of the solution.
The Hydro Flask water bottles are made of stainless steel SUS 304 with strong insulation performance, allowing them to keep ice cubes cold for 24 hours or piping hot for piping hot. The BEHR Oil Based Interior/Exterior Primer and Sealer is used to seal the bottles, making them environmentally friendly and replacing the need for plastic water bottles.
The Hydro Flask’s lid is made of non-toxic BPA-free material, and the interior is electropolished to stay completely clear of odor. The standard mouth 21 oz bottle retains its shape and size.
In summary, electropolishing is a crucial process for achieving a smoother metal surface and maintaining cleanliness in various applications.
📹 The CULT of Hydro Flask
What’s the difference between Hydro Flasks and other reusable water bottles on the market? How have these water bottles turned …
Can bacteria grow in Hydro Flask?
Reusable water bottles can be a great way to stay hydrated, but they can also be breeding grounds for bacteria and mold if not properly cleaned. Every contact made with the bottle, such as mouth contact, lifting the straw, and setting it down, can transmit bacteria. Bacteria and mold thrive in moist environments, making it crucial to regularly scrub these bottles to prevent the spread of these harmful bacteria.
Does Hydro Flask have anti-condensation coating?
Hydro Flask stainless steel water bottles are designed to keep beverages cold or hot for hours, thanks to their TempShield™ double-wall vacuum insulation. These bottles are perfect for office use and trailhead adventures, with both Standard Mouth and Wide Mouth options featuring a Flex Cap for easy-carry. The unique combination of temperature, taste, and transport ensures refreshing drinks anytime, anywhere.
Do hydroflasks lose insulation over time?
The integrity of the insulation in a quality vacuum bottle should be maintained; however, damage to the outer shell can result in air leaks, which may subsequently impair the bottle’s insulation efficiency over time. Furthermore, additional factors may influence the performance of the vacuum bottle.
Can mold grow inside of a Hydro Flask?
Stainless steel hydro flasks are popular for hydration due to their durability, lightweight design, and ease of cleaning. However, they may occasionally emit a strong odor due to mold growth, a type of fungus that thrives in damp and humid environments. The moisture in the air and the bottle’s surface creates the perfect environment for mold spores to germinate and grow.
Mold growth in a stainless steel water bottle can be difficult to remove, as it releases chemicals called mycotoxins, which can leave a persistent smell. Mold growth can occur on various surfaces, including food, paper, and fabric. There are over 10, 000 molds and bacteria, some beneficial like those found in cheese, while others are harmful. It’s crucial to stop drinking from the flask if you notice an unpleasant odor, as mold growth can be harmful to your health.
Why does the inside of my Hydro Flask smell?
Incorrect drying of the Hydro Flask can result in the development of mold or mildew, which may subsequently give rise to an unpleasant odor. The presence of moisture within the lid or crevices can facilitate the growth of bacteria, which may result in the emission of unpleasant odors. Furthermore, foods with strong odors, such as curry or garlic, may persist even after washing, emphasizing the importance of properly drying the flask after each use.
Why is the inside of a flask shiny?
A thermos is a device that uses a vacuum and silvering to reduce infrared radiation, allowing for a significant reduction in heat transfer through convection, conduction, and radiation. The thermos has two paths for heat transfer: the cap and the glass, which provides a conduction path at the top of the flask. Although heat transfer through these paths is small, it is not zero. The thermos does not know whether the fluid inside it is hot or cold, but it limits heat transfer through the walls, allowing the fluid to maintain a nearly constant temperature for a long period.
Can you electropolish stainless steel?
Stainless steel is a popular alloy for electropolish due to its desirable mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. All stainless steels are iron-based and contain at least 10. 5 chromium. Common mechanical finishes for stainless steel include 4 finish, a general purpose finish produced with a 120-150 mesh abrasive, commonly found on architectural panels and stainless steel kitchen appliances and sinks.
2B finish, a bright, cold-rolled finish, is a standard finish for raw sheet metal and produced at the mill. These finishes are listed in NiDi No. 9012 and previous revisions of ASME BPE specifications.
What is the insulation in a Hydro Flask?
TempShield™ is a double wall, vacuum insulated technology used in all products to protect the temperature of drinks. It ensures that ice remains available in the morning and keeps coffee hot until ready. TempShield™ also prevents condensation or heat transfer to the bottle’s outside. All products are made with 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel, a strong and pure metal, and protect against flavor transfer, ensuring that your drink will taste different from the previous day.
Is electropolishing better than passivation?
Electropolishing is a non-abrasive and non-mechanical finishing process that enhances corrosion resistance in stainless steel alloys by 8X. It smooths out threads, prevents galling and seizing, and is easier to clean. Passivation is a process that removes embedded free irons from the surface of stainless steel, allowing it to demonstrate high tolerance to corrosive elements.
Electropolishing is the most effective method for passivation in stainless steel alloys, as it reduces surface roughness by removing material from the surface. This process can improve surface roughness or Ra up to 30-40 and increases corrosion resistance. It is applied to various metals, including 304 stainless steel, 316 and 316 L stainless steel, and 400 series stainless steel.
Before electropolishing, parts undergo a pre-cleaning cycle to remove oils, grease, and metallic residue. General degreasing and cleaning can be done using methods like acid pickle and an alkaline soak. After removing residues, parts are placed in a passivation bath calibrated to meet ASTM finishing standards.
In summary, electropolishing is a non-abrasive and non-mechanical finishing process that enhances corrosion resistance in stainless steel alloys. It is a cost-effective and efficient method for achieving passivation in stainless steel alloys.
Can Hydroflasks rust on the inside?
While stainless steel is not inherently rustproof, it is highly resistant to corrosion. To remove rust, a solution of baking soda and vinegar should be applied directly to the affected area. The solution should be left to act for approximately five to ten minutes, after which it can be gently scrubbed away with a soft sponge or bottle brush.
Can stainless steel be e coated?
Stainless steel is the most common material for electrocoat anodes due to its affordability and availability. However, it dissolves during e-coating, allowing iron to enter the anolyte system or paint tank. This can cause problems, such as increased resistivity, affecting localized current density, and changing paint color. Iron content in paint tanks can also reduce the smoothness of the spray coat and increase corrosion potential.
Insoluble anodes are the ideal solution, as they don’t dissolve and have an inert material on their surface, typically from the platinum-group of metals or oxides. Ruthenium oxide is the most common choice for e-coating anodes, but a solid sheet of ruthenium oxide would be too expensive to justify its use. Titanium is used due to its resistance to corrosion, electrochemical properties, availability, and cost.
An anode cell with a ruthenium-oxide-coated electrode virtually eliminates iron contamination, ensuring no color changes or decreased corrosion resistance. There’s less sludge in the anode cell and no iron deposits on the membrane. Although ruthenium-oxide-coated anodes cost more initially, they cost less over the anode’s life cycle. A typical service life for a ruthenium oxide anode is three times as long as a stainless-steel anode, with a potential of up to seven years.
📹 What’s inside a Hydro Flask?
We used a water jet on a hydro flask! Get your own What’s Inside water bottle! https://whatsinsidemerch.com/ We Have Merch!
I continue to buy Hydroflasks for one reason; I had a hydroflask before I suddenly became homeless back in 2018. It stayed with me for an entire year in 100° summer heat, & handled being lugged around streets, & was fine even after I accidentally left it in a parking lot for nearly a day. Left this comment & forgot about it for over a year, & a handful of people have gotten upset with “continue to buy” so I’ll explain a bit; I’ve bought four since 2019. One as a replacement after mine unfortunately was damaged in 2021. One for my partner to get them drinking water with me. & One for coffee in 2023.
As someone who used to have a long commute to school everyday, a flask that could keep my tea hot enough so I could drink it once I got to class was a massive priority. There’s nothing more disappointing than luke warm tea, so I understand where the obsession of keeping things hot come from. Especially if I wanted to bring miso soup for lunch, and not have to hunt down a microwave.
I bought a TAL water bottle from Walmart for like 15 bucks 8 years ago. It’s been to 3 continents with me, been hit by a car, dropped off a small overpass, thrown across a commercial kitchen, and had almost all its paint wear off and be replaced by stickers. Literally any steel double walled bottle will do just as well. My fiance calls it my emotional support water bottle.
I will say, when I was in uni, I absolutely cared about my hot drink of choice still being hot when I was on the train on my way home after making it to uni at 8 and getting on the train back 12 hours later. That was a life saver during winter and opening my thermos to drink hot coffee or tea on the way home felt like the greatest treat I could give myself on those days. So I do think there is a real application for a drink container that keeps your drink at the desired temperature for 12+ hours, especially for people that have long work or studying days and don’t want to spend extra money on hot or cold beverages on their commute.
I made fun of my sister almost a decade ago for spending so much on a water bottle when we had plenty of free reusable bottles from 5ks and summer camps and whatnot. This was in a parking lot in Hawaii before we did an hourslong hike and left our water bottles in the car. When we got back, out of the 5 people in my family, I bought in. Her water was ice cold and mine was hot and less refreshing. I bought a hydro flask less than a month later and still love it. I definitely prefer the ethics of klean kanteen, which I had never heard of at the time. While KK is probably the best overall choice, I’m always happy to see anyone rocking any reusable bottle instead of the alternative.
I studied abroad for a semester in Arizona from Greece. When I got there an old friend wanted to help me get acclimated to the US lifestyle. The first two things we went out to buy the first day was a US phone number and a Hydroflask since she noticed I didn’t have a reusable water bottle. She gave me the choice of a Yeti if I wanted to pay extra but I really liked the design of the flask.
Fun fact: in my country (Costa Rica) Klean Kanteen are the most popular steel bottles (which is great because people tend to prefer these over plastic one use bottles 100%) and also Yeti is quite popular but mostly because of their drinkware. But yeah KK I would say is the “Hydro Flask” of Costa Rica in terms of popularity haha and also they are bomb in a hot tropical country is super important to keep your water super fresh and cold, so having ice cubes stay for long periods of time in your bottle it’s super nice 😎 KK all the way 🙌🏽
When I was in college, all of the trendy middle class students had these. This, ironically, gave rise to another trend which was the glass jar. The people who did not believe in shelling out a whopping 30 bucks for a water bottle started to use glass jars. The problem with those is that once it falls out of your hands it likes to shatter.
I got my 40oz hydroflask from the local dumpster when helping a friend move in. It had a few chips and tiny dings but it was TOTALLY FUNCTIONAL. I hate it when people get new hydroflasks and abandon their old ones that are totally fine. I washed it out and added my own stickers, and voila! You can’t get greener than that!
I think this is likely similar to the metal straw debate: if you buy A hydro and use it for years and years it will break even on environmental impact and do a lot of good, especially in dryer climates where people need to have water bottles. But if you keep losing them or buy 15 different hydros to go with your outfits then suddenly it really doesn’t do much at all for the planet
I discovered Hydro flask about 12 years ago when they were in Oregon. I was at a festival and spoke to the rep who told me there claims and I called BS on that. He said if you buy one today and and it doesn’t work while using it over the festival weekend, bring it back and he will give me my money back. I saw him the next day and bought another one. I was so impressed. Today I own ten, which I purchased over the years. AND…they will give you a new one if it stops working or becomes defective. All you do is pay for shipping. So yeah…love hydro.
This was great! I think that if you’re gonna already commit to spending $30 for a hydro flask might as well pivot to a company that proves it works more ethically and environmentally-consciously. I bought my hydroflasks for water and one for coffee before I became more aware of certs etc. but I plan to use these bottles FOREVER. End of the day, just keep using your stuff, take care of it so it lasts, and if ppl ask for recs or if you’re gifting, try to choose the company that truly acts for the environment. Also, curious if that Indiana U prof was looking into hydroflask independently or who funded their study?
As a Mexican immigrant working as a trainer in LA this is super noticeable. I didn’t know that hydro flask was that expensive and fancy” until a client told me how much they cost. This things matter as status symbols, Wearing Lululemon- prices ranged clothing, taking your hydroflask everywhere, having a new phone, even shoes of brands that I’ve never heard before. I got my hydro as a gift, laser engraved, to finally “belong” to my coworkers with their hydros. Honestly makes no sense,
Hydro Flask is worth it because of the following for me: – It goes on discount often. I got my 32 oz straw lid Hydro Flask for like $20 which is a no-brainer. – My previous Hydro Flask which was only 18 oz for 5 years. It was still going strong despite having dents and it easily outlasts every other bottle I had from cheaper manufacturers. The only reason I’m replacing it is because it literally got stolen lol – My other option was the Owala and I shyed away from it because it can’t hold hot and carbonated drinks. I also heard the lid breaks easily, so I’d have a hard time replacing it if that happens because they’re not yet available locally in my country (only Amazon) – Hydro Flask is also locally available so it having lifetime warranty helps me feel confident in its longevity. I don’t collect these flasks at all so I don’t have the consumerist mentality that people have. Just a dedicated travel water bottle which is my Hydro Flask and an insulated mug from a random shop which cost me $5 tops for coffee.
I actually got a “thermoflask” from Costco in a 2 pack for $25 and it maintains liquids at their temp for the exact same amount of time. I’ve had it for about 4 years now with a couple dents and dings from it falling out my backpack when I bend over but besides that it’s still works like new. I highly recommend going the Costco/Sam’s Club rout if someone is thinking about buying a vacuum sealed flask, especially at 2 (32 oz) for $25 while the same hydro flask cost $40.
The deciding factor for me when buying a water bottle was the 32oz size. Klean Kanteen used to only have one option for >1L and I thought it was ugly. All of the other bottles were just way too small for my lifestyle of drinking 4L of water a day so I can waste time at work by constantly going to the bathroom.
As a Gen Z who’s also a serious hiker, I use the plastic Smart Water bottles because their mouth fits a water filter very easily. And I’ll be honest, I do sometimes catch myself wondering “are people judging me for using a plastic bottle, because they don’t know I keep them for years?” The desire to look and not just be eco friendly is real.
Unterstood the criticism but bought a bottle once, used it over years is sustainable. Just speaking for myself : Working half a year abroad with a global aid organization in different countries, climates for over a decade i still have my Hydroflask with me, bought 9 yrs ago. It fits in my one bag perfectly, fits my needs regarding hot/cold climate, lid still works perfect all important when you’ve have to be aware of your water needs in countries with water source problems, trying to solve them. So never bought another one. Maybe today it’s a status symbol but there’re ppl outside, working like me, owning same bottle same amount of time for same reasons.
I’ve been hoping you guys would make a Hydro Flask vid! The lids on a bottle are something to bring up too because it’s an important part of the construction of a durable product as well. Too many bottles have intricate “spill proof” mechanisms and straws that just end up breaking or just being hard to clean in general because of the tiny pieces and crevices. Had to toss a Contigo after only a month of use… I love the HF lids. You can hold several bottles with one finger because of the handles, they’re flat on top so you can set them on a flat surface without them rolling away (Klean Kanteen makes flat top ones with handles as well,) and the screw on lid is easy to clean with no little pieces that will break or let leaks and spills through when I toss them in my backpack sideways. Simple and effective!
I’m surprised that MiiR didn’t get a mention. They have the same three eco certifications as Kleen Kanteen, support clean water projects around the globe, and make great water bottles (in my opinion). It’s a great option for those that can’t find Kleen Kanteen, or simply prefer MiiR’s selection or designs.
It might be weird, but I feel like metal water bottles make my water taste metallic and find that it causes me to use it less. I bought a Nalgene that I’ve had for a couple years now and (hopefully) will have for many many more and I love it. Curious to know about any sustainable plastic water bottle companies.
I never bought into the hype for these until recently. I’d always use a cheap 64oz water bottle from Walmart since i drink a ton of water and hate having to frequently refill smaller water bottles. The ones I had would do the job but my water would be warm by lunch time and would always have a funny taste. I bought a big 64oz HydroFlask since i lost my other water bottle, and my water actually stays cold all day, not only that, but my water doesnt have any taste to it. I love it, well worth the price.
I bought one in 2014. I was frequently working in the desert where my black hydroflask would be sitting out in the sun while it’s 120 degrees out. I still have it today, chips dents and all. It keeps water cold, maybe not as well as a newer bottle, but whatever, I’m happy with the purchase. Glad you mentioned the size not fitting in backpack bottle holders. I don’t carry mine around as much nowadays for this reason. When I’d be working outside, I would just clip the hydroflask to my backpack with a carabiner. I don’t need to have that much cold water with me now so I just stick with a smaller and cheaper bottle for everyday drinking.
I bought one of these years ago and it was super exciting to find it at a random local golf store in my small town. These days, I’ve switched to simple modern. Extremely affordable in comparison but literally the exact same product – with colors and patterns I prefer much more. And now I will never buy any again lol.
I’m a local gardener in Palm Springs I work for myself and my client gave me one of these bottles three years ago, someone gave it to him brand new and he didn’t want it and passed it on to me it’s the best thing I’ve ever gotten for free 😂 on a serious note I still use and it’s a nice dark blue so it’s pretty cool
The 64oz 1.8 litre variant of these bottles (not a hydro flask brand) literally got me through the recent heatwave in the UK. Can confirm, if topped up with refridgerated water, there was still ice in the bottle after 24 hours. I do use GIANT ice cubes though. I have the huge one because at that size, there is enough room for the ice, the drink, and enough water to stop the ice melting between top ups.
I bought a 12oz hydroflask to store coffee in my backpack – loose – no pouch. With the simple cap (no drinking hole), it worked remarkably well. It never leaked in any orientation. My other hydroflask is a 1L that I use with a third party straw cap. It’s how I drink 90% of my water intake when at home. Nice and easy. My main on the go flask is a target brand… it also happens to work better for backpack storage. Not sure what my use case has to do with social movement. It just makes my life easier and simpler.
This was a thought provoking article. I was particularly intrigued when you mentioned how people carry their Hydro Flasks around as an accessory because they’re usually too large for most water bottle pockets. Consequently, they’re seen by more people, becoming more familiar and recognizable. Genius design move on their part. An extra large water bottle pocket has been a requirement for my backpacks ever since I got my flask. I’ve been carrying a Hydro Flask around for almost 10 years now. It’s pretty banged up, but still works just fine. I don’t have any particular loyalty to the brand, it just happened to be the first company I heard about when the “insulated bottle craze” began. Can’t argue with the convenience. I’ve actually covered the logo with a sticker because I don’t usually like showing off branding. I would agree that the brand has become “chic” over the years, streamlining their logo and the silhouette of their products. If I lost mine and had to get another, I’d probably look into getting a Klean Kanteen.
I’ve been using a $15 vacuum steel bottle for four years and it’s held up fantastically. I take it with me absolutely everywhere. I don’t see a reason to purchase one from a “premium” brand unless they’re proven to be a good ethical decision such as Kleen Lantern, and even then I won’t get one unless my bottle somehow stops holding water
Have the 20oz one and it fits perfectly in my Fjall Raven Greenland 30L back pack. I really love the size and the fact that you can get different lids. I have one for the house and another for external activities. The best is when you wake up and your water is still cold. Surprises me everytime. They’re also super easy to clean. Anyway, I recommend it!
I have literally never heard of this brand before. I must be out of the loop haha. Basically all of my life I have owned water bottles and have felt bad about the environmental impact when I was forced to get bottled water. I’m always surprised when a friend doesn’t own one and has never owned one. My grandma still has perfectly functioning bottles and flasks from the 80s and 90s. They’re still going strong.
I beat up and dented water bottle (or anything really) looks better to me. Maybe this is my personal marketing, but like worn jeans that I wore out, or water bottles that have been worn out, dented, scratched, they have history even if it is superficial in the grand scheme of things. It’s personal history and it says to me that I have kept this thing for “x” amount of time and it’s still around. Character. Fuck Hydro Flask jk
I always think Hydro flask and corkcicle popular because gen Z just discovered insulated bottle. When i ask what so special about those bottle to justified the price, the answer is always they can keep the beverages temperature for hours. And I’m thinking, ‘like every other insulated bottle with third the price?’
I chose my water bottle (not a hydro flask or anything similar) because I saw a friend accidentally trow it down stairs an it didn’t break. I also won a Lurch Thermos and after year’s of using a cheap one I was really shockt to finde my tea still hot after about 18 hours. I have also left that bottle sitting in the sun for hours and my drink was still cold. I definitely get the appeal of hydro flasks and similar products.
I have multiple vacuum sealed bottles, only one of them is a hydro flask. The main one I use is a 40Oz restaurant cup style jug with a chunky handle on it, from a brand called re-duce, primarily because it’s easy to clean for its capacity. I use it for soft drinks, it’s great at keeping the soft drinks cold for days, while also retaining the carbonation in a form where I can easily drink from it at any time, as it’s got a straw hole in the lid. Compared to drinking right out of the plastic bottles, it’s saved me time, effort, money, and kept the bottles from building up wherever I end up using them. And it’s survived being ripped out of the cup holder on my bike and getting a nasty road rash, the road rash ruined the straw and lid though, need to replace them one day. I don’t get the brand loyalty around Hydro Flask, O don’t really understand brand loyalty for a lot of things, but the category of bottles and mugs are definitely worth it.
I never knew how popular hydroflask was, I thought it was just another random brand in the outdoor shops. I was only aware of Nalgene as a popular bottle. A vacuum flask is really useful of course. I have a small Kinto for coffee for the few times I need a vacuum flask. Also my Nalgene is the same width as hydroflasks and that will fit in most Osprey backpacks, if you can’t find a backpack to hold your bottle 👍
I’ve found Swell, Yeti, and RTIC bottles & tumblers at my local thrift store for like $2 each and…they’re all the same to me. I don’t notice any appreciable difference between them (as well as Ozark Trail) and can’t think of any situation I’ll be in where an extra hour of a drink being hot or cold will have any dire consequences.
I purchased a steel insulated water bottle that I found keeps my water cold for 2 days before starting to warm up to room temp. I have to say that I found it in the thrift store for $3 bucks. I found another in Tuesday Mornings for $5 bucks. Works great because I like my water as cold as I can get it. One day while in Tuesday Mornings I saw this wine bag with a bottle opener to insulate and transport your bottle of wine. It even has a strap for carrying. I then found that it fit my water bottle and it insulated the bottle even more. Now my bottle keeps my water cold for a longer period of time and it’s easier to carry. I don’t know what I will do with the knife and wine cork removal tool that is neatly attached to the side of the bag, guess I will save it for bears that attack on the trail.
I live in the small city where hydroflask is headquartered and was founded. Before the company was sold, they used to sell misprinted or lightly scratched bottles every year at the relay for life at a local middle school – any size for $10 each. My husband and I have given them to family members and have a giant stash of them
Hydro flasks took over my home state by storm back in high school. I bought one and all throughout college and beyond it held my drinks well, even with a dent (because I’m clumsy like that). Nearly everyone had one at work and school, carried it while out and about, etc. Small businesses would make tons of custom handles and accessories just for those bottles. When I moved to a different state it felt weird not seeing hydro flasks at every turn anymore.
I wondered why this was such a big thing, and now that I’ve got a bit more insight, yikes. My dad’s been using the same two Thermos cups since the 90’s for work and every day usage. They’re basically indestructible and are why I’ll probably get buried with mine. Plus, Thermos doesn’t look or sound pretentious.
I live where hydroflask is based out of. It’s a cult, can confirm. A small note: went on a freezing cold hike with my gf a while back, and made hot chocolate. One for me, one for her both in insulated bottles. Got to our stopping point 3.5hrs later. Hers was ice cold in the hydroflask, Mine was piping hot in my ozark trail. Both were purchased around the same time
Recently stumbled upon this website. Love the articles! Super fascinating! I’m attached to my 44oz Hydro Cell I bought for about $20 three years ago. It’s been to hell and back and is as effective as it was day one. As stated above – any double walled vacuum insulated bottle is going to do the same as others at stupid high price points.
I also was interested in picking up one of those at one point. Credit where it is due, their marketing is really on point, and the product does not look too shabby. But then, I have used and am perfectly happy with my Kleen Kanteen, Stanley and Contigo mugs and my Avex Capacitor water bottles (Sadly they do not make the “unfinished stainless” models anymore). They have served me well for years and have in some cases traveled the world with me. So unless I loose or break any of them (unlikely) I do not see myself purchasing more drinking vessels, Hydroflask or otherwise. A bottle not fitting into the holders on backbacks is an instant deal breaker for me though.
I actually really love mine. I got it like 2 years ago. I’m a university commuter and after I get in the car at 7am I’m usually not home till 11pm (yes, it’s that bad). I have the huge flask and in the winter I load it to the brim with hot tea and honey. It’s warm at even the days end! And in the summer my water is ice cold. It’s so awesome how versatile it is
I have both Hydoflask and Klean Kanteens. I wanted a specific size and wide mouth and hydroflask was having a sale so I ended up getting Hydroflask for myself. Got a klean kanteen for my daughter and a week later it wouldn’t stand up anymore from the times she had dropped it. Klean kanteen would be perfect if they had some protective sleeve for the bottom. Great article.
I can’t argue with you about your points cause they are valid, but I still own a couple of hydro flasks 😅 I got mine years ago bc I was tired of the narrow neck sizes and various twist lids that the competitions bottles had which always made it more difficult to really get the bottle clean or annoying to out drink of. I use them religiously in place of a regular mug/cup at home which has saved me from washing more cups and stale water 😬 (yes I’m lazy). I use a straw top or coffee top interchangeably on the bottles I own and can say for a fact that it’s helped me to drink more water. Lots of great options exist now that are prob better as you pointed out but I agree, use what you already have!
My favorite waterbottle/ thermous is from Takeya. (One of my “aunts” was a big part in the company and when they get rid of the prototypes she got em and so we have a bunch) they last just as long as hydroflask and are cheeper. (They also have a nameless cheeper version but don’t know much on that) I’ve yet to look into their environmental impact. But from what I know with hydroflask is that is definitely more of a Item Statement if I Own Hydroflask than actually about the product or company. Some do defend like “it lasts forever” but it isn’t as big as a feat as the price segests. But yep yep I enjoyed the article
Funny, for the longest time I thought the water bottle I had was some no-name brand that I bought from my University co-op shop. It kept temperature very well, which I was impressed with. I later found out it was a Hydro Flask. I had no idea there was so much hype around it when I bought it, I just needed a bottle. Sounds like a Klean Kanteen bottle is superior on all fronts though. But I don’t know any retailers here that sell them.
First, I have to put myself as a HydroFlask stan. They’ve been my favorite bottle for 10+ years. One major point you missed about HydroFlask is that they have a lead-free solder for their vacuum sealing process. This is major for worker safety. For consumers, there has been lead exposure issues from lower-quality brands if the lead is not properly encased. You can see the soldering difference between HydroFlask and every other brand because HydroFlask doesn’t have the additional band of metal at the bottom, which is what covers the lead. I can also attest that the HydroFlask warranty rocks. I’ve used it twice, and was told that the bottles I sent in would be recycled properly (though I can’t guarantee that happened). One bottle’s vacuum seal broke after 5+ years, and another had rust that wasn’t removable.
As someone who reuses plastic water bottles often, being for the environment is about reducing waste and reusing as much as you can. Thank you for the knowledge about klean kanteen and hydroflask, if I were to buy a bottle, I’d most likely go for klean kanteen, based on their initiatives to help the environment and do more to help reduce their waste.
I just have my single wall Otiem copper water bottle (34oz), which is another marketing new age scam, though I like copper all the same. Yes, it requires more regular cleaning/rinsing maintenance, as it’s copper though flat water is what I drink mostly with regular black coffee second, alcohol an occasional third.
My job sells these things, and it took me awhile to realize that they were “a thing”. I mean I definitely fell into the thermos/water bottle craze, but I hadn’t heard of Hydroflask. I had a really good Bubba brand thermos back in college years ago for my tea, but the seal ring stretched out. I was gifted a cool cheap camera lens looking one that barely stayed shut. It took me a couple of purchases that held up to the Bubba one. With the virus going around, I needed one that would cover the spout while idle at work, so ai bought a Simple Modern. It’s really slim and easy to carry, and I have burned my tongue countless times because it keeps your beverage hot for hours! As far as cold, I just prefer not to drink water out of them because it tastes like metal. I’ve been using the same plastic bottle for water for years now.
I worked at a coffee shop in 2017 where a stranger left their hydro flask behind. After a couple weeks passed so I claimed it. Had it on me every day sense, and only just now upgraded to a larger size however I still plan to use both. Especially since I always accidentally leave it behind at work on Friday’s and can’t retrieve it until Monday 🙈
I worked as a camp counselor during peak VSCO girl years. Almost every counselor got one, and they were such a blessing. We worked at a Summer Camp in Texas where we were outside most of the day in 98+ weather. When I “retired” and had to finish college I still used this everyday for water. I have dropped in on many a concrete pad, parking lot, and even had it fall off my car when I forgot it was on top and I drove away. It has small dents and yeah the paint chipped, but if it was any of my other metal bottles it would have CRUMPLED. I will live and die by the Hydroflask
Having grown up with the sustainability mindset prior to the marketing focus that has come with the Millennial way of sustainability, I didn’t realize how unaffected by the messages I’ve been, focusing first on the core tenants of sustainability before I figure out what brand I’m going to buy. That’s really tough to convey to those so swayed by the constant marketing messages and pressures that come with fitting in and standing out at the same time (one of the joys of growing out of that stage is the less stress that accompanies being less affected by marketing😉). This website has done more to expose me to these brands and their marketing machines (brands as marketing machines?) than I had before. Even while being aware of them, I had no idea of the cultural grip they are having.
I’ve owned a Hydro Flask since it was a small company out of Bend, Oregon and have found it to be an excellent bottle. True it might not be as eco friendly as a Kleen Kanteen, which i also own, but in the end they both serve the same purpose and I supported a company where I live. Frankly, I’d buy another because of it’s size even if it’s not as eco friendly as KK. In fact now that I know what a status symbol they are I may have to purchase a bright colored one just to show off my cred, LOL. Great article even if I don’t totally agree with it.
I see a lot of people sharing their reusable water bottle experience so I’d like to share mine! I bought a Takeya water bottle I think maybe 3 or 4 years ago(?). I only did so because the reusable water bottles I simply did not hold enough water. I realized I drink a lot of water, and especially going to an Uni that required a lot of walking, I got tired to looking for refill stations. I figured enough was enough. I saw the prices of Hydroflasks and thought they were crazy! While do research, I decided on a Takeya bottle because perusal some articles of people testing vacuum sealed water bottles, as he mentioned on this article, I learned that Takeya held the cold water way better than Hydroflask. I decided to get a pink/purple ombré 32oz Takeya bottle because there was a sale page on their website on top of a 50% off from some special they had. It was cheaper than a Yeti or Hydroflask and the size was adequate during my time in college. I recently upgraded to a 64oz, and now I’m rocking with a gallon bottle. I use all three depending on the purpose of my activities.
It’s weird to see water bottles have such a social stigma around them. I really never knew hydroflask had that green culture around it. Growing up in the nineties, my family did a lot of outdoor stuff (hiking, mountain bike racing, running) so we always had reusable water bottles. They weren’t even called reusable water bottles then; just water bottles. Metal flasks are great, I use a Manna I got on clearance because I think 40-50 bucks is a rip off, but my gf uses a hydroflask with their folding straw, and the straw is much easier to deal with than a lid that unscrews. There’s no denying the functionality of these things.
also Kleen canteen tops and hydro flask tops seem to come from 1 manufacturer or at least they are cross compatible to each other I know the household somehow ended up with both brands so at least the thread pitch they used even if they look different (kleen canteen used “dots” as opposed to hydro flask’s traditional threads) is some sort of standard but whcih standard you ask…
I was given a 32oz hydro flask for Christmas a few years ago. I then bought a 64oz about a year ago. I love both of them. I don’t drink out of anything else. Had never seen any marketing but did see them inside sports stores. Nonetheless, I think all of these “brands” do the same thing, I just kept it with hydro flask since i knew how it worked.
Unfortunately, I can’t use one of these because of my Disability? I can’t drink anything without a straw and so the only thing that can fit in the cup holder of the tray on my power wheelchair is a Tumbler with a straw that can’t come out of the lid. Unfortunately, it has been hard to find any good tumblers that have a straw that will not come out and that will seal up very well. The tumbler looks like a paper cup but it is reusable and it is tapered where it is smaller at the bottom and gets a bit bigger at the top. The lid usually screws on top where the straw will stick out the top like a to-go cup you would get from a standard fast food restaurant. Not a lot of companies think about how their products affect disabled people and it is sad but true but most things are not designed to accommodate disabled people but to accommodate non-disabled people.
I have had the hydroflask and the yeti bottle. I prefer the yeti. It is more durable. And feels more premium. My flask is dented to hell and doesn’t sit flat. My yeti was dropped in a parking lot and it made a scuff and small dent on the bottom but nothing that makes it sit wierd and wobble. Also the yeti has the plastic water bottle lid which I find easier to drink from than the flasks open top. Yes you can get the straw and stuff but it does sacrifice the longevity of the ice cold drink
My hydroflask came from under a gas station. Just sitting there under the pump, forgotten. I took it home. Didn’t open it for a few days, what if it was full of piss? What if someone pissed in it and that’s why it was left behind? But no, it was someone’s lost and my found. I use it when I’m at work, for weird clout I guess, like, look at me, I too will blow $40 on a goddamn bottle while simultaneously being late on rent. The world is so weird.
10 years ago, if you see a large water bottle, they’re almost always in scientists hands. They were unpolular BECAUSE they were too big for carrying confortably. Theyre heavy and too big for normal activities. I bought 1 for field work back then and now rarely use it because how ungangly it is. Why would ordinary people want such a heavy awkward thing as a status symbol!? I still dont get it even after perusal this article.
I live in Bend, Oregon and met Travis Rosbach a year after he sold hydro flask. Travis is a wonderful person and started a very legit company. He used to be an airline pilot hence the name captain and was super overworked and hated his life. Him and his buddy realized the problem with bottled water and came up with the idea. They then got Chinese manufacturers to produce hydro flasks and eventually struck a deal with Costco. Travis is very intelligent and is a good role model for young entrepreneurs. He is also a really nice guy.
Sometimes perusal such articles i feel like an ethnography enthusiast discovering oddities of foreign cultures. Fashionable thermal isolated flask? What is this? It’s just a newfangled thermopot for kiddies who don’t think for themselves and want to be like everyone else. It’s the same thing your granny has to keep her herbal tea hot. I honestly like when companies prove their pay for the production labour is fair, they don’t pollute the environment etc. That their quality is so high, they can give you a very long guarantee. But this, this is a joke, it’s overblown marketing. It’s not h the worst, it’s just meh.
i had broken my liter plastic reusable bottle a few years ago and was telling my mom it would make a good birthday present to have another large sized bottle. The next day I was driving down the street and lying in the middle of the road was a liter Yeti bottle. I got out of the car and grabbed it because someone would have ran over it otherwise and I feel like that was a gift directly from God lol. Like i was planning on asking for a klean kanteen since theyre local to me but when a free yeti happens to cross your path you gotta take what’s given to you and then tell literally everyone about how you found your expensive water bottle on the ground hhahaha
The premise of your article is wrong because you dont understand the 3 most important things for an insulated bottle for people who cycle, hike, Volume used/total volume, weight, insulation, I cycle frequently where the difference in price for a high end group set cost £1000 for 400 grams less so saving 200+ grams on a hydro flask trail series bottle compare to kleans is a big plus, Its also carry’s a lot more water for its size. Its not impressive that kleans insulates since its almost 2x volume and weight and if you knew basic engineering that would be common sense especially since you mentioned the insulation was a gimmick past a certain point anyway.
I am late to this article, but I would like to add my 2cents still. I don’t have a hydroflask, but I have 3 insulated tumblers that I use frequently. I am occasionally out of the house for 12 hours or more for work, and I like to use all 3 so that I don’t need to make a stop and purchase a coffee or water. All of my mugs are scraped up and I have had to replace the lids on my tea mugs unfortunately (I wouldn’t buy this type of mug again because of that flaw), but if I need to add a new one to the rotation I will definitely be looking into a klean kanteen
I have one because I even use it inside home. I wanted it so I can carry my lemon water instead of buying sh!t from a market. The brand is “Sistema” and it is not made in China. It was hyper difficult to search for something that it was not. Most thermos if not everyone of them, at least in my country, even the ones that are really expensive, are made in China (the ones that are metallic, no glass inside) I don’t want to drink from a contaminated metal. I had to buy the one that has the glass inside and I have to take care of it a lot because it can break at any time. No outdoor activities with that one! And we like to drink mate here…
I own an Aladdin thermos from the early 80’s. It is fully stainless steel and it keeps yea hot for 12 hours. My Yeti coffee mug leaks through the magnetic closure. My Tim Horton’s coffee mug doesn’t leak at all and it’s 7 years old. I find my Yeti water bottle a pain and I am honestly afraid of getting robbed carrying a $40 coffee cup and $50 water bottle! This trend is so weird.
My kids have Hydro Flask bottles. I wasn’t a fan of the idea because of the expense, my wife bought them. They’d previously been through bottles by Snug, Zak, Camelbak, and Contigo and always managed to destroy them. Either the lid stopped sealing or the straw/spout mechanism failed, or they just cracked. They have beat the living crap over their Hydro Flask bottles over this whole school year (seriously, they look a little embarrassing) and those bottles just keep coming back from more. I still cringe at the price. I’ve looked at the Klean Kanteen ones for kids and I’m not sold on the idea of the lid’s durability (plus they’re not much cheaper). They screw into the bottle rim (vs around it like Hydro Flask) so one good bash on that rim looks like it could cause leaks if the lid’s no screwed down super tight and I picture them losing that removable spout inside of a week.
I use 4 zojirushi thermos’. They’re soooo good at keeping the temperature. The convenient flip top can be opened and closed with one hand and for my 10 hour work days, my hot drinks stay just as boiling hot by the end (so much so that I need to make sure they cool off before putting them in). Had tea in one once that I forgot to empty over the weekend…. well, didn’t drink it but noticed that it was still piping hot when I cleaned it out. Already loved their rice cookers and only found out that they made thermos’ 5 months ago when my old ones were starting to fail on me after 7 years of daily use and needed new ones (they were Hydro Flask’s). From the size of the zojirushi thermos, fitting into cupholders and backpack drink slots that the Hydro Flask doesn’t. To retaining heat sooooo much better (Hydro Flask I would have to put in boiling drinks and it would be at a drinkable temp 3-4 hours later, so at least still hot but by 8-9 hours it was getting pretty luke warm….. and that was when they were new, after 7 years, they lost an hour or so on that and that just wasn’t good when my shifts changed from 5-8’s to 4-10’s and I wanted to be able to drink hot beverages throughout the entire shift).
Yes, I use a 40 oz Hydro Flask at uni, because it keeps my water cold, but most importantly… it does not leak. Also, it does not impart any smell or taste to the water, and since I have the wide neck version, it’s easy to put standard-sized ice cubes into it. The color is also beautiful. So, I’m keeping mine. In one of my classes, the text noted the whole water bottles of the middle-class thing… I calmly pulled mine out of my pack and started sipping. LOL 🙂
I’ve had both Klean Kanteen and Hydroflask. I prefer my hydroflask because it has lasted better. Maybe I just had a bad Klean Kanteen, but I dropped it once in a parking lot and it ended up getting a giant outward bulge so if I set it down it would topple over making it really annoying to use. I have dropped my Hydroflask several times on concrete and dirt and managed to dent one, but it was still usable at least. My less than stellar Klean Kanteen experience was several years ago, so maybe they improved since then? But I can also get Hydroflasks at the Base Exchange, so they are way more convenient than anything else.
I have to say. I don’t ever buy main brand hydro flask (you can get them for 15-25$ at Walmart) and I use mine every single day. I try to drink only water to stay healthy, and the hydro flasks really help alot with that. Don’t have to buy a bunch of water bottles, only one Brita filter and one hydro flask. One thing I will say is that I had a large one that after 3 years the lid broke. Took 3 years of every day use to and from work and school tho so not too bad for a 20$ bottle I will say.
Very interesting! I guess in a way, hydroflask is the “iPhone” of water bottles. I’ve always loved klean kanteen as a company but I gotta say, I’ve never had a product that was as tough and well insulating as the Stanley products. If you’re looking for pure function, I would say they’re still the best.
I like Hydro because I’m an Oregonian and they’re still headquartered here… And frankly, all the water bottles, including KK, are made in China anyways. KK had some good words about how they’re responsible about their manufacturing in China which is certainly better than other brands, but it’s still gonna be worse to manufacture in China and ship across the Pacific versus manufacture locally.
dude you won’t believe this but i got a hydro flask literally after perusal this, i got the regular white 21 oz one and I’m loving it so far, it kept my cold water cool for so long it never disappoints me and i always get cool water even almost 24 hours after the fill up that is something that my regular plastic bottle can never do, in fact, i know my water is always cool it MOTIVATES me to drink more and stay hydrated and that’s what matters to me
I was somewhere a few months ago and saw a Hydro Flask for sale and was shocked how expensive they were. I am not sure why anyone would buy it over a Yeti or Klean Kanteen, or even Grizzly as Hydro Flask is at least $20 more expensive then their nearest competetor for the same product ($50 for a small water bottle???)
Thanks to the american economical neoliberalism, and social medias (which are mostly US born) for that kind of shit. I, a French man, who lived in the Normandy countryside for most of my life, drink my water (well sometimes there’s water, most of the time it’s Calvados, 70% alcool -it’s alcohol, but way cooler-) in a goat blatter. That goat was slaughtered almost 110 years ago ! Still smells a bit funky, but hey, it’s natural !
I like Takeya (similar to Hydroflask) better, because the lid is easier to drink from (you don’t have to unscrew the whole cap) and the silicon boot at the bottom avoids dents. It’s simply more functional. Their new tumblers even fit in a cupholder. Klean Kanteen need to update their caps, just like yeti did.
Lol, first time i’ve ever heard of these things. Stupid if you ask me. I used to use plain old single wall stainless steel water bottles back when they weren’t all stupid and trendy, back when they had good sealing lids with no BS carry straps and stupid flip top sippy cup thing. These days since i can’t find a good, basic minimal single wall without some deal breaker of a ‘feature’ like the gimmicky caps, unusual, asymmetrical shapes or anything that makes them harder to tie down and carry. And almost none these days are capable of carrying carbonated stuff, which is usually how i roll. I make my own sparkling mountain rainwater and carry it with me on my nightly hikes. The market pushing all this gimmick and trend BS has forced me back to using plain old PET soda bottles with my own 3d printed molle/belt clip rings. They’re cheaper, lighter, hold pressure, don’t leak through a gimmicky flip cap, and no stupid carry handle flopping around when it’s strapped to me. And as for the trendy aspect, nobody ever sees me with a water bottle because i use them for hiking, outdoor, overland and backcountry activities and nobody is around to see me. I don’t really go to to town when people are awake, i’m there at 4-5am and have no need to carry a water bottle so even if i was the kind of NPC idiot who thought i’d impress people with my woke, trendy bottle there’s nobody around or miles to impress, and the deer and rabbits don’t care what bottle i rock. In fact, i’m looking for the opposite, a bottle that nobody will notice, care about, or think anything of.
Thermoses have been around for decades for consumers and no one called that green. It’s just what you put your coffee in before going to work for an entire generation of people. I run a Nalgene that has seen some shit and has old beat up stickers on it. As long as I wash it every month it tends to not get too funky. I think people get a little too crazy about their drink having to be cold or hot when they’re not at home. I get it, it’s comfort but like…a little discomfort won’t kill you. You can also buy actual used Stanley coffee thermoses for car camping at Goodwill for a few bucks that will serve you for decades. It just all seems like marketing hype.
I’m not into these things since I avoid drinking cold water as much as possible. On a Starbucks December tradition, I got their insulated tumber instead of their planner. I was really happy with the sleek tumbler because my coffee can stay hot up to 4 hours even if I accidentally slept and forgot to cover the lid and 6+ hours hot when covered. So now I got the Aquaflask and we have a hype of this bottle here. I understand how this can be helpful especially if you do mountain hiking or gym/workout training and you will have a cold water that can last for a day. Will probably use mine just to store my hot water lol since I still prefer my dilapidated 1 yr old Starbucks tumbler for my hot coffee haha.
Watching this article at a university, I’ve seen more than a dozen of these bottles already and I claim that I have one as well. It really has gotten me to consume more water since I bought it quite recently since the water fountains on campus have a bottle refilling station. My curiosity really got me this time around when I purchased my HydroFlask at my local thrift shop for $1.
I am actually a fanboy of tumblers and water bottles. There was a time when I had a buying frenzy of anything that I can buy. Then, I realised… “I am not really one of those who like my tea or coffee super hot.” Since they are insulated, I need to leave the tumbler without a lit to cool it down (which defeats the purpose). Also, I drink my stuff fast. A 500 ml drink is literally a few gulps to me. So, I really don’t have the chance to have a drink that I need to keep cold for more than a few hours. Given, I have this habit of over steeping my tea. So, I would steep my tea before I sleep so I would have a nice warm oversteeped tea when I wake up. Not to mention that I love taking photos of my drinks amd show it to my friends. So, a clear bottle is better for that purpose. This year, I went to get my stamps from COFFEE BEAN &TEA LEAF for a “free tumbler” at the end. And what did I use to get a discounted drink? My first generation CBTL tumbler. 😹