Owala FreeSip Water Bottle Review
I remember this time last year, people couldn’t stop raving about the Owala FreeSip Bottle that went viral on TikTok. With its variety of colour combinations, it’s no wonder everyone wanted to get one. Even though I already owned bottles like the Hydro Flask and Nalgene, I had to get the Owala bottle for myself and see what the big hoo-ha was about.
Contents
Fast forward a year, and this bottle has been my daily driver since, and I even went on to buy another one in a smaller size. If you’re considering buying one for yourself, here’s my Owala FreeSip Water Bottle review.
What’s so good about Owala bottles?
Deemed one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2023, the Owala FreeSip is an insulated bottle featuring a patented FreeSip spout with a built-in straw, optimised for sipping drinks on the go.
It also has triple layer insulation designed to keep your water cold for up to 24 hours, according to the brand. The bottle comes in 4 different volumes: 16oz, 24oz, 32oz and 40oz. Topped off with a leak-proof lid, the Owala FreeSip does seem like the perfect everyday bottle for everyone.
First impressions of the Owala FreeSip
L – R: Candy Store 32oz, Water In Desert 40oz
The Owala bottles are best known for their wide variety of colour combinations. Right off the bat, there were just too many different colours to choose from. If I was going to pay close to $70 for a bottle that probably functioned the same as my Hydro Flask, I had to make sure the colour combo was one that I was satisfied with.
Despite the enticing bright colours, I decided to go for something safe and neutral for my first bottle. When I saw that they had restocked their bottles, I immediately purchased the 40oz bottle in the colour “Water in Desert”. I also managed to score some Shopee vouchers to offset my purchase.
Back when I wanted to get the Owala bottle, it was almost always sold out in every colourway, and they weren’t available in-stores. Thankfully, now, they restock the colours quite regularly on various platforms, and it is a lot easier to get your hands on them now.
What I love about the Owala FreeSip water bottle
1. The patented FreeSip spout
The FreeSip Spout is definitely the most attractive feature of this Owala bottle, and it does live up to its hype. If you’re not sure what the spout is, here’s the lowdown: essentially, there are two ways to drink from this bottle. You can tip the bottle up and drink like a regular bottle, or you can hold it upright and sip from the built-in straw. This versatile feature alone enticed many people to purchase this bottle.
I was skeptical at first, because it did not quite make sense to me that I could just drink from the bottle like I would drink from a straw. However, when I tried it, I noticed that it acted like a spill-free cold cup that I could bring around. I also realised how convenient it was to just sip from the in-built straw of the bottle instead of tipping the bottle up to drink from it.
L- R: Nalgene Wide Mouth Bottle, Owala FreeSip, Hydro Flask Straw Cap Wide Mouth
I remember drinking from my wide-mouth Nalgene bottle on a moving bus once, and a good amount of water spilled onto my clothes. However with this Owala bottle, I can drink from the in-built straw on the go without fear of spills.
2. Wide range of colour combinations and accessories
If you’re tired of having the same-coloured water bottle as everyone else, you may want to consider the Owala FreeSip for its multitude of colours. As of now, there are about 19 different colours available for purchase in Singapore, but the brand also has tons of other colours available abroad, including limited edition exclusives
From safer combinations like one with different shades of greys and whites, to more quirky combinations that include neon yellows, bright reds and blues, there’s definitely something for everyone. Compared to the Hydro Flask or Nalegene bottles, these Owala bottles have undoubtedly less conventional colour combinations. Although I went for something neutral in the beginning, I caved and got a brighter-coloured one named “Candy Store” afterwards. Oops.
L – R: 32oz Blossom Bunny Source , 24oz Sandy Shores Source
If you’re feeling a little boujee and have a higher budget, you can also seek out the limited edition or overseas exclusive colours like “Sandy Shores” or “Blossom Bunny” on sites like Carousell and eBay, but they’re sold at slightly higher prices.
Aside from their many colour combinations, Owala also offers accessories like the Bottle Boot so you can further customise your water bottle. I personally bought a Bottle Boot for my bottle to protect it from any dents, and also to give it a little personality. You can choose to purchase these boots at about $18 from Owala’s official Shopee Mall store, or take a budget option and get one from the many other Shopee stores that sell them for a lot cheaper. So far, I’ve only seen 2 girls with the exact same bottle and boot combination as me!
3. Keeps my water cold for 24 hours
I find room temperature water kinda mid, so I either only drink cold water or warm water. The Owala FreeSip became my best friend as I can now have cold water on the go, especially when I’m forced to go trekking with my family on weekends.
@luke.scarpino 24 hour checkin for the Owala Ice Test #owala #owalawaterbottle #review #edc #workfromhome #stanleycup
I heard from some of my friends that their Owala bottles can keep ice in them for hours. I unfortunately did not have the same experience. In my case the ice does melt when I put them into room temperature water after a while, but the water becomes, and remains cold even if I leave it to sit overnight so I’m fine with that.
4. More hygienic than other bottles with straws
When I used my Hydro Flask, I always found it icky that the straw was exposed to the outside environment. I found myself constantly wiping the straw before drinking from it as there was sometimes dirt on the straw even when it was faced down.
It was a relief that the Owala straw is hidden by a cap and not exposed. This made drinking more hygienic, and I did not have to keep worrying about who or what touched the straw of my bottle.
Cons of the Owala FreeSip Water Bottle
1. High price point
Available in 4 different volumes, the price point of these Owala bottles ranges from about $47 to about $70. Although these prices are comparable to other thermal insulated bottles, they are still a bit steep, especially since the bottle is trending among younger audiences who might not have as much disposable income.
Decathlon Stainless Steel Water Bottle Source
One can definitely find other insulated bottles at a more affordable price from places like Decathlon and other Shopee retailers. Although we cannot attest to the functionality and quality of these bottles, they could still be an alternative if you don’t want to splurge on an Owala.
2. Hassle to clean
It’s all fun and games until you have to clean this Owala bottle. The bottle comes with different rubber parts with many crevices to secure the bottle, and you have to remove them to give your bottle a deep clean. You also don’t know the type of dirt and residue that gets stuck along the walls of the straw, so you need a small straw brush to clean that too. For the girlies who use lip products, the spout gets stained, so you have to clean that frequently too.
@doctormyro Is your water bottle poisoning you? #waterbottle #doctor #reusablewaterbottle #healthtips
Some users took to TikTok to warn others that mould might grow underneath the rubber pieces of the Owala bottle, which could potentially lead to mould poisoning. You best bet I ran to check my bottles for signs of mould right after watching those TikTok videos. I now frequently deep clean to make sure I don’t get sent to the emergency room unnecessarily.
3. Not recommended for hot drinks
Caught up in hype, I did not do my research before purchasing the Owala bottle and was disappointed when I realised that it was not recommended for really hot drinks. The straw is plastic and may melt when in contact with boiling hot water. There is also a change in pressure when you put in hot drinks, which then causes leaks and spills.
Once, I filled my bottle up with warm water once, and it splashed out when I opened the bottle from the top. Not fun, so I’ve since learnt my lesson. Owala recommends their users to loosen the lid by a quarter turn to release pressure, then retighten the lid before drinking to prevent such incidents.
If you need something to keep your morning coffee or water warm, Owala also has the SmoothSip ($55) that can hot drinks for up to 6 hours and cold water for up to 24 hours, that you can consider instead.
4. Condensation on the lid
Not having condensation is a big draw when it comes to thermally insulated bottles. When it comes to the Owala, I noticed that although the bottle itself is stainless steel, the lid is made of plastic and silicone. This means that water droplets will form on the lid if you have cold water in the bottle.
@frouhaha Girls who are constantly hot and sweating need icy cold water always 🥲 #owalawaterbottle #owalareview #climabottle
Take note of this when you decide to put it into your bag to avoid getting everything wet.
My verdict
Although the Owala FreeSip does have some flaws, I believe that it still does the job as an insulated bottle.
The real star of the show for me is the FreeSip Spout. From the moment I tried it, my life changed forever. The team at Owala ate this invention up, making drinking water so much more hygienic, convenient and mess-free. Additionally, even after a year, the Owala bottle has held up great and I’ve had no issues with it.
Even though the Owala bottle doesn’t fit into some of my bags, I still bring it everywhere. I admit that I’ve grown emotionally attached to it and feel empty when I don’t have it on me.
Many of my friends call me their worst enabler, and so here I am, trying to enable you to get the Owala FreeSip now if you can. Even though the hype for the Owala FreeSip has significantly died down, I still think that it is a bottle that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing, and ultimately, worth the price tag.
Where To Buy The Owala Water Bottle In Singapore
If I have convinced you to get the Owala bottle, here’s where you can buy it, both in-stores and online.
P.S: Look out for sales, Shopee Flash Deals and vouchers so you don’t have to pay full price for it!
Online retailers:
- Owala SEA Website
- Owala Official Shopee Mall Store
- Owala LazMall Flagship Store
- Carousell: especially for limited edition and overseas exclusive colours that other users bring into Singapore
In-stores:
1. Takashimaya Shopping Centre
Address: 391 Orchard Road, Singapore 238872
Opening hours: 10am to 9:30pm daily
2. TANGS at VivoCity
Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk #01-187 & #02-189, VivoCity, Singapore 098585
Opening hours: 10am to 10pm daily
3. TANGS at Tangs Plaza
Address: 310 Orchard Road, Tang Plaza, Singapore 238864
Opening hours: 10:30am to 9:30pm daily
4. Actually
Address: 313 Orchard Road, #03-37 to 40, 313 Somerset, Singapore 238895
Opening hours: 11:30am to 9:30pm daily
5. The Paper Bunny
Address: 391 Orchard Road, #B2-12, Singapore 238872
Opening hours: 10am to 9:30pm daily
Also read:
Here’s How To Get Your Hands On The Limited Edition McDonald’s Pocket Pouches
Cover Image: Source
