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Owala vs. Yeti: Which Water Bottle Is Better?

Are you shopping for an insulated water bottle but can’t decide between Owala and Yeti?

While Yeti has dominated the high-end cooler and drinkware space since 2006, Owala hit the market in 2020 and has quickly become one of the most popular bottle brands due to its FreeSip spout design that offers two distinct ways to drink.

I recently conducted extensive testing with their best-selling bottles—the Owala FreeSip 24-ounce bottle and the Yeti Rambler with Chug Cap 26-ounce bottle—to determine which brand truly deserves your money.

In this detailed comparison of Owala vs. Yeti, you’ll learn how they stack up in key areas like cold temperature retention, durability, ease of cleaning, leak resistance, and everyday usability.

Key Takeaways

If you only have a minute, here’s what you need to know about Owala and Yeti water bottles.

Owala and Yeti water bottles
Owala and Yeti water bottles

Insulation Technology: Both bottles are made from 18/8 stainless steel and use vacuum insulation to minimize heat transfer. Yeti uses a standard double-wall vacuum design, while Owala enhances this by adding a copper coating to one of the walls to reduce heat transfer further.

Temperature Tests: In my tests, Yeti kept water colder than Owala, maintaining temperatures about 2°F lower after 24 hours. Yeti is also designed for hot drinks, retaining heat well—160.5°F after 1 hour and 96.1°F after 12 hours. Owala is not intended for hot liquids.

Lid Design & Usability: Owala’s FreeSip lid features a dual-drinking option (straw or spout) and one-handed operation, but it can flick water when opened. Yeti’s Chug Cap has a simple screw-top design with fewer parts, but it requires two hands and can be difficult to open when over-tightened.

Leak Test: Yeti was completely leakproof in both tip-over and shake tests. Owala leaked slightly during the tip-over test but remained dry in the shake test.

Durability Test: Both bottles withstood drop tests from 3 feet without any functional damage. Yeti showed slightly less visible wear, with a more scratch-resistant finish.

Size & Portability: Owala is lighter (0.8 lbs vs. Yeti’s 1.3 lbs) and fits standard cup holders, making it more portable. Yeti holds slightly more water (26 oz vs. 24 oz) but is bulkier and too wide for most cup holders.

Colors & Options: Owala offers 20 bold, multi-color designs, while Yeti provides 19 more subdued, classic colors. Owala sizes range from 24-40 oz, while Yeti’s Chug Cap bottles come in 18-46 oz options.

Bottom Line

If you want a bottle with a built-in straw and one-handed operation, go with Owala. If you prefer a more traditional bottle that’s completely leakproof and works for both hot and cold drinks, choose Yeti. While Yeti offers better insulation, both bottles are durable and well-made, so the best choice depends on your preferred drinking style.

Learn more and compare current prices on Amazon (Owala, Yeti).


Use the links below to navigate the comparison:


Comparison Chart

BottlesOwala FreeSipYeti Rambler with Chug Cap
Capacity (oz)2426
Price$$$$$ (30% more expensive)
Straw?YesNo
Hot Water Safe?NoYes
InsulationTriple-layer insulationDouble-wall vacuum insulation
Fits Cup Holder?YesNo
Colors2019
Weight (lb)0.81.3
Height (in)10.611
Bottom Diameter (in)3.13.25
Spout Diameter (in)1.21.0
Cold Water Temp 6 Hours (°F)4846.2
Cold Water Temp 12 Hours (°F)51.849.3
Cold Water Temp 24 Hours (°F)57.255.4
Top Reason to BuyOne-handed operationTemperature retention and durability
Top Reason to NOT BuyFlicks water; LeaksToo wide for standard cup holders

Insulation Technology: Double-Wall vs Triple-Layer

Both Owala and Yeti use 18/8 stainless steel in their construction but differ in their insulation methods.

Yeti uses double-wall vacuum insulation – two stainless steel walls with a vacuum-sealed space between them. This vacuum space is essential because it eliminates air that could transfer temperature between the walls. It’s a proven design that’s been the industry standard for insulated bottles.

Yeti 26-ounce Rambler with Chug Cap
Yeti 26-ounce Rambler with Chug Cap

Owala markets its design as “triple-layered” insulation. However, it’s not actually three walls. Instead, it uses the same double-wall vacuum construction as Yeti but adds a copper coating to one of the stainless steel walls.

Owala FreeSip 24 ounce water bottle
Owala FreeSip 24 ounce water bottle

While the vacuum prevents heat transfer through direct contact, the copper layer helps block radiative heat – heat that can move without physical contact.

Temperature Tests

Does Owala’s copper coating actually help keep drinks colder? To find out, I put both bottles through rigorous temperature testing in a controlled 68°F room environment.

I started by filling each bottle with water chilled to almost identical temperatures – the Owala at 43.2°F and Yeti at 43.3°F. I then measured the water temperature at 6, 12, and 24-hour intervals to track how well each bottle maintained the cold.

Cold Water Results:

  • After 6 hours:
    • Yeti: 46.2°F
    • Owala: 48.0°F
Yeti cold water test results after 6 hours
Yeti cold water test results after 6 hours
Owala cold water test results after 6 hours
Owala cold water test results after 6 hours
  • After 12 hours:
    • Yeti: 49.3°F
    • Owala: 51.8°F
Yeti cold water test results after 12 hours
Yeti cold water test results after 12 hours
Owala cold water test results after 12 hours
Owala cold water test results after 12 hours
  • After 24 hours:
    • Yeti: 55.4°F
    • Owala: 57.2°F
Yeti cold water test results after 24 hours
Yeti cold water test results after 24 hours
Owala cold water test results after 24 hours
Owala cold water test results after 24 hours

Yeti consistently maintained colder temperatures, though the real-world difference is small – about 2°F at most checkpoints.

I also tested hot liquid retention in Yeti, starting at 180°F (Owala isn’t designed for hot drinks). The Yeti maintained:

  • 160.5°F after 1 hour
  • 116.1°F after 6 hours
  • 96.1°F after 12 hours
  • 56.5°F after 24 hours
Yeti hot water test results after 24 hours
Yeti hot water test results after 24 hours

Important note: While Owala advises against hot liquids entirely, Yeti is rated safe for hot drinks up to 185°F, making it more versatile for year-round use.

Lid Design & Usability

One of the biggest differences between Owala and Yeti is their lid design. Each takes a drastically different approach to how you drink from the bottle.

The Owala FreeSip features an innovative dual-drinking design. Push a button, and the spring-loaded lid pops open to reveal both a built-in straw and a wider spout.

Owala cap design
Owala cap design

You can either sip through the straw without tilting the bottle or tip it back to drink from the spout. This design allows for easy one-handed operation, which is great for driving or multitasking.

However, the spring-loaded mechanism has an annoying tendency to flick water when opened if there’s any moisture trapped under the lid.

Owala spring lid flicking water
Owala spring lid flicking water

The Yeti Rambler uses a simpler Chug Cap design with two parts – a larger screw-off lid with a handle and a smaller spout cover.

Yeti Rambler with Chug Cap lid design
Yeti Rambler with Chug Cap lid design

While this straightforward approach means fewer parts that could break, it has one notable drawback: tightening the outer lid can over-tighten the spout cap underneath, making it difficult to open.

Tightening Yeti top cap makes chug cap too tight
Tightening Yeti top cap makes chug cap too tight

Each design has clear tradeoffs:

Owala FreeSip:

  • One-handed operation
  • Choice of drinking styles (straw or spout)
  • More parts to clean
  • Spring mechanism could fail over time
  • Lid can spray water drops when opened if moisture is trapped underneath
  • Annoying tendency to flick water onto your face or clothes

Yeti Chug Cap:

  • Simple, durable design
  • Fewer parts to maintain
  • Requires two hands to operate
  • Can be difficult to open when over-tightened
  • Handle can get in the way when drinking

These lid differences directly impact how these bottles perform in leak and durability tests, which we’ll explore next.

Leak Test

When choosing a water bottle, one crucial consideration is whether you can trust it to not leak in your bag next to your laptop, clothes, or important documents. To test this, I conducted two real-world simulations: tipping the bottles over with water inside and shaking them upside down for 30 seconds.

The Yeti proved completely leakproof in both tests. Not a single drop escaped during the tip test, and it remained bone dry during the shake test. Its simple screw-top design creates a reliable seal that instills confidence when tossing it in a bag with electronics or important documents.

Yeti passing leak tests
Yeti passing leak tests

The Owala showed mixed results. During the tip test, a few small water droplets escaped around the lid.

Owala leaking water
Owala leaking water

Interestingly, it performed better in the more vigorous shake test, staying completely dry. While the leakage was minimal – just a few drops – it’s something to consider if you frequently carry your water bottle in a bag.

The leak test results highlight a key difference in the lid designs. Yeti’s straightforward screw-top prioritizes a reliable seal, while Owala’s more complex spring-loaded mechanism creates potential points where water can escape.

Durability Test

Water bottles get dropped – they fall out of bags, get knocked off counters, or slip from your hand. These accidents aren’t just about cosmetic damage. If a bottle dents badly enough that its insulated walls touch, it breaks the vacuum seal and ruins the bottle’s ability to maintain temperature.

To simulate real-world accidents and see which brand holds up better to impact, I conducted drop tests with both bottles, letting them fall from 3 feet high onto concrete – once on their side and once directly on the lid.

Yeti vs Owala durability test dropping both from 3 feet high on their side
Dropping Yeti and Owala bottles from 3 feet high on their side
Yeti vs Owala durability test dropping both from 3 feet high on their lids
Dropping Yeti and Owala bottles from 3 feet high on their lids

The Yeti showed impressive durability, emerging with only minor damage. The side drop resulted in a tiny bump on the bottom and minor paint scratches. When dropped on its lid, the plastic cap only showed surface scratches while maintaining full functionality.

Slight damage to Yeti cap after dropping it from 3 feet high
Slight damage to Yeti cap after dropping it from 3 feet high

The Owala also performed well, though with slightly more visible damage. The side drop left a small bump on the bottom and some paint scratches.

Owala damage from dropping bottle
Owala damage from dropping bottle

The lid drop resulted in minor cosmetic damage to the plastic cap, but like the Yeti, it remained fully functional. I was particularly surprised by how well the Owala’s complex lid mechanism held up – despite its springs and multiple parts, the FreeSip functionality remained completely intact after the drops.

Both bottles proved durable enough for everyday accidents. Neither sustained any damage that affected their performance or caused leaking, which is essential for a water bottle that’s bound to be dropped occasionally.

Size & Portability

One crucial difference between these bottles is their compatibility with cup holders. The Owala, with its 3.1-inch base diameter, fits standard cup holders in cars, gym equipment, and backpack pockets.

Owala FreeSip fitting into a cup holder
Owala FreeSip fitting into a cup holder

The Yeti Rambler, however, is too wide at 3.25 inches to fit most standard cup holders.

Yeti 26-ounce Rambler does not fit standard cup holders
Yeti 26-ounce Rambler does not fit standard cup holders

Beyond cup holders, there are other size differences to consider. The Owala FreeSip stands 10.6 inches tall, while the Yeti is slightly taller at 11 inches. The Yeti is also significantly heavier – 1.3 pounds empty compared to Owala’s 0.8 pounds. That half-pound difference is noticeable when carrying the bottle in a bag or holding it while walking.

Weighing Yeti 26-ounce Rambler with Chug Cap
Weighing Yeti 26-ounce Rambler with Chug Cap

The Yeti offers slightly more capacity (26 oz vs 24 oz), but the trade-off is a heavier, less portable bottle. The Owala’s compact design makes it easier to carry and more versatile for daily activities like commuting, going to the gym, or running errands.

Colors & Options

Owala and Yeti take noticeably different approaches to color design. Owala offers 20 color combinations with an unconventional styling approach – rather than solid colors, they mix multiple colors across various parts of the bottle.

For example, you might get a white bottle with a red rim, gray lid, blue handle, and yellow accent. While these combinations stand out, they don’t always coordinate well together and might not appeal to those wanting a more classic look.

Owala FreeSip 24-ounce water bottle
Owala FreeSip 24-ounce water bottle

Yeti offers 19 color options but takes a more traditional approach. Their colors are coordinated and cohesive, with matching components that create a more sophisticated appearance. The colors tend to be more subdued and professional-looking.

Both brands regularly release new colors and limited editions, though Yeti’s special releases tend to command higher resale values among collectors. As for size options, the Owala FreeSip comes in 24, 32, and 40 ounces, while the Yeti Rambler with Chug Cap is available in 18, 26, 36, and 46 ounces.

Bottom Line: Should You Buy a Yeti or Owala Bottle?

While my tests showed some differences in temperature retention and durability, the most significant factor to consider is how you want to drink from your bottle. 

The Owala gives you that unique option to either sip through a straw or tilt back and drink, plus it’s easier to use one-handed. The Yeti sticks to a traditional drinking spout that’s simple and reliable. That’s the main difference that will impact your daily experience with these bottles.

Yes, the Yeti costs more, but both are well-made and will last you years. Rather than focusing on the price difference, think about which drinking style matches your needs better. 

If you love having a straw option or frequently drink while multitasking, you’ll appreciate the Owala. If you prefer a traditional yet durable bottle that works for both hot and cold drinks, go with the Yeti.

Compare the current prices and read more reviews on Amazon (Owala, Yeti).

Andrew Palermo Founder of Prudent Reviews

Andrew Palermo - About the Author

Andrew is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Prudent Reviews. He began his career in marketing, managing campaigns for dozens of Fortune 500 brands. In 2018, Andrew founded Prudent Reviews and has since reviewed 600+ products. When he’s not testing the latest cookware, kitchen knives, and appliances, he’s spending time with his family, cooking, and doing house projects. Connect with Andrew via emailLinkedIn, or the Prudent Reviews YouTube channel.

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