Which water bottle suits you?

Choosing a good water bottle comes down to four questions. Answer them in this order and the choice almost falls into place:

• Capacity — how much do you want to carry without refilling on the go? This determines size and weight. More on this in chapter 02.
• Insulation — does your drink need to stay cold or hot for hours? An insulated, double- or triple-wall stainless steel bottle holds temperature; a single-wall one does not.
• How you drink — do you prefer a straw, a spout or a screw cap? This determines convenience on the go.
• Use — office, sport, travel or for a child? Each use asks for something slightly different.

The rest of this guide works through each point and ends with concrete advice per situation.

Capacity is the first and most important choice, because it determines how often you refill and how heavy the bottle is in your bag. VANN water bottles range from 500 ml to 2 litres. Here's how to choose:

• 500 ml — compact and light. For short trips, an hour of sport, a small bag or for children.
• 650 ml — the most-chosen size, and for good reason. Ideal for the commute and the office: big enough for a few hours, and with a diameter of 7.4 cm it fits almost any cup holder and bag.
• 1 litre — for sport, hiking and long days without a chance to refill. Enough for half a day, and ice cubes stay intact for hours.
• 2 litres — for at home, at your desk or on the terrace. Fill it once and keep it within reach. At 12.3 cm, too wide for most car cup holders.

Torn between two sizes? Choose the smaller one for carrying comfort and the larger one if you're rarely near a tap. Not sure how much you should drink? Work it out with our water calculator.

Material determines taste, safety, weight and lifespan. The four common options:

• Stainless steel — taste-neutral, doesn't absorb odours, BPA-free and lasts for years. With double- or triple-wall insulation, a stainless steel bottle keeps your drink cold or hot for a long time. For most people the most versatile choice.
• Glass — the most neutral taste, but heavier and more fragile. Fine for at home, less so on the go.
• Plastic — light and cheap, but can impart taste and lasts less long. If you go for it, at least choose BPA-free.
• Titanium — extremely light and strong, but pricier and rarely insulated. Mainly of interest to hikers watching every gram.

Want to know more about the safety of stainless steel? We explain it on the page are stainless steel bottles safe.

How you drink seems like a detail, but in practice it determines how often you reach for the bottle. The three main types:

• Straw — drink without tilting the bottle, one-handed. Handy on the bike, at your desk or while exercising. Then look for a bottle with a straw like the Activate Bottle™.
• Spout or nozzle — quick sips on the go, usually with a leak-proof click closure.
• Screw cap — the most leak-proof and easiest to clean, ideal for hot drinks and in your bag.

The big advantage of a system with interchangeable lids is that one bottle handles several forms. The Ultimate Bottle™, for example, comes with three lids — a standard drinking lid, a travel lid and a straw lid — so the same bottle goes from desk to gym to coffee on the go. That way you don't have to buy a separate bottle for every moment.

The choice translated into concrete bottles, from versatile to specialist. Start with the Ultimate Bottle™ if you're in doubt — it's our best-selling bottle for a reason.

A stainless steel bottle lasts for years, and with the right accessories even longer. What's often chosen alongside a bottle:

• Extra and replacement lids — a separate straw, travel or screw lid turns one bottle into several. Handy when you want to drink differently at home than on the go.
• Straw sets — spare straws with a brush for your bottle with a straw, so you keep drinking the way you're used to.
• Cleaning brush and cleaning tabs — for the body, the lid and the straw, so your bottle stays fresh and odour-free. Also read how to clean a water bottle.
• Protective sleeve or silicone boot — protects the base against dents and scratches and adds grip, just like a case around your phone.

Browse all accessories to complete your bottle.