Anatomy of a Water Bottle

• Water bottle shape

If you think size and material are the only decisions you need to make when choosing a water bottle, think again.       

There are a range of advantages and disadvantages to consider in the details.       

The shape, lid, handle and accessories of your bottle can make or break your relationship with it over time.

These factors influence the way you access water, how well you can clean your bottle and how easy it is to carry.       

Learn about all of the varieties available for these critical water bottle features.

1.Water Bottle height

Keep in mind that some sport water bottles are too tall to fit into coffee machines or the water dispenser of your refrigerator.      

Think of the different appliances you might want to use your bottle with and measure them accordingly.

2.Interior Angles

The other consideration for a bottle’s shape relates to ease of cleaning.      

If the bottle has sharp corners on the interior or a noticeable “bottleneck” it can be more difficult to clean.      

The bottle mouth size can also impact your ability to clean your bottle.      

See the next section for tips on choosing the best bottle mouth for your needs.

3.Narrow mouth water bottles vs. Wide mouth water bottles

Now, it probably sounds like we’re getting into the nitty gritty details, but these are important to continue to read on.      

A bottle’s mouth can make or break your relationship with it.      

When we talk about the bottle mouth, we’re actually referring to its opening.      

At this point, we haven’t touched on the lid, which is coming up next.

There are few advantages to buying a water bottle with a narrow mouth.      

Think about it.      

The shape of the bottle is fixed and you will have great difficulty reaching inside the bottle to clean it.      

The only real advantage is that you will be less likely to splash yourself when you drink the water, 

but this can be solved a number of other ways, such as purchasing a straw or sports lid.

Here’s why having a wide mouth is essential for ease of use.      

You can insert ice cubes. You can also dip your bottle into a stream and quickly fill it up in the outdoors.      

Bottle brushes fit inside easily when you need to clean your bottle.      

And when you air dry your bottle, there will be enough airflow to ensure your bottle dries out.

4.Long neck water bottles vs. Short or no neck water bottles

Of course, few of the water bottles on the market have a long neck.      

That’s because the same issues that arise with a narrow mouth can be made even worse with a long bottle neck.      

Go for bottles with a short neck or no neck at all.