There are tons of opinions on how much water one should drink per day. Health line, for instance, recommends an intake of 8 eight-ounce glasses per day. Others give recommendations using calculations which take into consideration one’s bodyweight. While it is hard to tell exactly how much water is safe to drink in a day, science has proven that taking water has the following health benefits:
- Drinking water boosts your metabolism, enabling you to burn calories and lose weight efficiently.
- Water flushes out all the toxins in organs such as the kidneys and the colon.
- Water aids digestion
- People who stay hydrated throughout the day are less likely to have mood swings
These are just a few of the many reasons why people walk around with a bottle of drinking water to sip on as they go on their day to day activities. Sipping water throughout the day is a common practice, and it works best when you have a quality water bottle to carry the precious liquid around.
There are countless brands of water bottles in the market, which makes selecting the best one quite a task. However, you can learn from the common mistakes that people make, and avoid buying a poor quality bottle.
Mistake 1: Choosing the Wrong Water Bottle Material
The first mistake that people make when selecting a water bottle is choosing the wrong water bottle material. The materials which are commonly available in the market include soft plastics, hard plastic and steel.
Plastic water bottles are cheap and convenient; however, they bend and lose their shape when you put hot water in them.
Hard plastics are okay, and they can tolerate high temperature. However, they are brittle and they break easily.
Glass bottles give great service and are easy to clean, but they break when dropped. Steel water bottles are costly, but they are the best at preserving water temperature and also the most durable.
Mistake 2: Choosing Insulation
Regardless of the material that you choose, water bottles come with an uninsulated and an insulated option. None of the two options is the right one. The important thing to remember is that if you need the water bottle for activities such as a hike in the autumn or winter, the insulated option will be best to preserve hot water with. On the other hand, if you need a water bottle to be taking to the gym for the regular workout, you do not necessarily need to spend the extra cash getting an insulated one.
Mistake 3: Getting the Wrong Cap Type
Water bottles come with a variety of cap types. It is important to know all the available options before picking one. There are some which come with sports caps while others come with the regular screw caps. If you plan to use your water bottle during sporting activities, look for branded water bottles that offer both the screw and sports cap options.
Mistake 4: The Sip Size
The design of the water bottle’s neck is what determines how much water you can get from it in one sip. Some bottles will allow you to sip while others will allow you to gulp down the water. There are companies that go the extra mile and make valves or straws for their water bottles. If you are going for a hike or need to drink directly from the bottle, the design with a straw is your best option.
Mistake 5: Going for the lowest priced bottle
Another common mistake people make is to believe that the amount they pay for the bottle is proportional to its quality. Paying more certainly means that you care about the quality of the bottle which you want, but it doesn’t guarantee it. Look at the quality and the make of the bottle and compare it to the price. Avoid bottles lined with rubber as they contain BPA chemicals.
Mistake 6: Shopping in the Wrong Places
Another common mistake which people make when buying water bottles is buying at the wrong places and lack of proper price and quality comparison. If you want a durable gym bottle, consider getting one from an outdoor or sports shops. You should also talk to the storekeepers about the brands which they have on board, and let them recommend the most trusted brands.
Mistake 7: Getting the Capacity Wrong
Another common mistake which shoppers make when selecting a water bottle is choosing the wrong capacity. There is no ideal water bottle capacity. However, when picking the bottle, your intended use should guide you to get the ideal volume. If for instance you want a bottle for the regular run to the gym, one little will be okay. On the other hand, if you are a regular hiker, you may need a litter and a half or more.
Mistake 8: Rigid Versus Collapsible Water Bottle
The other mistake people make in connection with water bottles is picking between a rigid one and when to go for the collapsible option. Collapsible water bottles come in handy when space is limited and you need to save as much of it as possible. However, they are less durable than their rigid counterparts. Rigid water bottles may not be the best when hiking and backpacking, but they will give you the best value for your money.
Mistake 9: Choosing the Wrong Mouth Size
Water bottles come in a variety of mouth sizes. Some have narrow mouths while others have a wide mouth. The narrow mouthed bottles are the best to drink from because they do not splash a lot of water. However, they pose a challenge when refilling and make it close to impossible to add ice cubes. It is best to pick the mouth size while allows a refill and ice cubes but is still narrow enough for convenience.
Mistake 10: Ignoring Ease of Use
Most people buy a bottle because it looks nice or because the color is right. They forget that function is an important consideration to make when choosing the bottle. Consider whether you want a bottle with a flip cap, one that can be carried by the lid, thickness of the bottles body and other factors. All these will determine ease of use.
A water bottle should add to your motivation to stay hydrated and not oppose your efforts to do so. Choosing the right water bottles specifications will help you save your money and drink water conveniently.