The universal push for better hydration has produced a seemingly endless supply of water bottles that promise to keep H2O cold for hours, days, even months. Admittedly, “months” is a stretch, but given recent advances in insulation technology, that milestone may not be far off.
Fresh off Stanley’s early-2020s hype, a new water bottle contender, Coldest, piqued my interest with its bold, brazen name alone. The company’s line of bottles and tumblers, which come in a range of sizes, styles and limited-edition designs, was featured on ABC’s “Shark Tank” and promises to keep beverages cold for 36 hours.
Coldest also operates out of my hometown of Naples in Florida (which I didn’t realize until I researched it), and I welcome any opportunity to support a local small business. But did it ultimately live up to its hype, the thousands of positive reviews and the praise from national media outlets?
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The test
For comparison, I grabbed my go-to $30 Owala water bottle and filled it with equal amounts of water (three cups) and ice (one cup). This model is a different size and shape than the 46-ounce Coldest, which means the liquid and ice were more condensed in the compartment.
That said, despite the lack of error-free, controlled-environment analysis, the primary goal was to determine whether the Coldest water bottle lived up to its 36-hour promise.
The results
After only a few hours, both water bottles delivered refreshing, ice-cold agua, with Owala consistently beating Coldest by a couple of degrees. Using a meat thermometer, here is a breakdown of the reading times and temperatures across 36 hours:
After 3 Hours
- Coldest: 52°F
- Owala: 50°F
After 7 Hours
- Coldest: 54°F
- Owala: 52°F
After 15 Hours
- Coldest: 57°F
- Owala: 56°F
After 18 Hours
- Coldest: 58°F
- Owala: 57°F
After 24 Hours
- Coldest: 60°F
- Owala: 59°F
After 36 Hours
- Coldest: 63°F
- Owala: 63°F
While water certainly remained cool after the experiment concluded, it was by no means teeth-chattering cold. Though I can hardly imagine anyone waiting this long to drink a beverage, it’s still worth noting since this is a major part of Coldest’s marketing claim.
Owala’s water bottle, though smaller in volume, yielded a consistently colder liquid, likely because of its smaller surface area and greater exposure to the stainless steel interior. But after 36 hours, both bottles tied in temperature, giving Coldest a slight edge because of its significantly larger size.
The Verdict
My feelings towards Coldest were essentially neutral. While I appreciate the company’s ability to retain a cult-like following with monthly limited-edition design drops, I didn’t feel its water-cooling technology was any more superior than the models I currently own (including the Owala).
It’s clear that this was introduced to disrupt Stanley’s virality and market share, though I’m not entirely sure if I’d cough up the cash to make it part of my must-have accessory rotation. I didn’t dislike it, by any means, and applaud the founders on their early success, but even loyalty points and an affiliate program wouldn’t incentivize consistent buys, despite my obsession with staying hydrated and color-coordinating my outfits.
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Those who collect water bottles like Pokémon will certainly think otherwise, as the impressive range of designs can be exciting. They are one-of-a-kind, often glow in the dark, and reflect current seasons and holidays, which is undeniably adorable. If that’s your thing, then great. But if your main concern is quenching thirst, you’re likely thinking less about style and more about substance, so any popular drinking vessel will do.