best water bottles for school

Equipping our kids with reusable water bottles makes a lot of sense: it keeps them hydrated throughout the day, reduces waste generated from disposable bottles or single-use juice boxes, and saves money. Children should keep a water bottle on their desk to stay hydrated throughout the schoolday; research indicates that drinking water helps kids stay focused and become better learners. Having a water bottle on hand is especially important for kids who have after-school activities.

When shopping for a reusable bottle there are a few requirements. First and foremost choose a bottle that's free from toxins like BPA, PVC, lead, phthalates and other chemicals often found in conventional water bottles. The harm that comes from drinking from a plastic bottle or an aluminum bottle lined with an epoxy resin is that measurable amounts of chemicals can leach into the water. This is especially true for plastic that's been heated by the sun, worn out, or scratched. You'll also want a bottle that's durable, made to last, and recyclable once its days are over. 

Our Picks

As parents any water bottle we pick for our kids has the following features:

• safe
• leak-proof
• insulated
• straw-top or sport-top
• 18/8 grade stainless steel
• dishwasher safe 

Here are our top picks for water bottles for the Lunchbox, Desk and After-School activities.

Bottles for the lunchbox

Compact, leakproof and lightweight are essential features for a water bottle packed in a lunchbox. And since you may be sending a beverage other than water, being dishwasher-safe is a huge benefit.. Using a reusable bottle is a sustainable alternative to single-serve, disposable bottles and juice boxes. 

• Thermos Funtainer: Insulated, 12 oz, leak-proof straw bottle, dishwasher safe
• Lifefactory Glass Bottle: 9 oz., leak-proof, dishwasher safe
• Klean Kanteen with loop cap: 12 oz, stainless steel, leak-proof, dishwasher safe
• HydroFlask Bottle: 12 oz, vacuum insulated, leak-proof, dishwasher safe

Bottles for the desk

Kids need to stay hydrated throughout the day. Having an easy-to-use bottle that doesn't require unscrewing the cap and screwing it back on for every drink (and subsequently disrupting class) will certainly be appreciated by your child's teacher. Straw-tops and sport-tops are a great choice for desks. A stable and relatively spill-free bottle will also be an added bonus to the classroom culture. And for kids who prefer drinking cold water, pick an insulated bottle.

• Eco Vessel Straw Bottle: 13 oz, leak-resistant
• Eco Vessel Insulated Straw Bottle: 13 oz, insulated
• Klean Kanteen Classic w/Sport Cap: 12 oz, classroom friendly (no chirping or whistling)
• Lifefactory Glass Straw Bottle: 12 oz glass bottle with a silicone sleeve, dishwasher safe

Bottles for after school activities

Stainless steel bottles are a favorite among budding athletes. Built to endure a lot of roughing up, the durable nature of stainless steel makes this a great choice for after school activity use. The sleek insulated bottles deliver an ice-cold drink during practice and the convenient sport-top bottles provide a quick and easy drink. All have wide-mouth openings so they're easy to fill with water and ice and easy to clean!

• HydroFlask Wide Mouth w/ Flip-Top: 18 oz, insulated and easy flip top lid
• Eco Vessel: 17 oz, insulated, leakproof
• ThinkSport: 17 oz, insulated, dishwasher safe
• Klean Kanteen: 18 oz, sport-top, stainless steel

Click here to see our entire selection of kid's water bottles.

Then tell us what water bottle you're sending to school this year, and why you chose it!