As students, water bottles are a staple in our everyday lives and keeping hydrated is very important to our health. Today, we see people carrying around Stanley cups, but what about the time when Yetis were the big thing? And what about when everyone had HydroFlasks? Water bottle trends change so much so fast and that begs the question, what bottle will be next on top?

According to the Guide Post Daily, reusable water bottles have been around since the late 1960s but were mostly used by hikers and people who loved being outdoors. It wasn’t until the early 2000s when carrying around reusable water bottles really started to become popular. One of the first water bottle brands to really take off and become mainstream was Bobble in 2010 where millions of the water bottles were sold world wide. Being on the shelves since the 1980s, the Water Bobble is a clear reusable plastic bottle with a colored top that has a filtration system attached to the lid. According to their website, Bobble’s reusable filter can filter out anything including the taste and odor of chlorine.

Guide Post Daily says that after finding out about the chemicals that can be released into the water from plastic bottles, most people made the shift to metal water bottles. While Camelbak was rather popular after the gulf war, and has remained so today, it never became really mainstream, that prize has to go to Swell. Swell became the must have from 2015 until 2019, when HydroFlask took over the scene. Swell water bottles are stainless steel, and are in the typical bottle shape with a silver screw-on lid. Many people had them and with their many fun and unique designs, they were all the rage. 

2019 was the year for HydroFlasks. Many people remember the VSCO girl aesthetic in the late 2010s and to most people, that’s what they think of when they think of HydroFlasks. Despite this, HydroFlask seems to be a really well made water bottle. With amazing insulation, a built-in straw, and the ability to easily fit in a cup holder, many people took to the water bottle readily. When asked about her preferences, Gallatin High School junior, Carys Griswold says, “Overall, HydroFlasks are the superior water bottle, they keep your water cold, they’re great for transportation, the good ones have straws, and they are super sturdy. Minus the loud dropping noise they are pretty much perfect.My favorite water bottle brand is definitely HydroFlask. I use mine all the time.” Griswold also says that her HydroFlask comes in handy especially during soccer season, which she participates in. 

Soon after COVID-19, Stanley cups took the media by storm.Mostly used by teenage  girls, Stanley cups seem to be used due to their good insulation and popular aesthetic. The stanley cups even hold a ton of water, the largest one holding up to 64 ounces. Unfortunately, for the company, stories are coming out about the Stanley cups that paint the popular brand in a negative light. Stories in social media have recounted that many people have found the water bottles to be leaking and spiders and other bugs have been found inside the straws and in the mechanisms of the lids. I had the pleasure of asking one of Gallatin High School’s CTE teachers, Ms. Evenhuis, her thoughts on the water bottle trends and since she was in highschool and college in the 2010s, I thought her point of view on said cup would be interesting, since most of us were in middle school when they first made an appearance. She said, “This past Christmas, my aunt gave my entire family the very popular Stanley water bottles with the handle and straw. I wanted to dislike it, but I get the hype! The straw is perfect, it's comfortable to hold, they are adorable, and they keep stuff cold! I do think the trend will eventually fall off due to them spilling so much.” Suffice to say, while Stanley cups are very well made, the inevitable decline may happen due to their habits of leaking.

Social media seems to play a very crucial role in the shaping of water bottle trends and changes and they seem to be changing faster. Yeti, Gatorade, and HydroFlask seems to be knocked off for not all of their sizes fitting in the cup holders in cars, and stores, companies, and brands are starting to make off brand and knockoffs of Stanley cups and other popular water bottles in order to make more money and take advantage of people thinking they’re buying the popular water bottles, which is touched upon on the cup’s own website. On another note, Stanley cups seems to be taking a dive-off of their two-year-long-tenure on media in favor of Owla. Having a 2-in-1 spout, one being made specifically made for a straw, and the other used to drink straight from the bottle, and being leak proof and easy to clean, Owla may be taking over as the people's number one choice in the months to come. 

Reusable water bottles, while popular now, didn’t used to be. “I absolutely love the trend of reusable water bottles, and I hope it continues on. It is only making us feel better everyday and instilling a habit that only benefits us.” Ms. Evenhuis added, “My mom told me recently how happy she is to see everyone drinking water all the time now, because when she was younger, she never drank water. I feel grateful to be alive in a time where water is trendy and cool to keep myself hydrated and feeling good!” People didn’t carry around water bottles a generation ago, and as such, they had no immediate way to get a drink when they were thirsty. Carrying around water bottles can allow you to take care of yourself since water has benefits for your health and body, and being dehydrated can actually cause cloudy thinking and mood swings. Also, if you don’t drink enough water, you could overheat or could contract kidney stones, as well. According to the CDC, water helps your body regulate temperature and helps to protect your joints and spinal cord, as well. 

Water has a big effect on our health and water bottle trends have played a big part in shaping this new habit that can only benefit us. Water bottle brands’ popularity changes so much and so fast that sometimes it can be hard to keep up, but one thing that never seems to change is staying hydrated. So, next time you go outside, make sure you bring your water bottle. Whatever brand it may be. Because, who knows what water bottle will become the next big thing.