Hydro Cell Water Bottle Review

Reviewers tested the bottle while hiking, backpacking and canoeing, finding it was a natural fit for all these activities. The first test was a multi-day summer canoe trip through the Missouri Breaks in Montana, one of the most remote and rugged rivers in the lower 48. Mid-July in Eastern Montana can be brutally hot, and the conditions on this trip were no exception. The mercury reached triple digits by noon and the water in the plastic bottles grew warm and acquired an unpleasant plastic taste. Drinking out of the plastic containers became a chore. The Hydro Cell on the other hand kept its contents cold and refreshing for the entire day.

The Yeti Rambler was also tested on the canoe trip, and while a high performing bottle, the Yeti became hot to the touch when in direct sun. The Hydro Cell on the other hand had a powder coating which prevented the bottle surface from heating up and kept it safe to handle. These qualities made it a favorite for use in the extreme cold as well. When temperatures are below freezing, water in a single walled bottle will freeze and become unusable. The same insulation that keeps the water cold in the summer will keep it warm in the winter (as long as it is filled with warm or hot water). 

Due to it’s relatively light weight, the Hydro Cell was a top pick for hiking as well. When conditions called for an insulated bottle on the trail, our reviewers recommend this bottle. Other insulated bottles tested were significantly heavier and had less capacity. For these reasons, it was our top pick as “Best Water Bottle For Hiking in Extreme Temperatures”.

For a 32oz bottle, it was easy to open and close but generally requires two hands. The 24oz model might be more appropriate if one handed operation is important.

One notable distinction is the Hydro Cell mouth wall is much thinner than other insulated bottles which can take some getting used to- the mouth is essentially single walled. This is probably how the designers were able to shed some weight but some reviewers reported that drinking out of it felt awkward at first if they were used to a double walled bottle. Eventually though, those reviewers who were reticent at first became comfortable with the design after several days of consistent use.

Hydro Cell comes with a standard stainless steel cap and an additional “sport cap” which is a plastic lid with a flip up straw. The plastic lid is similar to many other bottles and generally our reviewers who carried the bottles in their backpacks avoided it out of concern for leaks and additional plastic exposure. The standard cap is well made and as a bonus, includes insulation underneath to improve temperature retention. The tether on the cap can be a little awkward when placing the cap back on the bottle but it did not present any serious issues for the users.

Overall, user experience with the Hydro Cell is positive and there were very few issues to call out. 

The Hydro Cell did not leak at all during testing and reviewers found it easy to tighten the lid with the threads aligned. There were also no issues reported with tightening the screw cap. This bottle is ready to be packed in a backpack or left in the car without any concerns about leaks.

Hydro Cell delivered some of the most impressive insulation results of any bottle that was tested at HydrationReview and was scored accordingly. Over the course of eight hours, the temperature of the water only gained 6°F. That means that over a work day, the water can be expected to stay at a comfortable drinking temperature the entire time. When loaded with ice and placed in direct sun light on the first day of a canoe trip, the contents stayed cool until nightfall.

Please keep in mind that the temperature test was conducted with the standard, insulated cap and it will not perform as well with the straw “sport cap.”

The Hydro Cell moderates the temperature of the bottle’s contents, keeping hot water warm and cold water cool.