Welcome to our Takeya water bottle review and comparison party. In this article, we’ll take an in-depth look at the Takeya Originals and Actives water bottles. We’ll also see how Takeya stacks up against YETI, Hydro Flask, and CamelBak. By the end of our review, you’ll know for sure if Takeya is the bottle for you or if there are better options awaiting you.
Over the past few weeks, we’ve reviewed A LOT of insulated stainless steel water bottles. The time we’ve put into inspecting each company and its products has helped us understand what makes a water bottle great and what doesn’t. The good news is there are a ton of options available to meet your needs. The bad news is that there are a lot of copycat companies out there selling inferior products.
By following our review, you give yourself the best chance of avoiding bottles that rust, leak, chip, dent, and all the other horrible things that no one wants to deal with.
First, let’s compare the Takeya Originals water bottle to the Actives edition.
Takeya Originals vs Actives
Key Differences
- The Originals is available in 14 oz while the Actives is not, and the Actives is available in 64 oz while the Originals is not
- The Actives bottle costs roughly 40 – 50% more depending on which size you order
- Actives features an insulated lid while the Originals does not
- The lid color on the Actives model fully matches the bottle
- There’s a removable silicone bumper on the Actives bottle for added protection against scratches, dents, and annoying thuds when you place the bottle down
- There are more color choices for the Actives bottle
Now, let’s check out the remaining key features offered by both Takeya models.
Takeya Water Bottle Features
- Double-wall vacuum insulation keeps hot beverages up to 12 hours and cold beverages up to 24 hours (condensation-free design)
- Leakproof hinged spout lid with twist cap pivots to stay out of your way while you sip (allows for one-handed sipping without the need to hold the lid back with your other hand)
- Wide-mouth design makes cleaning and filling with ice easier than competing narrow mouth water bottles
- The easy-carry wide loop is great for carrying the bottle and hanging it up when not in use
- Double-treated powder coat finish for enhanced durability, grip, and resistance to scratches/chips
- The bottle is made of food-grade 18/8 stainless steel
- BPA-Free
- Warranty: limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer defects in materials and workmanship
- Is the Takeya water bottle dishwasher safe? No, it is handwash only.
Our Takeya Water Bottle Review
I broke our Takeya water bottle review into two parts: our likes and our dislikes.
Likes
- The insulated spout lid in the Actives bottle is Takeya’s greatest selling point. We love the lid design, particularly how it stays away from the face while sipping and doesn’t need to be held back.
- We prefer wide-mouth water bottles because we love loading up our bottles with ice on hot summer days and the convenience factor when it comes time to clean the bottle. Other bottles require a bottle brush to clean and take longer to dry.
- We’re fans of the wide carry handle.
- The price is competitive.
- Last but not least, the fact that the spout lid is also leakproof is a major selling point, especially if you plan to use the bottle for hiking, backpacking, or travel.
Dislikes
- The bottle lacks the visual appeal of its competitors, and the colors aren’t exciting compared to other options out there.
- The temperature retention times are a dealbreaker for us. Depending on how important temperature retention is to you, you may want to skip the Takeya bottle.
Final Score: 7/10
Takeya vs YETI vs CamelBak vs Hydro Flask
Key Notes and Differences
- The YETI Rambler is the only bottle of the four that is dishwasher safe
- You might prefer the CamelBak Chute spout over Hydro Flask and Takeya
- The Takeya bottle is the most affordable of the 4, however, the 32 oz size is only a few bucks cheaper than Hydro Flask and YETI
- YETI and Hydro Flask are the most expensive options
- YETI and Hydro Flask require separate purchases for spout lids.
- The CamelBak Chute features a magnetic handle that keeps the cap stowed while you drink (we dig this feature)
- Takeya is the only bottle of the four with a silicone bumper sleeve and insulated spout lid (Actives model)
- The Takeya bottle is the poorest performer in the temperature retention department while Hydro Flask and YETI are the top performers
Our Two Cents
We love the idea of the insulated spout lid in the Takeya bottle, but the shorter temperature retention times cancel out that wonderful feature if you get a dud. If you get one with a functioning vacuum seal, it’s a great feature.
Overall, our top pick is YETI, and next, we like the CamelBak Chute. The biggest drawback to the Hydro Flask is the need to unscrew the cap every time you want to take a sip. Strangely enough, Hydro Flask sells a more expensive bottle with a straw lid, yet the lid isn’t leakproof. What’s the point in that?
Bottom Line
Going into our Takeya water bottle review, we had higher expectations than usual. When we saw the leakproof insulated spout lid, we got excited because it was the first time we saw a lid of that nature featured in an insulated water bottle. Once we dug into the Takeya temperature retention times, we jumped off the bus.
However, if temperature retention isn’t your thing, the Takeya bottle has some awesome features that you won’t find in other bottles such as the silicone bumper and wide carry handle. For ultimate temperature retention, we recommend the original Swell stainless steel water bottle that features triple-wall vacuum insulation with a copper layer.
