I think I might be talking about a sippy cup

January 30, 2018 3:03 PM

I just spilled water on my desk at work for the third time in as many weeks. I think it may be time to purchase a spill-proof water bottle, and I'm looking for recommendations.

Right now, I drink out of an ordinary glass that I fill with water from the office water cooler. I need some sort of spill-proof water bottle that I can fill at the water cooler and then use at my desk. The bottle must not require that I close any part of it between sips, because undoubtedly I will one day forget to close it and spill water all over my papers again. It must also be easy to clean at the office sink. Has anybody used such a bottle that they can recommend?

posted by crLLC to Shopping (22 answers total)

Can you just get one of those plastic tumbler things with the built in straw? The one I have at my desk has a screw on top. It's not strictly spill proof, but if it's tipped on its side it just leaks out a little bit around the straw if it's full enough. Bonus: having a straw means I drink way more water.
posted by geegollygosh at 3:08 PM on January 30, 2018 [7 favorites]

Any sports bottle would work - ok, if you tip it upside down and shake it then some water will come out, but just knocking it over should be fine.

Any cycling water bottle should do.
posted by tinkletown at 3:14 PM on January 30, 2018

I got one of those tumblers with a straw a few years ago and haven’t looked back.
posted by synecdoche at 3:15 PM on January 30, 2018 [3 favorites]

I also do one of those tumblers witha straw. I’ve knocked it over a fair number of times and while it’s not entirely spill proof it goes slowly enough that not much is spilled if you right it reasonably quickly.
posted by raccoon409 at 3:20 PM on January 30, 2018

+1 to cup with straw. Starbucks sells those tumblers with a straw if you need one RIGHT NOW, but you can get them WAY cheaper online.
posted by larthegreat at 3:21 PM on January 30, 2018

Here ya go.

True sipping feel, no straws (which are a pain to keep clean), machine washable. Can tip it over and shake and nothing spills. If you throw it against the wall hard a few drops come out.

Cheap too. Technically marketed for toddlers but I say roll with it, they are nice.
posted by SaltySalticid at 3:28 PM on January 30, 2018 [5 favorites]

I think you want a Mighty Mug.
posted by Crystalinne at 3:28 PM on January 30, 2018 [2 favorites]

Best answer: You my friend want the contigo autoseal. An ergonomic button you squeeze as you hold it to drink and when you put it down it auto seals. Saved my family from certain doom. And my kids' backpacks from their 24th soaking when they forgot to seal their bottles.
posted by chasles at 3:30 PM on January 30, 2018 [8 favorites]

And a helpful link. I bought them from amazon. Ive seen them at target and walmart. 16 and 20 ozs. Love those things.
posted by chasles at 3:31 PM on January 30, 2018 [1 favorite]

I bought a 12-pack of insulated tumblers with straws this summer and loooooove them. One stays by my bed, one on my desk, one by my tv-watching spot. I use them for a day or three and put them through the dishwasher, which cleans the straws and seals just fine.

For parties, I put them out with a dry erase marker and you can write your name on the lid.
posted by Lyn Never at 3:36 PM on January 30, 2018

Best answer: Contigo makes a number of push-to-drink water bottles. I would recommend against the "Addison" model, as it makes a loud noise as the air gets into it. The "Grace" model did not have the same issue.
posted by Candleman at 3:50 PM on January 30, 2018

Best answer: I haven't tried the Contigo Chill water bottle yet, but their travel mug is very good and basically spill-proof. I knocked mine over on my desk many times without losing a drop.
posted by Lexica at 3:55 PM on January 30, 2018

I have a cat that helpfully knocks glasses over for me, so I am spared the trouble of doing so myself.

I have settled on a Camelbak Eddy bottle. They make them in various sizes and colors.
posted by adamrice at 4:16 PM on January 30, 2018 [3 favorites]

Best answer: I'd definitely support the Contigo whole-heartedly, but for everyone's nerves, get the big one. It's far more stable, especially when you're running low, than the tall skinny style, so you don't have to deal with reverberating crashes against the desk and/or floor every time you look at it wrong. (The skinny kind does have its purposes, however: bike bottle cages and car cup holders.)
posted by teremala at 4:46 PM on January 30, 2018

Oh darn, now I see there are multiple Contigo contenders. I particularly like the Grace model for this situation.
posted by teremala at 4:50 PM on January 30, 2018

I have been employing an OXO Strive Propel water bottle for many years. Five stars, very leakproof, would recommend.
posted by mumkin at 6:45 PM on January 30, 2018

I have this same problem, and I use a Camelbak Podium. When the valve is open, it won't spill if you knock it over. When the valve is closed, it's safe to keep in your bag and not worry about leakage.
posted by radioamy at 8:15 PM on January 30, 2018

Are you knocking over or spilling en route to your mouth? For the first one Inlove the untippable Mighty Mug And for the second (and first) I have a mug meant to be hooked on a boat-rail that is basically an adult sippy-cup.
posted by Iteki at 10:01 PM on January 30, 2018

Best answer: I have a stainless steel Contigo mug I got at Costco in a two-pack 5+ years ago. It is wonderful and indestructible. I routinely toss the full mug in a bag with random other stuff, and have zero worry about spills.

The only downside, if there has to be one: It is nominally dishwasher-safe, but I find that whatever I put in it tastes funny for the next few days each time I wash it (even if I rinse it thoroughly in the sink afterwards). Hand wash and/or just wash the lid part.
posted by sourcequench at 9:35 AM on January 31, 2018

You want something with a bite valve, like the Camelbak Eddy.
posted by juliapangolin at 5:04 PM on January 31, 2018

I use a mason jar with a screw-top lid. Have also seen silicone wrap thingies for the jars (sold on Amazon and probably elsewhere), as well as screw-top silicone-looking adaptive lids with straws, but I've no experience with those specifically.
posted by mcbeth at 8:10 AM on February 1, 2018

Response by poster: Thanks for the answers, everyone. I went with a Contigo autoseal. I was so confident in Metafilter's recommendation that as soon as I got it, I spread my grandfather's will, my bearer bonds, and my oil-and-gas leases all across my desk, filled the bottle with Hawaiian Punch, and then intentionally knocked it over. Everything survived.
posted by crLLC at 6:55 AM on February 5, 2018 [2 favorites]