Which Big Dumb Cup should I get?

June 26, 2024 10:12 AM

As a lifelong water-hater I have been compelled to start Hydrating and am looking for the most convenient and painless way to do so. Historically, I hate water bottles because their straws/spouts get gunked up immediate and they taste either weird and plastic or weird and metallic. These days I hear a lot about the various Big Dumb Cups (Stanley, Hydro Flask, etc.) as status symbols or signs of our societal collapse or something -- but very little about what they are like to use. Do you have a Big Dumb Cup, and love it? Tell me about it.

My preferences:
-Dishwasher safe
-Either a spout lid or a straw that is VERY easy to clean
-Ideally no weird gross plastic or metal taste (maybe that is everything until you use it enough? I don't know.)

posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese to Food & Drink (23 answers total)

Camelbak Mag Chute is my family’s go-to. Seals well (magnetic quick close, screw it down to really seal it), keeps things cold forever, caps are interchangeable for bottles from 14 to 40 fl oz. I put the caps in the dishwasher and handwash the bottles but the bottles are dishwasher safe too.
posted by supercres at 10:21 AM on June 26 [1 favorite]

I have a set of 4 tervis tumblers in a style I think is cute, and I refill often. (4 because it is my All Day Cup, and 4 is enough to meet the dishwasher schedule and always make sure I have a spare cup.) I do have lids but don't use them unless I'm taking my cup outside or want to rot on the couch in a high spill risk scenario. I am a HYDRATOR and am always drinking plain water, and this is the setup that works for me. I personally do not like drinking plain water with a straw.

My cups.
My lids.
posted by phunniemee at 10:22 AM on June 26 [1 favorite]

My Big Dumb Cup of choice is the Owala FreeSip, which comes in sizes ranging from 24 to 40 oz. Mine is the 32 oz and I find it is a comfortable size for cup holders, walking around with, etc. It does not have a handle, but I don't mind. It comes in a range of plain colors, designs, and accent colors.

My favorite thing is the drinking mechanism - there's a mouthpiece that can be used as a straw, or you can tip it back and glug. You can leave it on a flat surface and just lean over and sip, no need to hold it and tip gradually more steeply like a guinea pig water dispenser. The straw piece that fits inside the lid also disconnects easily for cleaning. The lid and straw are dishwasher safe. The cup body is supposed to be hand washed, but I think that's more about preserving the color/finish than anything.

It's super spill proof and it's the one container that has actually gotten me to drink more liquids throughout my day.
posted by rachaelfaith at 10:25 AM on June 26 [10 favorites]

I'll also note that I grew up in a tervis home and there are tervises that have been in my family in regular use for 30+ years through the dishwasher daily and everything and they're still great. If you get a style with a cloth patch inside, the heat from the dishwasher may degrade the adhesive over time and after time (years) the patch might slide to the bottom of the air gap.
posted by phunniemee at 10:26 AM on June 26

Best answer: I also came here to recommend the Owala Freesip! I adore the drinking mechanism - somehow it makes a regular water bottle feel like a challenge, ha. I have both the metal and the plastic. I personally prefer the plastic freesip as it’s a little lighter to carry around, but both are great.
posted by samthemander at 10:27 AM on June 26 [4 favorites]

I personally have several water bottles (wait, hear me out, they make mugs too) from Kleen Kanteen. In re the bottles, you can actually buy stainless steel screw on caps for them although the ones I had came with hard plastic. They do not have spouts.

Anyway, they are very well made and I would definitely consider a mug or a tumbler.
posted by Frowner at 10:31 AM on June 26 [1 favorite]

Best answer: I have several Big Dumb Cups.

Stanley Tumblers - these are the ones that you see associated with teen girls/early 20s women, or collectors who get different colors and limited editions and whatever. The straw is very wide and cleanable (I choked on the water several times when I first got one because I was used to a Contigo with a narrower straw - I call it the Firehose of Hydration). The lid has this part on top that twists to close (when there's no straw in it) and you do have to remove that to clean in there every once in a while. It does not have a weird plastic or metal taste to me. IMO the tumblers are a decent form factor if you drive a lot (they fit nicely in a cupholder) but can be top-heavy to use at home and are useless for travel other than by car. IF YOU KNOCK IT OVER IT WILL SPILL. But I do like mine and my Stanley is my primary home water bottle.

Owala FreeSip - this is a cool design that has the straw fully inside the bottle and when you open the top you can either sip from the straw part or tilt it back and drink like a normal bottle. Cleaning is about the same as any other bottle with a straw - you do need to take the little fiddly bits apart to give them a good clean now and then. I've only had mine for a couple weeks and don't know how annoying it is to do that just yet. The lid snaps down and the handle clips over to fully lock it closed, which makes it much better for non-car travel, throwing in bags, etc. This is the one I use when I'm gonna be out and about.

Yeti Rambler - I got this one as a gift from a vendor at work so I use it as my work water bottle. It has a glass spout so it can be less plasticky tasting to drink from (though plastic straws never bother me) BUT I find that the rubbery screwtop gets stinky quickly and is hard to sufficiently clean. It is my least favorite of my water bottles.

I honestly never put a vacuum insulated container in the dishwasher so I am not sure if you're allowed to do that with any of these. If you want a bottle with a straw, you can get a water bottle cleaning kit that has the little brushes and pipe cleaner things you need to keep it from getting nasty.
posted by misskaz at 10:32 AM on June 26

My Big Dumb Cup is a 32oz/1L Hydro Flask (which is also the size of a standard Nalgene). I need to drink more water because of some meds I take and find it easier to trick myself into drinking water if it 1) doesn't have a weird taste 2) is cold 3) has a straw. So far it's working decently well at tricking me into drinking!

- I don't have a dishwasher but HydroFlask says the bottle is dishwasher safe and the lids are top rack dishwasher safe. I am very lazy and also only ever put water in the bottle so just soak everything with one of the citric acid cleaning tablets periodically. No pipe cleaners needed, which is good because I simply would not do it!

- I bought the wide mouth bottle so I could easily dump ice in there. There are several lid options including a regular screw-on cap, a straw cap, and a smaller spout/chug lid. I use the straw mostly, but I did also get the spout lid for hiking/biking - if you don't need a straw the spout is probably the most elegant/simple/easy to clean option.

- No weird taste (at least that I noticed).

Anyway, I'm happy with it, the care and cleaning feels low-effort, it keeps things very cold for a long time, it doesn't spill if it tips over, and it comes in good/fun colors. My only complaints would be 1) it's heavy (but I mostly leave it on my desk) 2) I've dropped it a bunch of times and now it's kind of ugly/dented (but this has not impacted the functionality) 3) it doesn't fit in some cupholders (not an issue for me as I don't have a car, and again, mostly leave it on my desk)
posted by sparkling at 10:40 AM on June 26

Owalla FreeSip is MY JAM. Love this thing.
posted by tristeza at 11:13 AM on June 26 [3 favorites]

I have the Big Stanley and I’m a fan for using it at home- it’s easy to clean (I think I’ve taken the plastic lid apart like… once to detail it in the 6 months or so I’ve had it, and I don’t think it was necessary really). I hand wash mine because it’s fast but you can put the cup itself in the dishwasher. The wide straw is nice to drink from IMO and it’s easy to clean because it’s so wide- I never bother with a brush.

I also have this Hydroflask with a straw cap and I don’t love it. It does fit in a cup holder and is also leak proof, but the straw cap only works if it’s fully extended and it’s hard to clean inside the part your mouth touches. I actually have an Owala Freesip in my Amazon cart right now because I might want to switch for when I’m out and about!

Also, if it matters- I used to hate using stainless steel water bottles because I felt like they made the water taste weird, but turns out if I’m not actually putting my mouth on the bottle I don’t notice any weird/metal taste.
posted by MadamM at 11:34 AM on June 26

This $3.99 17-ounce/500-ml water bottle from IKEA is not at all like the giant metal cups/bottles you mention but given the fact that it is light enough to carry in a back pocket, transparent enough (indeed, entirely transparent) that you can see any funk taking place, and small enough to encourage you to refill it through the day, I can’t see why any larger bottle would be better if your goals are “convenient” and “painless” hydration.

I have one and have enjoyed how the top is also a loop so you can clip it to things as well as how it fits in car/train/plane cupholders, and I’ve never had mine leak in a bag (though IKEA will sell you a replacement lid gasket if you need one). It has never become internally funky, but responds well to being swished about with vinegar and left to dry if you happen to leave it unopened for a few days or something, and it’s dishwasher-safe, though the lid is wide enough to squish a kitchen sponge in there and give everything a good scrub by using a chopstick or a spoon to manipulate the sponge. Finally, I work in a pretty active outdoor setting often, and whenever my bottle has fallen out of my pocket, it’s only endured a minor scratch. 10/10, honestly.

Of course, IKEA will sell you more elaborate bottles (here’s the same bottle but made of borosilicate glass for $4.99; here is a larger 24-oz stainless steel one for $5.99); the $3.99 one just feels like it matches your goals the best.
posted by mdonley at 11:39 AM on June 26

Why pay for a prestige Big Dumb Cup when you can buy a cheap Big Dumb Cup? I drink three liters a day, two of them from this ridiculous bottle with its silly motivational sayings which I love irrationally. I stay on pace! I have a handle and a strap! It does fine in the dishwasher if you don't use the heat dry setting.
posted by Sweetie Darling at 11:44 AM on June 26

If you don't need your beverage to retain temperature, Ion8 bottles are dishwasher capable (you do have to pop out three easily removed silicone bits first) and easily washed by hand. No plastic taste that I've noticed and seriously spill proof. Feels like drinking from a disposable water bottle. I recently discovered that with a little finesse you can drink from it while prone.

A non bottle suggestion - a sprig or sprinkle of any edible herb will improve water immensely and cover any aftertaste that bothers you. They infuse surprisingly quickly in cold water too. Mint's obvious, but anything strongly scented from thyme to yarrow works, just crush it well between your fingers before adding to water.
posted by I claim sanctuary at 11:49 AM on June 26 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Nthing the Owala mentioned above. Mine is too wide to fit comfortably in my car cup holder but I don't care. It somehow makes water tastes more refreshing and I don't know why. It's great.
posted by bookworm4125 at 12:14 PM on June 26 [2 favorites]

Purist water bottles have a stupid name (the Specialized Purist bicycle water bottle predates them by years, and, while their website is puristcollective.com, I don't think they're any kind of collective), but they also have a sprayed-in glass-like liner that imparts less taste than any plastic or stainless steel bottle I've ever tried--Owala is better for sipping, Stanley for status, Yeti for sturdiness, Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask (I've had all of these, and HF's Lightweight Trail Series is the one I use most) are also in this business--but if taste is your priority, Purist is a brand worth considering.
posted by box at 1:12 PM on June 26 [1 favorite]

I disliked fiddly straw lids that never got clean until I discovered they could be cleaned really well by dropping them into a bowl of water with a retainer/denture cleaner tab dissolved in it (this also cleans the coffee gunk out of the inside of thermoses). Soak for 15 minutes or so. Rinse well, but that’s all you need to do. I use this on my hydro flask straw lid—I like the hydro flask because it doesn’t sweat and the inside is metal.
posted by frau_grubach at 1:48 PM on June 26 [1 favorite]

I have a Sigg, this one specifically. It is absolutely massive, but they also make smaller ones. I got it because it can hold carbonated water without leaking, and it holds enough water for a whole day at work (I was getting incredibly dehydrated just going with smaller ones). It's dishwasher safe (assuming you can fit it into your dishwasher), the mouthpiece is wide and easy to clean thoroughly, and all the rubber gaskets in the cap can be removed for extra thoroughness.

What it does not do is keep water cold. It's just a plastic flask. Don't know if that's a dealbreaker for you.

I've also had an Ion8 bottle, before I gave it to my mum due to it being too small for me, and that too was very good, so I second that recommendation as well.
posted by sailoreagle at 1:54 PM on June 26

I've been carrying a Hydroflask for at least 10 years, long enough for it to come in and out of fashion a few times. Still my perennial favorite.

My fave is the 32oz wide-mouth. My lid has a pour-through mouth that I can choose to drink through or refill smaller vessels. The lid also has a carrying strap which is mucho convenient, especially when your hands are full. The wide mouth accommodates filling with ice from the refrigerator.

I drop an herbal tea bag in my flask before adding ice and water. That way I have herbal/fruit flavored water pretty much all day long.
posted by cross_impact at 1:59 PM on June 26

I have a Yeti 30 oz Tumbler, with the lid swapped for one that allows a straw. It’s big, fits in my cup holders, keeps things cold, and all parts can go in the dishwasher. When I drop it bad enough that it doesn’t sit flat anymore, I can take a hammer to the base to flatten it out.

However, this is not an “on the go” hydration solution for me. It will leak if tipped over, and cannot go in a bag. For that, I have the Owala FreeSip linked above. It’s more difficult to thoroughly clean, so I only use it when out and about.
posted by bluloo at 2:01 PM on June 26

I have a glass water bottle from lifefactory. I've used it at the gym or as an at-work-on-my-desk bottle but never use it for travel because it's so heavy.

Good: Doesn't taste weird, dishwasher safe, very durable, easy to clean, relatively cheap ($10-15), mine is going on 10 years old and still in great shape
Bad: Heavy, threads for the lid collect water so it can be a bit drippy, biggest size is 22oz

There is an "active cap" version that looks relatively easy to clean and probably solves the drippiness problems.
posted by A Blue Moon at 3:11 PM on June 26

Because there are “trends” in water bottles, I would recommend going to a thrift store which will have most of these and similar knock offs available. I’ve used a variety of metal cups with straws and have found they dont cause any flavors and if you only ever use water, you rarely have to clean the lid (though I rotate straws through the dishwasher a lot).
posted by raccoon409 at 5:38 AM on June 27

My daily is a 24 oz Hydroflask with the (sadly discontinued) flip sport lid that I've had for 5+ years; I've also got a 40 oz one that I only pack for hiking that's even older and despite being pretty dented, still works great. I don't usually bother with the dishwasher, but on the occasions I've washed them that way they came out fine.

I got this Camelbak bottle as a gift a couple of years ago and found the locking mechanism really fiddly; I kept accidentally locking it into the "open" position and spilling everywhere.

If you like raccoon409's suggestion of trying to thrift something, but a second hand plastic lid feels a little iffy, you can buy replacement Hydroflask lids.

If you plan on taking this bottle in the car or walking around with it, make sure it fits in your car's cupholder or your normal bag or has a carry strap/handle.
posted by radiogreentea at 8:24 AM on June 27

Yeti 30oz tumbler when I can use it. It'll keep ice frozen even on the hottest days. The things are beasts. The lid is not 100% (but they'll hold for a second if they tip over). When I need something that can get tossed in a bag, I use a 1L narrow-mouth Nalgene bottle that has an insulated neoprene sleeve.

Both are indestructible, don't leave a taste (nothing but water goes in these, I have a separate one for coffee), and are easy to sip from while walking.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:40 PM on June 27