According to the Hydro Flask literature,they say no freezer.I usually do that also,chill for a bit then add ice and water,but kinda afraid now,don’t want to wreck the powdered coating and maybe that’s why they say no freezer?
I sent them an e-mail regarding the ‘no freezer’ bit,but I am thinking that maybe they were talking about people filling it up with water,putting the lid on and freezing it solid,which would split it open…I dunno,they don’t seem too ‘fast’ with their replies.HB
My fave is the Contigo. Easy to drink from yet does not leak. Carry in my motorcycle luggage and everywhere else without worry. Truly a great product.
Yeah,
Never put it in the freezer, then you would be contracting all the layers when you just want to pre-chill the contact layer.
So you are saying to not put it in the freezer at all,even just to chill it a bit before I add water? Thanks HB
Yes, no freezer.
Let the ice water do the job on the inside layer.
This advise won’t work for me: “Big Stanley thermos says you need to “pre chill” the device before putting in your drink.
This allows the thermos to do it’s job of “keeping the drink cold” and it does make a big difference.
Your ice isn’t being wasted on chilling the liner now as it is already cold.
Just put water and a fair amount of ice in it for like 10 min., then drain that out”.
I use bottled water for my drink,plus I used bottled water to make my ice cubes,so I will basically throwing all the ‘good stuff’ ‘down the drain’ if I go that way.
I guess I could try using 4 or 5 ice cubes,with no water and screw the cap on,hopefully that would cool the inside enough before I add water,but I kinda don’t think that would work.
I will try a little ‘experiment’ tonight just to satisfy my curiosity.
I will put 4 or 5 ice cubes in my Hydro Flask with no water and see how much just the ice has melted the next morning(8 hours?)…HF says 24 hours….I doubt it?!Thanks, HB
Yes, also they come in many sizes. The optional screw cap is a must.
I purchased the Hydro Flask and I returned it.
Thermos was technically the best but the gave up the market to the Chinese innovation.
The same thing happened with cars, it did not take long before Hyundai figured our what kind of car Americans preferred.
Just some F.Y.I. ……I had a Doc appointment today,so I took my Hydro Flask 24oz drinking vessel which I put 4 or 5 medium sized ice cubes,plus bottled water,placed it in the car cup holder(it’s a little long and smaller than the cup holder,so it moves around quite a bit while driving)…anyway,when I came out from my appt,maybe 45 minutes later,the sun was ‘full on’,shining on the front seat area and of course,my HF drink container. The black cap was pretty hot to touch and the outside of the HF was a little warm,but the drink(water) was still ice cold and still had loads ice.I can’t say for sure how long the sun was shining on it,maybe 1/2 hour…anyway,I like,(Love)my new HF!.HB
Yep, the Ozark Trail is a nobrainer. I had an OT 30 oz. & was given a a Yeti 30 oz… The Yeti has nothing on the OT except it costs about 4 times as much. 
OT also makes a cooler that hangs right in there with Yeti, Engel, an other overpriced ones. 
And yeah, pre heating or cooling a tumbler or cooler helps preformance tremendously… whatever the brand.
My family has tried several brands of water bottles, but settle on Yeti. The 18oz straight-walled model is our favorite. Not cheap but we have had them for years and they hold up great. My kids even had the small ones with their lunch boxes in grade school and couldn’t hurt them….which is saying something.
Walmart on-line doesn’t show the full range of Ozark Trail bottles. I went to a local Walmart and their selection was really scant. I guess it’s hit-or-miss depending upon your location.
I took a look at Takeya again. They have a newer version of their standard bottle with spout lid design. It’s called Takeya Actives. BB&B was running a sale, and with the 20% off coupon they provide (Takeya is included), I got my 24 oz bottle in Midnight Blue down to $21. I had another item to buy that put the total cost above threshold for free shipping ($39). This is an improved screw spout lid with hinged handle that now has better insulation. The powder coating on the steel bottle exterior also has better scratch/wear resistance. And now they include a rubber/silicone boot by default over the original (an $8 ~ $10 add-on). I expect it should perform at least as well if not better than my older steel finish Takeya (40 oz).
Hydro Flask may have a good drinking vessel,but their customer service stinks!!
No reply back from them regarding an o-ring for my HF 24oz Starfish water bottle,so not sure if I can just buy the o-ring(for a spare),or if I have to but a whole new screwcap with o-ring installed.They need to check their in-box more!! This is about the third time I tried contacting them with no replies back!!.Huck
Kleen Kanteen with the cafe cap is my favorite and I’ve had lots of insulated bottles. The cap is easy to disassemble to clean it out and doesn’t leak. I can put it in my backpack and not worry about it getting liquid everywhere.
I use the Yeti Ramble 18oz water bottle and the “bottle straw cap”. Best size bottle as far as usable dimensions and volume. Not too big. Fits in all cup holders just fine. https://www.yeti.com/accessories/rambler-bottle-straw-cap/21070160004.html
This is the best lid of all that I have tried for easy, every day use.
I have been using a Bubba Mug all the time for the past 2 or 3 years. A bit of paint has rubbed off where I place my thumb (next to the handle), but otherwise it’s as good as new.
I had purchased a Hydro Flask 24 oz standard flex cap flask about one month ago,so I decided on maybe getting a new o-ring for the cap,not that I needed one right now,but for future use.I contacted HF and asked where I could buy a new cap o-ring…well after about one week,I saw a UPS truck stop outside my house and the delivery man put something in my door,which I could not figure out what,but to my surprise there was a brand new Flex Cap,which sells for $11.99 at the place I bought my flask originally…here:https://well.ca/products/hydro-flask-standard-flex-cap-black_184398.html?gclid=CjwKCAjwtKmaBhBMEiwAyINuwDh6BALvOQ-rIu-ZJLcf24oKTap3Za_0I4M0oEBWL9eWn6VcGhOSkxoCjoIQAvD_BwE…so,not too many companies would do that,(send a FREE cap)I think,so,I give 10/10 for Hydro Flask.Huck
Good to hear that. My housemate has a Hydroflask that had a cracked lid. She had dropped it. It was her fault. But she contacted Hydroflask about it, showed photos, and they just went ahead and sent her a replacement for free. Good company!
My daily cup is a 40oz Ozark trail that they no longer sell. I have a couple of other brands in various sizes that were given to me. My OT stands up to any of them in quality and staying hot/cold so I don’t see the point in over paying for a logo.
Those look great. My mother has a Thermos brand double-walled steel 18oz model with flip-top cap. She swears by it—iced water filled up at night is still icy by the morning. Thermos has some really cool vintage styling too, with some models.