It came out of the dishwasher with lots of dirty spots still on it, particularly around the spout and underneath the lid. These spots were also hard to clean when handwashing, and we'd wager they would often be missed. It doesn't have many difficult-to-reach nooks and crannies so it can be cleaned easily in a dishwasher or a sink. It also survived our tough drop test with only superficial scratches.

Water bottles with straws are made with various materials, including plastic, glass, and stainless steel. If you're looking for the most lightweight option, you may want to choose a BPA-free plastic water bottle, like Contigo's Ashland 2.0 Leak-Proof Water Bottle. Stainless steel options (like Owala's FreeSip Water Bottle) have better insulation and can keep your favorite drinks hot or cold for hours. For an environmentally-friendly bottle that doesn't hold onto smells or tastes, try glass—we recommend BLUEGO's 64oz Glass Water Bottle. A leakproof lid keeps your gym bag and other essentials protected, while a stretchy carrying loop makes it easy to bring this bottle with you on the go. Plus, it's BPA-free, so you can sip knowing you're limiting any potential exposure. Although it isn't insulated, we think the overall value you get for the price is worth the trade-off.

How much water should I be drinking each day?

Dishwasher: we smeared the inside, bottle caps and drinking spouts with greasy Vaseline and then washed each bottle in a dishwasher on its hottest setting. After washing we shone a UV torch on each bottle and examined them for any uncleaned spots (Vaseline glows under UV light). Our verdict: It's a well designed leakproof bottle available in a variety of fun colourful designs.

If you're going to use your water bottle daily, investing in a high-quality, durable option that you enjoy using may greatly benefit your health and pay off in the long run. If you prefer a bottle that you won't be bummed if you misplace, choose a less expensive option, like Pogo's Plastic Water Bottle. There are also lots of nooks and crannies that dirt or sand can get wedged in, something we found when we rolled this bottle around in a sandpit. Although this bottle wasn't the most durable one we tested, we still find it stylish and easy to drink from, with a truly impressive capacity. The smaller sizes fit in most cupholders, whether you're sipping in the car or on an exercise bike. But like Owala's FreeSip, SimpleModern's water bottle is meant for cold drinks only. For hot drinks, try investing in a high-quality insulated tumbler. Owala claims the FreeSip's double-walled insulation keeps water cold for up to 24 hours, which we've found to be true in testing. We love that the wide mouth allows us to add ice to keep our water at the perfect temperature all day long. Plus, the outside is just slightly textured for the right amount of grip, and even the largest 40-ounce size is easy to hold with one hand.Our verdict: Easy to use and watertight, this practical water bottle from Ion8 also sailed through our durability tests. Finding a glass water bottle with a straw can be difficult, but we think we've found the ideal solution in this option from BLUEGO. The wide mouth is large enough for adding your favorite ice, fruit, or other flavorings. We also love that it has a silicone sleeve to protect it from impact, so you can toss it in a bag or your passenger seat without a second thought. Unlike other plastic bottles, we love that this one is dishwasher-safe. No more fiddling around with long brushes or sponges—just toss the parts in, close the door, and let the machine do the work. We also like that there's a lid for the straw, which sets Pogo's bottle apart from others on our list. Straws: Once a child has grown out of baby bottles the next step might be a bottle with a straw. These can either be made of tough plastic or softer silicone. We've found that some of the softer silicone straws don't stand the test of time and children will nibble through them given half a chance.

Julie Evans is an experienced wellness writer whose work has appeared in USA Today, CafeMom, SheKnows, and more. Julie understands the importance of proper hydration and won't leave the house without her favorite water bottle. She takes care to only recommend the best products to her readers. We also like that the triple-layered insulation keeps beverages hot for up to 12 hours or cold for up to 24. Leakproof and shatterproof, it's sturdy enough to withstand constant use. And the carrying handle on the straw lid is a nice, convenient touch.

Our verdict: Although children will love the design, we found a number of issues with this Nuby water bottle during testing.

The type of water bottle you need will vary depending on the age of your child, and what life stage they're at. The bottles we've selected for our tests are aimed at preschool and young primary school children. If you need to keep hydrated but don't have the opportunity to refill your water bottle often, whether you're gearing up for a hike or a long day out and about, we recommend Iron Flask's 64-ounce water bottle. We like that this half-gallon bottle has three lids, including a straw lid that we found easy to drink from, even while standing or walking. Otherwise though, this bottle is quite easy to clean and came out almost spotless when we cleaned it in a dishwasher and washed it by hand in a sink.Finding a high-quality water bottle is key for staying hydrated. Bonus points if you can find one with a straw: Drinking through a straw is convenient when you're on the move, so you'll likely drink more water. Aside from quenching your thirst and preventing dehydration, drinking enough water may also boost your digestion, reduce fatigue, prevent headaches, and even improve your complexion. But the FreeSip's lid is the star of the show. Flip it open using one finger to access the spout, which offers two ways to drink. You can sip using the bottle's straw or take a big swig from the spout opening—ideal when you're overheating on the treadmill or elliptical. It also features a carrying handle that slots in place over top of the lid to create a seal that's truly leakproof. This bottle has handy measurement lines on the side, so you or your child can trace the amount of water drunk through the day. It's a tough bottle, too, suffering only light scratches after we dropped it 10times, when full, onto a hard surface. Still, we appreciate the bottle's modern design, which comes in a few stylish, muted colors. It offers two middle-of-the-road sizes, 20 and 32 ounces—enough to keep you hydrated all day long. Just note that it's hand wash only and can't go in the dishwasher.