Most of us are not drinking enough water, and it may be because there isn't enough to keep the practice enjoyable. But take it from a 50-flight-per-year travel writer, a sleek Zojirushi bottle is the answer. It's insulated, pleasant to sip from, leak-proof, stylish, and light. It's also only $31 this Black Friday.
There are few things more handy for day-to-day living than a portable water bottle that -- checks notes -- inspires you to drink more water. As a professional traveler, I'm never without one. And given my singular love for Zojirushi's line of insulated bottles and their variety of sizes and colors, nobody on my holiday shopping list will be without one either
I've gone through dozens of water bottles. This is the only one I'm using from now on. Pamel Vachon/CNET
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Sorry, Stanley: Zojirushi's Stainless Steel Mug is the best in its category
In addition to traveling regularly, I also write about kitchen appliances and tools, and I try not to dole out superlatives where none are due. I know from experience that a lot of best lists come down to nuance, or a matter of personal preference, but not here.
As someone who has put her mouth to many an insulated bottle to evaluate how much of a mouthful of plastic I'm asked to tolerate in order to enjoy whatever liquid is inside -- leading to whether the sipping experience actually inspires more sipping -- I can say without hesitation that Zojirushi is in a class by itself.
It has a sharp design. The thin frame makes it easy to grip and sip. Zojirushi
If the brand sounds familiar but you're not aware of their bottles (since they've not reached the fever pitch of Stanley mug fever), Zojirushi is best known for its well-regarded, sing-songy rice cookers. However, Zojirushi offers a variety of travel mugs, and yes, they are insulated to a degree that you may want to consider using for too-hot coffee that remains too hot for many hours. The insulation is a selling feature, but never mind coffee -- it's water where Zojirushi's bottles are really in a class above.
Let this be a testament: Despite also being the recipient of many promotional insulated bottles that I could have used for free, when I inadvertently left my Zojirushi behind in an airport once before boarding, I had my finger on the Amazon trigger for its replacement before the plane even took off. (I hope that it's bringing daily joy to whoever found it.)
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