The Best Water Bottle Slings for Staying Hydrated

It’s easy to find bags for virtually anything nowadays. Whether it’s an attache tailored toward protecting a trio of watches or a tech organizer with a perfectly-sized pocket for each gadget, there’s always going to be a product out there that can hold all your other products. On that note, reusable water bottle owners should be happy to hear that there are several sling bags on the market made specifically for holding your bottle, so you don’t have to. Here are the best slings to get the job done.

Why do you need a water bottle sling?

While we can’t overstress the importance of staying hydrated, we can admit that carrying a water bottle around can be tedious, especially if it’s a larger one. Luckily, these unique, specific pieces of gear from a number of different brands are guaranteed to make keeping you replenished as easy as ever. Whether you’re running, cycling, commuting, or hiking, it’s more motivating to carry around a thermos if you don’t have to actually carry it.

What to look for in a bottle sling

Materials: Most of the options below will be made of some sort of polyester and/or nylon, which are both great for their lightweight nature, durability, and inherent water-resistant properties.

Capacity: Before you make your purchase, make sure you know if your sling bag can hold your go-to water bottle. Each bag will have its capacity listed, as we’ve outlined below.

Pockets: On top of holding your water bottle, these slings may also have some extra pockets on the outside to carry your phone, earbuds, keys, and whatever else. These come in handy especially if you’re using your bag as a companion to the gym or on your bike.

Hydro Flask Packable Bottle Sling

Best Budget Option: Hydro Flask is as popular as it gets as far as insulated water bottles are concerned, so it only makes sense to kick this guide off with the Oregon-bred manufacturer. This water bottle sling comes available in all sizes to cooperate with Hydro Flask’s ecosystem of trusty bottles and even features adjustable clips to attach the brand’s neighboring Day Escape cooler tote.

Herschel Insulated Bottle Sling

Best Insulated Sling: It’s easy to trust Herschel when it comes to any form of carrying equipment, and the fully-recycled Insulated Bottle Sling is more of what we’ve grown to expect from the brand. It boasts a leakproof liner, foam-padded insulation to keep your drink nice and cold, and an adjustable shoulder strap to provide secure transportability.

Nike Large Bottle Belt

Best for the Gym: While this isn’t necessarily a sling, it seems about as close as you can get, and you can never go wrong with something from Nike. The Bottle Belt features a stabilized design to reduce bounce whether you’re walking or running, as well as a breathable mesh to enhance ventilation and prevent unwanted heat when you’re on the move. Coming equipped with a 22oz bottle, it’s rounded out with an ergonomic design that makes accessing your water as easy as can be.

YETI Rambler Bottle Sling

Best for YETI Bottles: Moving on to another brand that dominates this space, YETI’s Bottle Sling is made specifically for its signature Rambler bottles, assuring a hands-free solution to staying hydrated on the go. It boasts a study, flat-back that lets it rest against your body comfortably. Plus, it’s available in an array of sizes and colors to match your insulated Rambler.

lululemon Water Bottle Crossbody Bag

Best for Big Bottles: Like Nike, lululemon is one of the world’s most well-known athletic gear brands, so it knows how important it is for athletes to stay hydrated — as well as everyone else. The brand’s streamlined take on the matter is colored in black and crafted from water-repellent fabric to ensure that spillage is nothing to worry about. Most importantly, it is compatible with most water bottles, whether reusable or plastic, features an external zippered pocket, and has reflective detailing for night running.

The North Face Borealis Water Bottle Holder

Most Stylish: For those who are fans of The North Face’s jackets and bags, you’ll be happy to discover that its Borealis Water Bottle Holder boasts that same knack for style, blending retro aesthetics with modern sensibilities. Available in six colorways – ranging from streamlined black to multi-colored options – the bag features an adjustable patterned strap, cinchable bungee straps to secure your bottle, and 210D recycled nylon ripstop construction with a DWR finish. On the outside, there’s a zippered pocket to keep your phone secure as well.

Beís The Water Bottle Sling

Best for Commuting: This up-and-coming travel gear manufacturer delivers top-tier unisex accessories crafted using solid materials like recycled polyester and wrinkled nylon. In addition to your bottle, it has a zipper pouch that measures over 6.5” tall and 3.5” wide, which provides a cushioned place to store any additional gadgets and essentials like earbuds, chargers, or cardholders.

Snow Peak Double Face Mesh Bottle Carrier

Best Mesh Carrier: Known for its sleek and stylish camping gear, Snow Peak is one of the most versatile brands when it comes to outdoor solutions, albeit ones that can boast a steep price tag. For those who want something minimal and easy to stow, the Japanese firm has made this Double Face Mesh Bottle Carrier, sporting polyester mesh, a nylon body that fits up to 0.5L, and a cross-body strap. The lightweight sling also features an external zippered pocket for any extra gear and a D-ring to easily attach extra items.

1733 Bottle Bag

Best High-End Sling: $85 might seem like a lot for a water bottle sling, and you’d be right. However, this Bottle Bag from 1733 is a hot commodity for a reason. Available in gray or black colorways, this stylish sling was made in the company’s Chicago studio and sports a removable cross-body strap and a small grab handle as well. Along the side, there’s some webbing for attaching any extra gear you’d like to keep with you. Made from waterproof X-PAC X11 material, it can fit up to 1.4L inside its cinchable enclosure, and there’s an elastic pouch around the outside to stash extras throughout the day. At the bottom of the bag, there’s a drain hole just in case you experience some unexpected leakage.

The Best Insulated Water Bottles for Staying Hydrated

Into staying hydrated? Check out our guide to the best vacuum-insulated water bottles for keeping your beverage cold all day.