The reusable water bottle market has pulled off something remarkable by turning a basic human necessity into a $9.7 billion industry without ever producing a luxury option. Luxury in the category is relative. You can spend $40 on a Stanley or $50 on a Yeti, or even splurge for some tougher options like the $175 titanium option from Grayl that offers on-the-go filtration. But these are still fundamentally utilitarian objects. The ceiling has remained stubbornly low while nearly every other consumer category — watches, bags, phones, even office chairs — has spawned legitimate luxury segments.
Hardy Steinmann thinks that’s absurd. After a decade in development, his $295 Okapa arrives with surgical-grade materials and a bold bet that luxury can transform even the most mundane daily ritual. The Swiss entrepreneur, who previously helmed marketing at luxury watchmaker Hublot, spent eight years refining what he calls a “technical feat of engineering beyond reason.”
Medical-Grade Obsession
With 10,000 prototypes, 70+ global patents, and materials sourced from medical facilities, the Okapa features a German borosilicate 3.3 glass at its core — the same stuff used in medical labs for its zero porosity and complete resistance to chemical leaching. This glass chamber floats within a shock-absorbing silicone suspension system, protected by a perforated anodized aluminum shell that’s both armor and art piece.
The Swiss-made spout uses Grilamid TR-90, a medical-grade thermoplastic typically reserved for high-performance optics. Every button, locking mechanism, and hinge component is crafted from surgical-grade Nitronic 60 stainless steel, shaped through metal injection molding — a process common in aerospace applications. Even the handle combines TR-90 strength with a soft TPE elastomer coating for grip security.
This isn’t engineering for engineering’s sake, though the 70+ patents might suggest otherwise. Steinmann’s obsession with hygiene drives every material choice. The eight modular components disassemble completely for cleaning, while a built-in aeration system keeps the interior dry between uses. No hidden corners, no lingering odors, no bacterial buildup, just clinical-grade cleanliness in your daily carry.
The bottle opens with one hand thanks to a spring-loaded titanium detent pin system. You just pop it open with your thumb, and the cap holds back while you drink instead of smacking you in the face. The closure has a crisp click, secured with a locking mechanism that keeps it from opening when tossed in your bag. At 500ml, it’s hefty enough to feel premium but still fits cup holders.
A New Look
Collaborating with design powerhouse IDEO, Steinmann created something that splits opinions before you even touch it. The perforated aluminum shell and suspended glass core create an aesthetic that’s part Swiss watch, part laboratory equipment, part — well, let’s just say the internet already has opinions about its resemblance to other consumer products.
Color designer Beatrice Santiccioli, whose resume includes work with Apple’s design group and Herman Miller, developed eight distinctive colorways with names like “Fetische Noir,” “Misti Pinku,” and “Goldie Samba.” You can stick with your monochromatic all-black or the silver-white Googie Silverline, or choose more expressive color schemes.
Spec Sheet
Model: Okapa Water Bottle
Capacity: 17oz
Materials: German borosilicate 3.3 glass, anodized aluminum, Swiss Grilamid TR-90, surgical-grade Nitronic 60 stainless steel
Colorways: 8
Cleaning: Fully modular, dishwasher safe (hand-wash aluminum shell)
Price: $295
Pricing & Availability
Priced at $295, the Okapa water bottle is available now from the brand’s website.
Recap
Okapa Luxury Water Bottle
Swiss entrepreneur Hardy Steinmann decided to make the first luxury water bottle with this $295 Okapa, using medical-grade materials and surgical precision to target a market gap that exists in virtually every other consumer category.
