A good water bottle can last you a long time. Unfortunately, there are many low-quality water bottles being sold today, many of which leak, dent, break, or just have harmful chemicals that you don’t want to be drinking. Through careful research, we put together a list of all the water bottles made in the USA, so you can find a quality companion to have with you wherever you go.
Complete List of Water Bottle Brands Made in the USA
One of America’s most iconic water bottles – the 32 oz. Wide Mouth from Nalgene – is made in the USA. This water bottle has been around for decades and still offers reliable performance that you can count on for a lifetime. Nalgene products are free of all BPAs, BPS, and phthalates. As long as you use the water bottle with care, it should last you as long as you need it. We also spoke with the Nalgene team about why they choose to manufacture in the U.S.
“We’re proud to say that we’ve always made Nalgene wide-mouth bottles here in the USA,” says Eric Hansen, Product Director for Nalgene Outdoor Products. “There are competitive advantages to manufacturing close to our retailers that include speed to market, superior engineering, and a smaller carbon footprint. For consumers, this means we can ensure a reliable, more environmentally friendly product available at major retailers nationwide. They also love that because we place such confidence in the production of our bottles, we can back them up with a lifetime guarantee.”
Polar Insulated Bottles are made for athletes and active people that want a convenient way to stay hydrated while on the move (they work for bikes too). These bottles feature a slim design that will fit into a bottle cage on a bike and most vehicle cup holders. They are made from BPA and Phthalate-free plastic and designed to make them squeezable for quick water access. This tough bottle features double insulated sides to keep water cool for longer, and it’s protected with a lifetime guarantee, so you can count on it holding up for many years. The company ships out free replacement lids to customers regularly, and has a strong focus on reducing plastic use by offering top-quality long-term bottles for drinking on the go.
Platypus makes collapsible water bottles that you can fit in your backpack on your next hike or camping trip. The water doesn’t have a plastic taste when you drink out of this pouch, and it has a tough threaded cap design. When empty, it’s nearly weightless, which makes this pouch ideal for backpacking. The Platy (their most popular model) has a neutral design and will go well with most backpacking setups. They also have different threaded caps and drink tubes to customize your setup. It’s also usable with a variety of GravityWorks filters for lightweight filtration needs while camping.
Liberty Bottleworks is an American company dedicated to producing sustainable water bottles and offers great aluminum water bottles that are American made. They have a few different size options and are made almost entirely from recycled materials. Go for the Original series, those are the ones made in the USA. Their other water bottles are not made here.
If you’re looking for a water bottle with some fun messaging or a unique design on it, then 50 Strong could have a water bottle for you. They have a ton of options. In addition to the colorful patterns, 50 Strong has a bunch of designs that have hydration tracking markers on the side of the bottle. They also have protein shaker bottles, bulk options for sports teams, and a lot of kid-friendly options. All of their water bottles are BPA-free, leakproof, and designed to fit well into a backpack, cup holder in your car, holster on your bike, or wherever else you are storing it.
Rolling Sands offers a set of water bottles ideal for bulk purchases because they’re affordable and leak-free. These tough BPA-free water bottles come in six different color finishes and come in 10 to a pack. The bottles have a squeezable design and deliver a stream of water without denting when squeezing them. Each of the bottles has a 24 oz. capacity. The bottles must be hand washed as they can change shape when placed in a dishwasher.
Mike’s YouTube Video on American Made Water Bottles (And Other Gear)
How To Find Water Bottles Made in the USA
A trendy way to positively impact the environment is to buy a reusable water bottle. But take it a step further and reduce your carbon footprint by buying a water bottle made in the USA. The USA also has strict requirements when it comes to food-grade materials, so you know the water bottles you are buying are safe for you and your family.
Here’s our guide to help you find quality USA-made water bottles.
What Does “Made in the USA” Mean?
First, let’s define what it means for something to be “made in the USA.” The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) defines a product that is “made in the USA” as a product that is “all or virtually all” made in the United States. This means that all major components and the manufacturing process must take place in the USA.
To find out more about what “made in the USA” means, check out our helpful labeling guide.
Materials
The first step to finding water bottles made in the USA is to check which materials are used and where they come from. Understanding where the raw materials come from can give you a huge leg up in figuring out which products are made in the USA.
Plastic
Plastic water bottles are popular as they are cheap, lightweight, and easy to clean. China is the world’s largest producer of plastic. However, the USA does produce around 20% of the worldwide supply of this material. So while it is possible to find a US-made plastic water bottle, as a general rule, it’s worth double-checking the country of origin, as companies looking to cut down on manufacturing costs may use Chinese-made plastic. With a bit of research, you should be able to find US-made plastic water bottles without too much trouble.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel water bottles are used as they are non-toxic and do not corrode. Fortunately, finding US-made steel is not too difficult. In fact, the USA is one of the world’s largest steel manufacturers. However, China is the number one producer of this material, and the United States does lag behind a couple of other countries as well, like India and Japan.
But for quality’s sake, ensure you are buying a USA made stainless steel water bottle, as it is three times stronger than the cheaper quality Chinese steel.
Glass
Glass water bottles are great as they are easy to clean, do not stain, and do not retain odors. Unfortunately, only a handful of companies in the USA produce glass, and while the annual production is quite sizable, most of the glass you will come across will be from glass manufacturing giants like China. Definitely do your research regarding the country of origin of the product when it comes to glass water bottles.
Labeling
Now that you understand the source of the raw materials used, you can start looking at the labeling of the water bottle you are interested in. Title 19 Chapter 4 Section 1304 of the United States Code states that products that are made abroad must be labeled accordingly. This law helps us as consumers to find US-made water bottles.
However, there are a few things to look out for, as many companies will use confusing and misleading labels to trick customers into thinking their products are made in the USA. For example, labels such as “assembled in the USA” or “designed in the USA” do not actually mean the product is made in the USA. Instead, these labels suggest that not every part of the manufacturing process occurs in the USA. Other misleading labels include “made in America” and “made in the USA with imported materials.” Stay away from products with these labels, as they do not mean the product is truly made in the USA.
Also, though the “made in the USA” label is protected by the FTC, there is no pre-approval process. So, it is up to the companies to determine whether their products meet the criteria to use the label. With that said, the FTC will investigate complaints, so if you come across any false usage of the label, report it!
Finally, watch out for the usage of the American flag sticker on labels. Just because you see the American flag does not mean the product is made in the United States.
Other Tips
Here are some extra tips to help you find quality US-made water bottles.
Check the Company’s Website
The water bottle company’s website may provide information regarding the country of origin of its products. Keep an eye out for statements like “made in the USA” and “100% American materials.” A product made in the USA is a huge selling point; most companies will proudly state this everywhere they can.
It is important to remember that companies are not required to state the country of origin of the water bottle in any advertising or online listings, only on the physical product itself. So if they are not advertising the bottle as US-made, it is most likely the product is made abroad.
Check Online Shopping Sites
Online listings for water bottles may state the country of origin in the product description. You can also check the frequently asked questions section on the product page.
Call the Manufacturer
If you are still unsure, your next best option is to call the manufacturer directly. They will be able to answer all of your questions regarding the origin of the water bottle and the materials used in its production.
Water Bottles Not Made in the USA
When doing our research, we came across several big water bottle brands that are not making their water bottles in the USA. We’ve included these below as well as where their bottles are manufactured. We’ll add to this list as we find more.
- Hydro Flask – Made in China.
- Yeti – Made in China.
- Klean Kanteen – Made in China.
- Takeya – Made in China.
- CamelBak – Made in the U.S. and China (it says where it’s manufactured on the bottom of the bottle, but the website doesn’t specify where each bottle is made).
- Purist – Made in China.
- Thermos – Stainless steel products and lids are manufactured in China and plastic bottles are made in the USA.
- BuildLife – Made in China.
- Healthy Human – Made in China.
