Ello Hydra Plastic

Use the straw, the vent is located right above the mouth piece. without the straw., it;ll leak water when you tip the unit to drink.

I have been cycling through water bottles for months now, one after the other, looking for my Perfect Bottle. I have learned I need a few things: A handle that doesn't protrude (they keep getting broken), a lid that pops open and doesn't need to be unscrewed, a straw I can use, an open airway that allows me to drink freely, a handle separate from the body of the bottle. These sound like fairly standard things for a water bottle to have but gosh darn it, I've had the hardest time checking off that list! (I also started to use a bottle carrier that helps keep my drinks colder longer, so that started to factor in- it's kind of a bag type of carrier with an insulated body. It works to keep my ice cubes from melting and diluting my tea!) I don't like refilling all the time, I drink a LOT of liquid, so I want 64oz minimum in size. With all these features in mind, I have been on a long, expensive road going through bottles to fit my criteria.I finally found everything I have been looking for in this bottle! I had forgotten what drinking from an unrestricted straw way was like! The last bottle -and the one I have used longest- for some reason has restricted airways so I have to keep unscrewing the lid to be able to drink. I think it's a suction thing but seems a bit odd. That old one was a Zulu brand I found in Walmart. It had a handle on top to grab but it broke in about a week. I could still use it, it was just broken and it didn't take the super glue at all. It protrudes off the back so doesn't fit into the carrier bag well. It also has a hollow handle that is rather hard to clean. This new one, the Ello Hydra, fixes all those problems!This one has a hinged and collapsible handle that tucks away flush to the bottle top when not in use. I have experienced no air issues, so I can just /drink/ when I want to which should not be a novel idea but has become that. The handle does not seem hollow meaning no liquid gets slimy in places a brush can't reach, which also means I may not need to clean with bleach now. The spout is still a soft silicone, which I like. The body of the bottle is smooth and rounded, which I like. The color matches my carrier bag extremely well which was not necessary, but I like it. I shouldn't be this enthusiastic about a water bottle, but I am! It's perfect! The long nightmare is over! This is the one to get! The 'motivational' time markers are just markers, there's no motivational sayings with them which many others have. I don't need motivation to drink and in a carrier, I can't see them anyway. If you /need/ motivational sayings on your bottle, then this is probably not the bottle for you unless you want to Sharpie on your own phrases (an idea that has some merit). I am better than good with not having them. I am over the moon with this Ello Hydra bottle! Stupid, yes, but happy! :D

Overall this jug is adequate. I can fill it in the morning and know how much to drink all day.However, it certainly is NOT leak proof. I have spilled several times trying to tighten it to stop the leaking, but fail every time. I am thankful the straw works for me because if I had to tip it up every time I drank I’d be soaked wearing more than consumed.I like the double set of threads to allow left or right orientation of the lid. I do switch out depending on which table I set it on. Plus, always lifting the full jug would seriously overdevelop one side. Lol.My other complaint is although I am glad the handle is not a pass through to allow unreachable mildew to form I feel the separate pieces could be molded together better. When full the handle components strain and groan in a plasticy kind of way. It doesn’t win a vote of confidence for the long haul.I was pleased that this arrived with no odors and does not leach any flavors or impurities into my drinking water. It stays just as filtered as I put it in.The last thing I have yet to test is how dishwasher safe it is. I have only hand washed it thus far. But I hope to find it passing on this point as well. If not, I will update this review.This is a sit-on-the-desk/table bottle only. Definitely not for tossing into gym bag or taking to the beach. I could consider taking it to the flea market if I could keep it upright.It would be nice if it had a rubber/silicone bottom to not mar up the wood furniture too. I bought one but it’s not exactly a perfect fit.

I love this thing. I am so lazy with it. I just rinse it and let it dry, I do a soap wash every so often. It’s great because I can take it anywhere and it doesn’t leak. Toss it in my bag, put it sideways in the fridge or freezer. The numbers on the outside have come off from washing/use. I’ve had it for about 6 months now and it’s still in great condition. I am rough with my bottles… I have tossed this one around on hikes and had it land on rocks because the person didn’t catch it, tossed it in my backseat and had it hit the floor a million times, had the lid bang on something a million times. It’s very durable lol. It doesn’t stay cold in the heat but I fill it about a third and freeze overnight and that keeps water cool all day or I put ice in at work if I refill it, the huge top makes it easy to fill with ice.

Lightweight, which is better for me since insulated cups are too heavy foe me. The is something about the straw designed that makes sipping vey easy . it has been almost a week and i have finished my water by 5 pm at the latest. the handle is soft and i love the non slip feature

I really want to love this water bottle. I do like the handle and the spout you drink out of. I also like the markers on the sides of the bottle. However, not matter how much I tighten it or lock it, the minute it gets knocked over water is leaking out of it. I was drinking it on my bed and knocked it over and didn’t realize it until half my bed was wet. The pink color is very beautiful and I do like how much water it holds. But I’m clumsy and just can’t get past the leaking lid.