Professional athletes have it easy.
When they’re in need of hydration, they simply call on designated waterboys and girls whose sole job is to run plastic bottles between said players from the edge of the pitch/court/field/arena/course. Fancy a career change? It is rumoured that NFL waterboys make around $35,000 a year.
We regular folk, however, must be our own hydration assistants when engaging in sports or exercise. According to the NHS, we’re supposed to be drinking six to eight glasses of water on a regular day, which translates into approximately 1.2 litres.
When exercising or engaging in physical activity, the NHS recommends drinking extra fluids – which can take us up to a total of 2.5 litres a day depending on just how much you get your sweat on. This fluid intake doesn’t include post-workout smoothies and fruit juices, which are high in sugar and may counterintuitively make you even more dehydrated.
Yet just alternatives to water may dehydrate us, drinking too much water can also lead to overhydration. Overcompensating on drinking water throughout the day, whether you’ve been exercising or not, can have dangerous consequences.
Hyponatremia, for instance, is when the kidneys fail to remove all the excess water from your bloodstream, resulting in the dilution of your blood’s sodium content which can be life-threatening. According to Healthline, the kidneys can only actually process about 1 litre of water every hour. So, when it comes to hydration for athletes and gym enthusiasts – slow and steady wins the race.
Why is staying hydrated while exercising so important?
When we exercise, we often produce a lot of sweat which is high in sodium. As such, we must replace the salt content in our blood, which athletes often rectify with the help of electrolyte powders and supplements. Some exercise fanatics even put a pinch of sea salt in their water, which is a perfectly valid means of properly rehydrating. Staying hydrated also aids with recovery, with water flushing out nasty toxins while helping to transport nutrients directly to cells around the body.
What should I look for in a reusable water bottle for sports?
- Ease of sipping: Gulping when rehydrating during or post-exercise can lead to gastrointestinal issues such as bloating, stomach cramps and gas. This is because, alongside the water entering your body, you’re also taking in large amounts of air which can become trapped – leading to abdominal dissension.
- Capacity: Since our bodies need about 1.2 litres of water on a normal day, we recommend investing in a reusable water bottle with a similar capacity. If, however, you’re concerned about portability, go for an option which is easy to refill.
- Durability: No matter what kind of sport or exercise you’re engaging in; you don’t want to be carrying a fragile water bottle in tow. Likewise, it’s important to avoid cheap plastics that may be riddled with toxins. Durable materials which offer a middle ground include stainless steel, and hard-wearing BPA-free plastic. Some athletes prefer squeezy, flexible bottles for ease of sipping.
- Insulation: Keeping water icy cold during long-distance treks and hikes can help to keep your internal body temperature regulated.
We’ve rounded up a selection of the best water bottles for sports players and gym-goes. Keep scrolling to get hydrated.
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Chilly’s Sports
Capacity: 500ml, 750ml
Just like a standard Chilly’s bottle, the Sports model is leak-proof, sweat-free and BPA-free. It’ll keep hot drinks piping for 12 hours, but exercise enthusiasts will be more interested in the fact that it keeps cold water icy for a whopping 24 hours.
If you’re already the proud owner of a Chilly’s water bottle that you’ve grown emotionally attached to, don’t trade it in for an entirely new model, simply purchase a compatible Chilly’s sports cap for just £3.
Buy now £25.00, Chilly’s
Camelbak Unisex Adult eddy+
Capacity: 750ml
Complete with a handy ring holder for attaching to carabiners, the Camelbak eddy+ is a fantastic on-the-go reusable water bottle. Easy sipping is assured by a wide-lipped, flip-open valve that provides 25 per cent more flow than previous models.
What sets the eddy+ aside, however, is the fact that it’s 100 per cent leak-proof when closed despite having a straw attachment. This is because it is complete with a bite-and-sip design, which means that water is only released from the valve when it is bitten down on.
Buy now £17.99, Amazon
Brita Active Water Filter Bottle
Capacity: 600ml, 1L
If you’re struggling to make the transition from drinking bottled water to using a refillable vessel which is replenished from the tap, you might feel more at ease with a model that filters water as you drink.
The integrated Brita Active Water filter disc removes nasty chemicals such as chlorine from tap water, but ensures key salts and minerals remain flush within your water supply – something that is particularly important for athletes.
Each filtration disc lasts up to one month, and a reusable bottle and three-disc bundle costs under £30, saving you on all that unsustainable and frankly unaffordable fancy bottled stuff.
Buy now £24.02, Amazon
Waterdrop Starter Set Microlyte Ultralight Steel
Capacity: 800ml
A fantastic option for electrolyte enthusiasts, this sports water bottle from Waterdrop comes with a starter kit for the brand’s dedicated Microlyte range. Crafted from single-walled stainless steel, this reusable bottle is fitted with a pull-up, extendable cap to make staying hydrated while engaging in movement a breeze.
Buy now £39.90, Waterdrop
Nalgene Unisex's Sustain Water Bottle
Capacity: 1L
A tried-and-true classic, it doesn’t get any sportier than a Nalgene water bottle. Manufactured using 50 per cent recycled content, the extra-wide mouth is designed to make sipping without taking in too much air easier than ever – though drinking while walking will certainly lead to stream water down the front of your body. As such, when hiking or trekking with a Nalgene in tow, we highly recommend pausing to drink before moving on.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
Gymshark 1.5L Bottle
Capacity: 1.5L
Though we have previously explained the dangers associated with overhydration, avid gym-goes and sweat addicts must continually work to stay hydrated before, during and after exercise. What better way to help you achieve this than with a ginormous 1.5L water bottle from Gymshark?
Walking into the office with this gigantic creation will certainly signal to fellow colleagues that you’re not only doing your bit to keep your skin healthy and glowing but that you are also getting your gym hours in.
Buy now £10.00, Gymshark
Yeti Rambler 26 oz Bottle
Capacity: 750ml
Complete with what Yeti has dubbed the ‘Chug Cap’, staying hydrated has never been so easy with this double-wall, vacuum-insulated hiker’s BFF. Just don’t use the Chug Cap with hot beverages, for fear of ending up in A&E.
Buy now £38.95, Amazon
