Best kids’ water bottles for school bags and outdoor adventures

Thermos is a household brand with more than 100 years’ experience of producing “on the go” food and drink products. What the funtainer lacks in funky illustrations and quirky shapes, it makes up for in usability. Carrying claims to keep drinks cool for 12 hours is no myth, as the Thermos vacuum insulation retains cold temperatures and we were impressed by how fresh our drink stayed throughout the day, despite the outdoor heat.

The push-button reveals a pop-up straw, making it not only hygienic but a practical choice, too. It also has a non-slip base, and a clever flip-up carry loop (which is so discreet we didn’t find it on first use). Parents are also provided with peace of mind, as it boasts a five-year guarantee, but it does require hand washing.

For less than £10, the British designed Tum Tum water bottle is a great summer companion. The friendly fox design was a hit with our mini testers, plus the flip dome-shaped top keeps things clean and looks great. We did find the straw a little on the slim side, not allowing our testers to guzzle up quite so much, but the bottle’s 400ml capacity meant there was plenty to keep them hydrated. Made from Tritan plastic, it’s built to last, too.

While this bottle may resemble a space age design, it’s full of practical features. Australian brand B.Box creates fun and functional everyday baby essentials and the Tritan drink bottle is much like a sippy cup’s older sibling. Holding 450ml, it boasts a unique triangle shape, which felt natural in our mini tester’s small hands. The silicone straw is a standout feature – press the release button and the angle straw is revealed – this fun process in itself won over our testers, and the angled nature means it’s always ready for action, and it’s a doddle to use.

Being able to carry the bottle with the integrated handle is a thoughtful touch, while the Tritan plastic means it’s incredibly durable and impact-resistant. There’s a removable rubber base bumper, which prevents it toppling over, it’s dishwasher friendly and no leaks were detected during testing.

When you think of a reusable kids’ water bottle, this is the typical shape we’ve all become accustomed to but, thanks to its fun print, this one will stand out from the crowd.

This is also the only bottle we tested that caters for hot drinks as well as cold – the thermal function keeps liquids hot for up to 12 hours (perfect for hot chocolates on the go) and cold for up to 24 hours.

Crafted from stainless steel and finished with a tough powder-coated paint, this bottle felt sturdy and reliable – the brand’s even covered it with a Sho lifetime guarantee. The bottle comes with both a straw lid and screw lid, which is 100 per cent leak-proof.

Although the space design we tested is currently out of stock, there are plenty of other fun, colourful designs to choose from.

A leaky water bottle is a thing of the past if you have a Contigo, with its integrated spill-proof valve. This water bottle is ergonomically designed – simply press the button and the mouthpiece will fold out (our testers found this rather entertaining in itself). This also means no pesky dirt or germs can get onto the mouthpiece. You do have to suck quite hard to get the liquid out but, after a few goes, this seemed like second nature to our testers.

A hugely robust choice, it’s made from a light tritan copolyester that is BPA-free. Simply take apart and pop in the dishwasher for effortless cleaning. Plus, younger ones will love the huge range of designs to choose from.

Outdoorsy brand Hydro Flask creates durable bottles that are adventure ready. What we first noticed about this bottle is the wide spout, which makes for easy drinking. On the first few attempts, it was a little stiff to flip but now comes naturally. There’s an integrated handle allowing our little testers to go about their daily business while keeping hydrated, plus the perforated base cover eradicates denting when it’s dropped.

A hardwearing bottle, it doesn’t claim to be leakproof when using the mouth straw but we’ve had no complaints so far. The colourways are bright and catch your attention, and we love how cool the bottle kept our drinks – the double-wall vacuum-insulation keeps contents chilled for 24 hours.

From pretty, patterned swimming costumes to stylish storage solutions, Nordic brand Liewood creates effortlessly cool items for use at home and on the go. Even something as practical as a kids’ water bottle is no exception. Unlike any other bottles we tested, the warren water bottle comes in a square shape. The reason? To prevent it rolling away at super speed when dropped.

Uniquely, it’s also made of food-safe silicone, which keeps chipping at bay and is highly durable. Because of this “soft” outer shell, our mini testers did get a kick out of the novelty of squeezing the bottle but they also seemed to drink from it with ease, thanks to the sports cap. Holding 350ml of water, it’s dishwasher-safe and comes with a cleaning brush.

There’s no denying this bottle’s appeal for children, as both of our little testers were instantly attracted to the design. There’s a lot more to this product than its pretty face, though. Created specifically for children aged from 18 months, the spout-style lid provides a natural, familiar drinking experience. It’s housed in a rubber cap, which keeps it clean – particularly helpful for days at the beach – and there’s a smart leak-proof valve. We also found the single-walled stainless steel construction kept contents cool.

There’s a collection of toddler bottles from Waterdrop, so, you can select your favourite animal from the line-up. You can pop this kids’ water bottle in the dishwasher but we didn’t want to risk ruining the adorable design, so we found handwashing did the trick.

It comes beautifully presented, making it ideal for gifting, too.

Our dinosaur fanatics were more than happy to take this water bottle on their adventures. Out of all the kids’ water bottles we tested, this one was the most slimline, making it easy to pop into the side of a bag or add to a lunch bag.

It may be slim but it’s mighty, too – made of robust stainless steel, it holds 350ml. Unlike many designs, there’s no built-in straw, which did slow down hydration but our testers didn’t grumble, plus they were too busy wowing over the push-button opening mechanism. The bottle is leakproof, has a non-slip base and there’s a safety lock to prevent accidental opening.