Hydro Flask vs Yeti: Which Brand Is Better?

Hydro Flask vs. Yeti, we set out to determine which is better. Vacuum-insulated water bottles and travel coffee cups have exploded in popularity. Which brand of vacuum-insulated water bottle should you choose with so many options?  

The two brands that dominate the market are Hydro Flask and Yeti. So, comparing the two brands is only natural. This post compares Hydro Flask to Yeti based on initial impression, features, functionality, durability, and price. Both brands offer an extensive line of products, so we’re judging more than the standard water bottle for this post. Both brands have expanded well beyond water bottles and have made other excellent products.

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Yeti vs. Hydro Flask Water Bottle

Let’s compare the best-selling water bottle on Yeti and the best-selling Hydro Flask.

Yeti Rambler

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Hydro Flask Wide Mouth

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Hydro Flask vs. Yeti Table

Specification	Winner
Initial Impressions	Tie
Features	Hydro Flask
Accessories	Hydro Flask
Functionality	Hydro Flask
Durability	Yeti
Price	Tie
Maintenance and Care	Tie
Brand and Ethos	Hydro Flask
Who Would We Choose?	Hydro Flask

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Vacuum Insulated Bottles and Products

Regular water bottles are convenient products but lack insulation, resulting in the interior liquid changing to the ambient temperature. A vacuum-insulated product utilizes doubled-wall metal construction to regulate the internal temperature effectively. The appeal is evident as it works for both hot and cold liquids.

The bottle style has become ubiquitous, but there is a vast difference in quality between brands and designs. A high-quality bottle can easily outperform a lesser one by many degrees of temperature management. We’ve compared cheap ones from e-commerce sites with the names brands like Yeti and Hydro Flask, and there is a vast difference in performance.

We find that coffee in a mug stays hot for hours with the name brands, and cold drinks with ice in a bottle can last well over 24 hours. Not only do these products have exceptional performance, but they are far more environmentally friendly than single-use plastic water bottles or paper cups.

Stainless steel water bottles like the Hydro Flask and Yeti cost around $40 and have a lifetime warranty. So they often save the consumer money in the long run, all while providing superior performance. We love a hot drink on a cold day and a cold drink on a hot one!

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Initial Impressions of Hydro Flask Vs. Yeti

At first sight, it’s easy to tell why the Yeti and Hydro Flask bottles are the top two sellers in the marketplace. Both are visually appealing and have multiple color options. The quality of the construction in hand is apparent, metal construction feels solid, the finish is uniform, and the branding is flawless.

However, one of the noticeable differences is the feel of the two bottles. A quick comparison revealed that the Yeti water bottle feels heavier and is perceived a more durable product than the Hydro Flask. On the other hand, the Hydro Flask bottle has better tops (BPA free) for the water bottles and coffee tumblers. We’re also big fans of the matte finish on Hydroflask water bottles.

We’re on both Yeti and Hydro Flask newsletters, and it seems like Hydro Flask is much more proactive about new products, new colors, and even cool designs on their products. They even come out with fun National Parks-inspired designs for their water bottles every summer.

Conclusion: Tie

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Features of Hydro Flask Vs. Yeti

Let’s compare the features between Hydro Flask and Yeti. They both come with an extensive amount of features along with a vast number of designs. When comparing the Yeti Rambler and the Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Bottle, both have similar characteristics, such as the ability to customize the bottle with various sizes and colors.

However, Hydro Flask does edge out Yeti in the number of color options. Another common trait is the 18/8 pro-grade stainless steel double-wall insulated construction. The Yeti Rambler feels slightly heavier, but it’s due to the added weight in the bottom with an accent piece of metal. It makes little difference in performance, but the bottle is more secure upright when empty.

For children, it is essential to note that the Hydro Flask bottle has the option of both wide-mouth, standard-mouth, and flip-top with staw top. Yeti only comes in a wide mouth design and one 12 ounce kids version with a sip cap. The wide-mouth option is easier to clean than the standard but can be prone to spilling more quickly if you’re not careful. If you want to clean more narrow bottles, we suggest getting a water bottle cleaner.

One of the most obvious – and potentially annoying – differences is that the Yeti water bottle is dishwasher safe, while the Hydro Flask bottle requires a hand wash. For some, this cannot be very enjoyable. However, the Hydro Flask does have a lifetime warranty on manufacturer defects, whereas the Yeti only provides five years of protection. The difference between the two warranties likely has to do with washing specifications. We recommend hand washing both products.

Another difference is that the Hydro Flask bottle utilizes a powder coat for its color, and the Yeti uses a DuraCoat. Also, the Hydro Flask does come with a flexible handle cap, while the Yeti features a sturdy three-finger grip design.

Conclusion: Hydro Flask

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Accessories Hydro Flask vs Yeti

One of the most exciting things about having your water bottle is the ability to add and change accessories. The Hydro Flask and Yeti brands have you covered: both offer a range of options to personalize your bottle.

The Yeti bottle has different caps, holders, and sleeves to add to your style. Comparatively, Hydro Flask offers these options and much more, and they have expanded their catalog in recent years. If I’m looking at tumblers and not water bottles, I love Hydro Flask lids so much more than Yetis.

Yeti have their standard “Magsafe” lids which are BPA Free and can go in the dishwasher. However, they don’t keep my coffees hot for nearly as long as Hydro Flask lids which have Honeycomb Insulation™ and are still BPA-Free and Phthalate-Free. Trust me – we tested coffee in both of them. Hydroflask kept our drinks MUCH hotter than Yeti.

Hydro Flask even has fun sticker options to decorate the outside of your bottle, along with more convenient options like car cup holders to help with transportation. There is no limit to customizing your Hydro Flask bottle as they add new products. 

Winner: Hydro Flask

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Hydro Flask vs Yeti: Functionality

When deciding between Hydro Flask vs. Yeti, I need to consider functionality. Typically, when buying a product such as a vacuum-sealed water bottle, your only functionality measures are customer reviews and your intuition. Fortunately, both of our products have been through extensive testing to determine how viable and efficient each brand is at doing its job. 

A study was conducted on both the Hydro Flask and Yeti bottles to determine better at keeping hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold. In a controlled environment, the testers established experiments and documented the performance of each bottle.

In the first trial, each bottle was filled with a liquid of 208 degrees Fahrenheit and left in a controlled room to observe results. After eight hours of monitoring, the Hydro Flask performed better at keeping the drink warm: the final temperature was more than five degrees higher than the Yeti.

The second experiment was to test the ability to keep cold drinks chilled for eight hours. Like the previous experiment, the drink was sealed in the container and left in a controlled environment to observe results. Similarly, the Hydro Flask once again proved to be the winner in the experiment; it managed to keep the water cooler over the period. However, the temperature difference was slight.

Lastly, both bottles were filled with ice and left in the controlled room to determine whether either would be able to keep the ice from melting over 24 hours. Both still contained ice when we opened the containers after the time had expired.

Winner: Hydro Flask

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Hydro Flask vs Yeti: Durability

Another Hydro Flask vs. Yeti decider is the durability of each. It’s a sad fact of life, but you’ll likely end up dropping your water bottle a few times. It might be a simple tumble from being knocked off the couch, or it could be something more drastic – such as falling off the top of your car when you forget to grab it before driving off somewhere.

No matter the reason, odds are, your bottle will take a beating, and you want something that will hold up to the punishment. Luckily for us, the team that did the previous temperature experiments also went to the extremes and tried to determine how much damage they could cause to both the Yeti and Hydro Flask. 

After analyzing the data from a fall test in which each bottle was dropped lid-first from five feet off the ground, Yeti is better designed for protection. Hydro Flask uses lighter stainless steel which can result in dents in the sides of the bottles. However, both Yeti and Hydro Flask have excellent cap designs that are unlikely to break with a drop.

Both were also tested to see how much scratch resistance each maintained when keys were dragged across them. Unfortunately, neither held up well: both ultimately sustained deep scratches that cut through the color coats and damaged the bottles’ exterior.

Winner: Yeti

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Hydro Flask vs Yeti: Price

Price comparison is one of the major determining factors when selecting any product, especially Hydro Flask vs. Yeti. An item that is priced too high will not sell, and one that is priced too low can give off the impression that it is “cheaper” in quality.

Their prices for the 18-ounce water bottle are almost identical, with the Hydro Flask ($29.95) coming in just under that of the Yeti ($29.99). Hydro Flask bottles stay on a relatively linear pricing scale, while Yeti increases more rapidly with size.

Winner: Tie

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Hydro Flask vs Yeti: Maintenance and Care

When comparing Hydro Flask vs. Yeti, you need to analyze the maintenance and care. No matter which option you choose, neither will serve your needs properly unless you take good care of it.

As we mentioned earlier, the Yeti is dishwasher safe, but they still recommend you wash it by hand so it will last longer (we have never put our Yeti in the dishwasher).

The detergent and water pressure in the dishwasher will, over time, wear down the integrity of your bottle. If you decide to wash either one by hand, clean the removable parts with hot, soapy water.

The manufacturers also recommend cleaning the bottle by filling it halfway with warm water and soap, putting the lid on, and shaking it. It will ensure a nice clean bottle without the harshness of the dishwasher.

If any spots give you problems, you can try using a bottle brush to scrub the stained areas gently. If that doesn’t work, Hydro Flask also recommends frequently cleaning the water bottle with a combination of vinegar and baking soda to give it a nice shiny look and feel.

We clean both our Yeti and Hydro Flask by hand with soap and hot water, and both have held up nicely for well over a year.

Winner: Tie

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Hydro Flask vs Yeti: Brand and Ethos

Both Hydro Flask and Yeti are well-known brands. Yeti is a brand built around its signature cooler that offers superior performance. Yeti specializes in high-quality coolers, camp chairs, and outdoor living products. Their drinkware of wine tumblers, water bottles, mugs, and ramblers makes up a much smaller portion of their product line.

Hydro Flask is a brand that’s primary focus is on drinkware with a few other products like backpacks and coolers. Drinkware has been their priority as it’s their core product.

Hydro Flask is the clear winner in terms of ethos, focusing more on sustainability. They have a charitable giving program, Parks For All, that supports the development, maintenance, and accessibility of public green spaces promoting outside time to their followers.

Yet, on the other hand, it has built a loyal base of followers that no doubt love the outdoors, but differently. Think less about hiking/climbing and more about duck hunting and fishing. Both brands are all about enjoying the great outdoors and making excellent products.

Winner: Hydro Flask

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Hydro Flask vs Yeti: The Winner?

Overall, both the Hydro Flask and Yeti are solid options for picking out a vacuum-sealed water bottle. However, after closer comparison, it’s easy to see why Hydro Flask is a winner for us. The Hydro Flask performed much better when put through testing against Yeti. It was better able to regulate the internal temperatures of the drinks and ice and it is lightweight. The Yeti is more durable, but a lot heavier and fails to regulate temperatures as well.

So, next time you’re planning a hiking trip, going for a run, or need a drink to take to the office, make sure you have your Hydro Flask handy to keep you hydrated throughout the day. Keep checking back both Yeti and Hydro Flask sites. They release new products all the time!

Winner: Hydro Flask!

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Favorite Hydro Flask Products

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Hydro Flask Cooler Cup

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Hydro Flask Tumbler

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Insulated Wine Bottle

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Coffee Mug

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Wide Mouth Bottle

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Insulated Lunch Box

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My Favorite YETI Products

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Yeti Rambler Bottle

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Yeti Wine Tumbler

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Yeti Lowball

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Yeti Rambler Jug

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Yeti Rambler Tumbler