Outdoor Federation

Klean Kanteen vs Hydro Flask

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Trying to find a top-quality water bottle these days is nowhere near as simple or as straightforward as it used to be. And not because there are so few quality options out there to pick and choose from but because there are so many!



Two companies rank right up there amongst the very best in the business when it comes to high quality water bottle and canteen options. Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask both have devoted fans and almost evangelical customer bases that swear their favorite is the be-all, end-all in the world of top-quality water bottles – but we are here to get down to the bottom of things.

In this quick review we break down Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask options, digging deep into whether or not one has a real advantage over the other, and helping you figure out where you want to invest your hard earned money when purchasing one of these top-quality options.

Klean Kanteen Classic 27-Ounce Stainless Steel Bottle With Loop Cap
Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle, Flex Cap - 18 oz, Graphite
Product Name
Klean Kanteen Classic 27-Ounce Stainless Steel Bottle With Loop Cap
Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle, Flex Cap - 18 oz, Graphite
Material
Stainless Steel
Stainless Steel
Volume
27 oz
24 oz
Height
11 inches
10.8 inches
Weight
7.2 oz
13.2 oz
Price
Price not available
Price not available
Klean Kanteen Classic 27-Ounce Stainless Steel Bottle With Loop Cap
Product Name
Klean Kanteen Classic 27-Ounce Stainless Steel Bottle With Loop Cap
Material
Stainless Steel
Volume
27 oz
Height
11 inches
Weight
7.2 oz
Price
Price not available
Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle, Flex Cap - 18 oz, Graphite
Product Name
Hydro Flask Standard Mouth Water Bottle, Flex Cap - 18 oz, Graphite
Material
Stainless Steel
Volume
24 oz
Height
10.8 inches
Weight
13.2 oz
Price
Price not available

Last update on 2024-03-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Insulation Capabilities

For the purpose of this entire breakdown we are going to be comparing the standard “classic model” options from both of these companies. Both Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask offer a bunch of different options in their insulated bottle categories, but this helps to really differentiate things instead of comparing apples to oranges.

Both companies offer double-walled insulation options, providing you with two individual levels of stainless steel working together to better protect the temperature of the liquid inside of your bottle from the temperatures outside of the bottle.

This helps to separate things considerably, putting a buffer area between these two layers of steel so that the liquid inside stays hot or cold longer regardless of outdoor and ambient temperatures.

Fun Outdoor Quiz

At the same time, the approach to insulation taken by both of these companies is distinct. Hydro Flask uses what they call Temp Shield technology that allows you to keep cold drinks at cold temperatures for up to 24 hours and hot drinks at warm temperatures for up to 12 hours.

Klean Kanteen, on the other hand, takes advantage of what they call Climate Lock insulation. This allows them to promise cold liquids stay cold for up to 50 hours while warm drinks stay warm for up to 20 hours.

This definitely helps to separate Klean Kanteen from the rest of the pack and gives them a distinct advantage here.

Source: kleankanteen.com

Durability

While all of the products made by both Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask take advantage of 18/8 stainless steel construction materials the build process and the quality of the stainless steel that they source can be a little bit different across the board.

Both of these companies offer insulated canteens and water bottles that are going to resist denting and damage, and both of them have a super smooth finish that is further protected with a proprietary powder coat as well.

The real difference between Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask products, however, all comes down to the quality and durability of the caps that they provide on their water bottles. Klean Kanteen offers options that have screw threads on the inside of the bottle whereas Klean Kanteen reverses this and provides screws over the top.

It might not seem like all that much of a difference on the surface but the reality is that this allows Hydro Flask to offer tops that are a lot more durable, lot easier to clean, and generally just quite a bit more hygienic. You won’t have to worry about your Hydro Flask tops losing their shape or becoming compromised quite as quickly as you’d have to worry about Klean Kanteen tops.

Accessory Options

As we highlighted in the earlier part of this breakdown there are definitely big fans of both these companies out there, with each company having a dedicated and passionate following that not only loves the water bottles and canteens they offer but also snaps up the accessories they provide, too.

Both companies have been around the block for a little while and have a variety of different accessories that they make available, but the edge in this department has to go to the folks at Klean Kanteen. Not only do they provide a bunch of different caps, a bunch of different cleaning kits, and a bunch of different straw options but they also provide all whole host of slings, holders for bicycles and vehicles, and even a bottle top with baby nipples built right in.

Photo Credit: Instagram @mel_inthemtns

Leakage

You obviously don’t want your new water bottle to be spilling its contents all over the place and that shouldn’t be a problem with either of the Klean Kanteen or Hydro Flask options on the market right now.

Both of these products provide a very tight seal, have great locking capabilities, and shouldn’t have many leaking problems as is. However, the Klean Kanteen design is a little bit different than the Hydro Flask design on the tops as we highlighted above – and that means that there is more potential for leakage coming out of Klean Kanteen options than what you’ll find with products from the folks at Hydro Flask.

It’s definitely something to consider if you’re going to be using your new water bottle on the go.

Design Options

This is one of the few areas that there is a clear and distinct winner and that has to be Hydro Flask.

Hydro Flask just as an almost overwhelming amount of design options to pick and choose from, all different kinds of colors and combinations, and some of the best looking water bottle and canteen/thermos products you’ll be able to buy right now.

Klean Kanteen continues to add new options to their product lineup but right now Hydro Flask is out there in front and it isn’t really even close.

Closing Thoughts

At the end of the day, finding the right insulated water bottle is going to come down to your specific needs, your budget, and how you hope to use this product moving forward.

There are clear winners in each of the different categories we highlighted above (with Klean Kanteen coming out slightly ahead) but you really won’t go wrong spending your money on either of these two options.

Last update on 2024-03-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

And with that, we officially end this blog post. But before you go, can you do us a solid and spread the love (or laughter) by sharing this on your social media? Who knows, maybe we might even find someone who can relate to our content and benefit from it... Wink