The Thirst for More: Gen Z’s Newest Hyperfixation

Owala and Stanley water bottles are the winners, for now, although other brands like Hydroflask, Kleen Kanteen, Yeti, Lululemon, and Igloo have popped up as well. On campus, Emilia Adams ’26 had “this vivid memory of going into the dining hall last spring and seeing eight Stanley Cups on a table, and they all had different straw toppers.” She added that “my sister has four different Owalas.” The Owala FreeSip, a newer trend, was designed to be leakproof with its unique locking mechanism. Luannie Wang ’28 observed a lot of people previously “using the Stanley quencher tumbler with the straw that spills everywhere.” This flaw of Stanley cups caused Owalas to gain popularity towards the end of the water bottle frenzy. 

At an average price of forty dollars, water bottles from Owala, Hydroflask, and Lululemon etc. are expensive compared to traditional water bottles, and people have different opinions on whether they are worth it. Health teacher Lindsey Miller said, “I have a nine year old and one of the things she wanted for Christmas was an Owala, because so many of the kids in her classroom had them. She makes sure that it is full every morning, she has decorated it with stickers. It has definitely helped her be more hydrated.” Similarly, Livia Balkan ’27 who uses her favorite 30 oz. Stanley tumbler “definitely drink[s] more water throughout the day.”

On the other hand, many people who have trendy water bottles don’t think they improve their hydration habits. “They don’t make me drink more water in the slightest,” said Briar Scannell ’29. George Thompson ’28 responded straightforwardly “No. It makes you spend more money.” While some people believe the water bottles are worthy purchases and prompt them to drink more water, others think it’s a waste of money. 

Some students recognize how social media facilitated the rapid spread of specific brands, turning a necessity into a fashion item. Adams recalled: “Have you seen the people on Instagram who have 18 different Stanley cups on a wall, and make ‘matching my Stanley to my outfit’ videos?” A mini collector herself, Scannell said that “[water bottles] are 100% part of my outfit every day.” The consumption of popular reusable water bottles, especially ones with limited edition designs, makes water bottles fashion-forward rather than functional. 

Other students acknowledge both functions. Gage Lang ’29 stated that “they definitely become fashion items a bit, but obviously water is a necessity too.” Most people use water bottles for daily hydration, but they have them in a color or design they like to help them drink more water.

Despite the bottles becoming more of a fashion item, the increased use of reusable water bottles is a more sustainable choice. Miller carries around a 60 ounce, stainless steel, Igloo water bottle everyday. She said that “they’re financially sound because all you have to do is refill them, especially when there are water bottle filters almost everywhere now.” Chloe Wang ’26 said that “although people might have a collection of reusable water bottles, it’s still less plastic than individually bottled waters. Along with reusable water bottles, commercial beverage chains like Starbucks encourage sustainability by giving discounts if you bring your own mug.

Another reason people are leaning toward reusable bottles is the health drawback. Miller cautioned that “during heat, if you leave plastic disposable water bottles in your car and the plastic heats up, that plastic can seep into the water.” Gracie Kreitler ’29 loves her 32 ounce Owala bottle because plastic bottles are “too loud when you take them out of your backpack, and you can’t put ice in it.” For different reasons, many people prefer to use reusable bottles over disposable ones. 

Whether Owala and Stanley continue to lead the trend in water bottles or a new design emerges, the best water bottle is one that is sustainable and will keep you hydrated. However, the increasing number of water bottles used for fashion and social media might lead to its own problem.