Laken Thermo Classic Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle Wide Mouth

I did several hours of research before making this purchase. I also considered hydroflask, healthy human, klean kanteen, eco vessel, s'well, yeti, stanley, camelbak, contigo, and numerous other brands. Included in this review are detailed descriptions of this product and everything I like/dislike about it, and a summarized list of pros and cons. I will do my best to tell you everything you need to know. This bottle has become an everyday carry for me, and though it isn't quite perfect, I still highly recommend it and think it beats the competition for reasons I'll detail below. The Laken Thermo is very well made and I love that it's made in Spain! Just about every other stainless bottle sold on amazon is manufactured in China (including the ever-popular hydro flask!). The Laken brand, as it turns out, is over a century old. This review is of the 34oz Laken Thermo Classic bottle, though most of it is certainly applicable to the other sizes as well.A note on insulated bottles:First of all, if you've never owned an insulated bottle- it's seriously a game changer. Because of the double-walled construction, the external temperature of this bottle is largely independent of the internal temperature. You can throw this bottle in your bag loaded with icewater and not worry a bit about condensation ruining everything else in your bag. You can leave it in a hot car and it will still have ice in it when you return hours later. You can put hot coffee in it and it'll still be just as hot hours later, while the outside remains cool to the touch. Though there might be some quality differences, these are generally features of all insulated bottles. You will notice that most of the insulated bottles on amazon have very close to 5 star review averages. I attribute this to the fact that people who have never owned an insulated bottle, upon buying their first, are amazed by the insulating properties and think their bottle must be the best one in the world. While I'm glad people are discovering the wonders of insulated bottles, it's hard to make an informed decision based on reviews when everyone just says their bottle is "the best I've ever owned". For the sake of this review I'm going to try to focus not just on the fact that the bottle is insulated, but the qualities that make it stand out from the competition.Insulation: 10/10Disclaimer aside, we'll start here. Insulation is at least as good as the competition, this will keep your hot drinks hot and your cold drinks very cold for quite a while. This 34oz bottle actually weighs 0.3oz more (17oz vs 17.3oz) than the larger 40oz hydro flask bottle. While practically this isn't really a noticeable weight difference, it leads me to believe that the Laken uses thicker steel and therefore likely has both greater durability and better insulating properties.Appearance/Durability/Form Factor: 10/10This is a nice looking bottle. Even at first glance it appears well made, and it is. The powder coat on the outside is of very high quality. It is durable, evenly applied, and provides a nice matte feel that improves grip. Despite several drops on pavement my bottle only has a couple minor dents and scratches. I got the yellow color and it looks really good. It also is easy to spot and hard to forget. This encourages me to keep it with me and reminds me to stay hydrated. The Laken logo on the bottle is both stylish and unobtrusive (perfect for those of us who don't like to be walking brand names).Possibly my favorite thing about this bottle, and what makes it stand out most from the competition, are its dimensions. Unlike the relatively "standard" 32oz hydro flask/nalgene bottles which are somewhat short and stout, this bottle opts for a taller and narrower design. I really prefer the dimensions of this bottle for several reasons. First, the bottle actually seems smaller. Even though it has double walled insulation and a larger capacity, this bottle actually feels more compact to me than the 32oz nalgenes I've owned in the past. It is also much easier to grip due to its smaller diameter. I have medium-sized hands (about 7.2", if you're curious) and this bottle is comfortable to grip and feels secure in my hand, which means you only need one hand to hold the bottle while drinking. That all said, I've found it's still too large to fit in many cup holders (though it will fit in more than the competition). The mouth is wide enough to fit two ice cubes at a time, but still significantly narrower than that of a wide mouth nalgene or hydro flask type bottle. This makes it easier to drink out of without spilling all over yourself. The bottle has external threads which are easy to clean, and the mouth of the bottle is well rounded and feels good to drink out of. I'm a 5'11" 200lb guy who likes to stay hydrated, and this bottle is the perfect size, in my opinion. It's not so large that I mind terribly carrying it around all day or look ridiculous doing so, nor so small that I need to constantly and frequently refill it.The Cap: 8/10As many others note, the lid does get cross-threaded quite easily (aka when you put a cap on and it goes on sort of sideways and doesn't seal properly) and while this isn't ideal I've found that it's really not a problem once you get used to it. It is very obvious when it is cross threaded, and once you get used to putting it on the right way it happens less and less. The lid unscrews in about one and a quarter revolutions (~450 degrees), which is just about the maximum mobility of my wrist. Generally I find it more comfortable/convenient to do two shorter turns of the wrist to open & close this bottle. The lid seems very durable, seals very well with no worry of leaking, and protects the part of the bottle you put your mouth on from dirt. Lack of proper insulation in the lid is a common problem with insulated bottles, but this lid seems well insulated and I have had no problems with it forming condensation, even in the hot 90F summer weather. The handle on top is rounded and very comfortable to hold with one or two fingers; I find it most comfortable to hold it with my middle and ring fingers. The handle also makes screwing and unscrewing the cap easier. If you prefer or don't mind having a screw cap, this one is good. The only things I don't like about it are the cross-threading, and I would slightly prefer if it had a stainless insert similar to the healthy human and some other bottles. That said, polypropylene (the material used for this cap) is certainly very safe for hot beverages so there's no reason to be paranoid. It might be worth noting that I have a degree in biomedical engineering so I feel qualified to make this assessment.I also purchased the Jannu (sport) lid, and find it adequate, though I have some concern for its durability based on other reviews. Despite the mixed messages that both Laken and reviewers give out, the Jannu lid does fit the 34oz bottle, but the straws they sell are not long enough to reach the bottom of the 34oz. It is also annoying that the straws don't come with the lid and must be ordered separately. I measured the inner diameter of the hole where you put the straw in the jannu cap with a calipers and it was roughly 0.32", so I am planning to buy some food-grade tubing with about 1/3" outer diameter and cut that to size for use as a straw. The cap does sometimes spray you a little bit due to the fact that it opens with a spring-loaded mechanism. This is easily avoided by turning the bottle slightly away from you when you press the button. It is no more than a couple drops. The handle on the Jannu cap is not as comfortable to hold as that on the screw cap, but I find it adequate and would work well with a carabiner. It's nice that drinking is a one-handed operation and that you don't have to deal with the cross-threading every time you want to take a drink. It is also nice that the silicone part you put your mouth on is protected by a piece of plastic when closed, and you do not have to touch the silicone mouthpiece to close it. Sanitary. Overall the Jannu cap has exceeded my expectations based on the harsh reviews, but personally I think I prefer the screw cap (I also like to chew my ice). I kind of wish they made a narrow spout cap like the humangear capcap, but I still am happy with the options Laken provides.Value: 10/10Considering that it is manufactured in Spain and of such high quality, this bottle is really a great value. I got this product as a lightning deal and it was only $20. Pretty sweet deal when you consider that a made in china hydro flask will run you at least twice that. Really makes you wonder what their profit margins look like. Though amazon lists a number of other brands of insulated bottles that are comparably priced or even cheaper than this Laken, essentially all of them are made in china hydro flask clones and I doubt that they are of this high quality. Even though I was willing to pay pretty much anything up to $100 for the right bottle, the price was really the final factor in my pulling the trigger on this one.Let's summarize:Pros:-Made in Spain-Great insulation-Perfect Size/Shape-Looks/feels great-Very durable-Seals well-Sport cap option available-Half the price of the competitionCons:-Cross-threading is a minor annoyance-Sport cap not idealOverall, this is a great bottle and I highly recommend it. Since I bought mine, I've gotten a number of compliments and people telling me they're going to order their own. I am in no way affiliated with Laken. I promise. Just a dude with too much free time. I will update this review if I run into any issues with my Laken, but I do not expect to. I hope this info helps you make an informed decision whether or not the Laken is right for you. If you found this review helpful, please press the button that says so! Also, if you actually read all the way through this review, props to you. Seriously.

***Update***I have had mine for about 6 months now.If i put water in it in the morning and have some of that water in it by the time i get home in the evening; The bottle smells of mildew.I have tried every cleaning method - hot water, cold water, bleach, lavender oil, vinegar and no mater how clean and fresh it seems after cleaning it will smell and taste of mildew the next day.Quality construction and finish but...What gives?Build Quality Is above standard. The hand feel is 5 stars and feels like a tank.So, like many people buying these bottles - we're trying to find an alternative to China produced products. These are as stated are "Made in Spain". However continuing my curiosity sent me over to the LakenUSA website where i found this listed under Country of Origin:"...The stainless steel raw body is sourced from China and prepared especially for us using our own designs and tools" and " All Laken bottles exceed both FDA and EEC requirements, ensuring 0.000% leaching into the liquid contents."2 Questions; Who did the testing and who authenticated the testing results?Tho they promise testing and a products free from the listed compounds and leeching. This steel is 100% sourced from China. To which means, without stating specifically the opposite, i am expecting that all the testing is done in China.I find this disappointing.If in fact the steel is independently tested in Spain then that NEEDS to be stated clearly and if it is tested in China that also NEEDS to be stated clearly. I am concerned about the clearly stated goals and guarantees however the country of origin for the testing and results for all of the above testing guarantees is left vague and non existent.Until this question can be confidently answered - I believe the jury is still out on being 100% confident of the true quality and nature of these bottles being 100% safe.Laken?

I've been a loyal Hydroflask user for 3+ years now. But I've been so frustrated lately with not being able to purchase a straw lid, so I decided to try another brand. Im very pleased with Laken! It works just as well as my Hydroflask. And unlike all other similar water bottles, The 32 oz actually fits in my small cup holder!!!(which is a really big deal to me) and although the Laken straw lid isn't designed for the 32oz bottle, I still use it. Lastly, this also cost me 1/2 the price. Very pleased.

A stainless steel bottle made in the EU? Seems too good to be true - but this is an excellent water bottle with great cold holding properties. The lip is smooth and pleasant to drink from, there is no metallic aftertaste, and the lid is leakproof. This is so much better than Klean Kanteen at the same price point it's almost ridiculous.

High quality, sturdy and attractive bottle. The cap is really solid and heavy duty too. I was worried the paint or whatever would peel or flake off, but after a couple months of decently heavy wear it still looks brand new. It doesn't seem like it would dent easily either. The threads aren't tricky - I sometimes miss them and have to take half a second to readjust the top, but it's not bothersome and honestly I do that on any screw top bottle anyway. It keeps cold drinks cold and hot drinks hot. It can be a little heavy when it's full, as full bottles of liquid go, but its cap and grained body texture make it pleasing to hold. It's actually very reassuring for me to hold onto. I can take this out for long walks or hikes without fatiguing, and its top cap is wide and smooth so it doesn't hurt my hands even if I were to swing it around like a madwoman.Bonus - if anyone tries to attack me while I'm equipped with this bottle I can use it as a bludgeon (in self defense, of course) without worrying about injuring my precious bottle or its contents. Hooray!