Throughout the day, there are very few things that I touch more than my phone. But since I picked up EcoVessel’s Boulder water bottle there is a new competitor in the mix for that prestigious claim. I don’t know if I’d call it a close second, but I do find myself reaching for my Boulder bottle quite often from morning to night. It’s become my little cylindrical companion, going with me from place to place, keeping my water cold and ready for when I need a drink.
Before the EcoVessel, I had a 21oz Hydro Flask that served the same purpose. In fact, I’ve owned that bottle for a few years now and it’s been to Italy, the Maldives, and lots of other international and domestic locations. It’s a well traveled bottle, but the one thing I wished it had was a bit more volume. I could have easily purchased a larger Hydro Flask, but by stepping outside of what I could find at most REI’s and outdoor gear stores, I discovered the brand EcoVessel.
Based out of Boulder, Ecovessel states that their mission is to ‘create modern designed, performance driven insulated stainless steel water bottles, mugs, tumblers, and growlers.’ A water bottle is a water bottle, so how much design could there be? At first glance they’re fairly simple, and nothing like the artsy Swell bottles of the world, but now that I have one I can appreciate the finer details of their bottles.
Knowing that I wanted a high-volume bottle with the ability to use different tops and lids, I chose the EcoVessel Boulder in the 32oz size.
About the EcoVessel Boulder Water Bottle
The Boulder is a stainless steel, triple-insulated, vacuum sealed water bottle.
Stainless steel is being used because not only is it durable, but the material also does a great job of not absorbing flavors. This way if you want to use it for coffee in the morning and water the rest of the day, your water won’t taste like the coffee.
Combine the stainless steel with triple insulation and vacuum sealing, and whatever you put in this bottle will come out at the same temperature many hours later. Other water bottle brands have double insulation and typically say they’ll keep your beverages cold for 24 hours and hot for about 6. EcoVessel has gone out and decided to one-up everyone else and is claiming the Boulder will keep your drink cold for 90 hours and hot for 18.
90 hours? That’s approaching hard-shell cooler territory. I haven’t tested this, because I like to stay hydrated and actually drink my water, but I have yet to notice a major difference in temperature when I take a drink, even after letting it sit overnight.
Besides the functionality, the quality of the bottle is also top notch. The Boulder has a weighty feel, probably due to the serious insulation, but it’s not overbearing and prevents it from feeling like a tin can. This heft must be why it comes with a 100 year warranty, which could make this bottle a family heirloom if you’re looking to pass things along to your children.
Another detail I appreciate is the consistent design language of the bottle. The angled notch effect on the side of the bottle is carried through on the lid’s strap and on the lid itself.
EcoVessel’s Reflecta Lid
The Boulder water bottle comes with a dual opening lid. The smaller lid on top is removed for drinking and reveals a soft silicone spout on the lower lid. This upper lid is connected to the bottle with a flexible strap so it stays secure and won’t get lost. When you need to top off your bottle, the whole assembly comes off revealing a wide-mouth that is easy to pour into.
The lid is also insulated, helping with temperature maintenance, and the large lower lid is lined with stainless steel. This was done so that all surfaces that come in contact with your liquids are either steel or silicone – no plastic.
At first glance, this wedding cake of-a lid looks bulky, and it kind of is. But after using it, the extra height is worth it due to EcoVessel adding in the silicone spout. Other bottles typically have you put your mouth right on the metal rim. Here, the spout is tucked away neatly into the upper lid, keeping it clean by isolating where your mouth goes from the rest of the world.
The lid is also just really nice. The whole outer perimeter is knurled for easy gripping and the upper lid has soft silicone around it which adds just a hint of give when you grab it to twist it off. On the colored versions that silicone band matches the color of the bottle.
What the EcoVessel Boulder Comes with
While some other bottle companies charge extra for accessories, EcoVessel includes a few items with their bottle.
Stainless Steel Strainer
If you like to add ice to your drinks or infuse them with fruits for flavoring, most bottles have nothing to keep those ice cubes and fruits inside. Instead, when you take a sip you better watch your face. EcoVessel has devised a neat little strainer that pops into place to keep ice and fruit at bay when you take a drink. It tucks underneath the lid so it won’t interfere with anything.
Silicone bottle bumper
If you’re drinking regularly, the bottle is being picked up and put down on a number of surfaces throughout the day and some are louder than others. This silicone bumper makes putting it down on glass, wood, or anything hard nice and quiet. I’ve woken up my girlfriend by putting a bottle down a little too hard after a middle-of-the-night drink and since then, every bottle gets a bumper.
Accessories for the EcoVessel Boulder
If you’re wanting to customize your Boulder bottle even further, EcoVessel has a great lineup of accessories.
Stainless Steel Tea Infuser
While the strainer keeps fruit and ice from coming out of the spout, the EcoVessel Infuser takes containment up another level. Instead of having loose fruit floating around, you can use the infuser to keep it all contained. The perforations in the infuser are also quite small so you can put loose leaf tea into it and pour in some hot water.
Summit Top
If you want your EcoVessel Boulder to have a straw, pick up the Summit Lid. It fits the Boulder bottle and the included straw is flexible silicone versus plastic, so it flexes nicely into the bottle as you thread the lid on. The spout is also silicone, so it’s nice and comfortable for drinking. The Summit lid comes in 11 different color variations so you’ll be able to find one that fits your style.
Water Filter
Not every water source provides clean drinking water and this is true whether you’re out on a hike or topping off your bottle from the office fridge. To make sure the water you’re drinking is cleaned of impurities, EcoVessel has an inline water filter that can be used with their Summit lids. This filter is good for over 100 gallons of water and removes chlorine, over 99.9% of giardia, and all sorts of other odors and tastes.
Common Questions about the EcoVessel Boulder
Is the EcoVessel Boulder dishwasher safe?
It is recommended that you wash your EcoVessel water bottle by hand. This is due to the vacuum sealing and wanting to maintain that seal. If the bottle is damaged at all in the dishwasher, and air enters the seal, the bottle will no longer insulate your beverages the way it was designed to do.
What are the dimensions of the EcoVessel Boulder?
My 32oz bottle is 10.5” high and about 3.25” wide. If you’re wondering, it’s a little too wide to fit in any of my car’s cupholders, so it either goes in the backseat or tucked in the seat next to my bum.
Does the filter/strainer fit on all EcoVessel water bottles?
The strainer fits EcoVessel’s Boulder, Summit, and Perk bottles.
What Do I Think of the EcoVessel Boulder?
I really do like my EcoVessel Boulder water bottle. Maybe it’s my childhood fascination with rockets and spaceships coming through, but everytime I see my shiny, stainless steel Boulder sitting on the table it looks friggin cool and like it’s ready for anything.
EcoVessel has seemed to provide a product with a tangible difference in what could be described as a noisy market segment. There are reusable bottles everywhere, from all sorts of brands, being sold in outdoor stores, Target, Amazon – the list goes on. But EcoVessel doesn’t copy those other brands like some of the mass market bottles. Not to mention the EcoVessel products have a nicer fit and finish, too. The silicone spout is a perfect example. It makes such a difference and is one of those things that will be hard to do without now.
For the price, you get a lot. Other brands charge extra for stuff like bumpers and strainers (if they even offer these accessories in the first place) but the Boulder comes with all of that as standard and is still $8 cheaper than a comparably sized Hydro Flask. This is also a bottle you will own for many years to come. It’s been designed to stand up to any abuse you throw at it and if for some reason it does fail you, EcoVessel’s warranty policy has you covered. This truly could be the last bottle you ever buy.
The other brands may have more Instagram followers and 2 more colors to choose from, but let’s be realistic. You’re just going to slap some national park stickers on there and throw it in the backseat of your ‘Roo, so do yourself a favor and see what EcoVessel has to offer. I’m glad I did.
