I’ve wasted £100s on leaky water bottles so put 7 to the test for back-to-school… Primark’s is £2.50 but which is best?
“MUM, my water bottle’s leaking!”
It’s the phrase I’ve heard on numerous occasions, and one I know means my bank account is about to take a hit.
With a ten-year-old son and a daughter, aged six, I’ve had a fair few years of having to shell out on water bottles for school.
And there’s few things more annoying than having to dry out school books and pencil cases which have been drenched by a leaking bottle.
Whether the seal isn’t quite airtight, or they’re dropped and break -OR the bottle is too similar to someone else’s in the same class (no chance!) – the reasons why I’m often having to buy a new one are quite literally endless.
I reckon I use my Amazon account on an almost monthly basis to order a replacement and I’ve even splashed out almost £20 on one that claims to be “leak proof”.
That one lasted around a month before it started leaking – leaving me simply fed up of chucking good money after bad.
So, in a bid to find a bottle that WILL last at least a term, we tried out seven different options to see which was the best budget-friendly, leak proof option, giving each one those all crucial mum points out of five.
Primark
Price: £2.50
Leakproof score: 4/5
Chill factor: 2/5
Overall look: 3/5
Verdict: One of the cheapest options we tried, this bottle comes in five different colours, meaning there’s a hue for everyone.
We got the pink, and my daughter was delighted to have the chance to test it out.
She took it out on one of the hottest days of the year, but because the bottle isn’t insulated, it’s unfair to judge it on how cool it kept the water throughout the day.
But it didn’t hold up too badly and when I emptied the dregs that night the liquid still felt cool – probably helped by the fact I popped some ice in it in the morning.
Should parents get back to school boxes for their kids?
I'VE seen them all over my FYP.
But I can assure you that I will NOT be getting my 10-year-old son and six-year-old daughter back to school boxes.
Not only have us parents had to get through six weeks of holidays – with many of us working as well – we’ve had to shell out for days out, a never-ending amount of food and things to keep them entertained.
Then we have to pay for a whole new set of uniform, new shoes – which can cost upwards of £50 a pop – and even stationery.
So why on earth do they need a back to school bag?
I also treat my kids to a new lunchbox and school backpack each year, so that’s their present for going back to school – and that’s plenty.
But I won’t say no to a back to school box for the parents!
After all, we’ve done an amazing job.
By Sarah Bull, Senior Digital Reporter
In terms of being leak proof, I chucked this bottle to the bottom of my daughter’s bag to see if it would spill out or not.
And I was pleasantly surprised to see that it didn’t.
In terms of aesthetics, the bottle has a pretty plain design, but who really cares when it withstands the leak test?
Colour block straw water bottle
Price: £8
Leakproof score: 5/5
Chill factor: 4/5
Overall look: 4/5
Verdict: My son was pleased when I gave him this bottle to try, as its sleek design is perfect for a tween boy who isn’t sure what he’s really into.
He gave this Primark one a try on another summer holiday outing, when the sun was out and the temperatures were high.
The difference with this bottle is that it’s made from 100% stainless steel, meaning that it’s really good at keeping its contents cool.
I once again added some ice in the morning, and by lunchtime the water was still refreshingly cool.
It’s also a larger bottle – perfect if your kids drink a lot or get particularly thirsty during the school day.
It was once again thrown into the bottom of a bag for the trip, and again, when we got home, everything else in the bag remained completely dry.
To make the bottle a bit more personalised, I used my vinyl cutter to add my son’s name to the front, giving it an extra touch and meaning he (hopefully) will remember which bottle is his come September!
Tesco
Paperchase Jungle Party Hydration Bottle
Price: £8
Leakproof score: 4/5
Chill factor: 4/5
Overall look: 5/5
Verdict: The first thing to praise about this 350ml bottle is the super-cute, brightly-coloured design.
Featuring tigers, leopards and parrots, you can ensure your little one’s bottle will stand out among their friends and they won’t get bottles mixed up.
Once again it’s made of metal, meaning it’s perfect for keeping drinks cool throughout the day – a must-have in the heatwaves we’ve had during the summer holidays.
It’s also very durable, which my daughter tested by accidentally dropping it.
Apart from a teeny scratch on the design, it was completely undamaged.
The only downside is the bottle’s 350ml capacity, meaning it isn’t the best option for a very thirsty child.
Home Bargains
Hydrate 30oz Stainless Steel Tumbler
Price: £3.99
Leakproof score: 4/5
Chill factor: 5/5
Overall look: 5/5
Verdict: My daughter was very keen to try this bottle out.
It’s in keeping with the trend of Stanley Cups and their dupes, and is one of the cheapest ones we tried, at just £3.99.
She loved the peachy colour and it was brilliant at keeping the water inside cold.
It also comes with a handle, which is handy.
We took it out for a picnic and popped it in the footwell of the car when we headed out, and it didn’t spill a single drop.
It’s 30oz, meaning it’s perfect to keep thirsty kids hydrated all day long.
However, its size could be considered a downside.
If your child uses a book bag rather than a backpack, they would have to carry the bottle separately – which could be increase the odds of them losing it!
Scribble Pop Shop Printed Gamer Water bottle
Price: £2.49
Leakproof score: 3/5
Chill factor: 3/5
Overall look: 4/5
Verdict: This one is perfect for any young gaming fan, and my Nintendo Switch-loving son loved it.
It’s super colourful, featuring mini pictures of gaming consoles and controllers, with a black and red lid.
Once again it’s a cheap option, at just £2.49, but the fact it’s made of plastic does mean that it’s not great at keeping liquid cold for a whole day.
It also isn’t completely leak proof, as a dribble came out when we put it into a bag for a day out.
But that didn’t put my son off – he wanted to take it again the next time we went out.
Smiggle
Harry Potter Spritz Insulated Stainless Steel Drink Bottle
Price: £20 (currently on offer for £16)
Leakproof score: 4/5
Chill factor: 5/5
Overall look: 4/5
Verdict: The Harry Potter range is a fairly new addition to the Smiggle range.
And, as any parent knows, Smiggle is one of the most coveted brands amongst kids right now.
So when I gave my son the Harry Potter Spritz bottle, he was utterly delighted.
It’s stylish to look at, with the four house crests on the front, and it even has a nifty ‘spritz’ feature.
While it was perfect to keep him hydrated at a day camp over the holidays, it probably isn’t that practical for school.
In fact, I can see teachers being less than impressed with children spritzing their friends all day.
But as a holiday bottle, or one to use on weekends, he – and I – would highly recommend.
Limitless Spout Plastic Drink Bottle
Price: £12
Leakproof score: 5/5
Chill factor: 3/5
Overall look: 5/5
Verdict: When it comes to girly themes, you can’t get better than unicorns, hearts and rainbows.
So when my daughter picked up the Limitless bottle in the Mint Unicorn design, she immediately loved it.
It’s a nice size, being 650ml, and didn’t leak when we took it out.
However, as with all of the Smiggle’s range, it is on the pricier side.
It’s still reasonable though if you only need to buy one bottle which is made to last – rather than wasting money on five or six cheaper but less sturdy alternatives.