Drinkware is one of those things that can be addictive. Look around at what’s trending and at the latest fads. That new tumbler/cup thing that you got your niece for Christmas may have been en vogue in December. But, come summertime, she’s sporting a new bottle. For me, when it comes to drinkware, functionality is the primary focus. We like gear that works well for us when we travel, are in the bush, or navigating a concrete jungle. A water bottle that I got my hands – and lips – on that checks many of the boxes, is the Iron Flask 32 oz wide mouth water bottle.
The construction and features of Iron Flask drinkware
Material
The 32 ounce bottle I purchased is made of 18/8 stainless steel. Iron Flask notes that their bottle lids are BPA free. The bottle is advertised to be double walled vacuum-insulated. The exterior coating is handsome and durable. They offer a number of different colors and color combinations of their powder-coated finish – these will appeal to different tastes and preferences.
“This bottle can stand up to roughhousing,” a product description states. “But it’s not just another big, dumb water bottle.”
Don’t lose your lid
Lids can be a point of contention on drinkware. Iron Flask has got you covered! What do you get when you order an Iron Flask bottle? Three lids. There are options. You can get either a “straw” lid or a “spout” lid. The “spout” lid might also be referred to as a “chug” lid. The other two lids that are included are a plain screw cap “stainless” lid and a sipping “flip” lid.
Wide mouth design
Depending on your hydration needs and preferences depends on whether or not a wide mouth would appeal to you. Iron Flask notes on their page:
Our wide mouth water bottles are popular for those who prefer to gulp or chug rather than sip. The convenient design allows you to add ice effortlessly and thoroughly clean your bottle after use. Each bottle ships with three 100% leak-proof lids: a straw lid, a flip lid with handle, and a stainless steel screw-on lid. Size options include 14 oz, 18 oz, 22 oz, 32 oz, 40 oz, and 60 oz.
When I take in water, I want a no nonsense solution to getting liquid into me. The wide mouth helps me get in as much as I want, as fast as I want. It also allows for filling with moderately sized ice cubes. You could probably plop a few “whiskey ball” ice cubes into the 32 oz Iron Flask if you wanted to.
Keeps the hot stuff hot and cold stuff cold
According to Iron Flask’s marketing, this 32 oz water bottle has a “double wall insulation” that “makes the Iron Flask sweat-free! It keeps your drink COLD for up to 24 hours, and HOT for up to 12 hours.” We’ll give a full rundown of our highly scientific testing of the thermal retention properties of the Iron Flask.
What’d we think of the Iron Flask 32 oz water bottle?
I had the chance to use my Iron Flask 32 oz water bottle for about a month. The month that I had it, I was really impressed with it and it functioned as needed. Sadly, one of my roommates got their sticky fingers on it and that sealed its fate, #stolen.
Since surrendering the Iron Flask to the fairer of my two roommates, the feedback has been really positive.
Things that we observed:
- The bottle is robust and well-made. It can withstand some abuse. Powder coat has yet to chip anywhere.
- Keeps drinks cold. How cold? If filled with ice – all the way – and water, there’s ice remaining at the end of a summer’s day during a heatwave. While that’s subjective, and we try to operate in an objective world, you can’t beat the fact that the bottle performed when needed.
- When we left the filled bottle with ice in it overnight, we found there was still ice in it most instances. When there was no more ice, what water was in there was cold.
- Lid options are paramount. I loved the stainless steel screw top. Roomie loved the straw lid with integrated carabiner.
We ran the bottle through the paces on a camping trip, a nine mile hike during a heat wave, a leisurely hike, several road trips, a bunch of runs at some theme parks, water parks, zoos, and took it on other assorted day-to-day happenings and quasi-adventures. After thorough examination and in-field use, we’ve all given the bottle a big thumbs up.
Since using the 32 oz Iron Flask for several months, we actually opted to get the younger of our roommates a 22 oz version to add to his obscenely large collection of water holding apparati. He’ll be getting that bottle around the start of the school year.
The quick and dirty
Pluses: Comes with multiple lids. Keeps the cold stuff cold for a long time. Robust design with durable finish. 32 oz is a generous quantity. Comes in different and unique colors and other size configurations.
Minuses: Prices seem inconsistent and don’t make sense. While they are very affordable, the site advertises bottles that are 10 oz larger than another for only a dollar difference, with the lid style being different. Some larger bottles are less expensive than smaller ones. However, overall these are affordable and my recommendation is to buy them from Amazon.
The Iron Flask 32 oz water bottle is a perfectly suitable piece of drinkware. We’ve already purchased two bottles from the Iron Flask line and we’re liable to get more as our needs change. I’d recommend this bottle to a friend or family member who’s in the market for some quality and practical drinkware. These are great bottles without all the fluff other companies try to push.
You can take a look at the entire Iron Flask drinkware line at Amazon, as well as look at the wide mouth bottle options there too.
