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Take it from a professional traveler who gives her mugs a serious beating — this model is the one to buy.

Most of us are not drinking enough water, and it may be because there isn’t enough to keep the practice enjoyable. But take it from a 50-flight-per-year travel writer, a sleek Zojirushi bottle is the answer. It’s insulated, pleasant to sip from, leak-proof, stylish, and light. It’s also only $31 this Black Friday. 

There are few things more handy for day-to-day living than a portable water bottle that — checks notes — inspires you to drink more water. As a professional traveler, I’m never without one. And given my singular love for Zojirushi’s line of insulated bottles and their variety of sizes and colors, nobody on my holiday shopping list will be without one either

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Sorry, Stanley: Zojirushi’s Stainless Steel Mug is the best in its category

In addition to traveling regularly, I also write about kitchen appliances and tools, and I try not to dole out superlatives where none are due. I know from experience that a lot of best lists come down to nuance, or a matter of personal preference, but not here. 

As someone who has put her mouth to many an insulated bottle to evaluate how much of a mouthful of plastic I’m asked to tolerate in order to enjoy whatever liquid is inside — leading to whether the sipping experience actually inspires more sipping — I can say without hesitation that Zojirushi is in a class by itself.

If the brand sounds familiar but you’re not aware of their bottles (since they’ve not reached the fever pitch of Stanley mug fever), Zojirushi is best known for its well-regarded, sing-songy rice cookers. However, Zojirushi offers a variety of travel mugs, and yes, they are insulated to a degree that you may want to consider using for too-hot coffee that remains too hot for many hours. The insulation is a selling feature, but never mind coffee — it’s water where Zojirushi’s bottles are really in a class above. 

Let this be a testament: Despite also being the recipient of many promotional insulated bottles that I could have used for free, when I inadvertently left my Zojirushi behind in an airport once before boarding, I had my finger on the Amazon trigger for its replacement before the plane even took off. (I hope that it’s bringing daily joy to whoever found it.)

All the features that make Zojirushi’s bottle giftworthy

In coffee-testing modules, Zojirushi kept liquid hot — like, hot hot — basically all day with its vacuum insulation. But this also works its magic for cold water, and I use mine almost exclusively for this purpose. I’ve put ice in the bottle on a hot summer night, and by morning, the ice was still ice. And its generous aperture allows for the easy application of most refrigerator ice cubes.

The top flips open with a satisfying pop at the touch of a button, which can even be operated one-handed, for those of you who get thirsty while driving. The locking mechanism is so airtight that not only do I often confidently throw it in a tote alongside my laptop, but I have also packed it in a duffel full of clean clothing for a weekend away.

The head flips back 180 degrees, exposing a delicate sipping mechanism that doesn’t get gunky as quickly because it doesn’t require quite so much lip contact. The physics between the mug and the sipper even creates a pleasant water fountain-like gurgle. I don’t have the science background to explain this, but I just know that it genuinely enhances the drinking experience. 

All the elements of the top come apart easily, allowing for meaningful cleaning, including in the dishwasher. The bottle’s interior is made of stainless steel, allowing for an unadulterated taste, and the exterior and lid pieces are all made of BPA-free plastic.

Plus! It comes in several sizes and slight model variations, with a multitude of stylish colors, for about $35. (Also well within the appropriate range for the average White Elephant exchange, just saying. Is it weird that I want to watch people fight over this?) The 12-ounce, black color in the Stainless Steel Mug is on sale for Black Friday for only $25.

4. 6 stars on Amazon

I’d like to think that I was the sole preacher about the magic of these bottles, but Amazon ratings don’t lie, and over 20,000 people have given the Zojirushi Stainless Steel travel mug 5 stars. One enthusiastic reviewer even points out a factor that I hadn’t considered: BEST FOR MOTORCYCLES! You know what? I concur. Again, no matter how the people in your life are on the go this year, this is probably the bottle for them.

Pamela is a freelance food and travel writer based in Astoria, Queens. While she writes about most things edible and potable (and accessories dedicated to those topics,) her real areas of expertise are cheese, chocolate, cooking and wine. She’s a culinary school grad, certified sommelier, former bartender and fine dining captain with 10 years in the industry. When not sitting at the keys, she leads in-home cheese classes, wine tastings and cocktail demonstrations.
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