Reviews You Can Rely On

Hydro Flask Lightweight Wide Mouth Trail Series Review

A solid and straightforward vacuum insulated bottle that is easy to use and clean and weighs significantly less than similar options
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Hydro Flask Lightweight Wide Mouth Trail Series Review
Credit: REI Co-op
Price:  $45 List
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Manufacturer:   Hydro Flask
By Jane Jackson ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Mar 30, 2022
77
OVERALL
SCORE
  • Ease of Use - 40% 9.0
  • Durability - 25% 8.0
  • Weight - 20% 6.0
  • Taste - 15% 6.0

Our Verdict

In our best water bottle testing, we became very attached to the Hydro Flask Lightweight bottle due to its simplicity and overall design. We love the shape and size of this bottle as well as its solid carrying handle and easy-to-use cap. It is well insulated and durable; it passed both our drop tests and proved to be leakproof in our day-to-day use. This is a great option for hot tea in winter or for day hikes where you want to keep your drinks cool in warm weather. We tested the 24 oz version, though it's also currently sold in a 32 oz volume for those seeking maximum hydration.
REASONS TO BUY
Simple
Durable
Easy to use
REASONS TO AVOID
Very expensive
Editor's Note: This product review was updated on March 25, 2022, with more product recommendations and comparisons.

Our Analysis and Test Results

This bottle is a solid all-around performer. It is lightweight, portable, and extremely easy to use. We appreciated its slim shape for its overall portability but also found it to be difficult to clean because of this.

Performance Comparison


hydro flask lightweight wide mouth trail series - this basic, vacuum insulated bottle is one of our favorites, mostly...
This basic, vacuum insulated bottle is one of our favorites, mostly because of its simplicity.
Credit: Jane Jackson

Ease of Use


In the world of hydration, Hydro Flask has established itself as a quality brand that makes easy-to-use insulated bottles. The Lightweight Trail Series is no exception. This bottle has a straightforward design, much like the other Hydro Flask insulated bottles we've tested in years past. This one has a slightly lighter-weight carrying handle and a slimmer shape overall. With a brush, it's easy to clean the threads and gasket on the lid and lip, though its towering height (over 10 inches) makes it a bit more difficult to get to the bottom of the bottle on a routine clean. This bottle easily fits into a car cupholder, thanks to its slender shape and 2-inch base diameter. It keeps beverages piping hot — almost too hot. We found that we had to let our tea cool for hours before sipping on it from the Hydro Flask Lightweight.

hydro flask lightweight wide mouth trail series - narrow in shape, the hydro lightweight is easy to handle.
Narrow in shape, the Hydro Lightweight is easy to handle.
Credit: Jane Jackson

Durability


To test durability, we perform two separate tests on each bottle. The Hydro Flask Lightweight excelled at our first test, which involves dropping the bottle onto a cement surface from the height of 3.5 feet. This Hydro Flask walked away unscathed, not showing a single dent from this drop.

hydro flask lightweight wide mouth trail series - so durable you can hardly tell this one just went through our drop...
So durable you can hardly tell this one just went through our drop test! Hardly a scratch to be found.
Credit: Hydro Flask

We next assess the durability of the gaskets and the quality of the lid design by performing a leak test. This involves filling the bottle with colored water and laying it on its side for 3 hours. The Hydro Flask showed no signs of leakage after this test. Overall, this bottle ranks high in terms of durability.

hydro flask lightweight wide mouth trail series - with such impressive results from our leak test, we were not...
With such impressive results from our leak test, we were not concerned when throwing this bottle into a crash pad for a day out bouldering.
Credit: Hydro Flask

Weight


Hydro Flask must have been hearing some complaints about the heftiness of their bottles in the past because this is the first iteration we have tested of their new lightweight model. We were impressed. The Hydro Flask Lightweight retains all the same insulating qualities of previous models we've tested but weighs just 10.5 ounces for a 24-ounce capacity bottle. For comparison, the 24 oz Hydro Flask Standard Mouth bottle weighs 12.9 oz.

Taste


Unfortunately, imparting flavors was an issue with the Hydro Flask Lightweight. Insulated bottles present a Catch-22 when it comes to flavors: we typically use them to store hot tea, coffee, and other powerful flavors and yet also rely on them to keep water cool as well. This means that we expect a lot out of these bottles. The Hydro Flask doesn't respond well to laziness — it requires frequent cleaning in order to avoid lingering flavors.

hydro flask lightweight wide mouth trail series - this simple cap is easy to clean, especially with a bottle brush.
This simple cap is easy to clean, especially with a bottle brush.
Credit: Jane Jackson

When we conducted our taste test, we noticed a fair amount of lingering flavor from our drink mix, even after washing. Right out of the box, the Hydro Flask was ready to use. We didn't find any plastic-y or chemical flavors when we unwrapped it from its packaging, which is a big plus.

hydro flask lightweight wide mouth trail series - the hydro flask is extremely portable, especially for a vacuum...
The Hydro Flask is extremely portable, especially for a vacuum insulated model.
Credit: Hydro Flask

Should You Buy the Hydro Flask Lightweight Wide Mouth Trail Series?


The Hydro Flask Lightweight Wide Mouth receives impressive scores across the board. This bottle has a super simple design, is lightweight, insulates very well, and fits in a car cupholder. However, it imparts flavors more than other bottles and requires more attention when cleaning in order to avoid an unappealing coffee/Gatorade mash-up. Overall, though, this bottle is a great investment for those looking for a versatile and reliable all-arounder.

What Other Water Bottle Should You Consider?


Though we do like this bottle a lot, it's certainly not cheap. If you are seeking a great insulated bottle on a budget, check out the more affordable Simple Modern Summit. For those interested in a filter bottle for everyday use, check out the Brita Stainless Steel Filter Bottle.

hydro flask lightweight wide mouth trail series - portability is one of the hydro flask's strong suits.
Portability is one of the Hydro Flask's strong suits.
Credit: Hydro Flask

Jane Jackson