Klean Kanteen Vs Hydro Flask

These two brands are pretty much “the Apple and Microsoft” of the insulated stainless steel flask market. Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask bottles are great and will help you stay hydrated during your adventure.

But Klean Kanteen Vs Hydro Flask, is one better than the other? Before we decide which bottle is the winner here, let’s see what both bottles have to offer and how they compare.

Why Use a Reusable Water Bottle?

Disposable plastic bottles aren’t quite environmentally friendly, to say the least. To make just 1 pound of plastic, it takes 22 gallons of water.

Disposable water bottles often contain BPA (Bisphenol-A). Some studies indicate that the chemical can be harmful to humans. To make matters worse, if a container is made with BPA, the chemical can seep into beverages and food.

There are other plastic alternatives that don’t contain BPA, but they are still plastic. Stainless steel flasks are designed to last a lifetime. Buying a stainless steel bottle is a one time purchase, provided that you take good care of your bottle. You can read all the water bottle reviews here.

Klean Kanteen

Klean Kanteen Classic Stainless Steel Double Wall Insulated Water Bottle with Loop Cap, 32-Ounce, Mineral Red

The Klean Kanteen Classic is simple and convenient. It comes with a lifetime warranty. Klean Kanteen is a family-owned business that’s devoted to creating environmentally-friendly drinking products. The brand is a champion of human and environmental health.

Specifications

  • Size options: 12 oz, 20 oz, 32 oz, 64 oz
  • Color options: 12
  • Material: Stainless steel
  • Mouth opening: 1.75”

Pros

  • Easy to use
  • Durable
  • Well-insulated
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Leak-proof

Cons

  • A bit heavy
  • Not dishwasher safe

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Hydro Flask

Hydro Flask Water Bottle - Stainless Steel & Vacuum Insulated - Wide Mouth with Leak Proof Flex Cap - 32 oz, Watermelon

If you go to a gym or a hiking camp, chances are you’ll spot a Hydro Flask. The Hydro Flask is one of the most expensive vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottles, but it justifies its price with its durability, quality, and ease of use. The brand has a loyal following all around the globe.

Specifications

  • Size options: 18 oz, 32 oz, 40 oz, 64 oz
  • Color options: 14
  • Mouth opening: 2.26”

Pros

  • Well-Insulated
  • Durable
  • Lifetime warranty
  • Wide mouth
  • Attractive design

Cons

  • A bit heavy
  • Not dishwasher safe

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Similarities Between Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask

It’s important to note that these two bottles have more similarities than differences. The two products are in the same price range. Both models are made of stainless steel and both models feature double-wall vacuum insulation. In other words, each bottle has two layers of stainless steel.

The inner layer is designed to keep the beverage cold or hot. The outer layer prevents the temperature of the beverage from transferring to the exterior of the bottle. This allows you to safely and comfortably hold the bottle. Double-wall vacuum insulation also prevents sweat from forming.

No matter which bottle you go for, it will come with a lifetime guarantee. Both manufacturers sell a wide variety of accessories (such as lids, covers, etc.) you can use with their bottles.

BPA and PVC-Free

Instead of using potentially harmful chemicals like BPA and PVC in their products, both manufacturers have opted for safer alternatives, like polypropylene and medical grade silicone.

Not Dishwasher Safe

Neither of the bottles is labeled as dishwasher safe. When it comes to cleaning their vacuum-insulated bottles, both companies recommend hand washing. So, if you buy one of these, you’ll also need to get a bottle brush. The Oxo Good Grips Water Bottle Cleaning Set is a good choice.

If you wash the Klean Kanteen or the Hydro Flask in a dishwasher, the powder coating may chip away. For proper maintenance, it’s best to stick to the manufacturers’ recommendations—especially when it comes to caps. The good news is that some caps are dishwasher friendly.

Differences Between Klean Kanteen and Hydro Flask

Cap, Lid, Size, and Color Options

Both models come in standard sizes. However, the Klean Kanteen also comes in a 12-oz version. The Klean Kanteen comes in 12 colors, while the Hydro Flask comes in 13 colors. Both bottles come with leak-proof caps.

As mentioned, both manufacturers sell a wide variety of accessories for their products. But, Klean Kanteen sells a one-of-a-kind plastic-free  that is compatible with the Klean Kanteen Classic, so the Klean Kanteen has an advantage here.

The cap has a stainless steel body and a bamboo top. You can’t use it with hot beverages or throw it into the dishwasher, but it will last longer than the average plastic cap. Plus, you can rest assured your beverages won’t come in touch with plastic while you are using this cap.

Insulation

Even though both models use double-wall vacuum insulation, each manufacturer has improved its insulation over time. The Klean Kanteen seems to be better at retaining the temperature of the beverage its holding. The Hydro Flask will keep your drink cold for up to 24 hours, while the Klean Kanteen will keep it cold up to 50 hours.

When it comes to hot beverages, Hydro Flask guarantees it will keep your beverage hot up to 12 hours, while Klean Kanteen claims their bottle will keep it hot up to 20 hours.

Keep in mind that these are the manufacturers’ guarantees. How long your drink will stay the same temperature depends on a lot of factors. In reality, these numbers are usually smaller.

Nevertheless, the Klean Kanteen does indeed do a better job of keeping a beverage cold or hot. You can expect the Klean Kanteen to keep your beverage hot for 20 hours, although the temperature of the beverage will noticeably drop.

Taste

Hydro Flask is one of the very few water bottles that don’t impart a metallic taste on its content. It will do an impressive job of keeping your beverage tasting just like you’d want it to.

This doesn’t mean the Klean Kanteen doesn’t perform well in this area. For instance, if you want to replace the flavored beverage in your Kanteen with water, simply pour it out and rinse the Kanteen one. When you pour the water into the Kanteen, it will be flavorless.

But, after you have left your beverage in the Kanteen for a while, you may notice a faint metallic taste. The Hydro Flask is the clear winner here.

Durability

Both the Hydro Flask and the Klean Kanteen are made of the same kind of stainless steel. Both bottles are extremely durable. You  will probably see a few dents and scratches after extensive use, but both bottles should remain usable for a long time.

But, when it comes to durability, it’s important to note that the cap is the Achilles’ heel of almost every stainless steel bottle. Klean Kanteen has an advantage here as it has a smaller cap. Moreover, it has a standard loop cap that’s designed to be clipped to a carabiner.

The Hydro Flask comes with a standard Hydro Flask mouth flex cap that features a soft, flexible strap. Compared to the Kanteen’s loop. Hydro Flask’s strap seems kind of flimsy. It’s safe to say that the Klean Kanteen has a more durable cap. Plus, as mentioned, Klean Kanteen sells a stainless steel cap as an accessory. That one’s even more durable.

But, when talking about durability, it wouldn’t be fair not to mention the lifetime warranty and exceptional customer service Hydro Flask offers. Their renowned customer service is one of the main reasons why the brand has such a loyal following.

If a dent or scratch somehow compromises the insulation, Hydro Flask will replace your bottle for free. The Klean Kanteen also comes with a lifetime warranty, true, but hardly any other brand can beat Hydro Flask’s track record when it comes to customer service.

Cleaning and Easy of Use

Okay, you may be thinking, “Is this category really necessary? We’re talking about bottles here, they are all easy to use.” A fair point, but small details like the mouth and cap of a bottle can make a huge difference.

The opening on the Hydro Flask is wider. Wide-mouth bottles have an advantage over narrow-mouth bottles as they are easier to clean. And, since neither bottle is dishwasher safe, this can be the decisive factor for some potential buyers.

Also, the Hydro Flask doesn’t really have a bottleneck, whereas the Klean Kanteen has kind of a traditional bottleneck. Bottles without a bottleneck are easier to clean with a bottle brush.

The cap on the Hydro Flask is easier to clean as well as it has a protruding lid. The Kleen Kanteen has an intended lid. To clean it thoroughly, you need to make sure you really get up in there with the bottle brush.

While wide-mouth bottles are easier to clean, they are more difficult to drink from on the go. You can try, but you can expect some occasional splashes and your nose might end up in the flask. Narrow-mouth bottles are more convenient for sipping.

But, a straw lid accessory  allows you to basically turn your Hydro flask into a narrow-mouth bottle. No accessory of the sort will make cleaning the Klean Kanteen easier. So, to sum it up, the Hydro Flask is easier to clean, while the Klean Kanteen is easier to drink from.

So… Klean Kanteen vs Hydro Flask?

Hydro Flask is the winner, but not by a long shot. The Klean Kanteen has better insulation properties, but chances are you don’t need your water to stay cool for two days. The Hydro Flask does a good enough job of retaining the temperature.

For most people, the taste metric is more important than insulation, and the Hydro Flask performs much better when it comes to flavor retention. It won’t impart a metallic taste in your beverage even if it’s been in the bottle for a whole day.

However, if superior insulation properties are more important to you than the taste metric, the Klean Kanteen may be a better choice for you. The Klean Kanteen also has better accessories and a more durable standard cap.

Again, it’s important to note that this was a close race. The Hydro Flask is a highly trusted brand that is known for its exceptional customer care and Klean Kanteen is a family-owned business that is dedicated to protecting the environment and developing safe consumer products.

Both companies make quality, durable bottles that can last you a lifetime. There are no losers here. No matter what you decide, choosing one bottle over the other won’t be a mistake.

If you want to get a Hydro Flask but are not sure which size, check out this Hydro Flask 32 oz vs 40 oz vs 64 oz comparison If you found this post useful, make sure to check out my Klean Kanteen vs Yeti comparison as well.

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