Eco Vessel vs Hydro Flask: Which Will You Love?

Are you an outdoor enthusiast that wants to have the best gear for your next adventure? Well, if you are, remember that a water bottle or flask is on that list.

When you’re looking for a flask that is ideal for your next outdoor adventure, remember that there are tons of options out there, and not all flasks are the same. If you want to learn more about which flask to purchase, this is also the right review for you to read.

We’ve conducted hours of research and testing on all types of flasks, whether they are stainless steel, insulated, plastic, or glass. After having a look at a range of flasks we decided to look at two in detail.

So today you will see a comparison review between the Eco Vessel flask and the Hydro Flask. Both are well-known in the outdoor gear industry and they are often compared to one another. In this review, we will delve into the details of which flask you should purchase for your next nature adventure and why.

Why I LOVE Hydro Flask
32 oz Lightweight Wide Mouth Trail Series™ | Hydro Flask

Reliability, durable, affordable, customizable. Easily clips on a carabiner, but doesn't have to. That's why Hydro Flask is the TOP recommended outdoor water bottle by our Editorial Team here at AOG.

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Before we get into the detailed comparison of the Eco Vessel flask and the Hydro Flask, we will look at them and their specs separately.

The Eco Vessel Flask

The most important thing you need to remember about the Eco Vessel flask is that it has a triple insulation feature. This means that you can keep your drinks colder for much longer. Most of the Eco Vessel products are able to hold hot beverages too, which makes it easy as a double-use canteen out in the wilderness. The product is best for longer hiking trips when you need to keep things hot around your campsite for longer periods of time.

Eco Vessel – About the company

Eco Vessel is a company in Colorado that specializes in insulated water bottles as well as other products that are also related to the outdoor world. They are known for being environmentally-friendly and their products are recyclable.

They do have a few features that are prominent in their products which include the fact that their flasks are premium #304 stainless steel. The products have integrated carrying handles and they are recyclable as well as BPA and phthalates free.

Eco Vessel has a range of flasks but today we will be looking at the BigFoot Triple Insulated Screw Top.

BigFoot Triple Insulated Screw Top

This product is known to be the biggest in the Eco Vessel flask range, hence the name BigFoot. Being a huge version of an insulated water bottle, the BigFoot holds roughly three pints of liquid. The flask is triple insulated and this comes in handy if you’re on a long trip outdoors and need to keep something very cold. You can keep liquids cold for up to 36 hours. Hot liquids can stay hot for up to 8 hours.

If you are looking for a smaller flask, you should consider the Boulder Triple Insulated Screw Top 17 oz or the Boulder Triple Insulated Screw Top 25 oz which can both be found on the Eco Vessel website.

A little more detail on The BigFoot

We know by now that the flask can keep up to 43 oz of liquid in it at any given time. It can also keep a drink cold for up to 36 hours and a tea or coffee hot for up to 8 hours. It is triple insulated and sounds quite impressive already.

So what else does the BigFoot offer?

Design

Well, for a start, it is huge. It stands at 13 inches high and has a 3.5-inch diameter base. You can choose from three colors; silver express, black shadow, and mossy oak.

If you think that’s it, think again. The flask is made of premium #304 stainless steel and is completely lead-free. It’s also recyclable and is free of liners and phthalates.

Weight

Weighs about 0.46 kg when it is empty. However, when it is full, it reaches up to almost 2 kg (1.85 kg). As mentioned previously, this is a bottle that can carry a lot of liquid, but you probably don’t want to carry it on a long hiking trip. It is simply just to heavy to be carried while full in a backpack all day.

Insulation

The BigFoot is very good at keeping liquids cold for a long time. Hot liquids also stay at a high temperature for up to 8 hours which is outstanding for a flask. The triple insulation in this flask is probably the main selling point. The technology is there and it works. After testing this out, it is plain to see that this is a great flask to get if you need something kept cold for 36 hours.

The Eco Vessel BigFoot Triple Insulated flask is high-quality, huge, and has great insulation. If you are looking for a high-capacity bottle, this one is a great choice.

Features

A few distinct features include the two-section cap that the bottle has. The cap is tethered to the flask along with a strap that is rather flexible. The top cap unscrews, giving you a comfortable drinking spout. The bottom cap unscrews and opens up to a wider mouth that lets you fit ice cubes into the bottle.

The BigFoot has a steel mesh screen that is removable and can be used as a tea strainer if you need it.

Construction of the bottle

The bottle is very high-quality and when inspected closely, it is difficult to find defects. There isn’t anything constructively wrong with the flask, but personally, we would change a few things if we could.

Pros

  • Great triple insulation
  • Eco-friendly
  • Massive capacity
  • Does not sweat
  • Reasonably priced
  • Three color options

Cons

  • Very heavy when filled
  • Straps and caps could be redesigned for more functional use
  • The Eco Vessel BigFoot Triple Insulated Flask Specifications
     
 

Eco Vessel Flask

Dimensions

3.5 x 3.5 x 12.75

Volume

43 oz

Distinctive Features

Triple insulated

Price

$37.95

Pros

  • Great triple insulation

  • Eco-friendly

  • Massive capacity

  • Does not sweat

  • Reasonably priced

  • Three color options

Cons

  • Very heavy when filled

  • Straps and caps could be redesigned for more functional use  

The Hydro Flask

The Hydro Flask is known as one of the more popular brands out there. Their bottles have great insulation and can keep tea, coffee, or soup hot for up to 12 hours. The flasks come in an array of colors and the Hydro Flask is best for a long hike or outdoor adventure because it is easy to manage.

Hydro Flask – About the company

Hydro Flask is a rather well-known entity in the outdoor gear and accessory industry. They are often seen as the ‘go-to’ brand when buying flasks or water containers for an adventure or just a simple hike. The company is very vibrant, which comes through in the types of colors that the flasks are available in. Such colors include Psychedelic Pink and Green Zen.

Hydro Flask focuses on making containers for drinks and snacks and these containers or flasks have the job of keeping them hot or cold.

There is a range of flask sizes at Hydro Flask. They start from 12 oz and go all the way up to a 64 oz wide mouth stainless steel growler. The products are a range of stainless steel food flasks and water bottles. For this review, we will be focusing on the 40 oz Wide Mouth Stainless Steel Water Bottle.

Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth Insulated

The 40 oz Hydro Flask is designed to hold liquid and keep it cold or hot, depending on what you have in it. The bottle is rather heavy, but it is probably one of the most versatile bottles out there. The flask has a sleek design and very strong insulation properties. Hydro Flask has won a few Editor’s Choice of the Year awards, which means that it is also well-recognized by other experts.

Hydro Flask Design

The Hydro Flask design is very chic, in fact, one of the chicest designs that you will find. There are over a dozen colors available, and you have definitely seen one around at your local gym or at campsites before.

The bottle is simple yet it is known for its practicality. There is so much comfort and style in the flask that it almost makes it hard to say no to getting one. The tests that we have run show that the flask lives up to some of the characteristics that Hydro Flask has boasted.

For example, the flask is easy to clean and resists residual flavors. The design makes it simple to use and the flask can be used for an outdoor adventure or at the office.

The flask has a wide mouth which some people don’t like. It is quite popular amongst outdoor enthusiasts as it is easier to pour and sip from. But if a wide mouth is not your style, you can always go for a normal 24 oz Hydro Flask that has a very generic mouth shape.

Ranging between $40 and $45 (Check out the latest rates here), this Hydro Flask is one of the more expensive choices out there. However, there is no arguing that the product has a well-thought-out design and feature.

Hydro Flask Weight

The Hydro Flask weighs a small amount when compared to its size. Other flasks that size are generally quite heavy. However, the Hydro Flask is light when empty, and because of its good insulation and stainless steel properties, the flask is quite heavy when it is full. Other bottles are made of plastic and are lighter. So if you want stainless steel, be prepared for extra weight along the way.

Hydro Flask Insulation

This flask has a sleek design with amazing insulation. It feels like the manufacturers ‘doubled-up’ on the insulation capabilities, as it can hold hot liquids for up to 6 hours.

There is a vacuum insulated body in the flask that works very well. If you leave the ice in the flask for 24 hours, you will find that the ice melts but just under 24 hours. This means that you can easily store something cold for up to 24 hours in the bottle. The bottle also does not sweat, which is a great feature if you’re going on an outdoor activity.

Keeping things hot in the Hydro Flask is a little more difficult. The flask can only keep a liquid or soup hot for 6 hours, and once we tested it, we found that 6 hours is right. Thereafter, the liquid starts to cool quite quickly. At 12 hours, your coffee will be lukewarm. So keep this in mind if you’re buying a flask for mainly hot liquids.

Hydro Flask Features

The bottle has quite a few features that you may not notice all at once. For example, the size of the bottle is comfortable enough to hold yet, still store 32 oz of liquid, which is what some small cooler bags hold. It feels great in your hands and has a matte finish to help with the grip. You can easily refill the bottle with its wide mouth.

The Hydro Flask also has a retaining strap that is quite sturdy. It is designed to help with clipping the flask to a backpack for storage. But we wouldn’t recommend strapping it on due to the heavy weight of the bottle when full.

One category that the Hydro Flask has done the best in is taste. Yes, there are many water bottles that we have tested over time and have always gotten a metal taste in the water. Not with the Hydro Flask. For the first time, it seems to be the only bottle that we have tested that resists metal. It keeps the contents tasting as fresh as ever – a very big advantage.

The product is extremely durable and it is, due to the fact that it is made of stainless steel. But this must be seen in relation to the flask being very heavy when it is full. So strength is important, but when it is really heavy, it causes a very hard impact on the ground if it falls.

The Hydro Flask is also one of the easiest bottles to clean. It is both quick and easy to clean. Other flasks often need time to clean them out, but the Hydro Flask needs just over a minute to clean with a bottle brush.

Construction of the bottle

We found that the Hydro Flask is immensely versatile. It is comfortable in a hand and holds a lot of liquid. Generally, the flask has a great construction except for the fact that it is very heavy when filled. This could be a challenge when you are on a long trail run or hike. But the insulation does make it a great choice for summer or winter outdoor activities.

Pros

  • Durable
  • Simple design
  • Good insulation
  • Easy to clean
  • Many color options
  • Does not retain flavors

Cons

  • Heavy
  • More expensive than others
  • The 40 oz Wide Mouth Insulation Hydro Flask Specifications
 

Hydro Flask

Dimensions

3.56 x 2.28 x 9.1

Volume

40 oz

Distinctive Features

No metallic taste

Price

Check out the latest prices here

Pros

  • Durable

  • Simple design

  • Good insulation

  • Easy to clean

  • Many color options

  • Does not retain flavors

Cons

  • Heavy

  • More expensive than others

Comparison between the Eco Vessel and Hydro Flask

At first glance, you may think that there isn’t too much difference between the Eco Vessel and Hydro Flask. But the detail speaks volumes. There are some bottles that provide better insulation than others, and some that have great insulation but suffer on other features like design, weight or construction. The comparison of specifications makes it easier to understand which flask was championed here.

 

Eco Vessel Flask

Hydro Flask

Dimensions

3.5 x 3.5 x 12.75

3.56 x 2.28 x 9.1

Volume

43 oz

40 oz

Distinctive Features

Triple insulated

No metallic taste

Leak-proof

Yes

Not if full

Slip-free grip

No

Yes

More than 5 colors

No (3)

Yes (12+)

Keeps warm

8 hours

6 hours

Keeps cold

36 hours

24 hours

Price

Cheaper at $37.95

More expensive at $45

(Check out the latest rates here)

Pros

  • Great triple insulation

  • Eco-friendly

  • Massive capacity

  • Does not sweat

  • Reasonably priced

  • Three color options

  • Durable

  • Simple design

  • Good insulation

  • Easy to clean

  • Many color options

  • Does not retain flavors

Cons

  • Very heavy when filled

  • Straps and caps could be redesigned for more functional use  

  • Heavy

  • More expensive than others

As you can see from the specifications, there are quite a few distinct differences in the two flasks. We look at the details of the comparison below.

Size

The Eco Vessel flask is extremely good at having size and function on its side. This is a reusable thermos and the flask is ideal if you have a lot of liquid to carry around. The Hydro Flask is also quite big (40 oz volume) and carries quite a bit too. The Eco Vessel is not as comfortable to carry on long trips, as it does not grip as well as the Hydro Flask.

Weight

Both of these flasks seem to weigh more than you’d like.. This is because they are both made of stainless steel and they have good insulation, which means more weight. None of the flasks have a good strapping mechanism, well, not for their weight at least. But the Hydro Flask does have a good hand grip.

Insulation

The Eco Vessel wins on insulation hands down. Over and above the fact that it is triple-insulated, the flask is also able to keep liquids colder and hotter for longer when compared to the Hydro Flask. Both flasks never sweat but the Eco Vessel wins when it comes to insulation.

Versatility

Both flasks are versatile but in their own ways. For example, the Eco Vessel flask offers interchangeable caps and a removable strainer and the Hydro Flask has a sleek design that helps with grip and uniqueness. The Hydro Flask is built to last and can be seen as the slightly more versatile bottle out of the two.

Design

The Hydro Flask wins on design with over 12 colors to choose from. It also boasts a slip-free grip and takes the cake when it comes to the ‘cool’ factor. Everyone wants a Hydro Flask, and the brand has done a great job of making the flask feel chic and sleek. The Eco Vessel works more on function and has just 3 colors in the range.

What could be changed about the Eco Vessel Flask

  • For example, a handle on the side of the flask will allow easier transport and pouring as the bottle is huge, which means that it is very heavy when it is full.
  • The current strap just does not seem strong enough and it feels as if it is about to give in while walking with the flask.
  • The caps are way too smooth which look great but aren’t always practical for the outdoors. Knurling would assist with this if your hands are wet or dry, it would be easier to screw a cap this way.
  • You will also need a bottle brush to clean out this flask. There is no way of getting a hand into the flask to get right to the bottom.

What could be changed on The Hydro Flask

  • With the Hydro Flask having won awards and become the Editor’s Choice before, there really isn’t a lot to change on the bottle.
  • But if we had to deeply analyze our tests, we would say that the weight needs to be looked at and improved on. There are other stainless steel bottles that are still heavy, but not as heavy as the Hydro Flask.
  • The retaining strap could be stronger to help with the weight of the flask. This would mean that you can have the bottle strapped to the backpack instead of it being in your hand or in the backpack at all times.
  • Better insulation methods could be taken to improve insulation for the hot liquids too. Some bottles can go up to 10 or 12 hours and the Hydro Flask only does 6. This could be improved on.

Where can you purchase the Eco Vessel Flask and the Hydro Flask?

The Eco Vessel flask can easily be found for sale at retail outlets like Amazon, eBay, BackCountry, MightyNest, or Nextag. The Hydro Flask can be found for sale on Amazon or at a variety of independently owned retail outlets. You can find more information on their website as to the nearest brick and mortar store near your location.

My opinion and conclusion

In conclusion, the Eco Vessel flask and the Hydro Flask both have their share of advantages and disadvantages. There are so many functions and features that are similar, yet so many that are vastly different. It is safe to say that there are many issues that each of the manufacturers can work on, but on the whole, both flasks are a pleasure to use.

But if you are an outdoor enthusiast, there is a specific choice I do have. That choice is the Hydro Flask.

The Hydro Flask is more expensive but has much more to offer in terms of design and functionality than the Eco Vessel. If you are looking for something that is just for the gym, then go with the cheaper option. But if you need something for a long hike, long-term, then the Hydro Flask is the right buy.

Why Hydro Flask?

The bottle is impressive, to say the least. The designers have carefully taken the time to make a flask that is comfortable and easy to clean. It looks chic and modern, and even though the insulation hours are lower than the Eco Vessel flask, they are quite on par with being above average.

This obviously directly affects your activity and how long you need the flask to stay cold or hot for. I enjoyed drinking liquids out of it and it passed most of the tests that we did. The only test I would worry about is if you want to drop it onto a hard surface. It may dent.

It is expensive when compared to other flasks, but the flask also lasts a very long time. If quality and longevity are what you are looking for, then this is it.

What’s more? The company is great. The staff is really friendly and helpful and the premium brand price can be seen in their customer service and product quality. I was also very happy to be able to walk into a brick and mortar store to feel the product before purchasing it, as opposed to purchasing something online. I was very impressed with Hydro Flask as a whole, and I would recommend this product to any outdoor enthusiast out there.

Bottom Line: I personally use my Hydro Flask (ordered directly via their site here) every day and recommend it to anyone who asks! 

So let us know which flask you purchased and why. Share your experiences with us and let us know what you would improve on or what you’re really impressed with.

Keep calm and stay hydrated!

Why I LOVE Hydro Flask
32 oz Lightweight Wide Mouth Trail Series™ | Hydro Flask

Reliability, durable, affordable, customizable. Easily clips on a carabiner, but doesn't have to. That's why Hydro Flask is the TOP recommended outdoor water bottle by our Editorial Team here at AOG.

Check price
We earn a commission if you click this link and make a purchase at no additional cost to you.

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