Hydro Flask vs Simple Modern Water Bottles

Hydro Flask is one of the main reasons people are replacing their glass and plastic bottles with ones made from stainless steel.

The company practically created the market for double-walled stainless steel bottles. For over a decade, people have been going crazy for Hydro Flask. From gyms to trails, Hydro Flask products are everywhere.

Hydro Flask is still the top reusable hiking water bottle brand, but this doesn’t necessarily mean it is the best one. So, it’s a good idea to do a bit of research before you buy it. A few noteworthy competitors are giving Hydro Flask a run for its money, Simple Modern being one of them.

Simple Modern is one of the more affordable alternatives to Hydro Flask. Simple Modern’s stainless steel drinkware is also sleek, durable, and vacuum insulated, yet it costs half the price. So, is going with Hydro Flask a waste of money then? To find out, let’s compare Simple Modern’s flagship bottle with the one from Hydro Flask.

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22-Oz Summit

Since most quality stainless steel water bottles cost a pretty penny, many outdoor enthusiasts, gym-goers, and environmentally-conscious shoppers were thrilled when the Summit hit the market.

With 7 different sizes available and 40 snazzy colors to choose from, you will easily find a version of the Simple Modern Summit 22-ounce stainless steel bottle that’s a perfect match for your style and needs.

It’s a great go-to water bottle for workouts, lunches, hikes—you name it. Whether you pour hot drinks or cold drinks inside it, it doesn’t sweat at all.

To help keep the water bottle clean, the Summit comes with two interchangeable lids (a flip cap for hot beverages and a classic screw top lid). For such an affordable water bottle brand, Simple Modern impresses with its innovative solutions. If you buy the Summit, you’ll undoubtedly get more than “a bang for your buck.”

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Hydroflask 20-Oz Wide Mouth 2.0

A combination of insulated stainless steel, simplicity, style, innovative design, with a great dose of overall utility, make the Hydroflask 20-ounce Wide Mouth 2.0 bottle one of the best options on the market. It has made a name for itself with its durability, bright colors, high insulation value, and, most importantly, uncompromising performance.

Whether you are hiking, working at the office, running errands around town, or going on a road trip, chances are it will keep your drink piping hot or ice-cold for as long as you need it to.

Unlike the older version of the water bottle, the Hydroflask 2.0 has a stainless steel band and a rounded-off bottom. And, like the Simple Modern Summit, the Hydroflask 2.0 doesn’t sweat no matter what.

The thin, comfortable metal edge makes it feel like you are drinking out of a glass. Hydro Flask steel bottles have always been among the most expensive ones on the market, but they can last a lifetime with proper care. Naturally, the same goes for the high-quality Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 2.0 double-walled stainless steel bottle.

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Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

The Simple Modern 22-ounce bottle is sleek and well-proportionate, and so is the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 2.0 stainless steel water bottle.

Compared to most other vacuum insulated bottles of similar size, especially narrower ones, the Simple modern bottle is easier to fit securely into messenger bags, standard cup holders, and backpack pockets. Read also our article Best Collapsible Water Bottles and be sure that your bottle will fit almost everywhere.

The Summit isn’t labeled as dishwasher safe. If you throw it into the dishwasher, the heat could damage the double-walled vacuum insulation.

It’s very easy to get to the bottom of the Summit when you want to clean it, thanks to its wide mouth. However, cleaning the lids can be tricky.

The Summit features interchangeable lids. It has a flip cap lid that is designed for hot beverages and an easy-to-use stainless steel screw cap lid.

It’s best to use the screw lid when transporting the Simple Modern insulated water bottle because the flip cap lid can easily open by accident.

The Hydroflask 2.0 water bottle easily fits in standard cup holders, and the matte finish makes it feel great in your hands. The lid on the water bottle is connected by a retaining strap. However, it’s not a good idea to rely on it when in motion due to the bottle’s weight.

The Hydroflask 2.0 bottle is just as easy to clean by hand as the Summit. The design of the lid is simple, so it’s pretty easy to get all the gunk off of it. Unlike the Summit bottle, Hydro Flask Wide Mouth 2.0 bottles are dishwasher safe.

But, while the product packaging features the dishwasher-safe label, the company’s website advises users against washing the water bottle in a dishwasher. So, many shoppers are still not sure whether they can put the bottles from the Hydro Flask’s 2.0 product line into a dishwasher.

To make things even more confusing, old and new versions of Hydro Flask water bottles don’t look that different, and there’s still an abundance of old Hydro Flask water bottles on the market. If you want to buy the Hydroflask 2.0 bottle, pay attention to the logo. If there isn’t a registered trademark symbol next to the logo, you have the right product.

Without a doubt, the Hydroflask 2.0 stainless steel water bottle scores higher here than the Simple Modern model.

Durability

The Hydro Flask features high-quality construction and an impressive proprietary coating. Hydro Flask bottles are famous for their impressive durability, and this product is no exception. It may see a dent or two if you drop it, but the vacuum insulation won’t lose its effectiveness and the bottle won’t leak.

The plastic on older Hydro Flask bottles was more prone to damage, but the Hydroflask 2.0 insulated water bottles come with stronger lids.

The coating on the Summit doesn’t hold up as well as that of the Hydro Flask. The Simple Modern will survive harsh falls without losing its utility, but the paint will chip away almost immediately.

While both lids of the Simple Modern vacuum insulated bottle are of satisfactory quality, the plastic flip lid isn’t as nearly as burly as the stainless steel screw cap. When it comes to durability, the Hydroflask 2.0 is undoubtedly a better option than the Summit.

If you are interested in durable Hydro Flask alternatives, be sure to check out my Hydro Flask vs EcoVessel comparison as well.

Insulation

Both insulated water bottles do a great job of keeping water cold and drinks hot. Many regard Hydro Flask’s double-walled vacuum insulation to be the best. If you fill it with ice cubes, it will take about 24 hours for them to melt. And the water will stay very cold well past 24 hours, no matter how hot it is outside.

The brand claims that the bottle can keep drinks hot for 12 hours. However, this is maybe a bit of a stretch. In warm temperatures, it can indeed keep hot beverages very hot for 12 hours. But if the weather is very cold, it will keep liquids hot for 6 hours. But your hot drink will be drinkable even after 8 hours.

Despite being much more affordable, the Simple Modern Summit insulates just as well as the Hydroflask 2.0 water bottle. It will keep your drinks cold for over 28 hours.

Like Hydro Flask, Simple Modern claims its vacuum insulated bottle can keep liquids hot for the same amount of time as the 2.0. Still, it’s unrealistic to expect the Summit to keep hot drinks piping hot for more than 6 hours in freezing weather.

If you’re just in the market for a bottle that will keep your drinks cold or hot for a very long time, you can really go either way.

Taste

When it comes to getting rid of flavors, both water bottles are among the best on the market. Neither of these bottles will impart a metallic taste to its contents. Just like glass bottles, the Hydroflask 2.0 and the Summit do a great job of keeping drinks tasting as fresh as possible. No matter which one you choose, you won’t have to worry about the cap materials or the metal imparting funky tastes to your beverage.

Accessories and Customization

Both brands offer a wide range of different lids and accessories for their water bottles.

Some of the accessories you can get for the Hydro Flask accessories include a standard wide mouth straw lid, medium-press-in straw lid, large-press-in straw lid, small flex boot, insulated sport cap, bottle sling, and a straw and lid cleaning set.

Simple Modern sells a screw lid with a handle top, chug cap, silicone bottle boot, a standard straw lid, and a tumbler-style straw lid.

Hydro Flask bottles are often associated with their many vibrant colors. Like other products from the brand, the Hydroflask Wide Mouth 2.0 comes in 11 lovely shades.

While its color palette is very nice, it doesn’t come anywhere near to what Simple Modern has to offer. The Summit is available in 40 different color choices.

Moreover, Simple Modern will engrave a monogram or name on your bottle for an extra $10. You even get to choose the font. Hydro Flask lets you choose different colors for the cap and the strap, but that’s pretty much it.

But, don’t forget, the coating on the Summit isn’t that durable. The bottle will lose its color quickly if you don’t take really good care of it. The Hydroflask may only come in a few standard colors, but the coating can take a beating without chipping away.

If you are looking for a highly personalized bottle, Simple Modern may be the best brand for you. If you place great importance on volume, do know that the Summit is available in a few more size options.

Do Hydro Flask Lids Fit Simple Modern Bottles?

Since both bottles have almost the same mouth size, many assume that Hydroflask 2.0 lids can fit Simple Modern Summit bottles and vice versa. However, this is not the case. If you plan to use different accessories on your insulated water bottle, make sure to check out what the brands have in store.

Other Considerations

Thanks to its versatile design, The Summit insulated water bottle is great for gyms, outdoor adventures, travel, and everyday use. The same can be said for Hydroflask 2.0.

The Hydroflask 2.0 insulated water bottle comes with a limited lifetime warranty, and the brand is famous for its exceptional customer service. If something is wrong with your bottle, Hydro Flask will send a replacement almost immediately.

Simple Modern offers just a 90-day warranty on the product. There is no doubt that all Simple Modern bottles can last much longer than three months, but such a short warranty makes them seem as brittle as glass.

Both bottles are BPA-free. Why is this important? BPA is an industrial component that can be harmful when it makes its way into the body. Some older or low-quality bottles are made with BPA. Over time, BPA can seep into food and beverages. While most newer reusable bottles don’t contain BPA, you should always check the label.

So, Which Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Water Bottle Is Better?

Each bottle is made from the finest stainless steel and has a very innovative design. But because of its exceptional durability, dishwasher safe label, and lifetime warranty, the Hydroflask 2.0 insulated water bottle is the better product. But, another that is worth looking at is Iron Flask vs Hydro Flask, in my opinion, Iron Flask won.

But this is not by a long shot. If you don’t want to spend too much money on a top-shelf reusable water bottle, you won’t regret it if you opt for the Simple Modern Summit instead of the Hydroflask 2.0.

And the low price isn’t the only advantage the Summit has over the 2.0. If you are very particular about the size or the color of your bottle, Simple Modern products may be the best choice for you.