We Tried 16 Bottled Waters & These Are The Only Ones Worth Sipping
Water might seem like the simplest beverage choice, but not all bottled waters are created equal! I recently gathered my thirstiest friends for a massive hydration showdown.
We sipped, swished, and scrutinized every drop from 16 popular bottled water brands to separate the truly refreshing from the merely wet.
1. Fiji Water: Nature’s Perfect Droplets
Silky smooth doesn’t begin to describe this tropical delight! The square bottle feels luxurious in your hand while delivering a distinctly soft mouthfeel.
Fiji’s natural filtration through volcanic rock gives it that signature mineral balance without any funky aftertaste. My taste buds did a little happy dance with each sip.
2. Evian: The French Kiss of Hydration
Straight from the French Alps, Evian brings serious mountain spring energy to your lips! Its subtle sweetness comes from naturally occurring electrolytes that dance across your tongue.
The sleek bottle design screams European sophistication. When I’m feeling fancy but still need serious hydration, this Alpine wonder is my go-to refreshment.
3. Smartwater: The Einstein of Hydration
Vapor-distilled with added electrolytes? Genius! This sleek, minimalist bottle houses water that tastes incredibly clean without being boring.
The tall, distinctive bottle shape makes me feel like I’m making intelligent choices. Smartwater somehow manages to taste both crisp and silky simultaneously—a paradox that keeps me coming back for more gulps.
4. Mountain Valley Spring Water: America’s Vintage Sip
Bottled in iconic green glass since 1871, this Arkansas spring water screams old-school cool! The naturally occurring minerals create a slightly sweet finish that lingers pleasantly.
Presidents and celebrities have guzzled this stuff for decades. I felt like American royalty drinking water that’s been filtered through granite for 3,500 years before reaching my lips!
5. Essentia: The Alkaline Overachiever
Holy hydration, Batman! This ionized alkaline water (pH 9.5+) made my taste buds stand at attention. The super-smooth texture glides down your throat like liquid silk.
Essentia’s purification process removes even the tiniest impurities. After my workout, nothing quenched my thirst quite like this scientific marvel—I swear my muscles thanked me immediately!
6. Voss: Norway’s Crystal Clear Showoff
Sipping Voss feels like wearing a designer outfit—unnecessarily fancy yet somehow worth it! The cylindrical glass bottle screams ‘I have expensive taste’ while housing some seriously pristine Norwegian artesian water.
Low in minerals but high in status, Voss delivers a clean, neutral taste. I keep the empty bottles as flower vases—double win!
7. San Pellegrino: The Bubbling Italian Charmer
Mamma mia, those bubbles! This Italian sparkling mineral water brings tiny, delicate carbonation that tickles rather than punches your palate. The iconic green bottle practically screams ‘sophistication.’
San Pellegrino’s subtle mineral content creates a slightly salty finish that pairs perfectly with meals. I feel instantly cosmopolitan sipping this alongside my pizza!
8. Acqua Panna: The Smooth Tuscan Operator
Sourced from the sun-drenched hills of Tuscany, this still water whispers tales of Italian countryside! Its velvety smooth texture comes from a perfect mineral balance that supports subtle flavors rather than competing with them.
The elegant green bottle houses water with a naturally alkaline pH. I pair it with fine wines to cleanse my palate like a true connoisseur!
9. Icelandic Glacial: The Arctic Refresher
Sourced from the Ölfus Spring in Iceland, this water is literally filtered through lava rock! The result? An extraordinarily pure, silky texture with a super-clean finish.
The sleek bottle design mimics ice formations, which I found delightfully on-brand. My taste buds detected zero aftertaste—just pure, cold refreshment that made me feel like I was drinking from a pristine glacier!
10. Topo Chico: The Fizzy Legend
Holy carbonation, Batman! This Mexican mineral water packs the most aggressive bubbles I’ve ever experienced—like a sparkly party in my mouth! Legend claims it has healing properties dating back to Aztec times.
The vintage-style glass bottle adds to its authentic charm. I can’t explain the magic, but somehow Topo Chico’s intense effervescence cures my hangover faster than anything else!
11. Core Hydration: The Perfectly Balanced Act
Balanced like a tightrope-walking elephant wearing a tutu! This pH 7.4 water matches your body’s natural pH level with ultrapurification and added electrolytes.
The distinctive bottle shape fits perfectly in my car cup holder—practical genius! Core delivers a clean, crisp taste without trying too hard. My everyday hydration hero when I’m adulting responsibly.
12. Flow: The Eco-Warrior’s Delight
Alkaline spring water in a paper-based carton? Mother Nature high-fives your hydration choices! This naturally alkaline Canadian spring water tastes remarkably smooth with subtle minerality.
The eco-friendly packaging is 100% recyclable and carbon-neutral. I feel like I’m saving turtles with every refreshing sip—guilt-free hydration that doesn’t sacrifice quality for sustainability!
13. Just Water: Will Smith’s Sustainable Surprise
Celebrity-backed water that actually delivers! The paper-based carton houses spring water from Glens Falls, NY, with a surprisingly robust mineral profile that makes it taste alive.
The packaging is 82% renewable materials. I was skeptical about a Hollywood hydration project, but Just Water’s crisp, clean taste with subtle sweetness won me over immediately!
14. Gerolsteiner: Germany’s Mineral Masterpiece
Packed with more minerals than a rock collection! This German sparkling mineral water delivers serious calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate in every fizzy sip.
The distinctive green bottle contains water that’s been bubbling up through volcanic rock for years. My bones practically thanked me after drinking this mineral-rich concoction—it’s like a multivitamin disguised as delicious water!
15. Life WTR: The Artistic Thirst Quencher
Purified water gets dressed up for the gallery opening! The bottle features designs from emerging artists that make you feel cultured just by hydrating.
Electrolytes add a subtle sweetness that elevates this beyond basic purified water. I love the sleek bottle design—it somehow makes me feel like I’m supporting the arts while simply staying hydrated!
16. Dasani: The Underdog Champion
Forget what you’ve heard about Dasani—this Coca-Cola produced water surprisingly topped our blind taste tests! Our panel described it as “remarkably clean” with a subtle mineral finish that doesn’t overpower.
The secret lies in Dasani’s unique mineralization process.
Unlike competitors that strip everything away, Dasani adds back a precise blend of minerals that creates a distinctly refreshing profile. The slightly alkaline pH of 7.4 proved ideal for everyday drinking.