Ello vs Takeya Glass Water Bottles

[one_half_col]The Ello Flip-Top Glass Bottle

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[one_half_col]The Takeya Glass Bottle

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With the fears of plastic bottles leeching carcinogens into its contents, many have sought metal bottles to hold those delicious liquids. Unfortunately, either option may still leave plasticky or metallic tastes in your water, and that’s where glass bottles come in. Typically at a higher cost, glass bottles offer environmentally friendly and safer/tastier alternatives to your plastic and metal bottles. Here, I will review and compare two brands that I use frequently, and share with you my joys and sorrows of switching to glass.

I own the Ello Syndicate 20 oz flip-top bottle shown at the top, which also comes in bright blue or bright pink and with a twist lid option, and the green Takeya Modern 16 oz bottle, which also comes in 18 oz and in the colors shown above (there is also a clear color option). Both do the job very well, but there are differences in form and function that may appeal to different tastes. I use both because I drink that much water and I enjoy both, but I will highlight the differences to help you decide which one may be best for you.

First off, with the Ello “Syndicate” bottle. This large bottle holds a great amount of water and features a sturdy thick wall of glass and a silicone sleeve with a thickened bottom. I dont particularly like the grid design, but this one looks pretty standard and will fit most men. Other sleeve designs are usually very girly so I took this one. The flip-top lid is what makes this one stand out, as it provides easy access and closure with one hand, and it comes with a strap to hold the bottle with. It uses a large suction cup to cover the mouth of the bottle so it makes a very satisfying pop when you press the button to open it. The twist lid and the flip-top lids are interchangeable, but the flip-top lids alone cost about 5 bucks. The twist lid has a handle to hold onto, instead of the strap. It’s available at every Target at 20 oz for about $15 ($10 for twist lid).

Now for the Takeya “Modern” bottle. When you pick up and open this bottle, you will be absolutely amazed. Its design and quality is just so well done – it’s one of those things that just looks good at first, but when you actually see it and use it in person, it’s even better. The twist cap is just so high quality, it’s hard to describe. It has that distinct Japanese smooth plastic and weighted premium feel to it that looks great, feels great, and performs great. The spinning action is so smooth; a quick flick of your thumb will open or close it with a very satisfying spin. And when you’re opening it, you can spin it as hard as you want without worrying about the cap flying off. There’s a small handle for you to hold, but I don’t find it very comfortable and I’m afraid that if I stick my finger all the way in, a quick jerk will easily dislocate it. However, the bottle itself is slim and feels great to hold. It has a silicone sleeve with a thick bottom and an attractive window to look at your water level. This bottle is only available online ($16 for 16 oz and $18 for 18 oz), but my girlfriend found the 16 oz at Ross for $10.

If you want the best looking and best feeling glass bottle, the Takeya Modern bottle will satisfy all your needs. However, the Ello bottle holds more water and is a few bucks cheaper. Both bottles are about the same height, with the Ello bottle just an eensy bit taller. The Ello bottle is much wider so it holds more water, but it doesn’t fit the hand as well as the Takeya’s slim body. The Takeya would fit into bags more easily and feels comfortable to hold. The Takeya’s smaller mouth is easier to drink from than the Ello’s wider mouth, but I can imagine it would be easier to fit ice cubes into the Ello. The Ello’s strap is much more comfortable to hold than the Takeya’s handle. The flip top on the Ello is easy and super convenient, but I am a bit wary about the plastic suction cup that is used, which does leave a bit of taste in the water. After a while of using it, the taste does go away, but I thought this completely threw out the whole idea of using a glass bottle to avoid leeching. Both have removable sleeves and I have no problem cleaning the bottles.

Switching to glass is a great choice for those who want an environmentally friendly solution to holding their liquids and want to avoid the risk of leeching plastics into their drinks. However, glass water bottles are costlier, heavier, and more delicate. And since they are not as popular, expect to see less options. If you’re looking for a functional and convenient bottle, the Ello will meet your needs with the flip lid, large capacity, strap, and reasonable price. If you are looking for a really premium look and feel, the Takeya surpasses all glass, metal, and plastic bottles and will make everyone jealous of you, but at a slightly higher price and lower capacity. A person who is always out and on the move would like the convenient flip lid and and the large capacity on the Ello. A person who can appreciate form and design will fall in love the Takeya.