Owala (brand)

Owala
Product typeInsulated water bottles
OwnerTrove Brands
CountryUnited States
Websiteowalalife.com

Owala is a drinkware brand owned by Trove Brands that specializes in insulated stainless-steel water bottles.[1] The brand is known for its FreeSip bottle, which features a dual-mode patented lid that supports drinking through a built-in straw or from a wider opening.[2] The FreeSip was selected as a Wirecutter pick and was included in Time's "200 Best Inventions of 2023".[2][3]

History

Owala was launched by Trove Brands in 2020, with the FreeSip as its first product.[1][4] Trove Brands was founded by Kim and Steve Sorenson; their son Michael Sorenson is CEO.[1][5]

The company originated with the BlenderBottle, a protein-shake mixing bottle, and later expanded into a portfolio of brands including Owala.[1][4] Trove Brands initially tried to market the FreeSip under BlenderBottle, but the launch performed poorly; it was later withdrawn and relaunched under the Owala brand.[1][4]

Coverage describes Owala's growth as occurring over multiple years rather than as an "overnight success."[1][4] Owala's visibility increased during the COVID-19 pandemic period amid broader interest in reusable water bottles, including social media attention such as videos of nurses using the FreeSip.[1][4][6][7] The brand has since been discussed alongside other reusable bottle brands such as Stanley and Hydro Flask.[3][8]

Products

32 ounce Owala water bottle with silicone bottle boot. The bottle boot is silicone, a lighter shade of pink, and covers approximately the bottom quarter of the bottle. The lid is screwed on to the top with a closed flip top and carrying handle. "Owala" is written in recessed letters on a lighter pink ring on the bottom of the lid where it screws onto the bottle.
32 ounce Owala water bottle with silicone bottle boot.

FreeSip is Owala's best-known insulated bottle line.[2][3] It has a patented lid,[9] allowing users to drink from either a wide-mouth opening or the built-in straw.

After selling out of the original Freesip bottle in 2020, Owala released the Freesip tumbler-style with a handle. This design came in 30 and 40 oz, is cupholder friendly, leak-proof, and 24 hours cold.[10]

Owala bottles are modular, allowing consumers to mix and match colors for the lid, handles, and other components.[11]

The SmoothSip Slider was also released in early 2025. They are sold with handle or no handle, comes in 15+ colors, is leak-proof, and can be used hot or cold.[12]

Owala also offers stickers, bottle cleaners, and pet bowls.[13][14]

Marketing

Owala releases limited-edition colorways through scheduled events called "Color Drops."[1][3] These limited releases use scarcity to encourage purchases; the company is known for using fear of missing out (FOMO) as a marketing strategy.[1][4] Limited-edition designs have also been listed for resale at higher prices than standard retail, with some designs reselling for hundreds of dollars.[2][4][15]

Reception and awards

Wirecutter selected the FreeSip as a water bottle pick, pointing to its lid design and colorways for its inclusion.[3] In 2023, Time recognized the Owala FreeSip bottle as one of the best inventions of 2023.[13] BusinessQ Magazine named Owala "Marketer of the Year" in 2024.[16] In 2025, it obtained a 2025 Red Dot Design Award.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Fore, Preston (22 March 2025). "How a Utah family made Owala water bottles to Gen Z what Stanley Cup is to millennials:'emotional support'". The Salt Lake Tribune.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Klein, Jessica (24 October 2023). "Owala FreeSip: The 200 Best Inventions of 2023". Time. Archived from the original on 1 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Dillon, Kit (5 December 2024). "How Owala Became an Official Water Bottle Pick". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 27 January 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Fore, Preston. "Water Bottle Owala is to Gen Z what Stanley Cup is to Millennials: 'emotional support.' Inside the rapidly growing family business' success story". Fortune. Archived from the original on 22 April 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  5. ↑ "'It's part of how you present to the world': Owala looks to become the next 'it' water bottle - The Boston Globe". BostonGlobe.com. Retrieved 2025-09-11.
  6. ↑ Contois, Emily J.H. (January 2, 2024). "Your New Year's Resolution to Drink More Water Has a History". TIME.
  7. ↑ Aranita, Kiki. "A Brief History of Humankind's Lust for Drinking Cups and Collecting". Food & Wine. Archived from the original on 14 February 2025. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  8. ↑ Reuter, Dominick (3 February 2024). "People are freaking out over Stanley tumblers containing lead — Owala and Hydro Flask are cleverly seizing the moment". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 20 April 2024. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  9. ↑ US patent D863,877, issued 2019-10-22
  10. ↑ "FreeSip® Tumbler". Owala. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  11. ↑ "Family Bottle Bundle". Owala. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ "SmoothSip® Slider". Owala. 28 May 2026. Retrieved 28 May 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Marketer of the Year Owala, Trove Brands – BusinessQ Magazine". businessqmag.com. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
  14. ↑ Alig, Lily. "Is the Owala water bottle worth the hype? Our kitchen editor is skeptical". Business Insider. Retrieved 30 April 2025.
  15. ↑ Cook, Kim (9 April 2025). "That Water Bottle You're Carrying Says a Lot More than 'hydration'". AP News. Retrieved 28 April 2025. Owala's FreeSip bottles usually go for about $25-$40, but limited-edition designs can sell in the $400 range.
  16. ↑ 2024 Q Awards: Owala. BusinessQ Magazine. Retrieved September 24, 2025.
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