It’s no secret by now that when it comes to water, not all types are equal. This is especially the case with bottled water — while some bottled water goes through multiple filtration processes to cleanse it from impurities, the NRDC conducted a study that found “an estimated 25 percent or more of water sold in a plastic bottle is really just tap water in a bottle.” So if you always grab a bottle of water from the grocery store out of the assumption that it’s of better quality, think again.
That being said, there are plenty of bottled water companies who take your hydration seriously. These companies often source their water from natural springs or glaciers, naturally-occurring water sources. On the other hand, some brands choose to instead purify tap water (in this case, the labels will often say “vapor-distilled” or “purified”) and add in minerals and electrolytes for taste. When it comes to picking the best bottled water, these are all things to keep in mind, as well as your personal flavor preferences. Water from a spring and water enhanced with electrolytes will each taste a bit different. I’ve ranked 29 bottled water brands based on flavor, how they were sourced, and other ecological factors, like their packaging or whether the company positively contributes to the environment.
- Proud Source
- San Pellegrino
- Just Water
- Gerolsteiner
- Mountain Valley
- Voss
- Waiakea
- Icelandic Glacial
- Eternal
- Liquid Death
- Saratoga
- Fiji
- Acqua Panna
- ZevWTR
- Alkaline88
- Body Armor SportWater
- Evian
- Crystal Geyser
- Core Hydration
- Essentia
- Action
- Talking Rain AQA
- Lifewtr
- Glaceau Smart Water
- Penta
- Arrowhead
- Dasani
- Aquafina
- Pure Life
Finally, my top choice, and what is in my opinion the best bottled water you can buy — Proud Source Spring Water. Sourced from the Rocky Mountains, Proud Source has a naturally alkaline pH and is full of naturally occurring minerals and electrolytes. This water takes the cake for me for two reasons. First, its flavor is outstanding. The aluminum bottle helps it taste cold even at room temperature, and this is among the cleanest waters I tried. Second, the company’s aluminum bottles are “infinitely recyclable.” Not only do they help the water taste good, but they’re also good for the planet — a huge win, in my book.
