I have a Frank Green reusable drink bottle that I bought out of envy.

It all started with my boyfriend’s 21st birthday, when I surprised him with an embossed 1-litre water bottle and reusable coffee mug made by the Australian brand.

It was a practical gift, and I did it in part because I was sick of him drinking from my water bottle all the time.

Then, a month after I gave him the bottle, I had to get myself one too, mainly because these things keep water cold for hours.

We both joke that they are our “emotional support water bottles” – glorified sippy cups that go everywhere with us.

But when it comes to staying well hydrated, it helps to have something that encourages us to drink throughout the day.

And as the sweaty summer nights hit and long hot days begin, I’m hoping my expensive water bottle will last the distance.

Here are the water bottles I think are worth investing in this summer, as well as one to avoid.

Frank Green Ceramic Reusable Bottle

This stainless steel water bottle is a popular choice with Gen Z and boasts a triple-wall vacuum insulation that will keep water cold for hours. I have big hopes that sand will stay out of this bottle.

It’s ceramic lined, which means your water doesn’t have a lingering aftertaste, and the colour options are endless.

The downfall is it won’t fit in your car’s drink holder. The 1L is just too wide, though there are other size options available, most priced around $70.

Consumer NZ test support Jodie Pearson rates the bottle a solid 10 out of 10.

There are no “obvious drawbacks” and it is “easy to clean”, she says.

Camelbak Podium

Yes, this water bottle is designed for bike riding, but it’s easy to drink from.

Taking one to the beach would also give you a handy vessel to start water-blasting your family with.

The Camelbak Podium happens to be the favourite drink bottle of Consumer NZ test team leader James le Page, who says it delivers a big slug of water in a microsecond for “instant hydration”.

His co-worker Amy McNabb also sings the Podium’s praises. “James talked it up so much I got myself one,” she says.

It’s also cheaper than the Frank Green by a mile, retailing for $20 at Evo Cycles NZ.

Hydro Flask Wide Mouth (or any stainless steel bottle)

A stainless steel bottle is a good option, whether you decide to go the expensive route and buy a Hydro Flask or get a cheaper version from Typo.

A stainless steel bottle is tough and will survive all the summer adventures you take it on. It’s also easy to clean.

There are many on the market to choose from.

A wide-mouth bottle from the Hydro Flask range or a Stanley product, such as the Quencher H2.0 Flowstate Tumbler, are the more expensive options – but if having a bottle that keeps your water cool is a high priority, these are great.

My co-worker also says a Stanley is the most “fashionable” brand of drink bottle out there at the moment.

A Hydro Flask retails from about $70 to more than $100, while a Stanley usually sells for more than $90.

A lower-priced look-alike

I can’t tell you a specific reason why I love Kmart’s range of water bottles. Maybe it’s because the retail chain offers more affordable versions of all the expensive models!

Whether you want a Stanley-style product at a lower price point or a bottle that marks out how much water you should have consumed at different times of the day, there is literally something for everyone.

Kmart bottles are cheap, and most will last a good while too if looked after.

But avoid single-use plastic

Buying bottled water from the corner dairy might be convenient, but the bottle itself will not last, no matter how good your intentions are. Trust me: been there, done that.

If you reuse them enough times, the stickers start to peel off. And they just get mankier the more you use them.

Why would you grab one of those when you can have something that tells you what time of day you should have drunk 50ml of water?