S’well made the slim, smooth steel bottle famous, and most people searching for a swell bottle mean that shape. But the range has grown. There are now three sizes of the Original, the bulky Roamer, two different caps for the 17-ounce, the wide-mouth Explorer and a glass bottle.
This guide is for people who already want a S’well and need the right one. It says which model suits which buyer and where the brand falls short, including what to look at instead. To compare other makers, read our water bottle guide.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. We have not used these bottles ourselves. Recommendations rest on maker and listing details and the published review we read and name below.
Quick verdict: which swell bottle to buy
The S’well Original, 17 oz is the one with real evidence behind it: it led Prudent Reviews’ heat test by a wide margin, though regular ice cubes did not fit and it dented when dropped. If ice matters, choose the Explorer, 32 oz. For the gym, get the Sports Cap, and for pure taste at a desk, the Glass Original.
Five S’well bottles side by side
One for each kind of buyer. The cap and the opening change more than the size does.
| S’well | Best for | Size | Cap | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
S’well Original Bottle, 17 ozBest overall
|
Most people, hot or cold | 17 oz | Screw cap | View on Amazon |
S’well Explorer with Flip Straw Lid, 32 ozBest wide mouth
|
Ice and a handle | 32 oz | Flip Straw | View on Amazon |
S’well Roamer Bottle, 40 ozBiggest screw cap
|
Long days out | 40 oz | Screw cap | View on Amazon |
S’well Bottle with Sports Cap, 17 ozBest for workouts
|
Workouts, cold water | 17 oz | Sports Cap | View on Amazon |
S’well Glass Original Bottle with Straw, 18 ozBest for taste
|
Taste, desk use | 18 oz | Glass straw | View on Amazon |
The 9-ounce, the 25-ounce and the Flip Straw Cap version are below.
Our picks for the best swell bottle
Eight models and sizes, one listing each, all sold by Amazon.com when we checked. Color is your own call, and S’well sells a lot of them.
1. S’well Original Bottle, 17 oz – Most Evidence Behind It
This is the S’well most people picture, and the only one we found measured by an independent reviewer. Prudent Reviews filled seven bottles, this among them, and took temperatures over 24 hours. From 180°F, the S’well read 94.3°F at 24 hours, the warmest of the group at every interval and more than 35 degrees above the next bottle, a CamelBak. Cold water starting at 43°F read 53.8°F at 24 hours, also the best in that test at that point.
The same review lists the drawbacks. Andrew Palermo measured a spout of 1.25 inches and found it too small for regular ice cubes, which disagrees with the listing’s claim that the opening fits most cubes. Water spills if you fill it to the top, because the cap reaches into the bottle. Dropped, it took a large dent at the base. The cap stayed tight and did not leak. Palermo called the small opening and the lid “deal breakers” for him.
The listing states a copper wall layer, 18/8 stainless steel and an exterior that does not sweat.
Why we like it
- Led Prudent Reviews’ hot test at every interval
- Slim, and easy to fit in a bag or cup holder
- Cap stayed tight in that review
- No condensation claim on the listing
Key specifications
| Model | AZST-17-B17 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 17 oz |
| Line | Original |
| Cap | Screw cap |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Stated cold and hot (listing) | 36 hours cold, 18 hot |
| Dishwasher (listing) | Not stated |
| Material (listing) | 18/8 steel |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who wants hot or cold drinks to hold their temperature for a whole day and cares more about that than ice.
Skip it if you fill bottles with ice cubes or drop things often. A wider mouth will suit you better, and this one dents.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Best heat holding in the test we read
- Slim, handle-free shape
- Did not leak in that review
Cons
- Regular ice cubes did not fit, per Prudent Reviews
- Dents when dropped
- Spills if filled to the brim
2. S’well Original Bottle, 9 oz – A Small Pour
Nine ounces is not a day of water. It is a coffee, a small juice or a child’s drink, and at that size a bottle can go in a jacket pocket. The listing states triple-layered insulation for 24 hours cold and 12 hot, 18/8 stainless steel and a leakproof cap.
This listing says the bottle is dishwasher safe and the cap hand wash, which is unusual among these listings, since the Roamer’s says hand wash only. Follow the words on the listing you actually buy.
We found no independent review of the 9-ounce size, so this rests on the listing. The narrow mouth from the 17-ounce review probably applies here too, so plan to pour rather than to add ice.
Why we like it
- Small enough for a pocket or a small bag
- Dishwasher-safe body, per this listing
- Leakproof claim on the listing
- Sold by Amazon.com
Key specifications
| Model | 5336059 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 9 oz |
| Line | Original |
| Cap | Screw cap |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Stated cold and hot (listing) | 24 hours cold, 12 hot |
| Dishwasher (listing) | Yes, hand wash cap |
| Material (listing) | 18/8 steel |
Why we recommend it
It suits a small coffee on a commute or anyone who only wants a few swallows at a time.
Skip it if you are looking for your only water bottle. You will be refilling it all day.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Very compact
- Body can go in the dishwasher, per the listing
- Plain, tidy size
Cons
- Small capacity
- No independent review found
- Shorter stated times than the 17
3. S’well Original Bottle, 25 oz – A Day at a Desk
The 25-ounce is the same idea as the 17 with more water in it, and it is the size to choose if you only want to fill up once or twice at work. The listing says the shape fits most car cup holders and that the exterior stays dry.
Be careful with the numbers on this listing. Its title says 24 hours cold and 12 hot, while its feature list says up to 48 and 24. We put the title’s figures in our table and would not plan around the larger ones. Prudent Reviews measured the 17, not this size.
A taller bottle with the same kind of spout may be harder to scrub out, so a long bottle brush is worth having. See our bottle brush guide.
Why we like it
- Keeps the Original’s shape with more capacity
- Dry exterior claim on the listing
- Fits most car cup holders, per the listing
- Sold by Amazon.com
Key specifications
| Model | 5300010 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 25 oz |
| Line | Original |
| Cap | Screw cap |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Stated cold and hot (listing) | 24 hours cold, 12 hot in title; 48 and 24 in features |
| Dishwasher (listing) | Not stated |
| Material (listing) | 18/8 steel |
Why we recommend it
It suits an office worker or a driver who likes the Original’s slim shape and wants fewer trips to the tap.
Skip it if you want the stated numbers to be clear. This listing contradicts itself, so judge it on the 17’s review.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Larger Original
- Slim for its size
- Sold by Amazon.com
Cons
- Listing’s stated times disagree
- No independent review at this size
- Narrow spout likely, as on the 17
4. S’well Roamer Bottle, 40 oz – For Long Days Out
The Roamer is a different shape, wider and made for carrying a lot, and the listing says the opening fits most ice cubes. It suits a long day of yard work or a beach trip when you do not want to look for a tap.
The listing is another one with mixed numbers: 48 hours cold and 16 hot in the title, 40 and 18 in the features. It is also firm about washing: hand wash only. That matters at this size, because a big bottle full of old water is not something you want to neglect.
We found no independent review of the Roamer, so it rests on the listing. S’well also makes a 64-ounce Roamer, but it was low in stock when we checked, so we left it out.
Why we like it
- Big capacity from one fill
- Wide enough for most ice, per the listing
- Copper wall layer, per the listing
- Sold by Amazon.com
Key specifications
| Model | 10540-B17-00401 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 40 oz |
| Line | Roamer |
| Cap | Screw cap |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Stated cold and hot (listing) | 48 hours cold, 16 hot in title; 40 and 18 in features |
| Dishwasher (listing) | No, hand wash only |
| Material (listing) | 18/8 steel |
Why we recommend it
It suits anyone who wants one large vacuum bottle for a whole day out and will wash it by hand.
Skip it if it has to go in a cup holder. The listing makes no cup holder claim for this one.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Largest we picked
- Takes ice, per the listing
- One fill lasts longer
Cons
- Hand wash only
- Listing’s stated times disagree
- No independent review found
5. S’well Bottle with Sports Cap, 17 oz – One-Handed at the Gym
The Original’s cap has to come off to drink, which is annoying on a treadmill. This version swaps it for a Sports Cap that clicks open and shut with one hand. The listing states 36 hours cold and 10 hot.
Read the small print before buying. The listing says the Sports Cap is for cold liquids only and should not be used with carbonated drinks. It also says hand wash only. So this is a water bottle for exercise, not a coffee bottle.
We counted it separately from the Original because the cap changes how you use it, and it has its own model number. We found no independent review of this version.
Why we like it
- Opens and closes with one hand
- Splash-free sipping, per the listing
- Same 17-ounce size as our top pick
- Sold by Amazon.com
Key specifications
| Model | 5299462 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 17 oz |
| Line | Original |
| Cap | Sports Cap |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Stated cold and hot (listing) | 36 hours cold, 10 hot |
| Dishwasher (listing) | No, hand wash only |
| Material (listing) | 18/8 steel |
Why we recommend it
It suits a gym bag or a bike ride, when you want a drink without stopping to unscrew anything.
Skip it if you drink sparkling water or hot drinks. The listing says this cap is not for them.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Quick to drink from
- Fits most cup holders, per the listing
- Compact
Cons
- Cold liquids only
- No carbonated drinks
- Hand wash only
6. S’well Bottle with Flip Straw Cap, 17 oz – A Straw That Closes
This is the Original shape with a straw that flips up to drink and folds down to close. The listing says it is leakproof when closed and states 36 hours cold and 10 hot, along with the same dry-exterior claim as the others.
A straw cap suits desk sipping, because you are more likely to drink when you do not have to unscrew something. It does mean one more part to clean. Moisture in a straw and gasket is what starts to smell, so take it apart regularly.
We found no independent review of this version, so it rests on the listing. The listing does not state how to wash the bottle or the cap.
Why we like it
- Flip straw for easy sipping
- Leakproof when closed, per the listing
- Slim Original shape
- Sold by Amazon.com
Key specifications
| Model | 5299461 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 17 oz |
| Line | Original |
| Cap | Flip Straw Cap |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Stated cold and hot (listing) | 36 hours cold, 10 hot |
| Dishwasher (listing) | Not stated |
| Material (listing) | 18/8 steel |
Why we recommend it
It suits a desk or a car, for someone who wants a slim bottle and prefers a straw.
Skip it if you want hot drinks in it. A straw and hot liquid are a poor pairing, whatever the stated hours say.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Easy to sip from
- Closes for carrying
- Slim shape
Cons
- More parts to clean
- Care not stated on the listing
- No independent review found
7. S’well Explorer with Flip Straw Lid, 32 oz – Wide Mouth and a Handle
If the Original’s narrow opening is your objection, the Explorer is S’well’s answer. S’well files it under wide-mouth bottles, and the listing says the wide mouth makes adding ice simple. It has a built-in handle and a Flip Straw Lid, and the maker lists a weight of 1 pound.
The listing and the maker disagree on performance. Amazon’s title says 42 hours cold and 10 hot, while S’well’s own page for the 32-ounce says 54 and 18. We show the listing’s lower figures, and neither has been checked by anyone we read. Home Page News reported at the 2024 launch that the Explorer comes in 24, 32 and 40 ounces, with 91% recycled stainless steel.
The listing calls it dishwasher safe, with the lid top-rack only. We chose the 32 as the middle size. We found no independent review of the Explorer, so it rests on maker and listing details.
Why we like it
- Wide mouth for ice, per the listing
- Built-in handle
- 91% recycled 18/8 steel, per the maker
- Dishwasher safe, lid top rack only
Key specifications
| Model | 5338024 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 32 oz |
| Line | Explorer |
| Cap | Flip Straw Lid |
| Insulated | Yes |
| Stated cold and hot (listing) | 42 hours cold, 10 hot on the listing; 54 and 18 on the maker’s page |
| Dishwasher (listing) | Yes, lid top rack |
| Material (listing) | 91% recycled 18/8 steel |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who likes S’well’s looks but wants ice and a handle, which the Original cannot give you.
Skip it if you want the slimmest bottle in a bag. At this size the Explorer is a bulkier thing than the Original.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Takes ice more easily than the Original, per the maker’s claim
- Handle for carrying
- Can go in the dishwasher
Cons
- Listing and maker disagree on stated hours
- No independent review found
- Bulkier than the Original
8. S’well Glass Original Bottle with Straw, 18 oz – No Plastic, No Metal Taste
This one is a real change of material. It is borosilicate glass in a food-grade silicone sleeve, with a stainless steel lid, a silicone gasket and a collapsible glass straw that folds inside when the cap is on. S’well’s pitch is zero plastic and no metallic taste.
The listing makes no insulation claim, so treat it as a room-temperature or just-from-the-fridge bottle, not a replacement for the steel ones. It says the bottle is leakproof, dishwasher safe and fits a cup holder. The glass is bare, with no glaze on the drinking surface.
Glass can break, and so can a glass straw, so this is a bottle for a desk more than a trail. We found no independent review of it, so it rests on the listing. For more glass options, see our glass water bottle guide.
Why we like it
- Borosilicate glass bottle and straw
- No plastic in the build, per the listing
- Silicone sleeve for grip
- Dishwasher safe, per the listing
Key specifications
| Model | 5341870 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 18 oz |
| Line | Glass Original |
| Cap | Steel lid, glass straw |
| Insulated | No claim |
| Stated cold and hot (listing) | Not stated |
| Dishwasher (listing) | Yes |
| Material (listing) | Borosilicate glass |
Why we recommend it
It suits someone who notices the taste of steel or plastic and mostly drinks at a desk.
Skip it if it will rattle around in a work bag or you want cold water for hours. Choose a steel S’well.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Clean taste is the whole point
- No plastic, per the listing
- Straw folds away
Cons
- Glass can break
- No insulation claim
- No independent review found
Where S’well falls short, and who to look at instead
- Ice in the narrow bottles. Listings say the opening takes most ice cubes. Prudent Reviews measured 1.25 inches on the 17-ounce and found regular cubes would not go in. If you want ice, look at a wide-mouth bottle such as those in our Hydro Flask guide, or the Explorer here.
- Dents. The 17-ounce took a large dent at the base and a major dent in the cap in Prudent’s drop checks. It still worked, but it did not look good afterward. If you are rough on bottles, compare another maker in our Klean Kanteen guide before deciding.
- Stated hours you cannot compare. The 25-ounce and Roamer listings each give two sets of numbers, and the Explorer’s listing and maker page disagree. Do not choose between these on hours.
- Thin independent evidence. We could read one independent test, on one size. A Food52 test we wanted to read would not open, so we do not cite it.
- Sellers. Some colors are sold by third parties and not by Amazon. We chose listings sold by Amazon.com, and a different color may change who you are buying from.
How to choose a S’well
1. Decide if you need ice
That one question sorts the range. If you drink water from the fridge or carry coffee, the narrow Original is fine and has the evidence behind it. If you fill up with cubes, go to the Explorer.
2. Choose by how you drink
A screw cap is simple and has fewer parts. A Sports Cap suits exercise, and a straw suits sitting at a desk. Remember that the Sports Cap is for cold, still drinks only, according to its listing.
3. Size it for your day and your bag
Nine ounces is one drink. Seventeen is a commute. Twenty-five covers a desk day with one refill. Forty is for outside. Think about the empty weight too, because a large vacuum bottle is a lot to carry for short trips.
4. Plan the cleaning
Listings differ: some say dishwasher safe, others hand wash only, and some say nothing. Follow the words on the listing you buy. Wash the cap every day, and dry the parts apart overnight, because a closed damp bottle is what goes sour. A kitchen would do the same with any squeeze bottle.
How we picked these eight S’well bottles
We pulled S’well listings from the Amazon API on November 3, 2026, and kept those new, in plain stock and sold by Amazon.com, with one listing per model and size. We left out food bowls, wine chillers, tumblers and travelers, since this page promises bottles. We left out exact listings already on our other guides. We read Prudent Reviews’ comparison (Andrew Palermo, updated February 2026), Home Page News’s 2024 report on the Explorer launch and S’well’s own Explorer page. We have not used these bottles, and every measurement here is someone else’s.
S’well bottle questions, answered
Do S’well bottles really keep drinks hot?
In Prudent Reviews’ test, the 17-ounce Original did better than the other six bottles at every interval, starting at 180°F and reading 94.3°F after 24 hours. That is warm, not hot, so don’t count on the longest stated figure for a hot drink.
Do they fit a cup holder?
The listings for the Original sizes say most standard cup holders, and Prudent found the 17-ounce’s slim profile fits easily. The Roamer’s listing makes no such claim.
Can a S’well go in the dishwasher?
It depends on the listing. The 9-ounce and Explorer say yes, with notes on the cap or lid. The Roamer and Sports Cap versions say hand wash only. The 17-ounce Original, 25-ounce and Flip Straw listings do not state it, so hand washing is the safer choice.
Do S’well bottles sweat?
The steel bottle listings say the exterior is condensation-free, and some credit a copper wall layer for that. We have not seen an independent check.
Has S’well had a recall?
We searched the CPSC recall database under the S’well and Swell names on November 3, 2026, and it returned no results. Check cpsc.gov for your own product.
Our final pick from the S’well range
Choose the 17-ounce Original if you want heat-holding and can live without ice, and the Explorer if you can’t. Handle them with some care, since these bottles show their dents. And when water will not do, call to order from Julia’s at (346) 546-8283.