How Fancy Water Bottles Became a 21st-Century Status Symbol

[isabel]

www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/02/luxury-water-bottles/582595/

The potential judgment of students can lead a teacher to do strange things. For Monique Mongeon, an arts educator in Toronto, starting a job teaching adults sparked a small crisis of confidence. “I was in my mid-20s, and I was looking at things I could do to make myself feel like a person who had authority to stand in front of a bunch of other 20-somethings,” she says. After ruling out fancy bags and shoes as too extravagant, Mongeon settled on a sleek $45 water bottle. “I was scrolling through websites thinking, Which of these S’well bottles looks like the kind of person I want to be?”

...

Kauss says she always knew the bottle’s appearance would be important, even though positioning something as simple as a water bottle as a luxury product was a bit of a gamble. “As I moved up in my career, I was upgrading my wardrobe, and the bottle that looked like a camping accessory really didn’t serve my purpose anymore,” she says. When she noticed fashionable New Yorkers were carrying luxe disposable plastic bottles from brands such as Evian and Fiji, she realized reusable bottles could use a makeover, too.

[heyjude]

Wut.

[jeaniebueller]

Meh

[bugandbibs]

I have a fancy water bottle (or five...).

Water bottles are a statement where I live, from brand, type, to color. It's part of how I present myself in meetings, socially and at the gym. It's not really different than any other brand stuff. Personally, I don't like the S'well bottles because you can't put ice in them.

[socratic]

Feb 14, 2019 18:00:01 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

I have a fancy water bottle (or five...).

Water bottles are a statement where I live, from brand, type, to color. It's part of how I present myself in meetings, socially and at the gym. It's not really different than any other brand stuff. Personally, I don't like the S'well bottles because you can't put ice in them.

I put ice in our Swell bottles every day I guess our ice machine has the right shape.

But also, this ice tray is awesome too. www.amazon.com/Silicone-Narrow-Material-Bottles-Assorted/dp/B01A7G2W5W/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1550185420&sr=8-3&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=water+bottle+ice+cube+tray&dpPl=1&dpID=51Mw7fmrg5L&ref=plSrch

[heyjude]

I have noticed people’s shoes, purses, iPhone cases.... but I have not once cared to notice someone’s water bottle. Ever.

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 14, 2019 18:00:01 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

I have a fancy water bottle (or five...).

Water bottles are a statement where I live, from brand, type, to color. It's part of how I present myself in meetings, socially and at the gym. It's not really different than any other brand stuff. Personally, I don't like the S'well bottles because you can't put ice in them.

They’re a statement where I live, too. Or rather the stickers on them are a statement. The actual bottle isn’t important.

[muffin0]

I use a reusable plastic water bottle I got from the AWS Re:invent conference. I have a glass camelback with glass straw and mouth piece that I got from glass dharma, but I like the way the plastic one fits in my hand.

They gave them away and included a fill it forward sticker with a bar code that you scan every time you refill and they give a donation towards clean water.

It’s not fancy looking though.

[StrawberryBlondie]

I have a water bottle that says "I run because I really like cake."

I get a lot of compliments on it. I think it was like $10.

[sparrowsong]

Some people really overthink things.

I still like nalgene the best because they hold more. The fancy ones I’ve been gifted only hold about one-two drinking glasses full.

[jlt19]

Feb 14, 2019 18:10:14 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I have noticed people’s shoes, purses, iPhone cases.... but I have not once cared to notice someone’s water bottle. Ever.

I really don't notice any of this but most assuredly I wouldn't notice a water bottle. But I know my niece (13) wanted/got some fancy one for xmas and then decorated it. Apparently that's the "in" thing for them.

[pixy0stix]

Feb 14, 2019 18:11:53 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

Feb 14, 2019 18:00:01 GMT -5 bugandbibs said:

I have a fancy water bottle (or five...).

Water bottles are a statement where I live, from brand, type, to color. It's part of how I present myself in meetings, socially and at the gym. It's not really different than any other brand stuff. Personally, I don't like the S'well bottles because you can't put ice in them.

They’re a statement where I live, too. Or rather the stickers on them are a statement. The actual bottle isn’t important.

Case in point.

[pixy0stix]

FWIW, my instagram is littered with pictures of my stickered nalgene next to flights of beer. So it is kind of a status symbol.

I didn't realize that other parts of the country didn't really use water bottles like people in CO do. I hosted a gtg here (not for CEP) and several people actually bought water bottles for the trip since I said that everyone here carried/used them.

[aspentosh]

This doesn't surprise me.

I had a regular one until last year when I got annoyed by condensation. I switched to a Thermos brand from Costco (less than $20 for two) but my needs were 1) doesn't sweat 2) can fit ice and this works.

S'well, Nalgene and Yeti are popular here.

H has a large mouth Nalgene for his workouts and a small mouth for at his desk.

[sonrisa]

Water from nagalene bottles tastes awful to me, so I was quick on the band wagon for the reusable, insulated stainless steel ones for me and the kids. I had been dragging around glass bottles which were heavy and risky.

I don't see this as a status symbol issue at all. It's about finding something reusable, lightweight, that I can stick in the dishwasher, and won't leech yucky flavor into the water.

[AJL]

This is dumb.

*takes long drink from $40 Hydro Flask*

ETA: But I really do love it! lol!

[lessel]

I one accidentally bought a $50 swell bottle from Starbucks. Some kind of limited edition one that was a collaboration with a British fabric company. (At the time I recognized neither the swell brand name nor the fabric company.) It was supposed to be like a $15 secret Santa gift at work. But then I realized how much it cost and kept it. It’s very pink and flowery which is hilariously NMS at all.

[StrawberryBlondie]

In college, I really liked Nalgene because they hold a ton of water and I could attach them to my bag as I trudged around campus. But I was a music Major so I basically lived and died by proper hydration.

I've learned later in life that I need something with a straw or else I drink really slowly.

[litebright]

Huh. I looked up all the names mentioned, out of curiosity and because Yeti was the only one I'd heard of. I don't like the medium-to-wide-mouth styles because I usually use my water bottles at the gym and I want the flow highly controlled so I don't slop it all over myself accidentally, lol. My Polar with the little push-pull top does that very well.

I just got DH a Yeti tumbler for coffee for V-Day, though. Their stuff really does an amazing job of keeping hot stuff hot/cold stuff cold.

[AJL]

Feb 14, 2019 19:05:15 GMT -5 lessel said:

I one accidentally bought a $50 swell bottle from Starbucks. Some kind of limited edition one that was a collaboration with a British fabric company. (At the time I recognized neither the swell brand name nor the fabric company.) It was supposed to be like a $15 secret Santa gift at work. But then I realized how much it cost and kept it. It’s very pink and flowery which is hilariously NMS at all.

Liberty of London! This fabric is insanely expensive but I lurve it.

That's all.

[seeyalater52]

Feb 14, 2019 19:05:15 GMT -5 lessel said:

I one accidentally bought a $50 swell bottle from Starbucks. Some kind of limited edition one that was a collaboration with a British fabric company. (At the time I recognized neither the swell brand name nor the fabric company.) It was supposed to be like a $15 secret Santa gift at work. But then I realized how much it cost and kept it. It’s very pink and flowery which is hilariously NMS at all.

I kind of hate you for alerting me to the fact that Liberty of London did a Starbucks water bottle thing. I waaaaannnnttttt ttthhheeeemmmm 😍😭
I’m obsessed with floral prints and their fabric in particular and even had custom ties made from it for all the bridesmen at our wedding.

[eclaires]

My friend told me “everyone has hydro flasks at dance so I bought one for X (10yo daughter).”

I didn’t know what that was. We have tons of reusable water bottles but ours are based on a) keeping water cold, b) not sweating, and c) not being easy to spill.

I drink a ton of water and have my water bottle with me always. Kids take it to school so they want something that stays cold and their teachers request something that isn’t easy to spill. They also don’t want something that will get their bag or desk wet. Brand doesn’t seem important.

[heyjude]

A water bottle is many things. “Status symbol” it is not.

[MrsAxilla]

Feb 14, 2019 18:24:18 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Feb 14, 2019 18:11:53 GMT -5 MrsAxilla said:

They’re a statement where I live, too. Or rather the stickers on them are a statement. The actual bottle isn’t important.

Case in point.

Exactly - lol. I’ve actually bought additional water bottles just to put stickers on.

[cville]

I prefer glass bottles. I like to see how much I have left and I don't like how Nalgenes feel on my mouth. I have one with a silicone cover. Status water bottles are definitely a THING with some of my professional and personal crowds.


I do not buy it because I know tap is better than bottled for myriad reasons, but I will confess here that I think Fiji water tastes better than any other water I have ever tasted. Ever.

[cville]

Feb 14, 2019 19:11:47 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

Feb 14, 2019 19:05:15 GMT -5 lessel said:

I one accidentally bought a $50 swell bottle from Starbucks. Some kind of limited edition one that was a collaboration with a British fabric company. (At the time I recognized neither the swell brand name nor the fabric company.) It was supposed to be like a $15 secret Santa gift at work. But then I realized how much it cost and kept it. It’s very pink and flowery which is hilariously NMS at all.

I kind of hate you for alerting me to the fact that Liberty of London did a Starbucks water bottle thing. I waaaaannnnttttt ttthhheeeemmmm 😍😭
I’m obsessed with floral prints and their fabric in particular and even had custom ties made from it for all the bridesmen at our wedding.

My friend brought me 1 yard of Liberty fabric back from the actual OG Libery store in the UK about 2 years ago. As a present. I still haven't made anything out of it. It's too pretty to run the risk of messing up.

[seeyalater52]

Feb 14, 2019 19:33:45 GMT -5 cville said:

Feb 14, 2019 19:11:47 GMT -5 seeyalater52 said:

I kind of hate you for alerting me to the fact that Liberty of London did a Starbucks water bottle thing. I waaaaannnnttttt ttthhheeeemmmm 😍😭
I’m obsessed with floral prints and their fabric in particular and even had custom ties made from it for all the bridesmen at our wedding.

My friend brought me 1 yard of Liberty fabric back from the actual OG Libery store in the UK about 2 years ago. As a present. I still haven't made anything out of it. It's too pretty to run the risk of messing up.

I was terrified the seamstress I hired to do the ties was going to mess them up somehow. But we ended up having extra scraps so I got to surprise my wife with matching cuff links. All that to say I totally understand this feeling!

[dancingirl21]

Huh. I had no idea. I mean, I just opted for a S'well bottle in my upcoming fabfitfun box because it was the option that most appealed to me, but I didn't ever think of it as a status thing. My husband rocks the old school Nalgene bottle because it holds the most and he says doesn't mold like some of the others (Contigo with a straw, for example).

[raangoli]

I use a large plastic Nalgene one that has my undergraduate school name on it.

I love all these pretty patterns but how many water bottles does a person need?

[georgeglass]

I'm old lady - I use a Tervis or a Nalgene.
My favorite Nalgene is from Death Valley, and for some reason I find that amusing.