I'm a Professional Traveler: Here's the $35 Gift I'm Getting Everyone on My List

There are few things more handy for day-to-day living than a portable water bottle that -- checks notes -- inspires you to drink more water. As a professional traveler, I'm never without one. And given my singular love for Zojirushi's line of insulated bottles and their variety of sizes and colors, nobody on my holiday shopping list will be without one either. 

We're all on the go in one way or another, whether you travel for a living as I do, commute across town, shuttle kids between activities or just shuffle across the hall from the bedroom to the home office. Whatever your version of on-the-go is, proper hydration is an undeniable mood enhancer, and the largest barrier to remembering to drink enough of the stuff is whether you have easy access to it, and that it both feels and tastes good. Do you long for the cool, fresh taste that elementary school drinking fountains spoiled us for? Are you searching for something practical to splurge on this Black Friday? Read on.

We're not drinking enough water because there's not enough to keep the practice enjoyable, but I am telling you, a Zojirushi bottle is the answer to all of this. It's insulated, pleasant to sip from, stylish, light and only $35 this Black Friday. There's nobody in your life who couldn't benefit from having one.

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Sorry, Stanley: Zojirushi's Stainless Steel Mug is the best in its category

It has a sharp design. The thin frame makes it easy to grip and sip.

Zojirushi

In addition to traveling regularly, I also write about kitchen appliances and tools and I try not to dole out superlatives where none are due. I know from experience that a lot of best lists come down to nuance, or a matter of personal preference, but not here. 

As someone who has put her mouth to many an insulated bottle to evaluate how much of a mouthful of plastic I'm asked to tolerate in order to enjoy whatever liquid is inside, leading to whether the sipping experience actually inspires more sipping, I can say without hesitation that Zojirushi is in a class by itself.

If the brand sounds familiar but you're not aware of their bottles (since they've not reached the fever pitch of Stanley mug fever), Zojirushi is best known for its well-regarded, sing-songy rice cookers. However, Zojirushi offers a variety of travel mugs, and yes, they are insulated to a degree that you may want to consider using for too-hot coffee that remains too hot for many hours. The insulation is a selling feature, but never mind coffee -- it's water where Zojirushi's bottles are really in a class above. 

This bottle keeps cold liquids cold better than any travel bottle I've used.

Zojirushi/CNET

Let this be a testament: Despite also being the recipient of many promotional insulated bottles that I could have used for free, when I inadvertently left my Zojirushi behind in an airport once before boarding, I had my finger on the Amazon trigger for its replacement before the plane even took off. (I hope that it's bringing daily joy to whoever found it.)

All the features that make Zojirushi's bottle giftworthy

The delicate sipping mechanism staves off gunk better than others I've tried.

Zojirushi

In coffee-testing modules, Zojirushi kept liquid hot -- like, hot hot -- basically all day with its vacuum insulation. But this also works its magic for cold water, and I use mine almost exclusively for this purpose. I've put ice in the bottle on a hot summer night, and by morning, the ice was still ice. And its generous aperture allows for the easy application of most refrigerator ice cubes.

The top flips open with a satisfying pop at the touch of a button, which can even be operated one-handed, for those of you who get thirsty while driving. The locking mechanism is so airtight that not only do I often confidently throw it in a tote alongside my laptop, but I have also packed it in a duffel full of clean clothing for a weekend away.

The head flips back 180 degrees, exposing a delicate sipping mechanism that doesn't get gunky as quickly, as it doesn't require quite so much lip contact. The physics between the mug and the sipper even creates a pleasant water fountain-like gurgle. I don't have the science background to explain this, but I just know that it genuinely enhances the drinking experience. 

All the elements of the top come apart easily, allowing for meaningful cleaning, including in the dishwasher. The bottle's interior is made of stainless steel, allowing for an unadulterated taste, and the exterior and lid pieces are all made of BPA-free plastic.

Plus! It comes in several sizes and slight model variations, with a multitude of stylish colors, for about $35. (Also well within the appropriate range for the average White Elephant exchange, just saying. Is it weird that I want to watch people fight over this?) The 12-ounce, black color in the Stainless Steel Mug is on sale for Black Friday for only $25.

4.6 stars on Amazon

I'd like to think that I was the sole preacher about the magic of these bottles, but Amazon ratings don't lie, and over 20,000 people have given the Zojirushi Stainless Steel travel mug 5 stars. One enthusiastic reviewer even points out a factor that I hadn't considered: BEST FOR MOTORCYCLES! You know what? I concur. Again, no matter how the people in your life are on the go this year, this is probably the bottle for them.