What’s The Real Difference Between All of Those Water Bottle Brands?

Water is one of the most abundant sources on the planet; in fact, 71 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water. Although some people don’t have access to clean drinking water, it’s incredibly necessary for human survival. Those of us fortunate enough to have ample water can be pretty picky about what kinds we drink. You might think it’s as simple as quenching your thirst, but water selection goes much deeper.

Moreover, no water source is exactly the same. Ask anyone about the difference between tap water and bottled water, and they’ll probably suggest that the only difference is the respective prices. It can be proved, though, that the taste of tap water varies from city to city. It also depends on water filtration and who handles the liquid. Bottled water, however, is a different thing entirely.

In the modern world, many people have access to dozens of water bottle brands; some claim to be pH balanced or have the essence of exotic fruits. But with all of the different water bottle companies offering new ways to enjoy a refreshing drink, it can be hard to determine which water is best for you.

Read on to see the true differences between the world’s top water bottle brands.

Evian Water

It looks cool, but does this water bottle brand do anything special?

There’s always been a lot of hype around Evian spring water, but the 2019 Netflix Fyre Festival documentary brought even more interest to the water bottle brand. But what sets Evian water apart from the rest? Not only does the brand’s water contain naturally occurring electrolytes, but it also has minerals like magnesium, potassium, and calcium.

VOSS

Now this packaging is everything.

VOSS offers everything from still water to flavored sparkling water. And the signature glass Voss bottle is nothing short of chic. The stuff inside the bottle has some pretty good credentials, too. According to VOSS, “The exceptional purity of VOSS, and its uniquely fresh, clean taste, are due in part to the unusually low levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) naturally occurring in the VOSS source.” VOSS water also comes from an aquifer in Norway. Consequently, it’s naturally-filtered.

Perrier

Now this brand has old origins.

Perrier is a popular sparkling water company that originated in France during the 19th century. Additionally, the brand with the iconic green bottle brand has a long history of working with artists for advertisements and bottle art. Today, Perrier has evolved even further; the company added flavors like watermelon and pink grapefruit to its sparkling water collection.

FIJI Water

Almost every single celeb drinks this brand.

Plus, the phrase “natural artesian water” is blatantly marked on each bottle, so it’s hard not to feel special when you’re drinking a fresh FIJI. But are you actually getting your money’s worth with the expensive drink? According to the company, theirs’ is a tropical rainwater that is slowly filtered by volcanic rocks. The process adds minerals and electrolytes to the water, giving it a “soft and smooth taste.”

Smartwater

This water doesn’t actually make you smarter.

It does have some lush benefits, though. Also known as Glaceau Smartwater, this water bottle brand offers vapor distilled water and electrolytes. Vapor distillation is a purification process similar to that of the hydrologic cycle. The Smartwater bottles are also recyclable and up to 30% plant-based.

Aquafina

This brand often gets overlooked for more luxe brands.

But don’t count Aquafina out. The PepsiCo brand actually owns Aquafina and makes sure the bottled water is purified through reverse osmosis and some other methods. Salts and chlorides are also removed to enhance the water’s taste. Ever curious about what’s exactly in your water? Well, Aquafina keeps an information list of every compound in their product.

Propel Water

Started by Gatorade, Propel Water offers both flavored and unflavored electrolyte water.

The brand specifically caters to “people who lead active, healthy lifestyles,” similar to the Gatorade sports drink. According to Propel, they uniquely offer “the only water, among national enhanced water brands, with enough electrolytes to replace what you lose in sweat.”

Dasani Water

Is it just us, or does Dasani water taste just a little sweet?

Dasani water was founded by the Coca-Cola Company in 1999; maybe that’s why we sense a hint of sweetness. Though the Coco-Cola company certainly doesn’t list sugar in their Dasani ingredient list the website notes that the water is chockfull of minerals. In addition to the enhanced water, Dasani offers bottle that can be easily twisted for recycling.

San Pellegrino

Even the name seems lush.

And for good reason. The San Pellegrino sparkling mineral water comes directly from Italy. Moreover, the company uses the snow and rain that falls near the Italian Alps in every San Pellegrino bottle. And the water also contains mineral salts and added CO2 that contribute to the brand’s slightly bitter taste.

Acqua Panna Water

This one might be a little less common.

But all of the Acqua Panna water comes straight from Italian springs in Tuscany. In fact, the imported natural quencher even goes undergoes a 14-year journey through an underground aquifer. To make the brand stand out even more, all Acqua Panna products have pH balances of 8.5; it’s alkaline.

Nestle Pure Life

Now we know you’ve seen this one.

One of the more common water bottle brands, Nestle Pure Life, has been around since the 90s. And it’s much more affordable than some of the other bottled water brands. According to the Nestle website, though, the affordability doesn’t make their product any less reputable. In fact, Pure Life water goes through an intense 12-step purification process before having minerals added for taste.

CORE Water

This brand has more than one distinguishing trait.

With a pH of 7.4, CORE water is purified with a 7-step process. It also contains minerals and electrolytes. Plus, the CORE brand claims that each water beverage mirrors the body’s natural pH balance. And that’s not all; if you prefer a flavored beverage, you can try the CORE Organic line of products with antioxidants.

Essentia Water

Now, this brand seems to collaborate with quite a few Insta-famous people.

So understandably, the water’s price tag is rather high. Essentia water is considered alkaline, and it has a pH of 9.5. Moreover, the brand practices a rigorous purification process that involves microfiltration and reverse osmosis. Bitter and acidic ions are removed from the water while electrolytes are added in the final stages.

LIFEWTR

They’re not just about colorful packaging.

No, actually LIFEWTR places a high priority on maintaining pH balanced water with added electrolytes. The art-focused plastic water bottles are certainly attention-grabbing, though. In fact, the premium brand considers creativity to be as necessary for life as water. Accordingly, they feature different artists on the LIFEWTR bottles every few months.

Vita Coco

It’s tropical, but it has some health benefits too.

Vita Coco is a coconut water brand that’s sure to send your taste buds to paradise. There are a few different flavored coconut water options as well, but we actually prefer the original version. Not just a good thirst quencher, this Vita Coco water is kosher. Plus, it contains nutrients and naturally-occurring electrolytes like potassium.