HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve

Is the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve worth buying? 

Staying hydrated is important, which is why you might choose to carry a large water bottle, such as the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve. With its large half-gallon capacity, you'll never be short on water with this bottle at your side. 

However, it pays to look into claims made by manufacturers. For instance, HydroJug claims its bottle is dishwasher-safe with a leakproof seal. It also says the bottle keeps water cooler for longer with its insulating sleeve. 

The only way to find out is to test the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve to see if these claims are valid.

Testing the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve 

The BestReviews Testing Lab trials products in real-world conditions over an extended period. This gives them a chance to understand how items perform when used regularly. For this article, they carried the HydroJug and its sleeve around with them for weeks, seeing where it excelled and where it fell short. 

What is the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve?

The HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle is a large water bottle and the Insulating Neoprene Sleeve is a sleeve that fits over it. Sold separately, the purpose of the sleeve is to keep water cool for longer. The bottle comes in four colors: black, white, pink and sage. The sleeve comes in nine solid colors and prints, including mint, marble and tan camouflage. 

See how it compares to other products in its space — check out our reviews for the best water bottles.

HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve price and where to buy

The bottle costs roughly $25 and is available from Amazon. You can also buy the sleeve from Amazon, where it's priced at around $15. 

How to use the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve 

There's not much to learn about using the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve. The two arrive separately, so you just need to pull the sleeve onto the bottle and fill it as you would any other water bottle. The sleeve is made from neoprene, the same fabric as wetsuits, so it's fine to get wet and dries quickly. However, it's best to remove it when washing your HydroJug. 

HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve benefits

Large capacity

This bottle is advertised as having a half-gallon capacity but is actually slightly larger, holding an impressive 73 ounces. This is great for people who are serious about hydration but don't have the opportunity to refill smaller water bottles throughout the day. This is larger than most bottles on the market. However, you can find some even larger options, such as gallon water bottles. 

Lighter than metal bottles

Made from plastic, the HydroJug is lighter than its metal counterparts. While many people like metal bottles, one of this size could be prohibitively heavy. Although it isn't especially light when full, the weight of the bottle itself is minimal. 

Insulating properties

The neoprene sleeve improves the insulating properties of this water bottle. This sleeve helps keep water cool for some hours, although the exact length of time varies greatly depending on ambient temperature and other conditions. Few plastic bottles have the option of an insulating sleeve, so this is a nice touch. However, it still doesn't have the same insulating capabilities as vacuum-sealed bottles.

Pockets in the sleeve

Another use for the sleeve is to carry around small items, with the help of the integrated pockets. They're not secure enough to hold heavier items, such as your wallet or keys, but you could slip in your credit card or license. 

Easy to carry

You won't struggle to carry this water bottle, as it has a thick carry loop on the top and an integrated side handle. Both of these feel secure and make it easier to handle even a large bottle like this one. Many bottles of a similar size have integrated side handles, but fewer have top carry loops. 

Dishwasher-safe

Cleaning this bottle is easy since you can put it straight in the dishwasher. This helps you keep it hygienic without scrubbing it inside. However, it's only top rack-safe and it's large enough that you may struggle to fit it on the top rack of compact dishwashers. 

Leakproof lid

The lid is reliably leakproof. Even when you lie it on its side, turn it upside down or shake it around, liquid doesn't leak out. The same can't be said for all cheaper bottles, since some have issues with leaking. 

HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve drawbacks

Heavy when full

When filled with water, this bottle isn't light. It's not a fault of the bottle itself, as you'd have the same issue with any of a similar size. However, it means that it's not the sort of bottle you'll want to have on your person all day. Instead, you might keep it in your office to save going to the kitchen to get water or take it to the gym and set it down near you while you work out.

Bulky

The tradeoff for having a bottle with such a large capacity is that it's bulky. You can find plenty of smaller bottles, but if you want such an impressive capacity, you just have to deal with your bottle being huge. If you think you might find this water bottle too bulky to comfortably carry around, consider a smaller bottle or a handheld running water bottle. 

Water doesn't stay cool all day 

Since it's made from plastic, this bottle doesn't keep water cool all day, even with the neoprene sleeve. You can get a few hours of cold water, but if you want ice-cold water all day, you'll need a vacuum-insulated bottle. 

Sleeve gets dirty

The sleeve gets dirty over time and starts to look messy, especially if you choose one of a lighter color. This would be the same for any bottle with an insulating sleeve, but those with integrated methods of insulation don't have this problem.

Should you get the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve?

If you're looking for a large water bottle, the HydroJug Half-Gallon Water Bottle and Insulating Neoprene Sleeve is a solid option. Its large capacity will keep you hydrated through the day. It's completely leakproof and you can easily keep it clean in the dishwasher.

However, those who want to enjoy cold water all day might prefer to look elsewhere. The claim that the insulating sleeve keeps water cool for longer isn't completely bogus, since it keeps water cooler for longer than the bottle would without the sleeve. Still, vacuum-insulated models maintain a more consistent temperature for longer.