Today we are dominated by trends. There’s the usual clothing trends or music trends that get a lot of attention, but how about one that’s a little more niche: water bottle trends. For decades it has seemed that there is always one water bottle brand that gets really big on the market, and right now it is Owala. It is often praised for its functionality, lead free design, and wide range of colors. This may be why they seem to have found their way into practically every class at NAHS. However, despite their popular reviews, there are some complaints about this seemingly perfect water bottle. Let’s take a deeper look at this popular water bottle and its possible future.

Some key aspects that need to be taken into consideration when looking at Owalas is its uniqueness and longevity. There have been many brands before it that tried to be the water bottle, but none ever really stuck. For example there were once nalgenes, hydroflasks (how can we ever forget the vsco girl times), and most recently stanleys. However they have all seemed to pale in comparison to the popularity of Owalas. But why is this? What makes Owala so popular among high schoolers? After asking around, there was a clear consensus that they are so beloved in part because of their unique lid that makes it so that you can either sip from it like a straw or just regularly drink from it. On the other hand, they also have so many different color combinations to pick from that makes them feel fun and unique. “My favorite thing about Owala’s are their fun color combinations that make each one feel different,” says Sydney Kearsley.

However, there are definitely some areas that Owala could improve on. Unfortunately, their color options can also prove to be a negative for them as some are called odd, childlike, or weird. Another con is that they are a little difficult to clean because of their straw inspired lid that has a talent of growing mold no matter how many times it is cleaned. “I like my Owala, but I don’t normally reach for it because it seems like it gets dirty after one use,” says Marcella Mokam.

So when looking at the big picture, does Owala have the ability to outlast all of its past competitors? My guess: most likely. This is because they know how to make their product interesting by coming out with new colors or seasonal drops to make consumers keep coming back. Needless to say, Owala has definitely made its way into North Atlanta High School, and it will probably stay there for at least a few more years.