Drink bottles with straws have become popular over the last few years, and not just for kids. They have become popular everyday water bottles and the top choice for taking to the gym, yoga classes and more. We stock popular brands that won't break the bank and offer you the option of buying spare lids and straws to extend the life of your water bottle.

What are the benefits of drinking from a straw water bottle?

The biggest advantage of using straw drink bottles is that you don't have to tip your head back to drink from them. There are countless benefits to this for all different ages and situations. Here's just a handful of them.

• Toddlers and young children can have difficulties drinking when their neck is extended. They can also accidentally tip too much water down their throat in this position and create a choking hazard. A straw bottle is a much safer option for little ones.
• An insulated water bottle with a straw is a great option for your desk at work. Fill up a 1 litre straw bottle, 1.5 litre straw bottle or even a 2 litre straw water bottle, drop some ice cubes in it and leave it on your desk all day for chilled hydration to last you through your whole work day. You're more likely to rehydrate in short sips through the day if you're just flipping up a straw and now unscrewing a lid.
• Got sporty kids? When they're on the sports field or a school event, the sports lids are quicker to open and close, easier to drink from and your kids don't have to remove the straw lid to drink, just to refill, so they're not going to lose the lid, which is easy for anyone to do while you're focusing on sports. Get insulated water bottles with straws if they're going to be out in the heat for extended periods of time.
• A water bottle with a straw lid can provide easier hydration access for someone with a disability. We always recommend you speak to your own Occupational Therapist or adviser on what's best for your own needs, but we know the Camelbak Bite Valve bottles have been popular with OT's for a while now.

What are the straws made from?

Depending on the brand and the bottle, most of the internal straws in these drink bottles are plastic or silicone. The plastic straws are usually cloudy plastic, which are polypropylene, and they are solid, but still easy to cut. Silicone straws are bendy and usually clear and they are easy to cut to size if necessary. Occasionally an internal straw will be Tritan Eastman plastic which is a clear, solid plastic and not easily cut to size. If you're buying a Tritan Eastman straw, you're best to ensure it's the correct length for your drink bottle.

The external straws on most bottles are a part of the lid. If the external drinking straw is solid, when it's time to replace it, you will need to replace the whole lid. If you have bought an Oasis Drink Bottle and we don't have the lid listed for sale, we can order it in. Since they don't need replacing very often, we don't have all the lids in our warehouse ready to ship. External straws like the Camelbak bottles have a soft silicone bite valve and they can be replaced without needing to replace the whole lid.

Can I buy replacement straws for my straw water bottle?

Yes. We sell replacement straws for all the straw water bottles in store. We may not have every size, but they can be cut down to the correct length with a sharp knife or scissors. Cut the end that's going to touch the bottle just a little shorter and at a slight angle. There will usually be a tiny amount of water you can't get out of the bottle with a straw, and that's ok.

What are the best straw water bottles for young children?

Bottles that are smaller in size are easier to hold, but this is not the main consideration when choosing a mouthpiece with a straw for a child. Choose something relatively small and soft for the external straw. Anything too hard or large can cause potential dental issues. The Camelbak kids bottles and the kids range in the Oasis range have silicone straws that are more gentle on young teeth than those with a hard straw. The pop up lids on the Oasis kids bottles keep the straw clean from the elements when not in use.

Can I use my insulated water bottle with straw to store hot liquids?

The bottle is never the issue here, it's always the lid. Check on the description of each product to see what we have said about it. For the majority of the water bottles with straws in store, the straw lid themselves aren't ideally suited for storing hot liquids, but many have additional lids that can be purchased that are suitable. If you're not sure, please feel free to ask.

How do I clean my water bottle with a straw in it?

It's vital that bottles and straws get washed on a regular basis. Invest in a bottle brush and a straw cleaner and wash the bottle, lid and straw frequently, allowing them to completely dry before reassembly. Don't allow bacteria or mould to grow in the bottle or the straws. Replace the straws when you feel like they need it. Hot soapy water and the brushes are all you need.