The 5 Best Blender Bottles

It may seem obvious now, but it took until the year 2000 before someone realized that a wire-whisk ball in your protein shake cup would break up the clumps and make your life all the better. Steve Sorensen patented the design, and thus the blender bottle was born. Now a must-have for anyone heading the gym or working out on the go, the blender bottle (or shaker cup) allows you to mix your favorite liquids with your favorite supplements and keep them perfectly blended together with having to pack your blender in your gym bag. No more unpleasant clumps stuck in the straw or worse still, lodged in your throat. With the popularity of blender bottles exploding over the last decade, there are dozens of designs to choose from. Here are the five that we think are the best of the best.

Blender Bottle ProStak System

Go Pro, Get Stacked

From the first name in blender bottles comes the Blender Bottle ProStak System - everything you need in a convenience cup.

Best Overall

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Blender Bottle is basically the company that invented the blender bottle back in 2000, and its dominance in the marketplace in both unparalleled and warranted. Of the dozens of products it offers, the Blender Bottle Prostak System is our choice for the best blender bottle overall. It includes the 22-ounce capacity bottle, the wire-whisk stirring ball, and the leak-proof, SureSeal lid. But it also comes with two separate storage jars that lock onto the main bottle: one with 150cc capacity and one with 100cc capacity. This allows you to carry your supplements separately and blend everything together whenever you want. The storage containers are also convenient for small snacks, and with the removable, twist-and-lock pill organizer, you can bring along your vitamin supplements as well. It’s the perfect combination of functionality and convenience.

Pros:

Available in sixteen colors
BPA and Phthalate-free
Guaranteed not to leak

Cons:

Small containers often require hand cleaning
Unit is larger than others

Contigo Shake & Go

Puts The “Go” In Contigo

A simple, no-frills design and leak-proof guarantee make the Contigo Shake & Go the best choice for budget-conscious buyers.

Best Value

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The Contigo Shake & Go is pretty much exactly what the name entails: a simple, easy-to-use blender bottle that keeps your drinks mixed and ready. Featuring a rounded bottom and a weighted shaker ball, the Contigo eliminates clumps effectively while providing for easy cleanup. It’s also one of the most convenient blender bottles, as it fits into most car cup holders and features a hand carrying loop that can clip onto gym bags. Best of all, the Contigo Shake & Go comes with a lifetime guarantee against any defects from manufacturing, materials, and workmanship, so when they claim the bottle is 100% leak-proof, you can take that to the bank.

Pros:

Includes volume marks for easy measuring
Comes in nine different colors and styles
Available in 20 and 28-ounce capacities

Cons:

Plastic, non-hollow shaker ball
Threads can gunk up

ShakeSphere Tumbler

You Don’t Always Need Balls

With its patented, “capsule-shaped mixing,” the ShakeSphere Tumbler is the best way to mix without blender balls.

Best Innovation

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Winner of the 2019 Men’s Health Fitness Awards, the ShakeSphere Tumbler is a technological step forward for blender bottles. Its patented design requires no blender balls or grinders: the capsule shape does the mixing by preventing your powder from settling into corners. Simply shake it like any other blender bottle and you’re ready to go! Without corners in the bottle, cleanup is simple as well, so you prevent Stinky Bottle Syndrome that occurs with other bottles. The leak-proof, sliding cap won’t poke you in the eye as you drink, nor will it spill all over your clothes like some bottle opening. Made from BPA-free Tritan plastic, the ShakeSphere Tumbler is also freezer safe, making it perfect for smoothies featuring softer fruits.

Pros:

25-ounce capacity
100% satisfaction guarantee
Available in five colors

Cons:

Not dishwasher safe
Not suitable for cup holders

Helimix Vortex Shaker Bottle

Just For The Helimix

Using a patented vortex blending design, Helimix provides clump-free drinks without the accessories.

Best Hassle-Free

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Helimix throws its hat into the shaker-ball-free blender bottle arena with its Vortex Bottle Shaker. Utilizing a patented design whereby slanted, vertical ridges along the cup provide a “vortex” blending effect, the Helimix can blend your powdered drinks without the use of wire mesh or plastic balls. Tested against other comparable designs, the Helimix provides a thorough blending with giving your arm an additional workout. The Tritan plastic is odor-resistant, BPA/BPE-free and dishwasher safe, and the easy-locking lid assures a leak-proof storage and drinking experience. With a graduated scale from 4 to 20 ounces, it’s easy to measure and mix your favorite drinks – even cocktails can be blended in the Helimix, which certainly makes a work out worthwhile!

Pros:

28-ounce capacity
Lid opens without touching the spout
Made in the USA

Cons:

Tight fit on the cap
Grooves can require hand-cleaning

Blender Bottle Radian Insulated Stainless Steel

Keepin' it Cool

All the perks and features of Blender Bottle’s best-in-class shaker, but in an insulated, durable container.

Best Insulated Bottle

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There’s nothing like a cold drink after an intense workout, and with the Bottle Blender Radian Insulated Bottle, your post-session refresher stays chilled. Designed with double-walled vacuum insulation, your cold drinks stay cold for 24 hours while resisting condensation. And of course, you get all the features and functionality you’ve come to expect from Blender Bottle: a 316 surgical-grade stainless steel blender ball, a detachable carrying loop, ounce and milliliter markings both inside and out, and a center-mounted spout with a secure, spill-proof cap. And since the cap is dishwasher safe, it’s also the most convenient insulated blender bottle you can find.

Pros:

Choose from seven colors
26-ounce capacity
Fits into most car cup holders

Cons:

Not for use with hot liquids
Bottle section must be hand-washed

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it unhealthy to have a wire ball sitting in your protein shake?

No. The wire used for blender balls is food grade, just like pans used to cook or sheets used to bake. Another way of looking at it: your blender uses a metal blade to blend smoothies, and makes constant contact with your drink, but there’s no problem there. If you have concerns, you can get a blender bottle with a plastic ball, but we think that simply contributes to plastic waste, which is already a big problem.

Are the wire blender balls dishwasher safe?

Yes! Though some blender bottles are not dishwasher safe, the mesh wire and the metal blender balls can be thrown in the dishwasher. This helps keep your drinks odor free, but to truly avoid Stinky Cup Syndrome, we recommend you rinse out your blender bottle promptly after each use, especially if you mix protein powder with milk. Though all reputable companies manufacture their blender bottles from BPA-free plastics, be careful to read the instructions when you purchase your bottle to make sure it’s dishwasher safe.

I lost my metal blender ball. Now what do I do?

Fortunately, you’re not the first one, so it’s easy to find and order replacement blender balls online. In fact, there are complete blender bottle washer kits you can purchase. These come with scrubbing tools to help cure and prevent Stinky Cup Syndrome, and even include tiny brushes to clean stainless steel straws.