Most of us already know that it is long past time that we did away with the concept of single-use PET bottles and reign in our throw-away culture. Indeed, doing so establishes more options for us to define ourselves and the ethos through which we govern our lives.

Replacing PET with a refillable water bottle gives a new canvas upon which to express who you are. It doesn't have to be boring but instead chic. There are bottle designs out there that will blow your mind, or if you can't find something for you, some of the more cutting-edge water bottle design companies, like Vidl, allow you input into the design itself.

Is It All About Aesthetics?
When choosing a water bottle, you have to marry up several factors in your decision-making process. The main three that you will consider are functionality, style, and trend.

Functionality, as a factor, can sometimes be lost when design aesthetics play too significant a role. A water bottle that looks great but is difficult to drink from, or can be subject to bacteria build-up around the mouthpiece is only going to frustrate you. Yes, there are plenty of refillable bottles out there with great aesthetics but could be better designed.

Water Bottle Styles
Aesthetics though, together with your environmental conscience, are probably the main reason for going with a reusable water bottle. The right choice of water bottle can become a statement piece about yourself. Both environmental and style credentials can be burnished from using the right water bottle.

Situation and location are also important. It is unlikely that one bottle will be sufficient, which gives you several design canvasses from which you can mold your style.

Just as you wear different clothes to each, with work, exercise, home, or just plain partying, you will probably want your water canister to send distinct messages to these different audiences in order to establish your complete persona. Indeed the contents of each bottle could well be very different.

From electrolyte-infused water for the gym to juices at home, although this will require you to purchase multiple water bottles, it actually helps you manage your time and prevents unnecessary cross-contamination of liquids.

Catching the Popping Trends
Being on trend with your aesthetics will probably matter, and these trends, sometimes abruptly, change. The way to stay ahead of popping trends is through influencers, and not be playing catch up.

Watching the influencers will give you a good idea of what they are using for their hydration needs, particularly if they are gym regulars. When looking through an influencer's posts, you need to filter out the genuine ones from the sponsored, as these posts devalue the data that you can retrieve.

The question you need to ask is if that bottle really is an everyday water bottle that the influencer uses or if it is just planted for money. When you are happy that the water bottle isn't a plant, you need to note the brand and/or style.

Water Bottle Materials
As environmental concerns are likely to be at the forefront of your jump to from single-use PET bottles to starting to use refillable ones, it would only then do to buy a water bottle built from materials that are sustainable and not environmentally damaging.

Various types of materials, from cheap plastics to shimmering metals, stainless steel, or a combination of two or three different sources, can be used in the creation of a refillable water canister.

You should endeavor to search out canisters or bottles constructed from reclaimed materials if possible. It also pays in terms of durability and hygiene to have the compartment that holds the liquid or soft drinks to be made from food-grade stainless steel. Indeed the ideal combination would be a reclaimed plastic outer shell encasing a stainless steel canister.

Design Your Own Bottle
If you want to stride out with a unique style of your own, then designing or customizing your own bottle is an option available through some of the better manufacturers.

Whilst you generally are working from a specific bottle shape, the options available can be extensive. At one end of the scale, the customization can be limited to names, phrases, or even motivational messages. However, if you are feeling bold you can take most of the other elements in the design and create a water canister that is quite unique to you.

Colors, various forms, and types of lid and mouthpiece, such as straw or 'chug,' are often available to select from. With a multiplicity of bases, as well as the use of stainless steel as the lead material, you are likely to be able to deliver many of the ideas roaming your mind.

Conclusion
When upgrading your water bottle for a design-conscious world, your options are almost limitless. The bottle can be a statement about who you are, a wordless way of helping those who surround you better understand you. Do you belong to a 'tribe,' follow specific trends or are you your own person, just as with your clothes a water bottle represents more than just something to drink from.

Your statement won't be limited by choice either as there are innumerable choices available, or you can even create your own.