Trend changes are everywhere, and the Elizabethtown College campus sees a lot of them: claw clips, regular or flair leggings, Nike or Adidas and baggy jeans. A new wave of color has been spreading like wildfire around Etown these past few months: Owalas. The vibrant bottles are even rivaling the persistent Stanley.
Throughout middle and high school, I remember the distinct water bottle trends and the quick pace with which they dissipated into forgottenness. This ultimately led to intense discussions and debates surrounding which water bottle was best.
Within the past two years, two major water bottles have made an appearance: the Stanley and the Owala. The former took the world by storm, appealing to customers because of its large size, easy-to-grasp handle and ability to fit in a car cup holder. For the same reason, the size is an advantage, it is also an implication for those who are fairly or unfairly labeled as “water bottle droppers.” The Stanley’s bulky size and shape quickly becomes a hindrance when faced with transportation or limited space.
A full turnaround from the Stanley, Owala water bottles are as creative as they are practical, with countless colors to choose from and regular color drops on their website. Mixing and matching Owala lids and bottles allows for personal individualization and the creation of unique color combinations.
On top of this, Owalas have a one-of-a-kind feature that has not yet been seen in any other modern water bottle: the FreeSip. The FreeSip allows users to easily navigate between using a straw or chug design without having to switch out the accessories.
Students at Etown acknowledge the fleeting nature of the trendy water bottle. “The quick evolution of water bottles is crazy,” third-year Marissa Puleo said. Puleo is a big fan of the Owala, but she recalls the trends having changed throughout the years. “I always think it will slow down, but it feels as though there’s always a new product or brand,” Puleo said.
Although past water bottle trends were lost as easily as they were picked up, the Owala might be here to stay. Declining Stanleys and the exponential rise of Owala number and diversity depict more of a lifestyle than a trend.
“Once I saw Owala, I knew it was the one for me. Me and Owala are going the distance,” third-year Riley Hennelly said. Hennelly has her go-to 40oz and two more bottles on the way. An Owala fanatic, Hennelly has declined to ever purchase another water bottle brand since her discovery.
The Stanley and Owala are tough competitors, but I will always side with Owala. Its flexibility of use, practicality and vivid and distinct colors all lead to the same conclusion: the Owala is the keystone species of the water bottle ecosystem. Once you use an Owala, you can never go back. Live, laugh, Owala!
