"Shape Tested: The Top 8 Shaker Bottles for 2023"
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When it comes to adding more nutrients to your diet, supplements are an easy solution. Pre-workout drinks, drinkable greens, coffee mixed with collagen, and protein powder shakes are just a few options to choose from. Consuming 20 grams of protein (with carbohydrates) within one to two hours after a workout helps to optimize muscle building and repair. A protein drink is a convenient way to get the nutrients you need on-the-go, and a shaker bottle can make it even easier.
A good shaker bottle consists of a cup (usually with measurements for liquids), a twist-off lid, and a ball that helps break up clumps of powder. This makes your drink more palatable, but even if your supplement isn't thoroughly mixed, it will still have the same nutritional value. Choosing the right shaker bottle is important because it can keep liquids cold or hot, depending on what's required for the supplement. When mixing with a liquid that requires a specific temperature range, it is important from a food safety standpoint to consider this.
There are hundreds of shaker bottles to choose from, so we tested 24 options in a wide variety of features and price points in our New York lab. After mixing and shaking protein powder and water and tasting our DIY protein shakes, we rated each bottle's performance on design, ease of cleaning, ability to dissolve powder, and more. Our analysis led us to narrow it down to these eight shaker bottles.
1. Contigo Shake & Go Fit Shaker Bottle
The Contigo Shake & Go Fit Shaker Bottle impressed us with its innovative design. The mixer ball is weighted and has solid, indented paddles fanning out from the center, which prevents clumping while you mix and makes the ball much easier to clean. The measurements on the side go up to 24 ounces, making this the biggest shaker bottle we tested. The carry loop makes it easy to tote around, and the snap-on lid gave a satisfying click when fully closed, so we felt confident nothing would leak. The downside of this shaker bottle is that it is not insulated, so anything you stow will get warm eventually. However, at well under $15, we think this shaker bottle is a great value for everyday needs.
Size: 28 oz. | Colors: 2 | Material: BPA-free plastic | Blending Method: Weighted non-wire ball | Insulated: No | Dishwasher-safe: Yes, top-rack only
2. VOLTRX Premium Electric Protein Shaker Bottle
If you want to upgrade your shaker bottle, the VOLTRX Premium Electric Protein Shaker Bottle uses electric power (via micro USB C charging cable) to perfectly mix your drink every time. The result is a silky-smooth texture that's a delight to drink. A single press of the mixing button triggers 30 seconds of almost-silent blending, and a double press activates three minutes (which was more than we needed in our tests, FYI).
We had a hard time reading the measurements on the bottle due to the slightly curved design. Also, since the mixing blades are plastic, they feel a little flimsy, and we don't recommend using this shaker bottle for anything like fruit or ice.
Size: 24 oz. | Colors: 7 | Material: Tritan plastic | Blending Method: Electric with plastic blades | Insulated: No | Dishwasher-safe: No
The BlenderBottle's Radian Insulated Shaker Bottle is a must-have for anyone who wants their post-workout drink perfectly chilled. The double-wall vacuum insulation keeps your drink cold for up to 24 hours, longer than any other shaker bottle tested. The stainless steel material gives it a high-quality feel and the matte finish is scratch-resistant and durable enough to withstand the rigors of a gym bag. Although the bottle isn't transparent, it has measurement markings inside for accurate shaking, stirring, and mixing.
However, the wire mixing ball inside the stainless steel bottle can be quite noisy, making it unsuitable for those who prefer a subtle mixing experience. The price of this shaker bottle at the time of publication is $25 and it comes in seven different colors, has a capacity of 26 ounces, and the blending method is a wire ball. It is also insulated and dishwasher-safe for the lid only, while the bottle should be hand-washed.
The Hydra Cup's unique dual shaker impressed us with its versatility. It comes with a 14-ounce compartment and a 22-ounce compartment for when you want two separate drinks. Each compartment has its own drink spout, so there is no cross-contaminating taste from two different drinks. The four-point snap-on seal ensures that the spouts end up in the right compartment.
This shaker bottle saves you the trouble of carrying two separate bottles, but it can be a little unwieldy to carry at times, and it can get messy pouring protein powder into the small compartments. The cost of this shaker bottle at the time of publication is $25 for a three-pack, and it has a capacity of 36 ounces in total. The material is plastic, and it is dishwasher-safe.
The BlenderBottle's SportMixer Shaker is perfect for long runs or workouts on the go, with its foldaway loop and a textured grip. It comes in either a 20-ounce or a 28-ounce option and has an ergonomic rubber grip and hourglass shape, which makes it easier to grip than other options tested. The Tritan plastic is also stain- and odor-resistant, which makes it ideal for people who want a shaker bottle that they can take everywhere with them.
However, the bottle is too big for average car cupholders, just like the Contigo Shake & Go Fit, and it's not insulated. The BlenderBottle's SportMixer Shaker costs $15 at the time of publication, it comes in six different colors, the material is Tritan plastic, it uses a wire ball for blending, and it is dishwasher-safe.
The PROMiXX Pro Shaker Bottle impressed us with its clever little capsule for storing protein powder, which fits neatly into the mouth of the bottle so it's always within reach. The blending blades make it easy to clean, just by adding warm water and dishwasher detergent and blending as usual. But the blending mechanism left our drinks too frothy for our preferences, and the capacity is a tad small.
You'll be happy with this shaker bottle if you prefer your drinks frothy. The PROMiXX Pro Shaker Bottle costs $35 at the time of publication, it has a capacity of 20 ounces, it comes in five different colors, the material is BPA-free plastic, the blending method is electric with plastic blades, and it is not dishwasher-safe.
The Helimix 2.0 Vortex Blender Shaker Bottle's unique slanted walls eliminate the need for a blending ball and lived up to its promise of clump-free blending. It is easy to clean, meaning there aren't any nooks and crannies where powder can get stuck. However, thicker powders may not blend as easily as they would with an electric shaker bottle or with a traditional shaker bottle. This bottle is not insulated, so it's not ideal if you prefer ice-cold drinks.
This shaker bottle costs $25 at the time of publication, it has a capacity of 28 ounces, it comes in 15 different colors, the material is Tritan plastic, the blending method is bottle design, and it is dishwasher-safe.
Electric shaker bottles are becoming increasingly popular as they make it easier to blend drinks at the press of a button. However, the plastic blades used in some models we tested were less powerful than expected. For those looking for a combination shaker bottle and small appliance, the Blendjet 2 is a great option with its legit stainless steel blades that can easily chop fruit and ice in addition to blending your supplements. It can be used for protein shakes, smoothies, milkshakes, baby food or even frozen cocktails, and comes in numerous eye-catching colors and patterns.
Although the Blendjet 2 is longer than most other models we tested, it has only a 16-ounce capacity, making it slightly cumbersome. Additionally, one charge only lasts approximately 15 uses, which is not as efficient as other shaker bottles like the PROMiXX Pro Shaker Bottle or VOLTRX Premium Electric Protein Shaker Bottle.
The Shape team tested 24 shaker bottles in our New York lab and assigned ratings and rankings to the eight best shaker bottles based on our findings. We involved Allison Knott, R.D, a registered dietitian and board-certified specialist in sports nutrition based in New York City, who provided expert advice on shaker bottles and pre- and post-workout fuel. We also researched the most popular shaker bottles and essential features, such as leak-proof lids, thorough mixing, and easy cleaning.
Shaker bottles are commonly made from plastic, glass, or stainless steel. Plastic is the most widely used material because it is affordable and easy to clean; however, it may hold onto odors and tastes even after washing. Glass shaker bottles look modern and are easy to clean, but they are breakable and heavy. Stainless steel shaker bottles keep drinks cold for several hours, but they're not transparent, making it difficult to easily check how much is left, and vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottles are hand wash only.
Traditional shaker bottles use a small wire ball for blending to whisk through powder clumps and break them up, while others, like the Contigo Shake & Go Fit, have a more solid, weighted ball with strategic indents to help blend. Electric shaker bottles, on the other hand, have plastic or stainless steel blades built into the bottle or lid and can blend drinks quickly at the press of a button.
Cleaning shaker bottles can be challenging, particularly for the plastic and stainless steel ones. Many, especially plastic models, are top-rack dishwasher safe. However, protein powders and supplements can clump up in the crevices of a bottle, making them harder to clean.
The Shape team knows the importance of finding the perfect shaker bottle for fitness lovers and frequent gym-goers who often blend and drink post-workout protein drinks on the go, at the gym, or in the car. Emily Belfiore, one of our Buying Guides writers for Meredith brands including InStyle, People, Food & Wine, and more, brings real-life experience and expertise to finding the best shaker bottles.
Kristen Geil is a senior commerce editor at Shape who specializes in fitness equipment, gear, and accessories. She’s a vegetarian who’s always had to supplement her diet with protein shakes, and she has a great distaste for cleaning clumps out of wire whisks and bottles. She analyzed the testing insights to help choose the best shaker bottles in this article.
