The Calpak Water Bottle Is the Viral Crossbody Bag I Didn’t Know I Needed

I, like many folks, spend a significant amount of time scrolling through Instagram and TikTok where I am bombarded by ads for all manner of interesting things to buy, which is how I first came across the Calpak Water Bottle Holder. I immediately knew it was something I had to try—and not just to encourage my lackluster water consumption. I was amazed by the many things this little bag could carry in addition to a full-sized water bottle. Plus, it came in so many patterns and colors, I couldn’t resist. I was sold.

While it was hard to choose from the many eye-catching designs, I opted for the green and white checkered pattern to add some texture and flair to my outfits. I then toted my cheerful crossbody with me to go on hikes with my besties, to run my weekly errands around the neighborhood and to walk in the park. How did it perform? Well, let’s just say that my beloved tote is no longer my go-to bag of choice. Keep reading for my full review of the Calpak Watter Bottle Holder.

The bag is an adjustable crossbody design with a detachable strap, made with a water-resistant ripstop nylon as well as an insulated and wipeable interior to store beverages on-the-go, including up to a 32-ounce bottle. It also has additional top handles for easy transportability (in case crossbody isn’t your style) and is fitted with four external pockets (one zippered and three cinched) to hold everything you might need while out and about (think: wallet, keys, snacks, etc.). As a chronic tote bag-wearer and overpacker, I was surprised by how much I could fit in there in addition to my water bottle—I actually still had space even after adding in all of my essentials: my keys, cardholder, phone, sunglasses, lip balm, Airpods, hand sanitizer and a couple of cough drops and Dayquil (spring allergies, yay!). So yeah, this guy can hold a lot. And it’s not too bulky either—the bag measures 9.5" x 4" x 4" and weighs 0.4 pounds.

I first tested the bag with a standard 32 ounce-sized, uninsulated Nalgene water bottle while heading to an early morning queer birders meetup (Yes, birding. I’m approaching 30 and collecting new hobbies like they’re Pokémon.). I filled up the water bottle with a generous helping of ice and water, hoping that it would keep my drink nice and cold. I did notice when trying to fit the Nalgene in, the top opening poked out, so I needed to cinch the drawstrings tightly to ensure the temperature stayed cool in the bag.

During my outing, I checked on the temperature of the water as well as the status of the ice several times to get a solid sense of how the insulated inner of the water bottle holder was working. After about an hour, the ice had significantly shrunk but the water was still very cold. Two hours in and the ice was completely melted and the water was chilly. After about four hours peering at red-tailed hawks and white-throated sparrows, my water bottle was at room temperature.

Next, I tested the bag using a smaller bottle—a standard 20-ounce soda—that could be completely submerged in the bag so the drawstrings could close with no opening. I added my raspberry ginger ale to my pack, ensured that the adjustable drawstring strap was closed as tightly as possible and then left the bottle nearly untouched, other than the occasional sip, to see how long it would stay chilled for.

After spending a couple of hours running errands around my neighborhood, to my surprise my beverage was still chilly four hours later. In fact, during the first two hours, the bottle was still as cold as it was when I pulled it out of the fridge in the bodega, and only started to thaw slightly after about three hours. hours. My conclusion? The Calpak will keep a beverage nice and cool for up to four hours (which is good enough for me, but perhaps not sufficient if you're going on a sweltering hike or taking a trip to the beach).

Pros:

• made of water-resistant ripstop nylon material to help prevent tears
• four external pockets (one zippered, three cinched)
• adjustable strap and top handles so it can be worn in multiple ways

Cons:

• shorter insulation time than a typical cooler
• water bottle enclosure doesn't completely close, leaving room for air to get in and change the temperature on your bottle if not insulated

The Calpak Water Bottle Holder is one of the brand’s best-selling items, along with the Terra 26L Laptop Duffel Backpack and their Evry Starter Bundle. (It also happens to be a favorite brand of Oprah, NDB.) And it’s easy to see why. I really enjoyed using the Calpak Water Bottle Holder. It was the perfect crossbody to hold all of my essentials and keep me hydrating all day. I found that it was very easy to use, spacious given the size and relatively lightweight to carry around. I love that there were so many pockets to utilize and that the crossbody strap could be adjusted or taken off all together.

I’m also a big fan of the design options. The water bottle holder comes in four classic colors and over 10 rotating limited edition patterns and colorways. This bag is definitely a great option for people who want to streamline their life (or at least their Sunday morning errand run). It fits most (if not all) of the everyday items you might keep in your larger bag and allows you to pack lightly. Will it replace my go-to tote bag? Sometimes. I’ll still be reaching for my tote on occasion, because I like to have a book and journal on me, but on lighter days where I know I won’t be using those items, you bet that I’ll be taking my water bottle holder for a whirl. It’s just that good.