A few days ago, I decided to go out to the University Book Store and buy myself one of those expensive, colorful, fashionable, water bottles. That’s right! I got myself a Hydro Flask! Am I an official Pacific North Westerner yet?
It seems that everywhere you turn today on campus, you see the flashy colors of the Hydro Flask dashing past you to class or sitting in the dining hall to accompany a meal. Maybe it’s relaxing in front of you at a club meeting and you get distracted by the eccentric stickers that cover it. You just might have heard the obnoxious clunking noise it makes when it falls, just before the owner embarrassingly picks it up. But look—that little character raising his hands up for the logo looks so healthy and happy. Drinking water has suddenly never looked so attractive!
After a long debate inside my head about whether it’s worth $30 to have the privilege to drink water out of a pretty piece of metal, I go ahead and buy the bad boy. Just before I do so, I spend ten minutes snapchatting my friends, carefully discussing what color really “fits me”. Naturally, as a husky, I go for purple. Black and white are boring, everyone has teal and light blue anyway, and yellow is so bright it almost blinds me. Logic.
While I’m purchasing my new toy, I can’t help but feel some sort of guilt come over me. Is it worth it? Hydro Flask is certainly a reputable brand, and for many people worth the money. It’s sleek, BPA-free and temperature insulated. The company has won numerous awards for its innovative technology and design. With 75% of Americans possibly facing chronic dehydration, maybe having a little motivation to drink some water isn’t so bad.
Motivation is an understatement. As soon as I got back to my dorm, I filled my new prize with water, slapped on some stickers, and began fashionably chugging away. Ok, so that was an overstatement. Yet there was something about drinking water I didn’t notice before. I couldn’t tell if I felt obligated to get my money’s worth, or if I really have always been that thirsty. The answer probably lies somewhere in between. Yet the convenience of having ice cold water at my side while I crunch on my sodium filled chips (balance is key) is something I admire.
All jokes aside, I’m happy with the decision I made to buy the Hydro Flask. Of course, I wish it was a bit cheaper, and I’m already terrified of dropping it and making it sound like a bomb went off inside my lecture hall. However, having my own, stylish bottle that I can use to not only artistically express myself, but also hydrate myself, has been rewarding mentally and physically. At the end of it all, it’s important to remember the privilege we have being able to afford such luxurious water-holding devices, and that the majority of us have the access to utilize it anytime we want.