Proper hydration has been a long-standing health rule, but have you ever wondered why? Well, water makes up about 60 percent of the human body, says Jaclyn London, RD, a certified dietitian-nutritionist and author in New York City, and data from the U.S. Geological Survey, a government agency, backs that up.

Because it’s such a big part of us, you can imagine that water is involved in just about every one of our bodily functions, says Ryan Andrews, RD, an adviser and the principal nutritionist at Precision Nutrition in Norwalk, Connecticut. Among its many functions, water dissolves and transports other substances around the body, assists in metabolic reactions, lubricates tissues like eyes and joints, regulates body temperature, distributes minerals, and acts as a building material for cells.

For those reasons and more, staying well hydrated is great for your health.

“Growing research suggests good hydration can help with everything from joint health and workout stamina to mood and mental focus,” London says. A review in the January 2019 issue of Nutrients details some of these findings. People who are optimally hydrated may even age slower than their dehydrated counterparts, according to research published in eBioMedicine in January 2023.

Water can also factor into the achievement of weight loss goals. “In practice, I’ve found that a little self-check-in of ‘Have I had enough to drink today?’ can be a game changer for so many clients who often mistake thirst for hunger,” London says.

Doing that check-in can be an important reminder to drink enough H₂O throughout the day as well, a task that seems simple but is often overlooked. “It can be so easy to get caught up in daily life and responsibilities and neglect hydration,” says London. After a nonstop day, you may realize in the evening that you drank barely a cup (8 ounces), whereas the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommends that men consume 125 ounces (oz) of total fluid and that women consume 91 oz of fluid, with about 20 percent of those totals coming from food.

Nutritionists even have a term, “low drinker,” for a healthy adult who has adequate water access but who doesn’t habitually drink enough, notes one study. These people aren’t dehydrated, but their bodies are actively preserving the water they do have by suppressing normal functions like urination. They also don't feel extra thirsty, so they don’t have that internal cue to drink more water. If that’s you, you might need a little help.

Luckily, the market has risen to the challenge of helping you meet your water quota, from handy apps, hydration trackers, and smart water bottles that monitor consumption to bottles that infuse flavors into your water to make it more appealing. Of course, you don’t need all of them. Andrews suggests exploring those that interest you and trying the one that fits most readily into your life.

Here are 13 great, innovative products at a variety of price points that make such a basic task — drinking water — doable and a bit more fun.

1. HidrateSpark PRO Keeps Your Drinks Cold and Your Hydration On Track

This smart water bottle from HidrateSpark is a battery-powered, double-walled, vacuum-insulated stainless steel bottle that comes in three sizes (21, 24, or 32 oz) and two sip options (straw or chug lid). “I really like a simple stainless steel water bottle that marks your progress, like HidrateSpark. These are simple and nonintrusive, and don’t contribute to the burden of plastic pollution,” says Andrews. The program calculates your hydration needs and goals (taking factors like exercise, your physiology, and the weather into account), and the bottle glows when you need to take a sip. Genius.

See price at HidrateSpark.com.

2. WaterMinder App Keeps Reminders Simple

Easy to use, this H₂O-tracking app reminds you to take a break and drink. After sipping, tap the button and it will record how much you’ve consumed and show you how close you are to your daily goal, via an image of a person (you!) that “fills up” with water. What’s also interesting is that you can see a two-week history of your water intake, helping you connect how you feel that day (headachy? sluggish?) with how much water you did (or didn’t) drink. It is rated 4.8 on the App Store and 4.6 on Google Play.

See price at WaterMinder.com.

3. LARQ Self-Cleaning Bottle PureVis Gives Pure Water in Every Sip

To drink clean water wherever you are, the LARQ Bottle is built with UV-C LED light, which the company says eliminates nearly 100 percent of contaminants from water. Every two hours, the bottle turns on that self-cleaning function, making its contents safer and tastier. Insulated, it keeps water cold for 24 hours or hot for 12 hours. It is a bit heavy, so if you prefer a lighter lift, the company also offers a single-walled self-cleaning stainless steel bottle; it doesn’t keep beverages at a desired temperature but may be better if you have an on-the-go lifestyle.

See price at LiveLARQ.com.

4. Uncommon Goods Bluetooth Speaker and Water Bottle Brings the Entertainment

Here’s a way to motivate yourself to hydrate in the middle of your favorite activities, including exercising, hanging out at a park, heading to the beach, or taking a camping trip. The stainless steel and plastic water bottle has a built-in Bluetooth speaker that you can use to listen to music or take calls on (because why not?). Users love the sound quality, too.

See price at UncommonGoods.com.

5. Que Collapsible Bottle Is Perfect for Travel

One of the perks of this water bottle is that, fully extended, it has a capacity of 20 oz. The coil design allows the bottle to collapse to hold just 8 oz and stand at 4.8 inches. That’s ideal for when you travel, are on the move, or need to conserve space, and it’s easy to store in your cabinets. Unlike many reusable bottles, its silicone material makes it dishwasher-safe.

See price at QueBottle.com.

6. Hydro Coach Pro Tracks Your Intake of Various Fluids

This app sets itself apart because it allows you to enter other beverages (think coffee, tea, smoothies) so you know how much overall fluid you’re drinking, not just water.

There is a basic free Hydro Coach app, but the pro version allows you to set goals for different types of drinks and how much they should be contributing to your overall intake. Right now, Hydro Coach Pro is available only on Google Play (and syncs with Google Fit, Samsung Health, and Fitbit), but the company says it will soon be released to iOS. It is rated 4.6 on Google Play.

See price at Hydrocoach.com.

7. Savvy Infusion Water Bottle Puts Spa Water in Your Hands

Well priced, this water bottle has an infuser in the middle. You can pack fruits (like citrus slices and berries), veggies (cucumbers), or herbs (mint) inside, which will pump up your plain water with flavor. It’s way more convenient than filling up an entire pitcher for your fridge. To keep things interesting, create new combinations every day. If you’re not a water drinker, this may be the first time you’ll actually be stoked to sip.

See price at Amazon.com.

8. Wetsleeve Keeps You Hydrated for Long Outdoor Workouts

Are you heading out for a hike or long walk, or are you perhaps cycling the roads or training for a race? The insulated 12 oz Wetsleeve can be worn on your arm and sipped from effortlessly for any of these activities and more. Small pockets allow you to carry your keys. And, no, you don’t have to be an athlete to appreciate the relief that comes from not having to carry a water bottle when you’re out — this is suitable for anyone.

See price at Wetsleeve.com.

9. Ulla Smart Hydration Reminder Sets a Visual Cue to Drink Up

These days, you never leave the house without your water bottle. But even good bottles can leak, which makes hydrating challenging on the go. That’s where these Yeti bottles come in. The company has two models that are perfect, depending on your need. The Yeti Rambler is an 18- to 64 oz insulated bottle when you like your H₂O chilly. Another option is the Yeti Yonder, which comes in a 20-, 25-, 34-, and 50 oz size and is designed to be half the weight of the Rambler, making the Yonder perfect for tossing in a bag without worry.

See price at Yeti.com.

12. Open Water Packs Still or Sparkling H₂O in Aluminum Cans

The company’s line of probiotic waters are loved on Amazon. Their newest product is the Hydration Kit, which provides a four-week supply of functional and flavored waters. Choose from probiotic, CBD, and vitamin-fortified waters in flavors like Orange Mango, Berry Cherry, and Cranberry Lime; each is lightly sweetened with cane sugar and Stevia, but only clocks in at 20 calories. (Given the sugar content, just like other sweetened functional beverages, it’s not something you want to exclusively drink. But for a sweet, low-cal option, this can hit the spot.) The cool thing about the kit is that you get a reusable bottle, which you fill with water, and then insert the flavor boost into the cap area, which filters into the water right as you’re taking a sip.

See price at Drinkkarma.com.