Maybe you grew up in a town where tap water tasted like it came straight from a garden hose dipped in dirt. Or maybe you’re just one of those people who physically cannot drink plain water without feeling like you’re being punished. Either way, Cirkul might feel like a godsend.
Personally, I don’t hate plain water. I drink it. I survive. But sometimes I want something a little more exciting. Over the years, I’ve flirted with all sorts of “make-your-water-better” gadgets: Waterdrop, AirUp, Selah. They all had their charm, but Cirkul is the one that keeps luring me back.
Is it perfect? No. But despite its quirks, it’s the one flavor system I actually use long-term. And that’s saying something. Let’s get into the review and see if Cirkul is what you are looking for.
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Cirkul Overview
KEY FEATURES
PROS
CONS
What’s So Special About Cirkul Water Bottles?
First, let’s clarify what makes Cirkul different. Most flavoring systems rely on drops, powders, or tablets that you mix into your water. They work, but they lack precision. Cirkul, on the other hand, uses interchangeable Sip® cartridges paired with a dial on the bottle that allows you to adjust flavor intensity anywhere from 0 (plain water) to 10 (maximum flavor).
This design gives you far more control than traditional methods. With powders or drops, you’re always guessing at measurements – too much or too little, rarely just right. With Cirkul, the flavor strength is consistent and customizable with a simple turn of the dial.
Everyone’s taste preferences vary, but I’ve found that level 3 offers the ideal balance: a noticeable flavor without being overpowering. Higher settings, such as level 5 or above, can become quite sweet, while level 10 is very intense.
The important point is that you don’t have to commit to one strength – Cirkul gives you the option to adjust at any time, even within the same bottle of water.
The Lid
The lid comes pre-attached to a flavor cartridge. Once the cartridge is empty, the lid goes with it. No cleaning and no reusing. From a hygiene standpoint, that’s convenient: every time you swap flavors, you’re also getting a fresh, unused cap.
But convenience comes at a cost. This disposable design means that if you’re drinking Cirkul daily, you’re tossing out a steady stream of plastic. One person might not notice, but multiply that across thousands of users, and the environmental footprint is hard to ignore. It’s the trade-off between ease of use and sustainability, and Cirkul hasn’t fully solved it yet.
On the functional side, the lid is thoughtfully designed, which you can read more about in my how does Cirkul work article. In addition to the dial that controls flavor intensity, there’s a smaller flip cap covering the spout – a small but welcome detail for keeping things clean.
Also, each cartridge also has a flavor sticker, so you know exactly what you’re drinking. Without those, trust me, you’d be playing “mystery flavor roulette” every time you reached for a bottle.
The fact that lids are interchangeable is really a nice thing to have too. Whether it’s the Comfort-Grip Lid, the Sport Lid, or the 40 oz All-Day StrawSip Tumbler Lid, you can swap them between Cirkul bottles. You’re not stuck with a single lid style if your needs change.
Technically you might be able to fit a Cirkul lid on a bottle from another brand, but don’t expect perfection. The seal may not be as tight, and performance could suffer. There is, however, one clever exception: Coldest bottles.
The brand clearly saw the Cirkul craze coming and designed their bottles with a mouth that fits Cirkul lids like they were made for each other. Combine that with Coldest’s excellent triple-wall insulation, and you’ve got the best of both worlds: the Cirkul sipping system and ice-cold water that actually stays ice-cold. That’s my favorite configuration. It looks kinda funny though!
Flavors: Does Cirkul Taste Good?
One of Cirkul’s biggest selling points is its sheer variety. Instead of giving you just a handful of options, they’ve built an entire lineup that falls into six main categories:
- Enhanced water
- Sports drinks
- Iced & refreshing
- Energy drinks
- Stevia-sweetened
- Unsweetened
Within those categories, you’ll find 16 subcategories and, in total, over 100 flavors, with new ones appearing every month. They’ve turned hydration into a seasonal event. Honestly, I catch myself looking forward to those flavor drops the way some people wait for the next big Netflix release.
Over the past year, I’ve tested more than a few, and one stood out above the rest: Gateway Tea. I’m a tea enthusiast, so maybe I was destined to like it. But that’s the beauty of Cirkul’s catalog – if you’re not into tea, you’ll almost certainly find something that fits your preferences. They’ve made a real effort to cover every flavor profile, from subtle and refreshing to bold and sweet.
The Health Aspect
Now we reach the part that often worries health-conscious buyers: artificial sweeteners.
If you want the deep dive, I’ve written a full article answering “Is Cirkul healthy?”, breaking down ingredients and all the details objectively. But here’s the short version: the main point of debate is sucralose, the artificial sweetener Cirkul uses.
Yes, the word “artificial” can sound intimidating, but sucralose is considered safe by major health authorities, including the FDA, EFSA, and WHO.
In fact, sucralose has several clear advantages as a sugar alternative:
- Zero calories – sweetness without the energy.
- Does not raise blood sugar – safe for diabetics or anyone monitoring glucose.
- Extremely sweet – about 600 times sweeter than sugar, so you need only a tiny amount.
- Stable under heat – perfect for cooking or baking.
- Neutral taste – minimal aftertaste, closer to sugar than many other sweeteners.
- Long shelf life – doesn’t break down easily.
- Widely studied and approved – recognized as safe by major regulatory bodies.
- Versatile – works in drinks, desserts, and low-calorie recipes.
But during my research, I also came across studies suggesting that high consumption of sucralose may affect immune function, gut health, DNA, and even cognitive performance. While more research is needed to confirm these potential risks, the safest approach is moderation. Personally, I rarely turn the intensity dial past level 5 and usually stick around level 3, which helps me enjoy Cirkul without overdoing the sucralose.
If you’re still hesitant about sucralose, check out my Air Up review. It’s a clever system that delivers flavor without any sweeteners at all. Personally, though, I still prefer Cirkul for its full-bodied taste and customizable intensity.
Other ingredients in Cirkul? Nothing alarming for me. You can see the full breakdown below.
Are Cirkul Bottles Good?
Now that we’ve talked features and flavors, let’s zoom in on the bottles Cirkul offers. There are four main types in their lineup:
- Stainless steel insulated bottles
- Plastic bottles (BPA-free)
- Squeeze plastic bottles (BPA-free)
- Stainless steel insulated tumblers
The range here is a strength in itself. Just like with the flavors, Cirkul clearly wants to give you options. Need something durable and temperature-controlled? Stainless steel. Want something lightweight and simple? Plastic. Prefer to chug water mid-sprint? Go for the squeeze bottle.
Personally, I went with the 22 oz squeeze bottle because I use it while playing soccer or running. Being able to squeeze and drink without breaking stride makes a difference when you’re out of breath and don’t want to wrestle with a screw cap.
As for quality, I was pleasantly surprised because the plastic doesn’t feel flimsy or cheap. I’m already eyeing the stainless steel insulated version next. It seems like a natural upgrade if you want to keep drinks cold for hours.
Cleaning the Bottle
Here’s a detail that doesn’t get enough attention: cleaning. With most flavored water systems, you’re constantly scrubbing sticky residue out of your bottle because the flavor mixes directly into the water.
That was my biggest frustration with Waterdrop. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t get rid of the stubborn residue at the bottom of the glass bottle – and unsurprisingly, it started affecting the taste.
In the Cirkul system, you only ever pour plain water into the bottle. The flavor is added at the very last moment, inside the cartridge, as you sip. What does this mean in practice? Your bottle stays cleaner, fresher, and doesn’t demand a full deep-clean after every use.
I’ve found myself rinsing my Cirkul bottle far less often than with other systems, and it’s been a relief.
Proudly Made in the USA
Cirkul highlights its American roots. The flavor cartridges are manufactured in the U.S., with facilities in Florida and Utah. That means tighter quality control, faster product development, and fewer “mystery supply chain delays” than you might see with overseas-only brands. It’s a detail that adds a layer of trust to the system.
That said, the bottles themselves are made in China, which, to be fair, is the case for the overwhelming majority of water bottles on the market. (Seriously, finding a U.S.-made bottle is like hunting for a unicorn.) So while I can’t fault Cirkul for following the industry norm here, it’s still worth mentioning.
If buying American-made bottles is important to you, I’ve put together a separate article about the best water bottles made in the USA.
Is Cirkul Worth It? Let’s Do the Math
And now the final question remains: Is Cirkul worth your money?
To answer this question, let’s do the math quickly first.
Starter Costs:
- Cirkul Bottle Starter Kit: around $20–$30 (includes bottle + cartridges).
- Extra bottles: optional, $15–$25.
Cartridge (Sip) Costs:
- Each flavor cartridge (called a “Sip”) is about $3.75–$4.00.
- A Sip lasts for 6 fill-ups of 22 oz water bottles (≈132 oz total).
- That equals roughly 1 gallon (128 oz) of flavored water per cartridge.
Cost per Gallon:
- Cirkul: about $3.75 per gallon of flavored water.
- Store-bought flavored water (like Vitamin Water, Propel, etc.): typically $1.25–$2.00 per 20 oz bottle, which equals $8–$13 per gallon.
So Cirkul is 2–3x cheaper than buying bottled flavored water.
Cost per Day:
Let’s say you drink 1 gallon of water every 3 days (fair for an active person):
- Cirkul: ~$1.25/day
- Store-bought flavored water: $3–$4/day
Over a year:
- Cirkul: ~$450
- Store-bought flavored water: $1,100+
Savings: $650/year
So, if you normally drink tap water (essentially free), Cirkul will add hundreds of dollars a year to your expenses.
But if you’re already buying flavored drinks (soda, Gatorade, flavored water), Cirkul saves you money while being healthier.
Verdict
Cirkul is worth it if you want to replace soda, sports drinks, or store-bought flavored water, you like customizing flavor strength on demand, or you value variety (100+ flavors).
But it’s not worth it if you’re happy with plain water or you don’t want to spend extra on hydration.
For me, Cirkul’s biggest draw is the ability to customize flavor strength. That single feature makes the system stand out from anything else I’ve tried, and it’s why I keep coming back.
Beyond that, the cost isn’t nearly as intimidating as I initially expected. Considering the variety of flavors, convenience, and consistent quality, I’d say Cirkul is worth it, at least for someone like me who actually enjoys flavored water.
To wrap things up on a lighter note, I stumbled across a Reddit comment that perfectly sums up my experience:
“Cirkul increased my water intake so much that I literally pissed my pants.”
Sometimes, no further explanation is necessary. It’s effective, it’s addictive, and it keeps you hydrated.
Cirkul |
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Jeremiah Kowalski
Hey there! I’m Jeremiah, the guy behind WaterBottleAdvisor.com. I used to have a bad habit of guzzling sodas while working remotely, but thanks to reusable water bottles, I’ve turned my hydration game around. After testing over 50 bottles, I’m here to help you find the perfect one to make staying hydrated a joy, not a chore. When I’m not reviewing bottles, you’ll likely find me scaling steep trails around the world, trusty water bottle in hand.
