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The Fienza starter set costs less than half of Air Up and offers an affordable way to experience the innovative concept of flavoured water.
If you’re looking for something like Air Up but cheaper, the Fienza Water Bottle Starter Set might pique your interest.
It has many good reviews on Amazon and costs less than half the price of Air Up! 🤑
But is it just as good, or is it just a cheap copy? We tested this Air Up dupe to find out.
Fienza works on the same concept as Air Up.
The smell of real fruit from the pods makes your brain think you’re drinking flavoured water, even though it’s just plain water. 🍓
The bottle is made of safe, BPA-free Tritan plastic and has a leak-proof cap to take it wherever you go.
But we did find a few things that could be improved.
This flask is good, but the pods look and feel cheap compared to Air Up.
After the first few sips, the scent of the pods faded, and the water became bland. 🍼
Also, you can't choose the flavour of the pod on Amazon.
So, does it work? Just a little bit. 😕
Is it a replica of Air Up? Yes.
But can it replace Air Up? Probably not. Over time, you can save money with Air Up because the flavour lasts longer.
The Fienza starter set is a good choice if you want to try this new way of drinking.
But we don't think it's a sustainable option.
Advantages
Offers a unique drinking experience at a significantly lower price |
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Flask is made of high-quality, BPA-free Tritan plastic |
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Leak proof design allows easy portability for school or gym |
Disadvantages
Flavour pods seem to be of lower quality |
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There's no option to choose your preferred flavour pod |
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The pod's scent faded after just a few sips |
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The package arrived with a damaged box, but the bottle inside was undamaged |
The Waterdrop starter set is 100% sugar-free and captures the full flavour and fragrance of the fruit through a careful distillation process.
The Water Drop Starter Set is a must-try if you're looking for a real fruit taste in your water.
They only use fruits and vegetables from trusted farmers around the world. 👩🏼🌾
The fruits are then distilled, removed from the water, and dried on site.
This unique process ensures that the full aroma and flavour of the fruit are preserved.
In this way, the fruits are transformed into a clean, preservative-free powder and then processed into cubes. 🧊
To enjoy the flavour, you must dissolve one cube in about 500 ml of water.
Some people have found that their cubes taste much more intense than Air Up.
Like Air Up, Waterdrop offers a starter set with a glass or stainless steel bottle.
The original bottle is made of durable, odourless, tasteless borosilicate glass resistant to heat and scratches. 🔥
It also has a steel lid that makes it extremely durable.
You can wash the bottle in the dishwasher, but cleaning the cap by hand is better.
However, the price of the Waterdrop starter set is similar to that of Air Up, and three sets of cubes are only enough for about 11 litres.
Advantages
Offers authentic flavours of natural fruits & plants |
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Utilises a unique process to preserve the full aroma and taste |
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Ingredients are exclusively sourced from trusted global farmers |
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The hydration cubes are preservative-free |
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Provides a starter set with a choice of a durable glass or steel flask |
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The bottle is durable, odourless, tasteless, and dishwasher safe |
Disadvantages
Priced similarly to Air Up |
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The starter set only lasts for around 11 litres |
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The steel cap needs to be washed by hand |
With the Hydracy water bottle, you can enjoy water that is not only refreshing but also contains many vitamins and nutrients from fresh fruit.
If you are looking for an Air Up alternative, you can also give fruit-infused water a try.
The Hydracy water bottle has a full-length infusion basket to add chopped fruit. 🗑️
The flavour of the fruit will soak into the water over time, giving it a refreshing taste.
Although the Hydracy water bottle works differently from Air Up, it encourages increased water intake.
The water contains no additional preservatives, as real fruit is used for the infusion.
Plus, drinking fruit-infused water gives you some good vitamins and nutrients directly from the fruit.
The original Hydracy bottle is made of high-quality, 100% BPA-free Tritan plastic and holds 1 litre of water.
It even has a time marker to see how much water you drink. ⏰
The flask is carefully crafted to prevent leaks. It has a silicone O-ring on the infuser basket and a safety cap on the lid.
The intensity of the fruit flavour depends on how much fruit you put in the infuser basket.
The more juicy fruit you add, the better the taste of your water will be. 😋
However, unlike Air Up, it contains some sugar and calories from the fruit.
If you find plain water boring and love the taste of fresh fruit, the Hydracy water bottle is a cheap and good alternative to Air Up.
Advantages
Offers natural fruit-infused water |
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No preservatives due to real fruit infusion |
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Designed meticulously to prevent any leaks with a silicone O-ring and a security latch |
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Made with BPA free Tritan plastic, ensuring safety |
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Time marker to measure your water intake |
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More affordable compared to similar products like Air Up |
Disadvantages
The flavour might depend on the quantity and type of fruit, leading to inconsistency in taste |
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Infusing may require extra preparation time |
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May contain minimal calories and sugar from the fruits |
Mio Water Enhancer has an intense taste that can imitate soft drinks.
Mio Water Enhancer is another option to add flavour to your regular water. 💦
This liquid enhancer is available in different flavours and has an intense taste.
The taste can mimic soft drinks, especially when mixed with sparkling water.
To flavour your water, all you need to do is add half a teaspoon of Mio Enhancer to 250 ml of water.
A single pack of Mio is enough for 24 glasses of water.
Mio is sweetened with artificial, zero-calorie sweeteners.
MHRA UK approves these sweeteners as safe for everyone, including children and pregnant women.
You can even mix different Mio flavours to create your special drink.🥤
While Mio can be a good alternative to Air Up, it contains artificial sweeteners and is not as healthy as Air Up.
Advantages
Multiple flavours to choose from |
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Easy to use and mix with water |
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Can create custom flavours by mixing different ones |
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Calorie-free sweetening option |
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Compact and portable packaging |
Disadvantages
Contains artificial sweeteners |
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More expensive compared to Air Up |
What is the Air Up water bottle?
Air Up is a German company founded by two students, Lena Jüngst and Tim Jäger. 🇩🇪
The company has changed how we experience flavours, using neuroscience to make drinking water a whole new experience.
This is made possible through a phenomenon known as retronasal smell.
You get an original bottle and 3 flavour pods when you buy the Air Up starter set.
Once the Air Up pods are attached to the bottle and activated, they release the scent into the water, and your brain thinks you're tasting something, even though it's just plain water.
There are over 30 different flavours, and because it's just a scent, there are no calories, sweeteners or preservatives.
What are Air Up dupes?
Air Up Dupes are products that reflect the innovative concept of Air Up.
They work on the same principle of flavour perception.
As Air Up is manufactured in China, a large number of similar products have appeared on the market. 🏪
But are they as good as Air Up? Not really.
Take the Fienza water starter set, for example. It tries to add flavour to the water through the smell, just like Air Up, but it doesn’t last as long.
There are also alternatives to Air Up that don’t necessarily work on the same principle but offer other methods of flavouring water.
A good example is Waterdrops, which changes the taste of the water without adding calories or sugar.
What makes flavoured water different from plain water?
Difference between flavoured and plain water
Air Up's flavoured water is essentially the same as regular water.
As we have discussed, Air Up releases its flavour to the water exclusively through the sense of smell.
However, the scenario changes when considering other alternatives, which usually use fruit extracts or infusions to infuse the water with flavour. 🤤
Unlike plain water, flavoured water can offer a variety of flavours, colours and sometimes additional nutrients from the fruits or extracts used.
This can lead to people drinking more water because it is not boring.
But plain water is just that: plain. It's good for you, but it has no taste.
Some flavoured waters that contain fruit may have a bit of calories from the fruit, but it's usually not much.
All the Air Up alternatives we reviewed in our test contain little to no calories, so the water is still good for you.
Who should buy flavoured water?
Have you ever wondered if flavoured water is for you? 🤔
Is it suitable for people who work out a lot, want to eat healthily, or perhaps on a special diet?
Let’s find out.
Good for people who struggle with hydration
Some people find drinking enough water difficult because it tastes like nothing.
Flavoured water can help with this.
It makes the water taste interesting so that people want to drink more.
This is helpful for those who forget to consume water during the day. 🌞
Perfect for health-conscious people
People who care deeply about their health choose carefully what they drink.
Flavoured water can be a good choice for them because it is flavourful but does not contain sugar and does not have many calories.
Good for people who have dietary restrictions
People with diabetes need to be very careful what they drink. 💉
Flavoured water can be a good option for them.
This way, they can enjoy different flavours without worrying about sugar.
This is very important to keep their blood sugar levels stable.
Are the health benefits of flavoured water the same as plain water?
If flavoured water contains no sugar, calories or fake additives, it’s as good for you as regular water because it helps you stay hydrated.
Staying hydrated is essential. 💧
It helps you digest your food, absorb nutrients and keep your skin healthy.
The Hydracy water bottle and Waterdrop starter kit are a great choice because they contain no additives, sugar, or calories.
However, Mio may not be as healthy as regular water in the long run because it contains an artificial sweetener. 😕
So, reading the labels to ensure your flavoured water is additive-free is very important.
What’s the best cheap alternative to the Air Up drinking bottle?
If you're looking for a cheap Air Up dupe, the Fienza starter kit could be one of your best bets.
It costs less than half the price of Air Up, making it a good option for those on a budget.
However, it only contains one pod, and the scent doesn't last long. The initial smell isn't very strong either. 👃🏼
Another good and affordable Air Up alternative is the Hydracy water bottle.
It allows you to enjoy the freshness and nutrients of fruit without consuming extra sugar.
What to consider when buying an Air Up alternative?
If you're looking for something similar to Air Up, it's important to know what to look for so you can find the right one for you. 👀
It's not just about taste but also finding something healthy.
Here's what you need to know when looking for an Air Up alternative.
Should have minimal to zero calories
If you are looking for an Air Up alternative, it is essential to consider the calorie content.
You should choose options that contain few or no calories so you can enjoy your drink without worrying about extra intake.
This is especially important for those mindful of their calorie consumption or eating and drinking healthily. ⚖️
You can increase your water consumption and stay healthy by choosing flavoured water with no calories.
No added sugars or preservatives
If you switch to flavoured water, checking the label for added sugar or preservatives is crucial.
A flavoured water that is free of these substances means that you aren't adding unwanted chemicals or extra sugar to your body.
It's about enjoying the essence of taste without the unnecessary and often harmful extras that come with many drinks.🧋
Health conscious materials
You should always choose products made from materials that are kind to your body.
If it's a plastic bottle, it should be made of BPA-free and durable plastic so that it's safe and lasts for a long time. 🚫
If you choose a metal bottle, stainless steel is a good choice.
It's also good if the bottle doesn't leak, so you can put it in your bag and take it wherever you go without worrying about spills.
Good selection of flavours
When looking for something similar to Air Up, finding an alternative with many flavour choices is important.
Having many options means that every time you drink water, it's a good experience, and you don't get bored with just one flavour.
The idea is to find a product that encourages you to drink more water with a wide range of flavours.
It's also very important that these flavours taste good. 😋
The better the taste, the more water you drink.
Is it worth buying an Air Up alternative?
Consuming water is undoubtedly more fun with Air Up.
But if you're looking for something similar that's cheaper, there are other options. 💷
We tried the Fienza Starter Kit, but it didn't work well for us.
So we advise you not to waste money on this Air Up dupe.
On the other hand, Waterdrop and the Hydracy bottle are a good choice. 😍
They work on a different principle than Air Up but still make drinking water more enjoyable.
These Air Up alternatives would help you increase your water consumption.
Table of Content
4 Best Air Up Alternatives in the UK (2024)
Find out more about our favorites now
What is the Air Up water bottle?
What makes flavoured water different from plain water?
Who should buy flavoured water?
Are the health benefits of flavoured water the same as plain water?
What’s the best cheap alternative to the Air Up drinking bottle?
What to consider when buying an Air Up alternative?