College students are all different. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Some big, some small, some short, and some tall. However, if you walk into a college classroom these days, at least in my town of Tucson, AZ, many of us college students seem to have one thing in common: Hydro Flasks.

For anyone who lives under a rock and therefore does not know what a Hydro Flask is, it is basically an overpriced water bottle that magically and mysteriously keeps beverages at their desired temperature for hours and hours on end. Both hot and cold beverages can be reliably kept at the ideal drinking temperature with this miraculous device, revolutionizing the world of beverage consumption. These water bottles have also drastically blown up in popularity over the past year.

Similar to college students, Hydro Flasks also come in all different sizes. They come in many different colors and even have different types of lids depending on whether you consider yourself a Flex Cap person or more of the Straw Lid type.

Unfortunately, not every sort of lid is available for every size, so someone who would prefer a certain size with a certain lid may be out of luck. If the company can figure out how to keep water cold for 24 straight hours in 100-degree heat, you would think maybe they would be able to figure out how to fit a Straw lid on a 21-ounce bottle. Some things are just too good to be true, I guess.

Still, when one sees so many people with Hydro Flasks, the obvious question arises: Should I buy one?

This is the question I have found myself faced with lately when in my bed pondering the mysteries of life, and unfortunately, I have yet to come up with an answer.

On the one hand, Hydro Flasks may be the most revolutionary invention of the 21 ^st century, with historical significance similar to that of the invention of the wheel or the Internet. On the other hand, do I really want to spend $50 on a water bottle?

The city of Tucson becomes basically a huge heap of heat at this time of year, meaning that it does become very important to drink water during the day. Otherwise, you can quickly become dehydrated or become faced with other serious medical consequences. It's the desert, so you better stay hydrated.

Personally, I know that I do not drink anywhere near enough water. I never have. Sure, I will get a drink when I'm thirsty, but anytime I hear some recommendation about how much water I should be drinking throughout the day to stay healthy I know that I typically do not drink anywhere near the right amount. I'm a college student. Figuring out what I want to do with my life is the top priority. Drinking water can wait until later.

If I had a Hydro Flask though, maybe I would finally be a frequent water drinker. Maybe I would finally see those reports on TV of how much water to drink and confidently take a sip from my Mint colored Hydro Flask complete with a Flex Cap lid knowing that I was well on my way to complete hydration, a feeling I can only dream of. But once again, $50 does seem like a bit of a steep price to pay just for hydration.

Besides, every time I take a plastic water bottle to class with me I seem to forget about it and then accidentally leave it in the classroom. I am probably responsible for 2-3 stray water bottles found on the UA campus every week. My greatest nightmare would arise if I were to finally purchase a Hydro Flask and then leave it behind in some random classroom. Failing to graduate college and losing a Hydro Flask are the two hypothetical nightmares that keep me up during the night.

Also, so many people seem to have Hydro Flasks in this day and age that those who don't are almost unique for not having one. I can envision a future where the first thing people ask when meeting each other is what sort of Hydro Flask they each have. If you still don't have one at that point, I can only assume you will be branded as a social outcast and forced to live on some non-Hydro Flask planet somewhere in the far reaches of space. But, if you do buy one then you may be conforming to social norms and giving into peer pressure.

Conforming to societal norms or eventually becoming labeled a social outcast based on your choice of water bottle? Only you can make that call.

Eventually, I think I may cave in and make the decision to completely revolutionize my beverage drinking experience. But for now, I think I will continue to ponder the philosophical implications of Hydro Flasks and drink water out of cheap, plastic water bottles.