Thank you everyone! I definitely feel like I know a lot more about this before I started.
A couple of follow ups to some previous comments:
1) This child is very brand oriented. So while as an adult I totally understand that there are cheaper knock offs that will do the same job, I will be sticking to the Hydro Flask for this gift.
2) On this side of the famiy, all of us aunts/uncles buy for the kids only. Us adults buy for our parents but not each other. And yes, we have a budget of $50 per child, so the Hydro Flask fits in that range and is something he wanted, so it works for us.
3) I will likely look at Dick's on Black Friday because I like the idea of buying and getting a gift receipt so he can exchange. I think I'm leaning toward a 32oz wide mouth with straw lid, but maybe seeing them in person will make it more clear to me. But what I didn't realize that there were so many fakes floating around. Anyone have any experience with
Amazon? If I don't find what I need on Black Friday, I admit i'm not one that enjoys the hustle and bustle of the stores on the holidays, and Dicks is an hour from our home.