By now, most of you have heard that drinking out of polycarbonate water bottles exposes you to Bisphenol-A (BPA), a compound that makes guys’ nuts shrivel up to the size of raisins…*

No, just kidding.  Actually, it causes an egg sac to grow inside your cheek in which you will carry many tiny young that are always female.**  No, really, there is not yet hard and fast evidence (or even soft and slow evidence) of what Bisphenol-A (say:  biss-FEE-nall; reminds me of “blasphemer”) will exactly do inside the male body.  However, a recent Harvard School of Public Health study showed that college students who drank out of polycarbonate water bottles had a two-thirds increase in BPA in their urine (admittedly, all these students did attend Harvard).  BPA is known to disrupt hormonal processes, hence you can say it will do just about anything in the body.***  Canada, for their part, has already banned the use of BPA in manufacturing baby bottles.

When the negative news about BPA first came out, Nalgene kind of took it on the chin because their polycarbonate bottles contained BPA and they already had that wide-mouth dribbling problem going on, which meant that when you were in the car and you tried to drink from their bottles you’d end up dribbling BPA-laced water down your chin.  However, Nalegene dove head-first into the consumer confidence waters and brought out a number of BPA-free bottles.  Good for Nalgene.  Unfortunately, their bottles are still kind of dweebish. 

So, what are the good water bottles to use?  Let me digress, first, to ask:  you’re not still buying bottled drinking water, are you?  At the supermarket?  You know that stuff is mostly a waste of money, right?  Oh, it may be convenient if you’re dying of thirst and there’s no drinking fountain around and you don’t have a good water bottle filled with fresh water, but that bottled water, supposedly so pristine, is often nothing more than tap water.  On top of that, a number of brands have been found to contain estrogen-mimicking chemicals.  Not to mention other potential contaminants.  And you do realize that the stuff is more expensive than gasoline, right?

Tap water is mostly safe, they tell us, certainly at least as safe as bottled water, if not more so.  And definitely cheaper.  So what’s a good water bottle to carry around with you that you can fill up with tap water?  Let me digress first to ask:  are you concerned about things like chlorine in tap water?  How about lead?  Though the tap water delivered to your house is supposedly uncontaminated, what is the condition of the pipes where you live?  How old is your plumbing?  I live in a building that was constructed in the early sixties and I’ll bet the plumbing is original.  Actually, if I’m away for a few days, whenever I come home and turn on the tap, the water flows brown for a few seconds.  Hmm.  So I simply filter my tap water using a Brita pitcher and filter.  It removes almost all the chlorine and several other potentially unwanted substances and is not too expensive.  It won’t remove traces of compounds such as pharmaceuticals or pesticides (for that your best bet is a multi-phase system that combines carbon filtration and reverse osmosis), but for what it does and the cost, why not?   Though I don’t panic if I have to drink water from the tap, it’s nice to know that with a filter the water’s a little closer to the way nature intended. 

So, what is a good water bottle to carry that you can fill up with filtered water?  I’m glad you asked.  Here are several of the best to choose from…

  

 

 

This is one that everybody likes:  the CamelBak Better Bottle with Bite Valve.  You probably have heard of CamelBak in relation to hydration packs.  Turns out they’re pretty good at water bottles, too.  Men’s Journal rated this bottle 9 out of 10, and ConsumerSearch rated it as the best BPA-free plastic bottle.  It’s available in multiple colors (including black) and 3 sizes:  1 liter, ¾-liter, and ½-liter.  It’s got a handle.  The Big Bite Valve lets you bite down and sip one-handed, so it’s easy to use when driving in the car or during other activities.  (You can also order a “classic cap” for it, which you have to unscrew for drinking.)  It fits in most cup holders.  The bottle is made of a copolyester polymer called Tritan, which is BPA- and phthalate-free.  Yet it’s still durable like polycarbonate bottles.  It’s dishwasher safe.  And the price is good — only $11 for the 1-liter size, less for the others.

 

 

 

You can also get some nifty accessories for it, such as an insulated bottle carrier for the ¾-liter bottle that will keep your liquids hot or cold, and which has a side grip strap and an attachment strap.  Darned if those CamelBak people aren’t innovative…

 

 

 

 

 

 

And since they are innovative, they make a stainless steel version of the Better Bottle for those who want to avoid plastic (that’s it to the left).  This bottle has also gotten good reviews.  And it offers some nifty graphics options.  Moosejaw has this bottle now for 20% off.

 

 

 Speaking of stainless steel bottles…we will now speak of stainless steel bottles.  Obviously, if you don’t want plastic substances leaching into your water, you can avoid plastic entirely.  In a practical sense, that leaves glass or stainless steel.  (Of course, you could have a bottle made out of gold, but you’ll probably only do that if you’re a wealthy rapper.  And then you’d need to hire a guy to guard it.  And he’d probably still shoot you for it.)  Glass is nice, but it breaks sort of easily.  Still, if you’re only going to be keeping a water bottle at your desk or in your car’s cup holder, glass could work.  And it’s cheap.  For example, you could get yourself some exotic European mineral water (bottled in glass, you see) and then re-use the bottle.   Something that has sort of legendary status.  Something like Vichy Catalan (click the text link at left or bottle link at right and search for “Vichy Catalan” at La Tienda — try some, and let me know in the comments section below what you think).  Not that the average American would have a clue what Vichy Catalan was.  But you would know.  

 But when it comes to non-sedentary uses — I mean, like, sports — nothing sucks worse than being on a 22-mile training run on the road outside Badwater, California, stumbling in a hole and dropping your glass water bottle and having it shatter, splashing your precious liquid all over the asphalt, where it dries up in the 108° heat in about 4 seconds, and then you have to turn around and try to jog back to town and you get dehydrated, go into severe protein catabolism, your core temperature reaches 106°, and you die from heat stroke.  All because you carried a glass water bottle because you were afraid of plastic compounds leaching into your water.

And it also sucks if it accidentally rolls out of your car and smashes in the parking lot.

Stainless steel is tough and it doesn’t contain BPA.  There are a number of steel bottles out there and I reviewed a bunch of them.   Some of the more popular ones are problematic.  For example, a number of people like the bottles from Klean Kanteen.  But Men’s Journal only gave them a 7 (that’s a C in my book) and there are enough other complaints that I don’t feel comfortable recommending it as the top choice.  For one thing, the top can squeak loudly when you screw it on and who wants that?  You could be in a 3-hour business meeting, sitting at a big conference table with your whole department; you’re bored, thirsty, but fortunately you brought along your Klean Kanteen bottle, so you take a discreet drink and then, as you’re screwing the top back on, the thing starts squeaking like a rusty leaf spring on a ‘54 Buick.  Everyone turns to see who the bumpkin is who’s disrupting the entire meeting with his water bottle, when all anybody wants to do is wrap it up and get the hell to lunch.  Is that what you want?  Another thing:  the Klean Kanteen bottle is not insulated.  So, what steel bottle is better?

Well, a bunch of people like Sigg bottles.  They are, however, made of aluminum, and since aluminum has health-related issues of its own, the bottles have an inner liner to protect you from the aluminum.   Sigg used to have a good business relationship with Patagonia.  But then Patagonia found out that Sigg lied to them about the inner liner not being made with BPA, when in fact it was.  Patagonia severed their relationship with Sigg and pulled Sigg’s products from their shelves.  Sigg now says that its liners are made with a co-polyester coating that is BPA-free.  Do you believe them?

Here are the stainless steel bottles I like…

 

 

First:  the Thinksport 750 ml Stainless Steel Sports Bottle.  It’s gotten good reviews, both from customers, online, and in publications.  The bottle is made with several thoughtful approaches:  it’s double-walled and vacuum-sealed, so it keeps liquids hot or cold; the lid has two opening options (a smaller opening for drinking and a bigger one for adding ice cubes); it’s got a mesh filter in the opening so ice or tea leaves don’t come out when you’re drinking; it’s made of medical-grade 304 stainless steel.  The company has a cool, informative website.  Plus they’re nicely designed.  You can get them in two sizes:  750 ml/25 ounces or 350 ml/12 ounces (the 12-ounce size should fit most cup holders), and in several colors, including silver and matte black.  The price is not bad – right in line for a product of this kind.  This bottle has been well-reviewed by, among others, ZRecommends, The Gear Journal, Tennis Magazine, and BigFire Camping Gear.  Another good thing:  I did not come across any complaints that the water from the Thinksport bottle had a metallic taste as sometimes happened with other stainless steel bottles.  Plus I also like the company’s approach to customer service — I read an account of them solving a customer’s problem in a couple of days, and a company representative wrote a response to an issue a reviewer raised on one website.  These guys apparently care.

  

 

 

Second:  the Thermos Stainless Steel Insulated Hydration Bottle.  This bottle is also insulated, as you might expect from Thermos.  It’s got two opening options:  a push-button “sipper lid” (which is lockable), and a screw top for pouring and inserting ice cubes.  It fits most auto cupholders.  In checking customer reviews, it was praised by users for its everyday versatility and ruggedness, plus its ability to keep hot things hot and cold things icy.  A cyclist found that it fit well in his bicycle’s bottle holder.  A hunter liked that he could fill it with coffee, toss it in his backpack without worrying about leakage, have the coffee stay warm all day, and that the bottle opens and closes quietly.  In general, customers seem to love this bottle.  It’s not only a good-quality product, the price is quite reasonable.

You can’t go wrong with either of the above stainless steel bottles.  But you may not be a fan of stainless steel or you may have other requirements for your bottle.  Well, there are other options.  Here are a few more that should meet your hydration needs… 

 

Sport bottles and other useful bottles

 

 

Sometimes you want to carry more water than a 12- or 25-ounce bottle holds — for example, for an all-day road trip in your car.   Or a day-long picnic at a place without drinking fountains.  Or at a construction job site.  Or you want to have enough for more than one person.  This bottle will fit the bill:  the New Wave Enviro 2.2-Liter Eastar Resin Bottle (it also comes in a 1-gallon size).  It’s made of a BPA-free material that has a number 1 recycle code.  The company describes the material as being a rigid, glass-like material that will not shatter.  I don’t know if it’s exactly “glass-like” except that you can sort of see through it, but it is tough, it’s easily recyclable (though you should be able to use this bottle, with occasional washing with soap and water, or a little vinegar, for a long time), and is FDA-approved and NSF 51 certified (NSF International is an organization that develops standards for products relating to public health and safety).  At about $5, this product is also a bargain.  I’ve used it; it works well.  I’ve also used New Wave Enviro stainless steel water bottles for years and have no complaints.

 

 

 

 

A platypus is a combination of a duck and a beaver.  (Well, not really, but you didn’t come here for natural history, did you?)  What that has to do with Platypus water bottles I’m not sure, unless it has to do with adaptive multi-functionality in an aquatic environment.  You see, the 1-liter Platypus PlusBottle is like no other water bottle on the market.  It’s made of flexible, tough plastic that smoothes flat or rolls up when empty, taking up much less space (even when partially full) than a similarly-sized hard bottle.  Stash it empty in your shoulder bag when you’re going through airport security, then fill it up at a drinking fountain to carry on your flight.  Shove a couple in your backpack to fill later when you boil/filter/treat water.  The PlusBottle holds one liter of water.  It’s made with an improved “film” and has the addition of a new, natural, silver-ion-based anti-microbial treatment to prevent “gunk” and preserve the fresh (not plasticky) taste of the water.  The mid-section is tapered for easy handling and there’s a hang loop.  You can use different tops with this bottle, including hydration tubes and related accessories.  And, unlike other bottles, it’s a conversation-starter as well.  One reviewer said this bottle will get you a girlfriend, guaranteed.  I don’t know about that, but you can start out by offering to let her hold your swollen bottle (or help you fill it up).  It’s made in the USA (the Platypus company has been around for awhile) and is not expensive.  It’s maybe the most versatile 1-liter bottle available.  Platypus has won the award for “Best Hydration System Brand” from Dandelion Magazine (now Women’s Adventure).  Right now it’s under $13 at Moosejaw, one of my favorite outdoor retailers.

  

 

 

 Next, I’ll mention the Kor Hydration Vessel because it’s probably the coolest-looking water bottle on the market and it works well. 

It holds 750 ml and comes in different colors (ice blue is pictured at left; also available are orchid pink, sunrise orange, and sawgrass green).  Of course, it’s BPA-free, made of Eastman “Tritan” material.  It’s got a hinged opening and is dishwasher-safe. 

 

 

 

 

 

 It’s about the most expensive bottle around (about $30), but this gleaming edifice of hydration is worth it if you enjoy aesthetically-pleasing design.   About the only criticism I could find was that it is somewhat fragile and can crack if dropped on a hard surface from, say, 3 feet up.  But you don’t drop things on hard surfaces from 3 feet, do you?  The company stands behind the bottle and if there are any problems with construction (rare, apparently), they will replace it.  A good product for people who appreciate the way things look and feel (I think that’s why they call it a “vessel”).  Check it out at Target.

 

 

 

 

Last, I don’t want to neglect you sports-minded, athletic types, especially bike riders, so following are some  bottles that should do the trick for you — first, the Polar Insulated Water Bottle.  It will keep your liquids cold on long rides and should fit most bike water bottle cages.  The smaller size might also fit in day-pack and some fanny-pack water bottle holders for hiking.  They come in 20-ounce and 24-ounce sizes and a variety of colors.  The 20-oz. is 9 inches tall and the 24-oz. is 10½ inches tall (measure your cage clearance before ordering).  They run about $9.

 

  

 

 

 

Finally, we began with CamelBak and we’ll conclude with CamelBak.  The CamelBak Podium Bottle is made to fit bike water-bottle cages.   It comes in 21- and 24-ounce capacities.  The bottle material is called “TrueTaste,” which is a proprietary blend of polypropylene, is BPA-free (as are all the bottles in this review), and supposedly does not affect the taste of your beverage (a couple of reviewers complained about taste but it could have been a case of not cleaning the bottle thoroughly).  It has a “Jet Valve,” which is a valve designed to let you suck or squirt the liquid without having to raise or lower a stopper.  (It’s also different than CamelBak’s “bite” valve.)  Reviewers praised this feature, especially it’s leak-proofness and lack of mess, but again, a couple said their bottle leaked.  CamelBak (or Moosejaw) would most likely replace a bottle that had any problems; both companies have good customer service.  They’re less than $10, so get a couple so you can go long and hard without getting thirsty.

 A superior version of the CamelBak Podium Bottle is the CamelBak Podium Chilljacket bottle.  Men’s Journal picked the 21-ounce Chilljacket Bottle as the best bottle of the year last year.  The Chilljacket adds insulation to the regular Podium Bottle.  The magazine’s testers praised its ability to keep water or a sports beverage cold for several hours — just the thing for long mountain bike or road rides during the summer.  Click the image to get it from Rock Creek or here to get it from Mountains Plus.

Stay hydrated, my friend.  

 

*This statement has not been evaluated by the FDA.

**This statement has not been evaluated by anybody.

***But it wouldn’t be accurate.

 

 

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