Reader qatet asked this question after our post yesterday about "Carbon Neutral" Bottled Water:
I don't like buying bottled water, but I like the bottles in which the water comes. Sure, I know that it leaches nasty chemicals into my body. I'm apparently willing to overlook that in favor of a cheap supple plastic container that fits into the water bottle pouches on the outside of my bookbag.
Has anybody found a substitute for bottles like that?
This is a good question, especially since the largest Canadian outdoor-goods retailer pulled Nalgene bottles from its shelves last month, citing health reasons...
The Nalgene issue was because the bottles are made of polycarbonate plastic containing bisphenol A, a petrochemical product that mimics estrogen. There is increasing evidence that bisphenol A is linked to health issues, and we are trying to avoid food and drink containers that have it.
This is difficult, though, since polycarbonates are ubiquitous these days. How do you know if a bottle is made from polycarbonate? Look for the recycle designation #7.
Here are a few other bottle options convenient for people on the go. Remember that no matter whether you use a "healthy" bottle or not you still should clean it regularly. Bacteria build-up can cause sickness; just get a baby bottle brush (available for cheap at pretty much any drugstore) and clean out narrow bottles frequently with hot soap and water.
• CamelBak Performance Bottle: Last fall CamelBak announced that they switched the plastic in their popular bottles from one that contains bisphenol A to one that does not. The new plastic is also more dishwasher-friendly. These bottles are still squishy enough to jam in a water bottle holder, and they're inexpensive - about $8.
• Swellz TapSacks: Like old wine jugs from the Middle East and Europe, these bags are made out of leather, with a modern latex interior. We have no idea how to clean them, but they look adaptable and interesting. $32.
Non-plastic bottles...
• Aluminum Bottles: We've talked about Sigg bottles. We love ours; it doesn't leach anything into the water and keeps the water cool and fresh. They are also extremely light and come in multiple sizes. Not squishy or "supple" though.
• Stainless Steel Bottles: Guyot has bottles that run about $24.95. Klean Kanteen's start around $30. The up-side to these is that they are extremely sturdy and long-lasting. They are heavy, though.
Originally posted at The Kitchn
A good cheap option is Voss glass water bottle. It's from Norway and is made to be 'disposable' however I re-fill mine and reuse it all the time. Mine is 32 oz. and cost $2.50 at my local grocery store. They have smaller sizes (I think around 20 oz.) that would fit well in the backpack bottle holders. Just a cheap option (it's my temporary solution until I can buy a Sigg bottle!).
view Thats Swell's profile
Great question and answers. I want to try out the CamelBak since I always hear about the dangers of certain plastics. It is so hard these days to know what is good and bad...most things wind up being bad before you know it! Thanks for the heads-up.
view DMartini's profile
I have a Kleen Kanteen bottle and the only problem I have with it is the sound that emanates when I twist the cap on or off. It's killing my ears so much that I'm going to get a Sigg bottle. Other than the sound though it's a great a bottle! I highly recommend it.
view Emerald Pixel's profile
http://www.purewater2go.com/bottles.html
I bought those a while ago and they've worked well so far. I have issues with the tap water in my city and liked bottle water because it didn't have the funky taste. These are reusable and filter the nasty tap water as well.
view geek details's profile