Well. Not quite. But I did get “fed” up recently with the idea of ingesting plastic and associated chemicals. So we’ve been acquiring a variety of bottles that are either stainless steel, or aluminum lined with high grade plastic guaranteed not to taint. We use these more for indoors hydration, driving, and summer hiking than we do for winter backcountry skiing as they just don’t feel that great on your lips when it’s 10 degrees F (though they do work in frigid weather if you fill with hot stuff and use a bottle jacket).
Stainless food storage box and drinking bottles from New Wave Enviro.
Today’s recommend: New Wave Enviro Products stainless bottles and food boxes are made from food grade #304 alloy. Both the 1 liter bottle and 40 oz. jug have stainless stoppers so your delicate water contacts no heinous plastic — zilch, nada, nein BPA. Or, you can get the 1 liter version with a sip top that’s plastic (probably BPA free, but who knows for sure without a gas chromatograph in their kitchen?) The sip top is a good thought, but without squishy plastic for a pressure squeeze it’s not an easy gulp like the traditional bike bottle (even though the top does have a small valve to relieve back pressure.) These bottles are all fairly beefy, so they’ll hold up to a modicum of abuse rather than turning into a crumpled mess like thinner bottles. Interestingly, the 1 liter stainless only weighs seven tenths of an ounce more than a Lexan Nalgene.
I also like the Enviro Products stainless steel food boxes. These don’t seal like Tupperware, but they close fairly tightly and work great for picnic food or items you don’t want crushed. We loaded ours up with Newman’s Ginger cookies for our last outdoor repast. What a huge relief not to worry all day about my cookies getting crushed! I mean, life is hard enough anyway without crushed cookies! Where to buy? Around here, they’ve got them at Vitamin Cottage. The New Wave Enviro website has a store locator.
17 comments
I deal with the BPA questions almost daily, and stainless is definitely a good alternative. Main complaints are price and lame lids. And I have yet to hear of any definitive research or case studies that show that BPA actually causes health problems in humans. There is a mountain of hype the size of Everest regarding this stuff, yet I can’t argue with vigilance in the end. Just wondering how much research has been done on stainless food and beverage containers…
The other upside to the BPA outcry is that there are now more reusable water bottle choices on the market than anyone had ever dreamed, which is good for the retail market. So many exist that there is even one company dubbed Poison Bottles. Go figure!
“…We use these more for indoors hydration, driving, and summer hiking than we do for winter backcountry skiing…”
What do you use in the winter – BPA-laced plastic? Figuring out a new way to deliver fluids to my body in a robust and convenient manner is a yearly ritual for me.
My wife and I have tried the Stainless water bottle rave – but we’re not sold. In fact, those bottles are now set aside for the dog. 1. Why can’t they make them with a wide mouth cap? You can’t even fit a standard ice cube in it. 2. You can’t put them in the dish washer. 3. It is difficult to scrub clean b/c of the small opening.
Now, it seems most “Nalgene’s” are BPA-free for half the price, are top load dishwasher safe, and come in wide mouth lids.
So, for now, we look old school with our family of opaque Nalgenes.
Don’t worry, I’m still using plastic where appropriate, but have to say I’ve always tried to use stainless and glass to contain things I drink and eat. Thing is, what’s next after BPA?
Klean Kanteen, among others, now sells bona fide wide mouth stainless bottles.
For winter use, the good old nalgene polyethylene is still available and lighter than the other plastic options. I’m not aware that polyethylene has any issues other than becoming brittle over time due to ozone exposure and getting stinky if left in the sun. I just try and keep mine fresh. Hmmm…. maybe if they get stinky they have a similar leaching potential? Most hydration bladders are poly as well. Does anybody know if polyethylene has health concerns?
For above freezing temps there are several wide mouth stainless options out there that are light weight.
Does anyone know if Camelbak type hydration packs are reasonably safe, with the plastic bladders they come with?
We use these for biking and sometimes consume a lot of liquid during the hot dry days here in northern Cal.
A few years ago when the plastic alarm went out, I had just lost my last nalgene bottles and replaced them with stainless bottles. They look just like the ones reviewed by Lou. I have faith that the stainless ones are safe, but who knows about any plastic lining or bottle/bladder. I like the quality feel of steel, and the bottles have a lot of character (dents) but the reality is I will use any bottle or bladder.
I can’t bring myself to actually read this boring stuff, but don’t you guys know everything is bad for you?
http://www.springerlink.com/content/u1l7163m7w82m016/
Have you ever seen the inside of an old water line? Whatever your plastic bottle is leaching, it’s likely nothing compared to what you’re getting from the water distribution system. There are more important things to worry about.
I think Camelbak bladders are polypropylene which, along with polyethylene, has never had BPA.
I’m glad all the comments are about the BPA and not the “eco-friendliness” of stainless bottles. It always bugs me when they try to brand themselves as somehow more environmentally friendly than plastic. I have a hard time believing that the mining and chemical processes involved in making stainless steel are noticeably less destructive than those involved in plastic. Just my $0.02.
Kris, I’d agree. That’s why my post title was an attempt at sarcasm, though I do like stainless steel for anything culinary.
To CCD and all, my view of all this after research is it’s the day-in day-out exposure one needs to be aware of, not things like what you use to drink out of periodically while doing athletics. In other words, if you’re into hydration and go everywhere with a water bottle, a stainless one is a good idea, but when it comes to using a hydration bladder such as Camelback, I don’t worry about the plastic. Besides, this whole thing is way overblown.
I’m worried that my lips might freeze to a stainless bottle at 30 below, of course my water usually freezes on those cold weather trips anyway.
Bar
Try the GSI Outdoors Dukjug.
+ Wide mouth
+ With an insert so you can drink without spilling
+ Cap twists off in about 2/3 turn
+ But stays on very well
+ And has a keeper that won’t let you ever lose the cap
+ And the keeper is repairable
+ Cap threads are outside the lip and plastic, so your lips don’t touch cold metal when drinking and you can actually take it skiing
+ Grippy rubber stuff on the outside so you won’t drop it
I don’t work for them, I’m just very happy with mine.
Lou-
The Klean Kanteen is the original 304 stainless steel bottle.
It has an electropolished interior and does not rely on a coating or liner for safety.
All BPA safety hype aside, I use them exclusively because they do not impart a plastic taste to my water which is great because then I can taste the water the way nature intended. Second, they work well with wine, scotch, and my favorite Kentucky Bourbon, Black Maple Hill.
Salud!!
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