Since when did carrying water get so complicated? Scan your grocery-, outdoor-, even toy-store shelves—and you’ll see throngs of colored canteens and bulbous bottles—and the gimmicks keep coming. New materials, mouth pieces, and design features are on the horizon across the water-bottle world.
Carrying your own bottle is a great way to stay healthy and hydrated, but it also “allows you to do your part, in a small way, every day by reducing your carbon footprint,” says Tiffany Teaford, new-product developer for Nalgene. Americans buy an estimated 30-plus billion plastic, disposable water bottles annually and more than 80 percent of them end up in landfills.
With all the options available these days, what things should you consider when dropping dough on a bottle? “The most important feature to consider is durability and leak-proof performance,” says Teaford. “Who wants their water spilling?”
A dripping leak can dampen your day, no question. But in addition to lightweight, rock-solid construction—and a graphic or color that suits your personal style—a few other factors should impact your final choice: The bottle’s inside surface, an ergonomic and functional design, and your personal preference for mouthpieces and flow regulators are key. “The cap is always the deal breaker for me,” says Jacqueline Wachholz, who uses a screw-top bottle to hydrate while running in Durham, North Carolina, with her 18-month-old daughter. “They either make the water too hard to drink, or they leak everywhere.”
At the end of the day, it’s up to you to select the bottle that fits your lifestyle and can balance form, function, and price point well enough that you’ll never want to leave home without it.
Material
Durability, weight, temperature range, and recyclability are all linked to a water bottle’s material. Most of the clear plastic versions out there are made from copolyester, a nearly indestructible, freezer-friendly plastic that doesn’t retain tastes or odors. Lightweight polypropylene is a popular choice for day-tripping bottles, when weight is a big concern and durability comes second—on a bike, for example. Aluminum and food-grade stainless steel are also growing in popularity because they’re long lasting, lightweight, and 100 percent recyclable. Aluminum is lighter than stainless, but there’s a trade-off with durability—aluminum is more likely to corrode, split, and puncture, and both metals are less insulating than copolyester.
Lining the inside
No matter how the outside of the bottle is constructed, the inner lining—the material in direct contact with your beverage—has caused much controversy as of late. In 2008, Canada became the first country to ban Bisphenol A—a hormone-mimicking chemical that’s used to harden plastic and has been linked to cancer and reproductive-health problems—from use in baby bottles. Since then, the plastics industry has followed suit, and almost every water bottle you can buy today is BPA-free. Perhaps the biggest controversy in terms of safety surrounds the lack of transparency between manufacturers and consumers, most notably in the case of Swiss manufacturer Sigg, which introduced a new BPA-free liner for its aluminum bottles after consumers challenged the BPA content of Sigg’s proprietary liner formula. Stainless is generally considered the safest material from a no-BPA perspective, although most experts agree that any bottle made by a reputable company that’s in good condition and less than 3 years old is likely BPA-free.
Design
With water bottles fighting for real estate on store shelves, design is geared toward functionality as much as aesthetic appeal. Whether it’s with shape, color, ergonomic or textured grips, insulation—even liquid capacity—manufacturers are aiming to stand out. “Everything we design is simple and meant to be user friendly,” explains Danielle Cresswell, sustainability officer for Klean Kanteen. “We focus on form and function and how the bottle performs on a day-to-day basis.”
Of course they do, but so does every other bottle company. And in an effort to differentiate, companies tweak every imaginable design element. Easy-cleaning round corners are a Klean Kanteen trademark, while Sigg has dynamic graphic designs. Nalgene’s bold color scheme and standard wide mouth make its bottles a go-to for many, and the company has expanded its line, even offering “bottle clothing” for insulation and added transport value. Platypus’ collapsible bottles are gaining ground, GSI’s Dukjug holds two meters of duct tape in a form-molded inset, CamelBak’s sporty bite valves are a stand-out feature, and Nathan—known for ergonomic hydration packs—is narrow enough to grasp comfortably and has gripping ridges, too.
Whatever style you favor, size is an important design factor to consider. Standard capacities range from 10 ounces to 48 ounces, and your activity and hydration habits will likely guide your decision on that front. One-liter bottles may be too large for running but ideal for camping and backcountry excursions, while 12-ounce bottles fit into tight purses and are perfect for kids.
Access and flow
Mouthpiece style is all about personal preference. Most brands sell interchangeable tops and lids: any bottle can work for sports, widemouthed styles can be reined in, and flow can be controlled via spill-proof tops. They also offer different styles to accommodate both the brand loyalty and differing personal tastes. Sip-it lids, pop-up straws, and sport tops prevent spill and allow on-the-go access but require more cleaning to stay germ- and mold-free. Widemouthed models are easier to clean and can accommodate ice, but they require more control to prevent spillage while drinking. Think about where and how you’ll be using your bottle: For car rides you might want a spill-proof system, but if you’re pumping water from a creek, a wide mouth can make filtration much easier.
By Georgia Stewart
