Practical Water Bottle Advice

A reader asked me for some help choosing a water bottle because of concerns about antimony, bisphenol A, and phthalates (BPA is really the only risk worth thinking about in this trifecta). She read this NYTimes article about plastic bottles and risks,...etc. She was rather confused by the article. No doubt, it's more stream of consciousness than helpfulness. So here's your simple, practical advice, Amy:

Get this bottle.

It's the HDPE or the #2 that you are looking for (the milky looking plastic). It's cheap, reusable, sturdy, dishwasher safe, and people safe.

(No, I don't get any money from Nalgene)

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I love the stainless steel bottles by Kleen Kanteen. The make sippy cup attachments for kids. The paint on Sigg bottles chips off and Siggs dent more when dropped...plus they have a plastic lining.

awesome. glad to see a new and pefectly useful entry from you.

I find the lining of SIGG bottles kind of dubious. The company says it is some sort of epoxy resin but the formulation is a trade secret. I'd rather stick with high density polyethylene because I at least know what it is made of. I'm also pretty frugal so I like the price of HDPE and it is pretty easily recycled which is another plus.

I love this blog! It is so difficult to sort out information and it's tough to keep toxins in perspective since almost anything is toxic in the right dose. I'm very grateful for the clear info.

Michael R

By Michael Rayner (not verified) on 25 Feb 2008 #permalink

So what are we to do with all the polycarbonate Nalgene drinking bottles we all rushed out to get?
How about the #5 Rubbermaid drinking bottles? OK? No? Use? No?
If not, now what?

I'm going to stop here but to give you an overall sense for what these things are like: Everybody seems to think