BPA-Free Water Bottle Showdown

Concerns about the chemical bisphenol-A recently saw polycarbonate water bottles pulled from retail shelves in Canada, and changes in the U.S. appear to be following the same path. This means water bottle manufacturers have been rolling out new models or showcasing existing bottles that are BPA-free, and consumers are also taking a closer look at stainless steel, coated aluminum, and polypropylene water bottles to replace old standards. Luckily, there are a variety of styles available from a lot of great brands.

We keep a reusable water bottle at our side whenever we're in the garden, while we're working at our computers, when we're out running errands, and during travel. It's our best bet for having cold, clean water on hand wherever we are, without wasting plastic bottles or the money it costs to buy water on the go. But different needs call for different features, so there can't be one "best" bottle in this showdown; instead, we selected several of the best options we found as our favorites. We evaluated BPA-free water bottles by the following brands over a five-week period of continual use:

• Camelbak: Maker of a wide variety of bottle styles; we tried several of their "bite-valve" straw bottles and screw lid models
• Klean Kanteen: Stainless steel water bottles with threaded plug loop cap or sports cap
• Nalgene: Producers of a wide variety of sports and water bottle styles, we tried their Everyday Tritan bottle, just coming on the market as the company prepares to go BPA-free
  
• Polar Bottle: Makers of two-layer plastic sports bottles with a thermal lining
• SIGG: Single-walled aluminum water bottles with a threaded plug loop cap, available in a wide variety of sizes and with several alternative lids
  
• Thermos: Maker of traditional vacuum-walled, two-lid stainless-steel beverage containers and a variety of spin-off products; we tried their stylish Raya and flip-top Hydration Bottle
• ThinkSport: A BPA-free company with 750 ml and 12 oz. stainless-steel, double-walled and vacuum-sealed water bottles

We've also rounded up most of the contenders in our new Gardenaut Store, where you can buy any of the above available from Amazon.com.

Evaluation Criteria

• Design: Bottles were used over a period of four weeks to assess their ease of use and identify particular features that will set them apart for some users. [Excellent|Good|Fair|Poor]
• Durability: All bottles were dropped on concrete from a height of four feet directly on their their lids, where the most fragile parts are found. Cosmetic and functional damage was logged and its implications for long-term use were assessed. [High|Moderate|Low]
• Insulation: We created a vat of water of a consistent, cold temperature in the low 50s, filled all the bottles, and set them in a hot car for about four hours. We then took temperature readings of the water in all of the metal bottles, and the sole insulated plastic bottle in the group, to see which ones kept cold drinks coldest. [High|Moderate|N/A]
• Value: A bottle may be inexpensive or costly, but is the bottle worth what it costs? [Excellent|Good|Fair|Poor]

Bottle Reviews

Camelbak

BPA-Free Better Bottle with Bite Valve [$10-$12, Amazon.com]

BPA-Free Better Bottle [Amazon.com (see note)]
Design: Good. Camelbak's "bite valve," a straw lid with a plastic housing that must be bitten to allow water to be sucked out, takes a bit of getting used to, but it works well and quickly becomes natural. This model features a twist cap to open the valve and allow water to pass through; a "classic cap" version offers a simple screw lid, and an alternate bite-valve lid design (not yet available for sale) flips the straw into a depression in the cap, one of our favorite bottle designs overall. Available in 16-, 25- and 32-oz. sizes, the smallest of these features a slimmed-down base portion to allow it to fit in standard cupholders.
Durability: Moderate. The bottle itself is made of highly durable Tritan copolyester. When bottles were dropped on their lids scratching of the lid and mild damage to some valves occurred. All bottles remained fully functional.
Insulation: N/A.
Value: Good. Priced at $8 for the Classic Cap version or $14 for the bite valve model, we believe the BPA-Free Better Bottle's thoughtful features and durability make it a good buy.

Note: There are still a wide variety of BPA-containing Camelbak bottles on the market, and the limited name changes for their non-polycarbonate version as well as the "Better Bottle" title that applies to both polycarbonate and the new Tritan bottles may be confusing some consumers. At this time only the Classic Cap model appears to be available to consumers in the BPA-free version. Any models you find in the Gardenaut Store have been vetted as BPA-free; if buying in a brick-and-mortar store, note that Camelbak's new Tritan bottles have "BPA-free" printed on the bottle itself.

BPA-Free Better Bottle With Flip-Top Bite Valve [$10-$12, Amazon.com]

BPA-Free Better Bottle with Classic Cap, .5-Liter [$8, Amazon.com]

Podium Bottle [Amazon.com]
Design: Fair. The Podium Bottle features a pliant polypropylene body and a sport cap that twists to open. Water is released at the speed one would expect from this type of cap, making its graduated opening settings somewhat superfluous. The bottle's dial settings become firm near the beginning and end of the turn, making securing the valve in a fully open or closed position slightly awkward. There is no clear advantage of this lid type over the standard pop-up ring lid typically seen in biking water bottles, particularly as the latter can be opened with the user's teeth. Available in 21- and 24-oz. sizes.
Durability: High. Hardness is not necessarily equivalent to durability, as this bottle proves. The bottle suffered no damage when dropped on its lid.
Insulation: N/A.
Value: Fair. At $8 it is competitive with similar bottles, but its design is inferior even to standard biking water bottles.

Performance Bottle [Amazon.com|REI.com]
Design: Good. The Performance Bottle features a 22-oz. soft polypropylene body and a bite valve lid.
Durability: Moderate. Dropping the bottle on its top resulted in a scratched handle and a slightly wiggly straw top.
Insulation: N/A.
Value: Excellent. For a mere $8, the Performance Bottle offers Camelbak's well-designed bite valve straw lid in a lightweight, flexible polypropylene bottle. A Gardenaut Top Pick.

Klean Kanteen

Stainless Steel Sports Bottle [Amazon.com|REI.com]
Design: Good. The Klean Kanteen's simple design does the job. Stainless steel with a small enough footprint to stand tall in most cupholders, the Kanteen's screw-top lid is easy to open and its sports top functions as expected. The possible squeaking of steel on steel of the loop or flat cap may bother some, and the sport cap is a good alternative which also keeps ice inside when drinking iced drinks.
Durability: High. The Klean Kanteen can and does dent when dropped, but dents are minor and only add to its character. The lid and neck are extremely durable. This water bottle is a tank.

Insulation: Moderate. The bottle's stainless steel is a good insulator, and a thick top plug, also stainless steel, makes a significant contribution. The mouth is wide enough to add ice, and foam sheaths are widely available to provide some insulation and keep your hands from freezing.
Value: Good. The Klean Kanteen comes in a large range of sizes - 12, 18, 27, and 40 ounces - with several cap styles available. We like the 27 oz. size best, which is generous but still fits in a standard cupholder. Foam sheaths are available to increase insulation and protect your bottle.

Nalgene

Everyday Tritan Bottle [Amazon.com]
Design: Good. The lid swivels vertically on a hinge built into its loop cap, and those who like to drink to fast will appreciate the quarter-sized opening, which makes quenching your thirst a hasty affair. The inside top of the cap has a soft seal that presses firmly against this gaping maw when the lid is closed, making the bottle leak-proof.

Unfortunately the plastic catch this lid uses lacks the satisfying snap a bottle this bulky demands, and users will find themselves fiddling with it a bit to make sure the cap on the opening is closed tight. That said, this bottle's design impressed all of our testers; the Everyday Tritan simply means business, heavy like a good sledge and nearly as strong.

Durability: High. When dropped on its lid, Nalgene's Everyday Tritan bottle popped open, but neither the hinge nor the opening sustained any damage.
Insulation: N/A.
Value: Excellent. At $9, this solid contender's value is hard to beat among non-insulated bottles. A Gardenaut Top Pick.

Polar Bottle

Insulated Water Bottle [Amazon.com]
Design: Good. Polar Bottles' sports-style plastic squeeze bottles are formed in two layers with a sealed core of insulation that helps keep liquids cool. At just over 4.5 ounces, their 24-oz. bottle is extremely lightweight bottle and clearly it and the company's 20-oz. model are the least bulky of the "refrigerating" bottles on the market.
Durability: High. The bottle's flexible polypropylene construction is highly durable. Where the new entrants by Nalgene or Camelbak pride themselves on their ability to withstand blows, the Polar Bottle gives in gently, then reclaims its turf. The bottles were not damaged, or even scuffed, by any of our drop tests.
Insulation: Fair. The insulating layer allows this bottle to outperform traditional sports bottles, but it can't compete with even single-walled metal containers. Chilling the bottle and water in the fridge solves that problem.
Value: Excellent. At $8 to $10 for their 20 and 24-oz. bottles, we think the layer of insulation makes this a standout among standard sports bottles. A Gardenaut Top Pick.

Sigg

Traveler 1.0 Liter Bottle [Amazon.com|REI.com]
Design: Fair. We love the styling on Sigg bottles - the wide array of surface graphics, the bold colors - and we do take such things seriously. But the neck is very narrow, and after a year plus in a hot car, our trusty Sigg's aluminum walls give water an off taste. We also don't care much for Sigg's sport cap, which twists to open instead of pulling up, although we do like the Mud Cap designed to go on top of it, a polypropylene dome that looks nice and is easy to use.
Durability: Moderate. Sigg's loop caps are strong and bottles are stronger, but a bottle this dedicated to appearances can't age as gracefully as a bare bottle. Some surface paints scratch easily, and dents can lead to small chips in paint.
Insulation: Moderate. The metal helps keep cold water cold, particularly if you chill the bottle first, but the neck diameter makes it hard to add ice, and the SIGG can't compete with comparable bottles with double walls.
Value: Fair. SIGG's $15-$20 price tag is the highest for single-walled sports bottles we tried, and you're paying primarily for looks. Foam sheaths are available to add insulation and protect your eye candy.

Thermos

Hydration Bottle [direct]
Design: Good. Thermos' Hydration Bottle has a dime-sized spout that gets water flowing fast. A hinged trapdoor lid springs open when you push a button and stays out of the way. A hard plastic gripping surface is a bit superfluous, but we like the bottle's small footprint, which allows it to rest snugly in standard drink holders. The lid unscrews to allow access to the main chamber, which is double-walled stainless steel.
Durability: Moderate. The lid was a bit rattled in our drop test, but functioned as normal; the lid's hard plastic was visibly scuffed. The base lacks the plastic bumper of some Thermos models.
Insulation: Excellent. The Hydration Bottle's double-walled design did a great job keeping water cold for hours.
Value: Good. It's $17, but it's clear what you're paying for. Good insulation, easy to drink from, fits in a cupholder. A good bottle all around.

Raya [Amazon.com|direct]
Design: Good. Thermos' Raya line includes insulated commuter mugs with and without handles, a slurpee-style insulated cup with a straw and dome (polycarbonate) lid, and a slimmed-down version of its classic design, with a screw-plug lid with pour spout (open the lid a bit and you can pour liquid out) and an exterior screw lid that doubles as a cup. This model a handsome and stylish bottle that updates Thermos' standard vacuum-sealed stainless steel model with a slimmer design and some soft-grip features. Available in silver or blue.
Durability: Moderate. The lid was a bit rattled in our drop test, but functioned as normal; the lid's hard plastic was visibly scuffed. The base lacks the plastic bumper of some Thermos models.
Insulation: Excellent. The Raya outperformed all other bottles in our chill test, keeping cold water at 54 degrees in a hot car for four hours.

Value: Excellent. At $19, this well-designed bottle is a bargain. It's better for desk work, where filling and drinking from the accompanying cup is a reminder to hydrate, than for anyone who doesn't want to interrupt physical activity for more than a moment. As for us, we welcome the interruptions as a chance to take a breather. A Gardenaut Top Pick.

ThinkSport

750-ml bottle [Amazon.com|direct]
Design: Excellent. The only double-walled, vacuum-sealed, stainless-steel bottle we found that wasn't made by Thermos, ThinkSport distinguishes itself with a well-designed, dual-opening lid with small and large screw-tops. The smaller offers a dime-sized opening for drinking, and the larger conceals a removable mesh guard that keeps ice inside the bottle when you drink from the small spout. The bottle's slight hourglass shape makes the large bottle easy to hold, although it won't fit in a standard cupholder.

Durability: High. The upper dome lid was slightly dented when the bottle was dropped on its lid. The carbon black model's surface reveals slight surface scratches after long-term use (we've had ours for months). If that's a concern for you, the silver model might be a better option. But make no mistake, this bottle is another tank.
Insulation: Excellent. ThinkSport's 750-ml bottle came in second in our chill test, allowing water to reach only 60 degrees after four hours in a hot car. With ice added, the ThinkSport fulfills the same basic functions of Thermos' Hydration Bottle, but with increased durability and a larger tank.
Value: Excellent. At $20, you're making an investment, but it's a good one. This is a high-quality bottle that could last a generation. A Gardenaut Top Pick.

350 ml bottle [Amazon.com|direct]
Design: Good. A more diminutive version of the above with all of the same features, ThinkSport's 350-ml bottle fits in standard cupholders and works great for those not too far from a refill. Our nearly-four-year-old uses this as her current water bottle of choice, and as long as we don't screw the top lid too tight, she can manage it all herself. This is a great bottle for adults wanting a smaller profile bottle but the benefits of double-walled insulation and stainless-steel durability.
Durability: Moderate. Vulnerabilities are the same as the larger model; at this size, only silver is available.
Insulation: Excellent. Same as above.
Value: Good. A little less bottle for your money than the larger version, we wish this bottle could come in at a bit lower price point. But it's still a very good value, and fulfills a set of needs unmet by any other bottle we saw.

We've added these bottles to the new Gardenaut Store, where all listings are and will remain BPA-free.