By Kelly Anne Fitzpatrick on July 13, 2011 in
People go to extraordinary lengths for free stuff. They arrive hours early for an event to get a gratis T-shirt, or they gladly do the chicken dance onstage to score a free Frisbee. There's just something appealing about knowing you've gotten something of actual value without having to do actual work. At least, that's the illusion.
Water bottles are one of the many promotional materials companies brand with their logo and distribute to eager fans. Maybe you've picked up one of these handsome water carriers, feeling auspicious. But before you count your lucky stars, take a closer look at the bottle you're eagerly toting home.
How to know you scored
Many printers offer "co-branded" water bottles, high-end bottles that carry both the original manufacturer's logo and the co-brander's logo. From what we can tell, these co-branded bottles are legitimately a great deal -- if you spot one, take it home.
However, printers offer these high-end bottles right alongside their own inexpensive, almost identical bottles. These dead-ringer bottles can often cost less than a tenth of the price of their more expensive counterparts, making them appealing to the promoter who wants to save a buck. While these bottles may look and feel like the same fancy water bottle, without a brand name there's little accountability for the materials and production quality used. You can't necessarily assume that because a bottle looks, feels and functions like a CamelBak that it is BPA-free, freezer and dishwasher-safe, or leak-proof.
On the other hand, if your bottle carries the brand-name logo (visit the manufacturer's website and compare it to their models, checking both the cap and body of the bottle), you've got a great deal in your hot hands. Often, though, these expensive co-branded bottles are purchased for re-sale. Major events and tourist destinations offer co-branded bottles for purchase as a souvenir. If you're in the market for one such bottle, check the manufacturer prices online and consider how much you're willing to pay to have the event or location logo.
*For more information on identifying BPA-free plastics, see these articles at Trusted.MD and Consumer Reports. Also see our report on Water Bottles.