Water Bottles: Reviews

Updated June 2011

Carrying your own water bottle is not only trendy, but environmentally and financially friendly. However, when it comes to deciding the best one for you, whether metal or plastic, the choices are endless. ConsumerSearch editors have scoured sports enthusiast sites, user and expert reviews to determine the right water bottle for the right use.

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Best BPA-free plastic water bottle

CamelBak Better Bottle

*Est. $14 for 25-oz. bottle Compare Prices

CamelBak, a company that's well regarded for its hydration packs, also gets good reviews for its water bottles. The CamelBak Better Bottle is made with BPA-free Tritan copolyester, and the screw top features a bite valve… expandand integrated handle. Most reviewers love the bite valve, since you don't have to tip or squeeze the bottle to drink, but some find it hard to get used to. Overall, the CamelBak Better Bottle gets top ratings for convenience, and it's one of the most inexpensive water bottles preferred by reviewers. The biggest downside to the Better Bottle is leakage -- multiple reviewers say the bottle leaks or squirts when you flip open the bite valve. However, few owners report that this problem persists when the bite valve is closed. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Good Housekeeping: The bite valve on the CamelBak Better Bottle can be confusing if you haven't used it before, editors say.

Men's Journal: Men's Journal calls the CamelBak Better Bottle "cost-effective, if basic," and says the bite valve cap does a good job of preventing leaks when in a backpack or bag.

Gardenaut (blog): Blogger Jeremiah McNichols says the CamelBak Better Bottle's "thoughtful features and durability make it a good buy." However, the CamelBak Performance bottle and Nalgene OTG – On The Go are his top picks overall.

Time magazine: Reviewer Hilary Hylton likes the CamelBak Better Bottle, especially because the water doesn't spill while she's driving.

Vegetarian Times: Four Vegetarian Times staffers list their top BPA-free water bottles in this short article, and the CamelBak Better Bottle makes the grade.

Amazon.com: More than 800 user-reviewers share their opinions on the Better Bottle, and it averages nearly 4.5 stars out of 5.

GearJunkie.com: Stephen Regenold reviews a number of water bottles, including the CamelBak Better Bottle.

Buzzillions.com: Buzzillions.com compiles owner-written reviews from retailers around the web, including REI.com and Zappos.com.

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Best stainless-steel water bottle

Klean Kanteen Classic

*Est. $18 for 27-oz. bottle Compare Prices

Klean Kanteen water bottles are a good choice for those who prefer not to use plastic since they're made from recyclable, food-grade stainless steel, making the chance of BPA contamination nil. Most Klean Kanteen bottles… expandcome with a BPA-free polypropylene cap, but you can purchase stainless-steel tops (*Est. $6). While metal water bottles can dent pretty easily, the Klean Kanteen gets high marks for durability -- it even survives being run over by a car in one torture test. Owners say the water bottle resists leaks and is easy to drink from. The biggest complaint about Klean Kanteen bottles is excessive sweating, which can be remedied by investing in an insulation sleeve. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

Wired: The Klean Kanteen gets the highest rating in this comparative test conducted by Wired.

Men's Journal: Men's Journal calls the Klean Kanteen "simple but bulletproof," although it sweats when filled with cold liquids and the lid can be squeaky.

Gardenaut (blog): This methodical rundown praises the Klean Kanteen for its simple design, small stainless-steel base (which fits in most cup holders) and durability.

Slate.com: This roundup calls the Klean Kanteen water bottle a reliable choice, saying it resists dents, can survive dishwashers and "fits just about anywhere." Water was said to taste metallic after sitting in the bottle overnight, however.

HuffingtonPost.com: HuffingtonPost.com provides a wide array of reusable bottle favorites, though Armstrong doesn't clarify exactly how the bottles were chosen.

Time magazine: Reviewer Hilary Hylton says the Klean Kanteen is her favorite of five water bottles, besting the Sigg Traveler and CamelBak Better Bottle.

About.com: Wendy Bumgardner notes that the stainless-steel Klean Kanteen's main advantage is that it's nonleaching and toxin-free.

The New York Times: In this test, the Klean Kanteen is deemed durable and stylish, although tester Eric Linxweiler thinks the opening can allow a little too much water to come out at once.

Amazon.com: More than 1,300 owners posting here are highly satisfied with the Klean Kanteen bottle, noting that it's easy to clean, light and leakproof.

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Buy from Amazon for $18.38
FiltersFast- .com for $16.35	LuckyVitami- n.com for $16.35	Backcountry- .com for $17.95

Best sports water bottle

Specialized Purist

*Est. $9 for 26-oz. bottle Learn More

Squeezable plastic water bottles are usually preferred for most sporting activities because they're easy to drink from on the go. The Specialized Purist is made from soft, BPA-free polyethylene and is lined with a layer… expandof silicon dioxide, which is said to prevent the bottle from absorbing or leaching flavors into drinks. The Watergate and MoFlow sport tops feature a self-sealing valve that's easy to drink from and can be closed to prevent leakage. Reviewers say the Specialized Purist is the bike bottle all others must aim to beat. The bottle comes in 22-ounce and 26-ounce sizes. On the downside, this bottle is hard to find outside of sporting-goods stores. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

CyclingNews.com: Huang prefaces his article with the header "pricey but nearly perfect in every way," which sums up his feelings on the bottle succinctly.

GearJunkie.com: This review is part of a series of reviews about Regenold's gear while on an expedition in Patagonia.

KineticShift.com: This analytical review focuses very specifically on testing Specialized's claims.

DanBailey.net: Bailey focuses his review on the silica lining of the Purist, saying he tested the bottle by leaving it for a week in a car that alternated hot and cold.

BikeRumor.com: This article offers only a brief introduction to the Purist, which was new at the time.

Best water bottle with filter

CamelBak Groove

*Est. $25 for 20-oz. bottle Compare Prices

Self-filtering water bottles are the latest trend. While many designs are still flawed, reviewers and users are most satisfied with the CamelBak Groove. Like the CamelBak Better Bottle, the Groove is made of BPA-free… expandTritan copolyester, and features a bite valve and straw. The bottle's filter is connected to the straw so it filters as you drink. Reviewers find the CamelBak Groove to be rugged and durable as well as leakproof. There are fewer reports of the filter slowing down water, which is a common complaint about products in this category. collapse

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Expert & User Review Sources:

DailyHiker.com: While this review doesn't compare multiple products, McIntyre does offer an honest opinion of the CamelBak Groove's pros and cons.

Amazon.com: While most filter bottles don't get as many reviews as regular BPA-free bottles, the CamelBak Groove solicits more than 100 user-submitted reviews.

Buzzillions.com: This review aggregator finds 20 reviews of the CamelBak Groove, and users give the bottle 4.1 stars.

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