BPA-Free Plastic Bottles

New plastic water bottles don't use BPA

Among BPA-free plastic water bottles, the CamelBak Better Bottle (*Est. $10 for 25-oz. bottle) gets the best reviews. The CamelBak Better Bottle is made with Tritan plastic, which is said to be free of BPA and other harmful chemicals. It comes in 16-, 25- and 34-ounce versions, with either a flip-up bite valve and a plastic straw or a flat cap -- both with an integrated handle (which can attach to a waist belt or carabiner). In a comprehensive test of plastic water bottles conducted by The Great Outdoors magazine, the CamelBak Better Bottle is recommended and receives a perfect, five-star rating. The magazine finds the bottle very convenient, since you don't have to tip or squeeze the bottle to drink from the bite valve. The Great Outdoors calls it a "top option" among plastic water bottles, but they do find it a bit heavy. Time magazine also calls the CamelBak Better Bottle one of the "top 5 eco-friendly water bottles." Reviewer Hilary Hylton from Time says the CamelBak doesn't leak, although she thinks the top is hard to clean. Men's Journal calls the CamelBak Better Bottle "cost-effective, if basic."

The CamelBak Better Bottle also gets positive reviews from owners. More than 400 reviewers leave their feedback on the CamelBak water bottle at Amazon.com, giving it above-average ratings. Reviewers especially like the bite valve, saying it's incredibly easy to use and convenient for working out or on-the-go. More than 350 reviewers give the CamelBak Better Bottle four- or five-star ratings, but some report problems; multiple owners report that the bottle leaks or water squirts out when opening the valve. Others say the bite valve and cap can be difficult to clean.

If you prefer a more traditional water bottle without a bite valve, the Nalgene Everyday On-The-Go (*Est. $12 for 24-oz. bottle) also gets good reviews from multiple sources. Like the CamelBak Better Bottle, the Nalgene Everyday OTG is made with Tritan plastic, with a one-handed flip top. It comes in one size in red, spring green or slate blue. If you want your bottle to be absolutely leakproof, the Nalgene Everyday OTG is not for you. Nalgene states in the product description that the bottle is not "100% leakproof," and they don't recommend putting it upside down in a purse or backpack. The Nalgene Everyday OTG is a top scorer in a Good Housekeeping test, where it earns praise for being easy to open. However, some testers say the bottle lip is uncomfortable. The Nalgene water bottle is also a top pick at Gardenaut, where testers are impressed with the durability and value. However, Men's Journal finds that the top opens easily in a backpack. Owner-written reviews at Amazon.com and Buzzillions.com confirm that the Nalgene Everyday OTG can leak pretty easily from the top, although most owners are satisfied overall.

TheNalgene Everyday Widemouth (*Est. $13 for 32-oz. bottle) has a much tighter seal than the Everyday OTG, so it's a better choice if you want something to throw in your bag. The Everyday Widemouth looks like a traditional Nalgene bottle, and it comes in 16- and 32-ounce sizes with an attached loop top (which secures the lid to the bottle itself, so there's no chance of losing it). Like the OTG, the Nalgene Everyday Widemouth is made from Tritan copolyester, which is said to be free of BPA. It comes in a variety of colors and is dishwasher safe. Time magazine picks the Nalgene Everyday Widemouth as one of the best eco-friendly water bottles available. They like that the wide mouth accommodates ice cubes, but it can also make it easy to spill water on yourself while drinking. The Nalgene water bottle also tops the list at Women's Adventure magazine, which recommends it as a solid BPA-free water bottle. The bottle also gets excellent reviews on Amazon.com, where owners call it sturdy and durable with no plastic taste.

The Kor One (*Est. $30 for 25-oz. bottle) may be one of the most hyped water bottles in recent memory. Bloggers went crazy for the preproduction models and the bottle debuted in October 2008 to a waiting list of eager buyers. The Kor One gets very high marks for style and design. In fact, it won the title of "best sustainable consumer product" at the 2009 International Plastics Design Competition. Gizmodo.com calls it "one damn sexy bottle," Outside magazine describes it as "undeniably slick" and Elevation Outdoors magazine says the Kor One "could be the sexiest water bottle we've ever seen." It also scores a Best of Adventure award from National Geographic Adventure magazine.

On the other hand, critics think the Kor One is overpriced and gimmicky -- as an example, Kor insists that the One water bottle is a "hydration vessel," not merely a water bottle. Owner-written reviews on Amazon.com are mainly positive, with the exception of a few critics who question the bottle's durability or find it overpriced. Since it's so new, we haven't seen the Kor One included in any comparative tests, so durability is still an open question. Like the top-rated water bottles from Nalgene and CamelBak, the Kor One is made with BPA-free Tritan plastic. The Kor One has a hinged cap with an integrated handle, and the mouth is large enough for ice cubes. It comes in one size and is featured in a variety of light pastel colors, including blue, pink, orange and green. The Kor One is no lightweight -- it weighs 12.16 ounces empty.

It receives far fewer recommendations than the water bottles mentioned above, but the Thermos Intak (*Est. $10 for 24-oz. bottle) gets very good user reviews. Like many new BPA-free water bottles, the Thermos Intak is made from Eastman Tritan copolyester, and it sports a push-button flip lid and a carrying loop. It scores relatively well in a comparative Good Housekeeping test, with testers praising the one-handed opening and intake meter, which keeps track of how much water you've consumed. However, testers also find it a bit heavy when full (it weighs 6.25 ounces empty) and the lid was damaged in a drop test. Owners at Amazon.com find the Thermos Intak water bottle very convenient, and there are only a few reports of leaks.

For portability, the Platypus Platy Collapsible Bottle (*Est. $10 for 34-oz. bottle) gets a thumbs-up from several reviewers, including Slate.com and owner-reviewers at Amazon.com. The main appeal is that the Platypus water bottle is sturdy yet extremely flexible. Due to its collapsible design, it can be rolled up for compact storage. The bottle is said to be durable enough to withstand freezing and boiling. It's made from BPA-free three-ply polypropylene plastic and lined with a polyethylene film. "When emptied, a Platypus takes up no more room than a single folded-up section of newspaper," gushes Slate reviewer Laura Moser. Her only complaint is that the Platypus sloshes and spills when it's half-empty. One reviewer at Amazon.com notes that you must use two hands to drink from it. The Platypus Platy is marked with recycling code No. 7, so depending on your local recycling policies, you may or may not be able to recycle it.

Best sports water bottles

While hard plastic water bottles are good picks for hiking, camping or just everyday activities, squeezable water bottles are a better bet for cycling or running. CamelBak gets very good reviews for its new sports bottle, the CamelBak Podium (*Est. $9 for 24-oz. bottle). The Podium water bottle is made with TruTaste polypropylene, which is said to be free of BPA and phthalates. The bottle comes in 21- and 24-ounce sizes, as well as an insulated bottle. The insulated CamelBak Podium ChillJacket (*Est. $12 for 21-oz. bottle) gets high marks for keeping beverages cool. Both the insulated and regular Podium water bottles use CamelBak's new JetValve instead of the traditional bite valve found on most CamelBak bottles. The JetValve is a self-sealing valve that's always open; the valve comes with a shut-off lever to prevent leaks. The CamelBak Podium is a top-scorer in a Good Housekeeping test, where it earns points for being easy to use. The lid is not attached, so it may be easy to lose.

Another sports water bottle that scores highly in the Good Housekeeping test is the insulated Polar Bottle (*Est. $10 for 24-oz. bottle). Testers say the water bottle is unattractive, but add that it's leakproof and easy to carry. The Polar Bottle is manufactured by Colorado-based Product Architects, and it comes in 20- and 24-ounce sizes. The Polar Bottle is made with polyethylene, which is made without BPA or phthalates, and it has a traditional sports valve that must be opened with your teeth or fingers before drinking. Unlike the CamelBak Podium, the lid on the Polar Bottle is attached with a carrying loop. The Polar Bottle gets generally positive reviews from owners on Amazon.com, with most saying that the water bottle is good at keeping fluids cool for hours. However, multiple reviewers complain about leaks.

The Nalgene All-Terrain Bottle (*Est. $8 for 22-oz. bottle) -- also known as the Nalgene ATB -- is another option, although it receives fewer recommendations than the Polar Bottle or CamelBak Podium. The Nalgene ATB water bottle is made from BPA-free LDPE plastic, and it's available in 22- or 32-ounce sizes. It looks like a traditional sports bottle, but it does add a hinged cap to protect the drinking valve from dirt or grime. In a comparative test conducted by The Great Outdoors magazine, the Nalgene ATB water bottle is listed as a best buy. The Great Outdoors says the bottle is "a pleasure to use and hold," and they find it very convenient, although the hinge seems flimsy.