Product Architects Polar Bottle

1. Good Housekeeping

Good Housekeeping tests 32 reusable water bottles that claim to be BPA-free. Each bottle is subjected to stability, leak and drop tests, and a panel of testers evaluates the bottles for comfort, ease of use and appearance. Polar Bottle comes in at third, and Good Housekeeping lists both pros and cons. While testers find the bottle easy to hold and carry, they complain that the bottles aren't attractive.

Review: Reusable Water Bottles Tested, Editors of Good Housekeeping

2. Gardenaut (blog)

Blogger Jeremiah McNichols evaluates 10 BPA-free water bottles over a five-week span using four criteria: design, durability, insulation and value. The Product Architects Polar Bottle earns a Gardenaut Top Pick thanks to its durability and value. Surprisingly, McNichols isn't especially impressed with the bottle's insulation, saying single-walled metal containers insulate better; however, he does say insulation improves if the bottle is stored in the refrigerator before filling.

Review: BPA-Free Water Bottle Showdown, Jeremiah McNichols, May 12, 2008

3. Amazon.com

The Polar Bottle gets nearly 300 reviews on Amazon.com and does relatively well. Users here note problems that other reviewers don't, including leakiness. Some user-reviewers also complain that the insulation doesn't work well, while other owners praise the Polar Bottle for being squeezable.

Review: Polar Insulated Water Bottle, Contributors to Amazon.com

4. Buzzillions.com

On Buzzillions.com the Polar Bottle does even better than on Amazon. With 60 reviewers, more than half say the Polar Bottle insulates well. Few users list cons in their reviews, but the most common are "small capacity" and "leaves aftertaste."

Review: Polar Bottle Water Bottle - 24 fl. oz., Insulated, Contributors to Buzzillions.com