Bottle Buyer's Guide

Plastic v. Metal 

America's $15 billion disposable water bottle habit consumes more than 1.5 million barrels of oil per year and sends 100 million bottles to the landfill each day. Still, it's hard to ignore the lightweight, portable convenience of bottled water.

A simple solution is to buy a reusable water bottle. There are plenty of styles to choose from, but the differences aren't purely aesthetic.

Plastic bottles are by far the most common. But wet plastic is a good breeding ground for bacteria, which means bottles need to be washed and dried often. Some plastics may leach chemicals into your water, so look for bottles made of #2HDPE, #4LDPE and #5PP plastics, which are safer. Since leaching increases with heat and use, you should replace plastic bottles as soon as they look worn.
 
Aluminum and stainless steel bottles provide an alternative to plastic. Although more expensive (typical prices range from $14 to $30), they are less prone to bacteria growth. The FDA considers both of these materials safe for food storage. Many aluminum and stainless steel bottles can carry both hot and cool beverages, giving you one more reason to make the switch.

Feeling thirsty? The bottle of your dreams is out there. Go and find it.

Look for plastic, stainless steel and aluminum water bottles at sporting goods stores. PCC carries a stainless steel version by Enviro Products. To find retailers carrying Sigg aluminum bottles, visit their site and click "where to buy."

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