anthonygeo

Anyone using glass or stainless steel? I have all Nalgene bottles but I've been reading that pretty much all plastic bottles leach chemicals.

rydabent

I have gone to stainless steel because I hate the taste from plastic water bottles. Mine are from Walmart. They are the size of the larger bike bottles, and even have the neck down area so they "clip" into the bottle cage. Didnt cost much either.

Rowan

I've got to ask the OP: How often do you drink from your bottles? Every minute? Every hour? Every day? Also, do you drink or eat anything from a plastic container that you buy at the supermarket? And what evidence do you have that any leachate from the bottles is likely to cause you harm?

Having asked all that... we have a collection of water bottles numbering around 30.

Some simply cannot be used because of the residual taste that they produce in the water. Others are fine.

The bottles we currently use are Zefal wide-mouth ones. They contain around 900ml (I think), which is more than the average bike water bottle, but they still fit snugly in standard bottle cages. The wide openilng allows better cleaning and mixing of powders, and because they are made in France, they have to comply with EU standards on plastics used for food and beverages.

One of the distinct advantages of plastic over metal is that it can be squeezed, and even sucking the water out is easy because the plastic will collapse. With metal ones, you have to pour. I don't really see any advantages.

Rowan

Can you absolutely trust the stainless steel in the context of the OP's concerns about leachates? Especially if the bottles are made in Asia?

As an example, I bought a "stainless steel" mug for camping. The label stated that it was made in India. I used it a couple of times, and left some water in the bottom of it overnight. Next morning, there was a dark grey solution there instead of clear water. Stainless steel is not supposed to do that. I threw the mug away.

Rootman

Me too, and as for the question above, it seems to be heat and sunlight that adds the funny taste to the water in the bottles water. I can drink from a regualr bottle of bottled water just fine - unless it's been sitting out in the sun and gotten warm. No problem with food either - unless it gets warm in the plastic container.

wahoonc

Whatever works? I typically use a stainless steel Kleen Kanteen, but also carry extra water in a MSR Dromedary bag, gallon jugs from the grocery store, or even some nalgene bottles. I honestly suspect you will get more chemicals from food and breathing than from NSF grade plastic bottles.

Aaron

Mobile 155

Most f my water bottles are number 4 or 5. I have some TDF ones from France and one from Holland that simply have the Recycle diamond on them so I don't know for sure.

https://www.nationofchange.org/number...ean-1360168347

RiPHRaPH

I'm under the impression that the chemicals in question needs extreme temperature changes to drive this bad chemical reaction. Like many reactions, extreme cold (never freeze water bottles then allow them to thaw then drink) or microwave foods or drink in them.

GeneO 

I also believe chemicals will be released only under very hot conditions from what I have read. Like leaving a bottle in a car in very hot temps or microwaving a plastic bottle or cup.

I use Nalgene myself.

cyccommute 

Nalgene is a company that makes all kinds of bottles from all kinds of different polymers (aka "plastics"). If you are using translucent, flexible "regular" water bottles, you have nothing to worry about. High density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) don't leach into water. The materials used to make the plastic are hydrophobic.

If you are using the rigid plastic bottles, you probably have little to worry about as well because the formulations have changed due to the bisphenol A scare. I wouldn't use those on a bike anyway due to the inconvenience of having to screw off the top to drink...which is the same problem that stainless bottles have.

prathmann

I do this all the time and don't see why it would be a concern. Chemical reactions almost always slow down in cold temperatures and I'd expect any leaching to be very slow while the bottles are frozen or when the water inside starts to thaw but is still cold.

anthonygeo

I use nothing but Nalgene bottles, even pour the store bought water into them. So, yes I pretty much drink out of Nalgene bottles day in and day out. It seems I've read somewhere that Coke cans are lined with some chemical as well. I promise I'm not 100% chemical free (I eat and breathe the same crap as everyone else) but anyways. Which Kleen Canteen actually fits a standard bottle cage.

erig007

And what evidence do you have that any leachate from the bottles ISN'T likely to cause you harm?

Due to numerous studies that started to appear recently i will rather assume that it is dangerous rather than not

How To Recognize the Plastics That Are Hazardous To Your Health
https://io9.com/how-to-recognize-the-...-you-461587850

Bisphenol A and Human Health: A review of the literature.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23994667

Determinatıon of bisphenol a migrating from canned food and beverages in markets
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24001816

Bisphenol A affects axonal growth, musculature and motor behavior in developing zebrafish.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23994041

Study on the leaching of phthalates from polyethylene terephthalate bottles into mineral water.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23688967

Even BPA-free bottles might leach worrisome chemicals
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/health-...icals-1.978033

Are BPA-Free Plastics Just As Bad?
https://news.discovery.com/human/heal...bad-130128.htm
"Health advocates say the system in the U.S. needs to be overhauled. Instead of assuming chemicals are safe until proven otherwise, the process needs to be reversed, Dahl said."
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/1205826/

anthonygeo

By the way let me explain what sparked this post, I went all over town looking for extra water bottles. The dollar store had some, no stamp showing the plastic type but it did say made in china. So off to TJ Maxx, I found some decent PUMA bottles for $3.99, pe2 plastic (designed in US made in china). So basically I gave up to get other folks input on their choice of water bottle.

GeneO 

I use these. They are LPDE but BPA free. It is supposed to be resistant to leaching. I use them because of I commute and ride on dusty limestone/gravel trails, and the cap keeps the crap off of the nozzle..

https://store.nalgene.com/Nalgene-Bik...unce%20atb.htm

bikemig 

Excellent point on buying H20 bottles that have to comply with European standards.

anthonygeo

I almost bought a couple of those this weekend but passed in them. The local greenway is part gravel so my bottles get covered in dust.

GeneO 

The only problem I have with them is after a year or two, the lid fastener wears and can sometime pop open, but are still usable. But other than that they have served me well.

anthonygeo

I've been using this Nalgene bottle for a few years because it fits perfectly in a cage. Only issue is if you look at the lid there is a small opening that exposes the mouth piece to all kinds of crap.

DX-MAN

I go a slightly different route. Gatorade sells the 20oz. "sports bottle" with the 90-degree twist-open top; I get them, full of Gatorade, for $1 and change. I'll re-use them for a month or two, and when the twist action gets a bit stiff, I buy another. I can't remember the last time I had a bad taste out of one.

Since a quart of G'ade is $1, I figure I'm spending about 50c per bottle, and getting good use out of them. And, since our city provides a 'recycle only' trash bin, it's pretty much a zero-loss deal.

anthonygeo

I don't guess I've seen those Gatorade bottles probably because I only buy Powerade Zero. Ill look for those as well. I wouldn't mind using glass but I see that as a big issue if I drop the bottle while on the road.

TromboneAl

Those bottles are actually great (as long as you don't drink the sugary Gatorade). We've had one in the car for over a year.

Here's a trick: don't close the top. There's no reason to, as long as your bike stays rubber side down. It will probably last longer that way.

But I like standard bike water bottles better on my bike. Some water bottles transfer some taste to the water, and I throw those away.

I've got to have the squeeze feature.

Don in Austin

This: https://www.hydroflask.com/products/1...ydro-flip.html is what I use. Can flip it open and drink while riding, no plastic taste and stays cold a LONG time. Does not grow stuff or retain flavors like plastic does. Even if a plastic bottle is BPA free, and even if you can't taste plastic in the water, I don't trust it.

Don in Austin

anthonygeo

Nice, I got a laugh out of the mouth size chart.

erig007

Is the cap in stainless as well?
Is there any coating inside?