Robert P

I was in the LBS the other day and was going to grab a cheap water bottle since I left mine at home and wanted to go for a ride after a tuneup. $10 for a Giant branded bottle, as opposed to about $4 for another. I think I paid about $1.50 for my Walmart bottle. The LBS guy insisted that the Giant bottle is made of a safe plastic that doesn't leach out toxins in hot weather.

Was he handing me a line or is there something to it?

WestPablo

Many plastics have been claimed to leech out toxic chemicals. However, the science thus far, has been proven to be inconclusive, yet remains suspect.

erig007

In my opinion, just forget about plastic bottles, go for stainless or glass.
I reuse my tomato glass bottles ..pretty much 0 chance of any harmful leach. (only the cap remains a problem) I wrapped those bottles in bubble wrap, reused as well from shipped boxes. Cost me about the price of wrapping the bubble wrap with tape, old socks may work as well

prathmann

He was probably correct with his statement that the Giant bottle doesn't leach out toxins in hot weather (and certainly correct that it contains no leeches). Did he indicate that the $4 bottles he sells do have a problem with toxins? If so why does he sell them? I'd expect the Walmart bottles to be safe as well.

There's been a lot of discussion about plastics containing BPA, with inconclusive studies about any harmful effects. But that chemical isn't an issue with the squeezable bike water bottles. BPA was used in the making of older hard-plastic Lexan bottles, not the soft plastic ones.

erig007

This topic isn't new i remember talking about it with cyccommute. From the studies i got my hands on there is mainly 2 types of plastic that may not leach LDPE and HDPE (some will say PP as well). BPA in BPA free bottles has most of the time been replaced with BPS for which the effect on human isn't clear.
But from the studies i got my hands on those plastics haven't been tested under combined stress. When you ride with a plastic bottle during summer the liquid in motion inside create some mechanical stress on the inside of the bottle, while the hot weather outside create another stress. UV seems to create the worst damage to plastic bottles so if those are under the sun on your backpack for instance.... And if it isn't water but another liquid that have a PH below 7 you add another chemical stress to the bottle.

johnny99

Any water bottle sold in the USA by a legitimate retailer should be made of FDA-approved materials. Other countries (eg Western Europe) have stricter regulations regarding plastic bottles, but IMHO the science on plastics is really mixed. If you're in a high-risk group, such as a young child or a pregnant woman (or someone who could become pregnant in the future), then maybe it pays to be safe. I do not recall reading any complaints about name brand stainless steel water bottles. Do buy them from a legitimate retailer, however, not some anonymous EBay seller or flea market vendor who may be trying to circumvent FDA regulation.

rydabent

Go with stainless steel. No taste at all. I got one at Walmart for less than $5, and it even had the neck down so it fits the water bottle cage perfect. It wasnt even in the bike dept.

Looigi

SS or glass bottles are hard to squeeze.

RPK79

I was going to say the same thing.

prathmann

Yes - and glass ones aren't nice for those who come behind you if you accidentally drop one. I've got an assortment of stainless steel ones that were given away at various events (most recently last week's Bike to Work day). But I never use them for bike rides since squeezable plastic ones are much more convenient.

VegasTriker

You can always refill other types of plastic bottles like a 20 oz Gatorade bottle which will fit nicely in a water bottle cage. It doesn't have the nice top to grab and pull up on but the PETE plastic from which it is made does not have any BPA. You need to wash them out thoroughly and occasionally wash them again as you can get a mold forming on the underside of the top after a couple weeks use. That make sense for any water bottle. I looked at some of the BPA-free water bottles mentioned on Fox news and they are outrageously expensive.

Personally I hated the taste of water coming out of any soft plastic container. I got a Camelback as a gift years ago and have rarely used it. Even if kept clean and dry between uses, the taste of the water coming out of it is disgusting.

RPK79

Sometimes the marketing departments can really get people to over-think mundane stuff.

fietsbob

but a well designed cap lets the air come in easily so the water comes out.

I have Metal Zefal and Sigg bottles that flow drink quite nicely .

and a cheap SS one I just unscrew the cap while taking a break .
the SS one stays on the bike.. no BFD if its nicked while the bike is parked and Locked up.

Altair 4

I'm waiting for the inevitable "HTFU."

I seem to recall some news a few years ago saying that some of the SS bottles were actually lined with a thin film of plastic?

I bought my wife a SS Klean Kanteen and she seems to like it a lot. I'll probably get one for myself the next time I'm at REI.

erig007

Are you sure it was SS ? i thought it is those aluminum bottles that are coated though there is so many bottles out there that probably some SS are as well. In fact, depending on the SS quality, type and the liquid inside, SS can corrode as well
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stainless_steel

J.C. Koto

Some of the cheaply manufactured bottles marketed as "stainless steel" weren't actually food-grade stainless and would rust hence the plastic lining.

Altair 4

Yep, you are correct. It was the Sigg bottles from before 2008.

Dudelsack 

You can buy Camelbaks with a charcoal filter in the tubing. It works fine. I like mine, although I haven't used it in a while.

dynaryder

I have a printout of a good article that unfortunately is no longer on-line. To summarize;#2,#4 ,and #5 are the safest,#1 and PLA are ok. #3 ,#6 ,and #7 should be avoided. Most of my water bottles,even the cheap freebies from Bike to Work Day,are #4 .

FYI,Klean Kanteens are made in China,Sigg's are made in Switzerland. I trust the Swiss,none of my SAK's have had lead in the paint or have been made from banned metals.

wolfchild

Hey if your worried about plastic then use stainless bottles..BTW I have some plastic Nalgene bottles which I've been using for over 15 years.

erig007

Do you have a 3rd arm and 4 legs growing somewhere?

cafzali

As far as I've read, if you avoid leaving the bottle in an environment where it will get extremely warm (e.g. your car in the summer), generally you're going to be OK. Any worries about leeching will be largely abated because plastic won't be able to do that if it's normal temperature.

The other poster is correct when he mentions FDA oversight, however the FDA isn't always "trail blazing" when it concerns bans of suspect material and/or additives/ingredients. Even saccharin was allowed to continue being sold in the U.S., just required a warning label. It went off the shelves because consumers stopped buying drinks with it, not because of an FDA ban.

metalheart44

I have a King Cage ti cage that is very snug on water bottles. I bought a Sigg Al sports bottle and the first time I put it in the bottle cage it dented the bottle. I am looking for a stainless bottle like the Sigg that will not be eaten by my King Cage.

Northwestrider

Stainless for me, as I stop for my drinks, no need to squeeze .

Robert P

I was blissfully unworried until the LBS shop owner mentioned it.