What Should I Look For When Buying a Water Bottle?
There are certain features that you should take note of when looking for a drinking bottle that is best for you. Some bottles may cause harm to your body if they are not made of food-grade materials. So, what should you look for when buying a water bottle?
What Should I Look For When Buying a Water Bottle?
When buying a water bottle, you should look for a material that is BPA-free, toxin-free, and non-corrosive. Your bottle should also be durable and able to withstand low to high impacts. The lid should prevent leaks. A bottle with good insulation to maintain your drink’s temperature for hours is a bonus.
Some bottles also come in different sizes and colors, like stainless steel bottles. They also come in standard and wide mouth sizes. They also feature different kinds of caps, such as screw caps, sports caps, coffee cups, and sports caps with straw.
Features to Consider When Buying a Water Bottle
Since bottles are used to store your beverages for several hours, they should not just be able to hold your water but also protect you from harmful chemicals. Here are some of the important features that you should consider before buying a drinking bottle.
Material
Bottles can be made of plastic, stainless steel, glass, or aluminum. These are the four most famous materials used in bottles. You should select a material that has no BPA or Bisphenol-A. It is usually found in low-quality plastic bottles.
BPA is a harmful substance that can leach into your water. It can result in hormonal imbalances, pregnancy disorders, organ failure, and even cancer. The material used in your water should also be able to withstand impacts especially if you are bringing it outdoors.
Durability
Stainless steel is known to withstand high impacts without breaking or easily having scratches and dents. Glass is a brittle material for a bottle, though it is considered to be one of the safest. Aluminum bottles are also made of sturdy and light material, however, they can sometimes make your water taste like metal.
When it comes to durability, stainless steel bottles, such as the Hydro Cell, can withstand all sorts of impacts. They can last up to 12 years without even showing too much damage.
Insulation
Some bottles offer insulation and vacuum sealing. This allows your drinks to stay cold or hot for hours. Glass and aluminum bottles can hold both hot and cold beverages. However, they have no vacuum seal and insulation so they cannot maintain your drinks’ temperature for a long time.
Plastic bottles can lose their shape if you put hot water inside of them. Stainless steel bottles can hold both temperatures. It can keep your water cold for up to 12 hours and hot for about 8 hours. If you want to put some ice in it, they can stay solid for several hours as well.
Insulation and vacuum seal is an advantage if you want to go for a longer trip such as hiking or camping.
Ease of Use
Your bottle should be easy to use and clean. Some bottles can retain the smell and color of your previous beverage even if you wash it every day. Some bottles can also be hard to open and refill. It happens when you have a very narrow bottle.
A wide-mouth bottle is easy to use, refill, and clean. If you have a filter, you can easily refill it in a freshwater source. You can insert a sponge and a bottle brush easily to clean the inside of the bottle thoroughly.
Lid Style and Choice
Another advantage of stainless steel bottles among the others is the availability of different kinds of lids. These lid variations can help you use your bottle according to the activity that you have for the day. Here are some kinds of lids according to your need:
- Lids with straw ensure that the water goes directly inside your mouth. It prevents leaks and spills as well, even if it’s inside your bag.
- A flip lid is good to use if you can only use one hand to drink water from your bottle.
- A screw-on lid is the most secure of them all as long as you screw it on tightly. It is best to bring if you need to put the bottle inside your bag for longer hours.
Eco-Friendly
When choosing a bottle, you should not consider yourself alone. Think of its long-term effect on the environment as well. As we already know, plastic can take thousands to millions of years before they totally get dissolved. Glass, aluminum, and stainless steel bottles are 100% recyclable. It won’t take even a hundred years before you can recycle them.
The production cost of aluminum and stainless steel may be high. However, they are two of the most sustainable and eco-friendly types of bottles. Since these bottles also last longer than plastic and glass, you can also save money by not needing to buy again after a year or two.
Related Questions
What Is the Healthiest Type of Bottle?
One of the healthiest types of bottles is the stainless steel bottle. It does not leach any chemicals into your beverage. Though it is made of metal, your water will not taste like metal as long as it is made of quality steel. It is also non-corrosive, so you will not taste any rust in your water.
Is a Stainless Steel Bottle Better Than Plastic?
A stainless steel bottle is better than plastic because it has no harmful chemicals that can cause many diseases. Additionally, it lasts 4 times longer than plastic bottles. Stainless steels may also be more expensive than plastics, but it’s because of the materials and the production cost.
Are Stainless Steel Bottles BPA Free?
Most stainless steel bottles nowadays are BPA-free. Some countries and states have banned the use of BPA lining in bottles because of the studies done on the effects of BPA in the human body.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a water bottle, you should consider not only the size and style of it. There are lots of bottles in the market that are cheaper. However, these bottles can also cost your health. Choose a bottle that is free from toxic chemicals, durable, and sustainable.