As a follow-up to last week's Just Say No to Bottled Water post, I thought I'd do a round-up of cool stainless steel water bottles that are safe for both you and the environment. High quality, food-grade stainless steel bottles are not only extremely durable, hygienic and easy to clean, but they won't leak toxins, such as Bisphenol-A (BPA), into your liquids. Oh, and they're 100% recyclable. So here are seven that caught my eye:1. EarthLust: When owner Allison had her first-born, protecting his health and the environment became top priority. Her company offers BPA-, phthalates- and PVC-free water bottles in three different sizes (1 L, 20 oz. and 13 oz.), accessories and a collection of baby bottles. There are so many lovely design to choose from, I'd have a tough time choosing just one, but pop in later for a chance to win your own!
2. New Wave Enviro: If you want more sizes at your disposal, then browse through this company's selection. These durable water bottles range from 12 to 40 oz. and some come with a carabineer for easy attachment to your bag. They even sell stainless steel water dispensers that would work well in any home or office. Lord knows there are plenty of companies that could kick their eco-movement up a notch.
3. Ecotanka: From their 350 mL Teeny Tanka to the 2 L Mega Tanka, you can be sure that everyone in your family will be covered on the water bottle front. Insulating Kooler covers are meant to keep your liquids cooler for longer, but their yet-to-be released Polar Ice Tanka promises to do the same with a double wall design.
4. Zojirushi: Although they offer regular water bottles (with lids that conveniently double as cups), I was drawn to their stainless steel vacuum mugs with a tea strainer instead. The plastic strainer lets you brew tea into your mug right before you drink it, its vacuum insulation keeps your beverage hot/cold for hours and if its iced tea you prefer, the mouth is wide enough for ice cubes. Two other features I liked: the plastic cover lets you insert a customizable wrap you can print from your computer and the lid has a little compartment to store tea leaves and bags.
5. The WaterGeeks: These bottles come with a filter attached to the cap that supposedly removes chlorine, lead and other contaminants so you can run over to any tap to fill up without worry. Though last time I checked (with a TDS meter), tap water quality wasn't too far off from certain bottled waters.
6. Klean Kanteen: Another alternative to plastic and lined aluminum bottles, I love the design of their classic bottle. They're vibrant, slim enough to fit most holders, feature a wide mouth to pop in ice or fruits and come with a bunch of different BPA-free cap styles to choose from. Winos who want to take their drink on a hike or a picnic by the beach can check out the Wine Karafe. Since stainless steel doesn't retain or impart any flavors, your wine will taste as good as it did in its bottle.
7. OrganicKidz: And while you're looking out for your health, you might as well take a close look at your baby products, too. Stainless steel baby bottles are a good replacement for the plastic, aluminum and glass varieties you might have around the house. They're durable, lightweight and easy to clean - just pop them in the dishwasher. This line offers bottles in a range of sizes all of which include a built-in 2 oz. measuring cup as the lid. And for baby bottles, I must say, they're pretty damn sleek!
Images: naturallysustainable.com.au, newwaveenviro.com, ecotanka.com, closettherapyblog.com, thewatergeeks.com, kleankanteen.com and organickidz.ca