I alluded to the importance of bringing a water bottle in an earlier tip, #3 – Drink Lots of Water. I believe strongly in the importance of not creating more waste where it’s possible to do so. Even when it requires a bit of effort.
And that’s why I believe it’s best to bring along a bottle. But which bottle? You have some choices and each has pros and cons.
- Klean Kanteen
/Sigg
stainless steel water bottles – These bottles now come in a wide variety of color and design choices. Being made out of stainless steel there is no taste leaching from the container. Plus then tend to resist absorbing the tastes of liquids placed in them. Additionally, cleaning is very easy as there is no worry about cuts and nicks harboring any bacteria. The cons for these bottles? They conduct heat VERY well, so any hot or cold liquid placed in them can make the bottle an accident waiting to happen. To that end you’d need to purchase an additional neoprene sleeve
to help insulate the bottle and prevent your fingers from either becoming frostbitten or burnt. And the bottle prices tend to be a bit higher than their plastic counterparts.
And for those traveling with infants, Klean Kanteen has a lid adapter for Avent sippy cup tops. It’s available also with the smaller 12oz size bottle
.
- Plastic/Lexan Water bottles – Nalgene
is the best known brand in the plastic reusable water bottle field. These bottles have been around for a fair number of years and recent advances in plastic technology have removed a number of chemicals known to leach in to liquids. They are strong for their weight and take stickers well. And they are cheaper than the stainless steel bottles. The don’t conduct heat as well as the stainless steel bottles and are better at storing cold liquids.
Couple either of these types of bottles with a Steripen Water Purifier and you can say goodbye to throw away bottles on your next trip!
We bought a Steripen a while back. One of the best purchases — ever.