What to Keep in Mind When Choosing a Reusable Bottle

You want a reusable bottle, but you aren't sure which one to get. Here are helpful tips in 5 aspects of reusable bottles will help you make the right choice for you. Keep reading after the jump by clicking "read more".



1. Size and Shape
Make sure you purchase a reusable bottle that will be the best size and shape to take anywhere, and one that can be used for anything you are doing. Nobody wants to lug around a huge bottle that is a burden to carry around and won't even fit into cup holders. Keep your favorite activities in mind as well; if you hike long distances get a larger size, if you bike make sure it will fit into your bottle holder. 

You could also keep in mind the recommended 8 glasses of water a day. Mayo clinic says it should be a little more than 8-a-day, at about 3 liters (13 cups) or just over 100 ounces a day. Common water bottle sizes are 16 and 32 ounces, if you choose a 16-ounce bottle you should drink and refill about 6 times and for the 32-ounce 3 times. That number would also change with activity level.

2. Material
Reusing an ordinary, plastic, single-use bottle can be detrimental to your health. The PET bottles leach out chemicals and allow gases to pass through. I would recommend choosing a reusable bottle that is not made of plastic, here are some options: 

• Aluminum - this is the most popular material for reusable bottles. Aluminum is light-weight and very recyclable. Liberty Bottles uses recycled aluminum, and if the bottle gets worn out it can be easily recycled. The downside of aluminum is that it requires a liner, which can shorten the life of the bottle and has a greater potential to leach into the water.
• Stainless Steel - Klean Kanteen makes bottles that are made out of food-grade stainless steel. This means that they do not require a liner and do not effect the taste of the water in any way. 
• Glass - some people prefer to drink from glass. Glass is heavier, but it requires no liner and is easy to wash. Bamboo Bottles makes glass bottles with bamboo covers which protect the glass container.

Whichever material you choose make sure the bottle is BPA free and non-toxic.

Although liners can be worrisome, safety of the liner should not be a concern. Here is an info graphic from Liberty Bottles' Facebook page

3. Cap
It may seem odd, but the design of the cap and screw system on your reusable bottle can effect how much you use that bottle. The number of turns it takes to completely screw in the cap is an important factor, as is the size of the opening (wide or narrow mouth). It is easier to fit ice cubes in a wide mouth bottle, but special ice cube trays are available if you do decide on a narrower mouth. Some companies also have special caps which include flip tops and other straw-like mechanisms which can make the bottles very easy to drink from.

4. Design
If you are going to carry around a reusable bottle you want it to be stylish. Some prefer professional looking, others want their bottle to represent their personality. Most bottle companies have a variety of designs, but Liberty Bottles has a selection like no other.

5. Brand

I recommend three brands for the best possible reusable bottle experience, but that doesn't mean you need to get a bottle from one of these brands. There are more great reusable bottles available from different brands, when you do choose just keep my tips in mind. Here are my top three brands:

• Liberty Bottles - Washington, USAThe only manufacturer of reusable aluminum bottles in the U.S, they use 100% recycled aluminum, the bottles are BPA free, and they have a great selection of artwork for your bottle.

• Klean Kanteen - California, USAMade with a 100% stainless steel interior, comes in a variety of sizes all designed to be compact and rugged. Also BPA free.

• Bamboo Bottle - California, USAFor those of you who prefer drinking from glass. Dishwasher safe. Made with glass, stainless steel, and bamboo (which grows fast and produces more oxygen). Also BPA free.

Do you have a favorite reusable bottle? If you have additional tips or any other comments or questions please leave a comment in the comments section below (if you are not sure about accounts just choose Name/Anonymous when commenting).