In response to yesterday’s post about bottled water [1], I thought it would helpful to give those that still use the tap — or those who get their hydration from one main source (like a water cooler) — a healthy option for transporting their water. Sure, it’s possible to keep refilling the same plastic Evian bottle, but frequent swigs from a disposable bottle quickly turn fresh water into a germ-ridden, mildewy affair.

I once used an orange plastic Nalgene [2] bottle. It was a chic take on the camping favorite and it became a key accessory for my wandering urban lifestyle. But just like Teflon [3], it was soon too good to be true. The polycarbonate plastic used by Nalgene is thought to leach bisphenol-A, a chemical linked to increased risk of birth defects, miscarriage and prostate cancer. [Note: Nalgene also makes bottles in the safer HDPE [4] plastic.]

The best bets for a daily water bottle are stainless steel or glass. The thought of dropping a glass bottle while running to catch the subway or while tromping up the stairs to my apartment is too much to bear so I’m going stainless. Kleen Kanteen [5] features sporty bottles in 27 ounce and 40 ounce sizes.

[via Ideal Bite [6]]

Image: Kleen Kanteen