SIGG Sport Water Bottle

SIGG, maker of aluminum water bottles, was probably also jumping for joy over news that people now feared that clear plastic polycarbonate water bottles might leach toxic bisphenol A (BPA). But I recall plenty of urban legend emails about the dangers of aluminum. SIGG aluminum water bottles are BPA-free and are lined with a resin to protect you from off-tastes in the water and any stray aluminum molecules. SIGG also guarantees the exterior paint on the bottles is non-toxic.

One big drawback to metal water bottles is that they seem to heat or cool faster than plastic. Fill either with cold water, and the metal water bottle feels colder. They also tend to sweat in humid climates. These factors can make the bottle unpleasant to carry in your hand when walking. That's not a big drawback, since I advise against carrying a water bottle in your hand as it can lead to repetitive stress injuries.

SIGG prevents metallic taste by lining the interior of the bottle with their own recipe of resin. They claim this resin is non-leaching. Users are pleased that there is no plastic or metal taste imparted into their water. The coating is also elastic enough that they claim it doesn't break or flake if the bottle is dented.

The Sigg Sport Bottle comes in 20-ounce and 25-ounce sizes. While the bottle is very lightweight, it is also tough. It was rated as the toughest water bottle in a 2006 Backpacker magazine test.

Look for the sports cap. Otherwise, you'll need to remove the loop top completely to drink. Since the loop-top cap doesn't have a leash, I am sure it would end up on the ground quite often and soon be lost completely. The sports cap has a protective flip top over a mouthpiece that you depress to drink or twist to lock off.

The mouth is narrower than many other sports bottles, and for that reason it won't clean well in the dishwasher. The dishwasher can also damage the exterior paint. Use a bottle brush to handwash the Sigg Sports Bottle.

Many walkers are concerned over reports that damaged clear polycarbonate water bottles might leach bisphenol A (BPA) into the water. While many research studies show the polycarbonate bottles to be safe, manufacturers are moving swiftly to provide BPA-free versions.

Many water bottles have always been BPA-free, as they are made of opaque or semi-opaque squeezable plastic rather than the rigid, clear polycarbonate. If your clear plastic water bottle has a 7 inside a triangle on the bottom, it might be polycarbonate, although it could still be BPA-free.