Unless you’re visiting or you live in an area where tap water isn’t drinkable, there are several reasons why you should consider getting yourself a good reusable water bottle and forget buying plastic water bottles for good.
I can think of at least these five of the top of my head:
- It makes sense financially. If you live in an area where tap water is safe to drink, there’s no reason to spend money for bottled water (which, especially in big cities, can cost an inexcusably large chunk of money).
- As an extension to point 1—it’s not impossible to find one for free. If you attend conferences and industry events, especially during summer, reusable water bottles can be part of the swag.
- They’re stylish, durable, and easy to carry around—these days, most backpacks and messenger bags have a dedicated slot for water bottles on their sides.
- They’re better for our environment—they’re often BPA-free, but most importantly if you have one you don’t have to throw plastic water bottles away every time you’re drinking water on the go.
- Bottled water, in most cases, isn’t healthier or cleaner than tap water—again, assuming we’re talking about an area where it’s safe to drink.
I’ve tried three water bottles recently, and all of them came with pros and cons. Here’s a comprehensive description for each bottle.
1. Bobble 1 Litre Water Bottle, with filter
This stylish water bottle is made of three pieces: the bottle, an interchangeable and replaceable filter (available in multiple colours), and a cap.
Bobble water bottle
It has one main strength: it filters water as you drink, meaning that you can just fill it with water (no time wasted waiting for the water to be filtered). To drink from it, simply remove the cap, lift the plastic part (you’ll likely your teeth) and squeeze the bottle. The water will pass through the filter as you drink.
It’s made in the USA from recycled plastic and is free of Phthalates and PVC. It’s not leak-proof, so don’t throw it carelessly into your backpack!
Where to find one
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.it
2. Nalgene Outdoor Camping Water Bottle, 0.65l.
This water bottle has two pieces: the actual bottle and a cap with “One Hand” opening, with a push button and a locking system.
Nalgene water bottle
It’s guaranteed free from BPA and phthalates. It’s leak-proof, but doesn’t filter and doesn’t keep water cold. It has measurement markings in millilitres.
Where to find one
Amazon.com
Amazon.co.uk
Amazon.it
3. Chilly’s Bottle
This bottle keeps your water cold or your coffee warm for hours. It’s leak-proof, and comes with a removable cap.
Chilly’s water bottle
It’s BPA-free, phthalate-free, toxin-free, and it’s made with a premium, food-grade 304 (18/8) stainless steel, a metal recognised for its strength and purity.
Where to find one
Winner
To me, there’s no clear winner here—it all depends on what your needs are.
If filtering is important for you, go for the Bobble: filtering as you drink means you can just quickly fill it and you’ll still drink filtered water.
If you expect your bottle to keep water cold, the Chilly’s is perfect solution.
The Nalgene is probably my favourite, for a very practical reason: you don’t need to unscrew or remove any cap every time you need to drink, so you’ll never lose any piece while using it on the go.