Finding the best A water bottle is a matter of personal taste, and everyone at WIRED has a strong opinion on which rules are the highest. Reviewer Louryn Strampe raved about his hot pink Owala FreeSip, but ask our technical director Martin Cizmar, and he’ll probably call it “a sippy cup for adults.” He is forever loyal to his trusty Nalgene, a bottle that transports him directly to the pre-millennial glory days, when hackey sacks ruled the parks and cassette tapes were the only language of love. Meanwhile, editor Adrienne So is a Yeti Yonder stan, even if it’s about $10 more.
Reusable water bottles have become extensions of our personalities—the collective vessels of who we are (or at least what era we’re stuck in). Every time I see the Stanley Cup, for example, I can’t help but wonder if the owner is drinking dirty soda. Everyone has their own weird preferences, so in the end, the best bottle is the one you’ll use again and again.
Besides the style points, reusable bottles are also an easy way to reduce single-use plastic and stay hydrated (duh). If you’re not sure where to start, we’ve spent years testing, sipping, and sipping our way through the best bottles to compile our favorites. A note to remember: you only really need it one reusable bottle (although I won’t judge if you carry around two). Plus it defeats the environmental purpose of buying a reusable bottle in the first place. Also, note that some insulated bottles use lead solder. We have removed them from our list. We have certain values, after all.
For more eco-friendly shopping guides, check out our Best Travel Mugs, Best Reusable Products, and Best Recycled Products.
Upgrade with unlimited access to DETAILS. Get high-quality reporting that’s too important to ignore $2.50 $1 per month for 1 year. Includes unlimited digital access and subscriber-only content. Register Today.
How Much Water Do You Need?
The eight-glass rule isn’t exactly accurate, but it’s a solid starting point. Since water intake is very individual (type like your bottle), it is best to consult your doctor about the right amount for you. Many lifestyle factors can influence your hydration needs. If you work out or sweat a lot, for example, you usually have to increase your intake to make up for the loss. Warmer temperatures can also make us more dehydrated.
On the other hand, it is also possible to drink too much water. According to Harvard Health, the daily fluid intake for healthy older men (including both drinks and food) should be 3.7 liters per day, and for women, around 2.7 liters. Drinking too much water can also cause overhydration and sodium levels to drop to dangerous levels in a condition called hyponatremia. Certain medications can lead to water retention, so it won’t hurt to double check with your doctor during your next check-up. In the meantime, if you’re not thirsty and your urine is colorless or light yellow, you’re probably doing well, sweetie.
Insulated vs. Uninsulated Bottles
A sealed water bottle consists of a double-wall construction made of insulating materials that prevent heat transfer. Steel insulated bottles are heavier and can usually hold less water compared to their non-insulated counterparts, given the same outer dimensions. However, the advantage is that they are usually vacuum-sealed to better maintain the temperature of the liquid inside for a very long time.
Condensation is common in unsealed water bottles as water beads form on the outside of the bottle. Packing a bottle inside your bag can be difficult, as the compact mixes with your personal belongings. It can damage your bag and other items inside it. Composite bottles are made of stainless steel and other similar materials that are durable and resistant to damage. Longer lifespan means less waste in the production of these water bottles, and you can increase these resources to reduce environmental impact.
Plastic water bottles are expensive as they require a lot of technology and a complicated manufacturing process. But you also pay for reuse as you can save a lot of money in the long run since you won’t need to change your water bottles as often as you would with disposable, single-use plastics.
For hiking and outdoor trips, you can choose stainless steel bottles because it means there is less weight to carry around, and the worry is to have them. enough water rather than cold water. For everything else, insulated works well.
Even if they hold nothing but water, the bottles become bad. Mold can grow quickly, especially if you leave it open. Straws and mouthpieces collect bacteria, oil, and dirt from your mouth, as well as any dirt and dust you pick up in your purse.
Some bottles can go straight into the dishwasher, but be sure to separate everything thoroughly, as any bits of silicone can trap germs. For lids with lots of nooks and crannies, we recommend hand washing by soaking them in soapy water and scrubbing.
Get yourself a bottle brush and a straw brush—many kits are available that include both. Even if you don’t use straws, a small brush can be used to get into any cracks. There are special bottle cleaning tablets around, but cleaning with regular soap works best.
Plastic bottles have a tendency to hold odors over time. You can fix this by putting a teaspoon of bleach and a teaspoon of baking soda in a bottle, filling it with water, and letting it sit overnight. Rinse thoroughly the next day.
Some water bottle companies use lead soldering to make their vacuum-sealed bottles. The viral Stanley tumbler is one of them; despite saying that there is no direct contact with the consumer, the company has confirmed that the pellets, some of which contain lead, there is used in the manufacturing process to close the bottom of the cup. Ah, semantics. The lead is sealed in stainless steel at the bottom of the cup, and unless your bottle has been dropped or otherwise damaged, it shouldn’t come into contact with your drink or skin. However, enough brands have gone to other extremes that we don’t think are important. The risk of exposure may be very low, but it should be zero.
We also contacted several companies to find out if they also use lead. (Yeti did not respond to emails, but the product’s FAQ section confirms that it uses lead to seal its sealed cups. We recommend the plastic bottle above if you like the product and want a lead-free version.)
Source link
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25728924/STK133_BLUESKY__B.jpg?w=390&resize=390,220&ssl=1 "Bluesky now has a chat tab in your notification area")