Think Sport Bottles - stainless steel

Think Sport Bottles 750 ml, silver
We love these stainless steel bottles because of the dual-wall construction, which keeps the outside of the bottle from getting too hot or cold if you want to use it for cold/ice or hot liquids (Note: not designed for with boiling water or carbonated beverages, and do not microwave or heat bottle over flame).  For enhanced insulation, fill bottle with cold or hot water for a few minutes before use, to pre-heat or pre-cool the inside stainless-steel wall.  All parts of these stainless steel sport bottles can be washed in the dishwasher.  If you have a little encloseable-rack in the dishwasher, that is the best place to put the small parts like the little plastic seal/ring that goes inside the lid, or you can separately handwash if desired.  The smaller upper-mouthpiece of the bottle is plastic as shown in the photos below, but you can also remove the entire lid just as easily as unscrewing the smaller-cap, if you prefer drinking from the stainless steel itself without using any of the plastic-parts.  The entire inside of the bottle is stainless steel, without any coatings.  The handle/strap is removeable, so you don't even have to use the strap unless you want to (the little black cap even pops off entirely if you pull up on the handle to remove it from the cap), though many people find the strap to be convenient for a carrying handle.  The stainless steel sport bottle is made in China and third party tested by STR for lead and cadmium, and the spouts are made from polypropylene and have also been tested for chemical toxicity and hormone disrupting chemicals (BPA-free, PVC-free, and phthalate-free).
$21.95

Two options for drinking (unscrew upper lid as shown on left, or entire lid as shown on right below):

Pieces removeable for dishwasher cleaning, upper rack recommended.
Accessory metal screen (inserted on left-photo-below) can be used to keep ice cubes or tea leaves in the body of the bottle.

 

Klean Kanteen Water Bottle 27 oz
Reusable, lightweight (single-wall construction) 27oz stainless steel bottle comes with your choice of a loop or sports drinking cap made from safe, non-leaching polypropylene (pp#5). Weighs 8 ounces.  If you'd like to carry cold or hot liquids in this container, we offer the Built NY neoprene sleeves below.
loop-capsport-cap (out of stock)
$17.45

Built NY - neoprene 20-ounce tote
Insulates, keeps bottles chilled, snap around handle.  Made of neoprene (the wetsuit material).  Note: neoprene has a strong smell if you put your nose close to it.  Maybe it doesn't smell as much after washing (not sure since I haven't tried it yet).  Made in China.
black
$9.95

We looked at roughly 6 brands of stainless steel drinking containers, as well as one brand of aluminum, and the differences are primarily: 1) differences in lid/spout shape-designs, 2) size of container (ranging from small child-size to large adult-size like the Think-Sport Bottles), 3) single or dual-wall construction (dual-wall allows for cold or warm liquid storage), 4) price (varies from single-wall $16 to dual-wall containers up to $39, with price differences also due to size-variation and brand-name and design).

Some other stainless steel drinking container brands:
SIGG Trend Line: dual-wall various sizes, $28-$39, made in China
REI Vacuum Bottle: dual-wall (500ml), $32, made in China
REI Bullet Bottle: dual-wall (500ml), $19, made in China

Note: In comparison to plastic-bottles which leach various chemicals such as BPA, we discovered that all substances/containers will release some atoms or ions when subjected to high-heat and acid.  For example, even stainless steel will leach very tiny amounts of chromium and nickel when subjected to boiling and acids for long periods of time.  Under normal conditions, however, no detectable leaching was found in the literature we reviewed.  One researcher noted: "It is very unlikely that the total amount of chromium leached from stainless steel vessels, even into acidic foods, exceeds 50 µg/day (an amount considered beneficial to health)."  Stainless steel is considered to be safe even for use as cookware (pots/pans), which is often subjected to high-heat and some acidic foods during cooking.

Product Review: ThinkSport Sports Bottle
Filed Under Eco-Mama, Product Reviews (name of reviewer unknown)
Since I’ve researched so much information regarding Bisphenol-A and leeching plastics, I am slowly trying to eliminate unnecessary plastic in my life. One thing I have done is stopped my use of plastic bottled water. Not only do those little bottles find their way into landfills when they aren’t recycled but they consume resources to make and really, do I need a new bottle of water every time I go to the gym in the morning? No. Enter ThinkSport. After discovering ThinkBaby’s new line of bottles and cups I stumbled on their stainless steel sport bottles. I fell in love instantly. Here was my opportunity to do what I’ve been saying I’ll do for years.

I ordered a ThinkSport in black. The bottle is larger (holds 750ml) than most little water bottles which works out pretty well since I don’t have to refill as often and it makes for a good take along when I need extra water to fill up my son’s sippy cup when we’re out and about. Also, the bottle just looks cool. It has a nice tapered waist and fits in your hand perfectly. The spout is the perfect size opening. I always hated those wide neck Nalgene’s because I inevitably spilled water all over myself when using it. (Not to mention possibly ingesting BPA in the process). The bottle has a double walled vacuum sealed stainless steel construction so it keeps cold liquids cold and I assume hot liquids hot for longer periods of time. I take it everywhere I go. I drag it around by it’s little strap.

A little extra nicety… it includes a removable screen part that you can insert to keep ice cubes or tea leaves in the body of the bottle instead of sneaking out into the spout. I took it out for general gym use but I can totally see the benefits of using it. It is easy to remove and put back in…it has a little handle. Sweet.

The Bottom Line: In summary, I love it. I use it daily and have it by my side at all times. Having a cool non-plastic bottle that is mine and only mine has encouraged me to drink more water during the day, which is of course a health benefit. My only critique is the exterior. I have the black model and it has been dropped in the parking lot a few times and sustained only minor scratch damage. That, I don’t mind… but the metal exterior makes this bottle a little bit clangy. It clangs on my keys and if dropped everyone hears you in a 5 mile radius. It might benefit from a rubber sheath or coating to soften the blow and make it a teeny bit more durable. But that won’t stop me from using it. It works great, feels good to hold and is totally non-toxic from every angle. Free of Bisphenol-a, phthalates, polycarbonate, cadmium and lead. It gets a whole hearted thumbs up. My husband tried to steal it so I’ll be ordering another one for him.

---

BPA
Bisphenol A is a xenoestrogen, a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies. Synthetic xenoestrogens are linked to breast cancer and uterine cancer in women, decreased testosterone levels in men, and are particularly devastating to babies and young children. BPA has even been linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes.

If your children have any of the above risk factors or if you are not sure that they do, then can be tested for lead poisoning (ask your pediatrician for more information).

Lead alert facts: lead in home-pottery
Lead used in ceramic glazes can be a health hazard for potters, and for people using their products. A special concern is the intellectual development of young children.  Avoid using raku-fired pottery for food or drink containers. 
The dangers of lead in pottery
Handling glazes containing lead, even occasionally, can be harmful to human health if dust or fumes containing lead are swallowed or breathed in. When lead glazes are used, strict precautions are advised when mixing, applying or firing them. Where possible, it is better to avoid using glazes that contain lead.
Glazes containing lead
Lead is found in pottery glazes as lead bisilicate in frits. These glazes are mainly used on earthen and raku ware. If they are not properly formulated, applied and fired it is possible that they could leach into food or drink.
Leadless glazes and low-solubility, lead-bisilicate glazes made with frits give lead-release figures well within international standards and they are readily available from most major suppliers. Lead borosilicate frits give a higher lead-release figure and so should be avoided.
Keep yourself and your family safe
It is important to avoid exposure to lead dust and fumes. You should:
keep young children and pregnant women out of the work area and away from work clothes, supplies, equipment, tools or containers 
refrain from eating or smoking in the work area 
store supplies that contain lead safely and mark the labels with safety information 
In your work area
As a potter you should minimise your exposure to lead dust in the studio. Where possible, do as much of the glazing and firing process as possible at properly equipped institutions where the specialised equipment you need (e.g. kilns and casting moulds) is properly vented.
If you decide to work at home, make sure that your studio is adequately contained to prevent lead dust spreading and that it can be easily cleaned. This means working on carpets is not recommended; plastic sheeting is preferable.
Stay clean
Clean all surfaces in the work area, tools and equipment regularly by wet dusting, not dry brushing or sweeping. Clean walls and windows at least monthly with sugar soap that can be obtained from a hardware store or tri-sodium phosphate (TSP) bought from an industrial cleaner stockist. TSP should be mixed at the ratio of at least 25g of 5% TSP to each five litres of hot water.
Vacuum only with vacuum cleaners equipped with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters, which will remove fine lead dust from the workroom. Wet mopping is the next best alternative if a vacuum cleaner fitted with a HEPA filter is unavailable.
Dispose of waste properly
Dispose of waste materials containing lead, including water contaminated by wet mopping, according to State/Territory or local government regulations. The water should be placed in a strong, securely sealed container. Do not pour water down drains or on to the garden.
Products using lead glazes
Lead-fluxed glazes and colours can be acid-resistant providing that they are properly formulated, applied and fired. The main risk to your health occurs when unknown or incorrectly formulated products are used.
When mixing glazes, use a half-face particulate or air-purifying respirator that meets Australian Standard 1716. It should be fitted with a P1 (dust) or P2 (dust and fumes) filter, both of which capture small particles of lead. The respirator can be bought from major hardware stores. Replace the filter regularly.
Wear protective clothing and eye protection at all times. Wash clothes separately from the family wash and shower and wash your hair as soon as possible after your work even though they are not resistant to food acids.
Clear glazes that are commercially available are safe when used according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
When colouring oxides are added to glazes to create an effect, the fired product is less likely to be acid resistant. Indiscriminate mixing of glazes or glaze components should be avoided.
Follow these precautions
Use only ready-made glazes and decorative colours from a reputable source and read their metal release characteristics. 
Additions to products are not recommended because they could alter the formulation and introduce unknown durability factors. 
Fire the glazes to the recommended temperature. Under-firing to produce special effects could lead to poor durability. 
Do not blister lead glazes on functional ware. 
Remember the use of lead frits in glazes fired above 1170°C is hazardous because it forms lead fumes. 
Make sure your kiln is safe. It should be designed, sited and operated according to statutory regulations and the recommendations of the manufacturers. Remember lead fumes are toxic. 
Keep young children, pregnant women and women of childbearing age well away. 
Avoid using raku-fired pottery for food or drink containers. The low-firing temperature reduces durability, particularly under acid conditions.