Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Colored Water Bottles

Last month I bought a 40oz Klean Kanteen bottle and a 33oz Sigg bottle. In the end I prefer the Klean Kanteen.

Both bottles are very light and look good. The Sigg is lighter, but not so much to really matter. Sigg wins easily in the looks department with different artwork to choose from and the bottle I have has a nice textured powder coat finish compared to the KK basic look and smooth surface.

Sigg uses an epoxy to protect your water from the aluminum and tells you not to use the bottle for long term storage. Could be a bit worrisome not knowing what's in the epoxy and the possibility of aluminum contamination. I have not noticed a metallic taste from either bottle drinking straight unfiltered tap water. I prefer the stainless steel of the KK just because it's probably on the safer side.

The bottles are both lightweight and made of thin metal. I haven't dented either but I have been very careful with them. Both feel like they would dent quite easily. I have not scratched either bottle and the paint on both looks like new after daily use from work to the gym.

The KK bottle has the cap threading formed into the neck of the bottle while the Sigg uses a metal ring insert in the top of the bottle to thread the cap onto. Some people have complained that the Sigg's threaded insert is sharp, but I have not had this problem. The KK is more comfortable to drink from though. Also the wide mouth of the bottle makes it easy to put ice cubes in, which you can't do with the Sigg unless you have very small ice cubes.

I have the loop cap on both bottles. The Sigg I really have to twist the cap on tight so it doesn't leak. The KK cap seals quite easily and has never leaked. The KK also uses a thicker thread size and is easier to screw the cap onto because of this.

Some people are complaining about sweating. On a hot day with the bottles filled with ice cubes both will sweat, but plastic bottles will also.

If I was going to spend that much money on a water bottle again, I would go with Klean Kanteen without a second thought. The only advantage of the Siggs is the exterior design.

Update Dec 09: Over a year of use now and I have stopped using the Sigg due to their older bottles do in fact have BPA. Something they said it didn't have, so I won't buy another bottle from them again since it appears they were lying before. They will replace the older bottles, but you have to pay shipping.

I have 2 Klean Kanteens and both have held up well. Some minor scratches and dents, but still look quite good.

After reading recent information about Sigg not sharing info about chemicals used to line the interior of their bottle, we opted to switch to Kleen Kanteen for the stainless steel. There are pros & cons:
1) obvious pro - the materials are known to be safe
2) the bottles sweat where as the Sigg did not sweat at all
3) the mouth of the bottle is large enough for ice cubes but makes it a bit more difficult to drink out of -- kind of like drinking out of a 1qt gatorade bottle --- sometimes a little bit dribbles out.
4) My 18month old loves his bottle because its the same color (stainless steel) as his dad's. We got him the sport top instead of the sippy top - and he manages just fine.
5) the slim shape fits nicely in most cup holders and water bottle carriers

This is an excellent stainless steel bottle which both my husband and I use daily. I bought the orange one; he uses the regular stainless steel. We used to buy tons of the plastic water bottles, drinking several a day, but wanted to cut down on our use of plastics. These water bottles work well in conjunction with my water filter system and the taste is clean and fresh tasting. Highly recommend them and this is a very usable size.

We have 8 of these bottles. Two for Mom and Dad...two for our kids ages 2 and 4. They are indestructable, you can scrub the insides and not worry of scratching and they do not leach anything into your beverage.

I loved the original stainless version. I needed another bottle and when I saw that Kleen had come out with the "pretty" colored versions I decided to get one of those. Sadly, after only 3-4 weeks of use, my paint is all scratched and chipped. I also must have leaned it up against a magazine when it was sweating because it now has the permanent odd colored stains around it as well. I haven't had this problem with my regular old stainless version.

Bottomline I love the bottle. My water tastes great and I am not worried about BPA. Something just went awry when they decided to paint it!

Save your money on the Klean Kanteens with color. Buy the stainless steel ones. The product itself is quite fine, but the colored ones arrive scratched and marred, so I think it will just be a matter of time before they do that anyway. Amazon did replace the marred ones, but I wish I had purchased the stainless steel ones.

The Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Colored Water Bottles are very attractive and functional for taking water on the go. I got the 18 oz black bottle. The wide mouth makes it easy to fill and easier to drink out of. The product is very similar to the non-painted Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottles sold here. All the bottles now come standard with the polypropylene loop top. The steel loop version used to come standard. All the other tops must now be bought as accessories.


PROS:
+ Durable and attractive stainless steel bottle in a variety of colors
+ High quality enamel paint on the outside
+ Wide mouth makes it easy to add ice cubes or water and drink from it
+ Included poly loop cap seems durable and can be hooked onto a carabineer
+ Save money and stay green by limiting your use of bottled water
+ Container can be recycled
+ Bottle is dishwasher safe, though the cap is not
+ Smooth interior leaves water with no aftertaste; I will monitor this over time
+ Great for hiking, camping, or normal commuting
+ 18 oz is a perfect size for everyday use
+ 27 and 40 oz models may be more ideal for hiking or camping
+ The price is good considering the quality materials

CONS:
- The body may be prone to dings and dents over time
- Wide threading, so screw the cap in slowly to get a nice seal
- Not everybody will appreciate the big logo on the bottle
- Product now ships with poly cap; steel caps must be purchased separately

NOTES:
~ Thorough cleaning requires diluted vinegar or baking soda
~ The caps should only be washed by hand, and never submerged in water
~ No metal container should be used for long term water storage
~ Bottle and cap should be separated and left to dry at night
~ Bottle may sweat, especially the colder the drink and the hotter the day
~ Health and environmental claims should always be researched independently
~ Sleeves must be purchased separately

PRODUCT CLAIMS

Included with the product is a small paper tag hanging on the neck and a thin book-mark on the inside. Both tags tout the environmental benefits of this product. In fact, even the tags are "printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper."

One of the main claims about this product implies that drinking from plastic bottles may be harmful because "many plastic water bottles, including Lexan bottles, leach toxins such as Bisphenol A (BPA). Studies have linked BPA to breast cancer & reproductive mutations."

I have not personally read any of these studies, though I have heard this claim made before from other sources. I take any claims for or against a product with a great deal of skepticism. But this does give me pause and motivate me to seek out more information about this subject.

I generally use water filtered in my PUR CR-6000C 2 Stage Oval Water Pitcher which is also made out of plastic. It is a thicker and more durable type of plastic. But if this metal water bottle is better than plastic bottles that may leech BPA, am I reintroducing other chemicals by using water purified from a plastic pitcher? It's a thought that has prompted me to do more research on this. Those using most faucet-mounted filters might have less concerns. But this definitely made me rethink where I get my water.

The product also states that the stainless steel that is used in it is "100% non-leaching and toxin-free." It is also surprising that there is no inner lining or coating, though looking inside the metal does seem to be smoothed. The pamphlet describes this process as "electro-polishing." While I have not noticed any sort of metallic after-taste from a few days of use, others have reported a slightly metallic taste to the water. If I do experience this over time I will post an update.

FEATURES

This product works great for drinking water. It's not clear to me if this bottle can be used with all cold beverages. They do include the warning that this is not for hot beverages, so don't plan on filling it with hot cocoa or coffee. :) Can it be used for cold tea, soda, or other beverages? I'm not entirely sure, but I plan to find out.

I do also own a SIGG bottle, and the product details specifically say that soda and juice can be used in that bottle due to the lining. Some people don't like the SIGG bottles because they don't disclose what the lining is made out of. I am not going to do a "SIGG vs KK" comparison here, as other have done. I only plan on using this for water, but it's good to know in any case.

The mouth has a curved lip and is nice and wide so you can add ice cubes if you wish. The exterior is coated with what appears to be an electro-statically applied metal enamel paint. The exterior may ding, so it would be nice if they included a sleeve with it. Some are available, though it's easier to find them for the larger sized bottles.

For me, the 18 oz bottle is the perfect size for my daily commute. The 12 oz bottle is probably only big enough if you want your kids to each have their own. But for a camping trip or hiking, the 27 and 40 oz versions may each get good usage.

I'm not crazy about the prominent logo on the front. Not everybody minds such things, but I don't like when products force you to give them free advertising with huge logos. In any event, many who believe in the product's *green* theme will be happy to spread the word.

CLEANING

The bottle itself is dishwasher safe, though the cap is not. However, they do note that hand washing with diluted vinegar or baking soda is necessary for thorough cleaning. It's probably a good idea to do that every few weeks.

It's also probably wise to empty and leave the bottle and cap open every night to air dry. None of these types of bottles are designed for long-term water storage. So whenever possible, water shouldn't be left in them overnight.

THE CAPS

The included Klean Kanteen Loop Cap/Polypro is so solid that it took me a while to realize it was a poly top and not steel. The products used to ship with the Klean Kanteen Stainless Loop Cap by default, which is preferred by most people. But now they come with the polypropylene loop top. They emphasize that polypropylene is better than other kinds of plastic. Still, after the hard sell against plastic bottles it's not easy to convince people with this change.

The non-painted bottle's product page lets you choose your cap, though you can also buy them seperately. They include the poly tops that come in flat and loop versions; a Klean Kanteen Sports Cap; a Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Flat Cap; the steel loop version; and "sippy-spouts" for drinking with the top on. The poly sport top also let's your drink with it on and has a lanyard to hold the cap when it's opened.

The steel loop top is the most preferable in my opinion. It's durable and light, one would expect it to be better over time than the poly top.

CONCLUSION

This product that works very well and works well. There are a few cons, though most are minor. For those that don't want a painted bottle, check out the Klean Kanteen Stainless Steel Water Bottles in all the same sizes. If you don't have the room to carry the larger bottles, at least get the 18 oz to have enough for commuting to work or short hikes.

Enjoy.

I LOVE this water bottle. It can go in the dish washer, it keeps water a little cooler, and it's pretty. My 2 year old daughter and I both have pink. Mine has a little dent but who cares? Best of all, it's eco-friendly and it has a wide mouth that fits ice cubes. The Sigg water bottles have a small opening and do not fit ice cubes. Buy this bottle for everyone in your family and quit putting plastic bottles in the landfills!

I have several Klean Kanteen water bottles and love them...the different sizes are great for kids to adults and they go everywhere with no after taste, no BPA or chemicals leaching into your drink, and no retained smells even after putting Koolaid in them! The one down side that they have is that they dent easily if dropped - learned the hard way - now being more careful.

This cup is great with the sports cap. I actually love it! The two complaints I have is the pink paint chips and the cup is extremly cold when a cold beverage is in it. I would definitely recommend getting the stainless steel. You also need to have a cozy to put over it. For the price I did not expect the paint to chip so easily. It has mostly been covered with a mitten. I have had no problem with leaks and it seems much easier to clean than the plastic sippy cups. It does not retain smells like the plastic cups. It does not seem to have any metallic taste as well. It is probably the best cup we have ever owned.