Stainless steel water bottles are everywhere. Consumers appreciate their convenience and ease of care, and are comforted by their environmental and health benefits. And some businesses – like banks and insurance companies – distribute them for free, putting their private label on these promotional water bottles.
As always, buyer – or giftee – beware. Not all stainless steel water bottles are the same. Here is a mini cheat sheet to help identify substandard canteens:
- Material: You want 304 or 18/8 stainless steel, which is food-grade material used by the food processing industry. Avoid Eco Canteen – it is made of a cheap non-food-grade 201 stainless that may dent when dropped. Also avoid Sigg – this metal water bottle is actually epoxy-lined aluminum that has had a history of leaching bisphenol A (BPA).
- Finish: You want a tough powder-coated finish that won’t chip or flake. Urban Canteen stainless steel water bottles are finished in the U.S. using a lead-free Dupont powder-coat paint that is hard baked on at 400° F. Klean Kanteen bottles are liquid painted in China.   Â
- Caps: You want a cap made of stainless steel or a safe BPA-free plastic. Urban Canteen offers both in a total of six cap types. Unlike Kleen Kanteen, any cap can be paired with your bottle purchase.Â
There is a reason Eco Canteens sell so cheap - they are made of non-food-grade 201 stainless
