Water bottles have become a daily necessity for many of us. Hydration is essential but when you are always on the go, you don’t often have access to a supply of water unless you carry it with you.

Disposable plastic water bottles have started to fill that need for water on the go but they are not the best option. There are countless reasons that reusable water bottles are a much better choice.

In this article, we’ll talk about why you need to stop using disposable water bottles as well as how to choose the best water bottle for your needs.

The Scourge of Disposable Plastic Water Bottles

Disposable plastic may be easy for you to toss in the garbage but it’s not easy for the environment. It decomposes at a dangerously slow rate and contains chemical compounds that we don’t want in our soil.

Just as we don’t want it in our soil, we shouldn’t put it in our bodies either. The fact is, the water that is inside that disposable bottle has been sitting in there for a long time. The longer the water is in there, the more these dangerous compounds leach into it.

 

So while you think you are just innocently hydrating yourself, you are actually swallowing something called bisphenol-a (BPA). This compound increases can increase your risk for the following health problems:

• Infertility
• Birth Defects
• Diabetes
• Certain Cancers

This is not just a conspiracy. Multiple studies have repeatedly shown that this compound is toxic to your health. You can get a more in-depth report on its effects and the evidence that proves these effects here.

Now, not all plastic contains BPA. So when you are shopping for a reusable one, it’s ok to buy plastic as long as they are appropriately (and verifiably) labeled BPA free water bottles. If you want to avoid the risk altogether, you can shop for a stainless steel water bottle or a glass water bottle. These will not contain BPA at all.

Even if you find disposable bottles that claim to be BPA free, you are still not in the clear. Many people argue that disposable is just more convenient and that the water is safer than tap water.

 

However, unless you live in a place where the tap water is absolutely unsafe to drink, chances are that bottled water is no better (and possibly worse) than what you get from your tap.

The sanitation and safety requirements for water quality are, frankly, more strict for the government regulated water supply than it is for the poorly regulated private companies. Plus, that convenience adds up over time. A reusable water bottle will pay for itself within a few weeks.

If you are still concerned about tap water quality, simply buy a reusable water bottle with a filter. You’ll read more about these below.

Reusable Water Bottles

Going reusable has a lot of advantages. Far more than any of the advantages you think you are getting from those disposable bottles. First, let’s look at a few of the general advantages you get from using any reusable water bottle.

• Healthier: no more BPA, no more questionable water. Just pure, natural hydration. You can even take that hydration to the next level by infusing it with fruit! Overall, better hydration means better health so congratulations!
• More convenient: you can refill your water bottle at any tap which saves you trips to the store or the need to carry multiple bottles in your car or purse.
• More affordable: repeatedly buying water bottles gets expensive. The one-time purchase of a reusable bottle will start saving you money in no time. Spend that saved money on a new outfit or a manicure to reward yourself.
• Better for the environment: the earth will thank you for not filling it up with endless amounts of dangerous plastic. Each day you go without buying disposable bottles is a day that you did something good for the environment.
• Stylish: there are so many great designs so that you can choose the one that best suits your style and personality.
• More versatile: from the fitness water bottle to the hot water bottle, there are a lot of custom designs that are suited to your lifestyle.

 

Now let’s take a look at some of the different kinds of reusable water bottles that are available.

Fitness Water Bottle

There are all kinds of water bottles out there designed for fitness. Anyone who exercises knows the importance of staying hydrated but it can be annoying to keep a bottle with you. Fitness bottles are designed with your needs in mind.

They are light-weight, durable, and have lids designed to make it easy to drink but difficult to spill. Some are even built into pouches that you can wear so that you can drink totallyhands-freee. Perfect for a run!

 

They also usually have a shape designed for easy grip or come with powerful built in filters that make even river water safe to drink which means long runs through nature don’t have to end when your bottle is empty.

A “smart” water bottle will even alert when you need to hydrate and help you track your water consumption to make sure you are drinking enough each day.

Infuser Water Bottle

Infuser water bottles have separate compartments built in that allow you to add fruits, herbs, or anything else that you want to infuse into your water. This makes hydration more enjoyable as you can create custom flavors inside your infuser.

 

While you don’t get the same vitamin or fiber content as if you ate the fruits, infused waters are better than store bought flavored water because they have no added sugar and no artificial flavorings. So if you need flavor to enjoy hydration, infuser bottles are a definite must.

Water Bottle with Filter

Water bottles with filters allow you to use any tap water because the built-in filter will get rid of any undesirable contaminants. So if your main concern about switching to reusable is using tap water, this is what you need.

 

These bottles eliminate toxins, improve the taste, and makes filtration effortless. A high-quality filter can even remove toxins while producing the healthy minerals that you do want.

In addition to different designs, there are different materials to consider.

BPA Free Plastic

One of the most important reasons to switch to reusable is to stay away from BPA so if choosing a plastic reusable bottle, make completely sure that it is BPA free. If it is, this is a good option. It doesn’t break as easily as glass or dent like metal.

 

The downside to using plastic is that it is not usually safe for hot liquid and can’t be used in a microwave. It can also give a plastic-y taste to your beverage, especially in heat or when the liquid has been in there a long time.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel is super durable and definitely toxin free. They are also dishwasher safe and a little more lightweight than a lot of those heavy-duty plastic bottles. However, the biggest drawback is that they can add a metallic taste to the beverage. This doesn’t both everyone, though.

Aluminum

Aluminum bottles often have the same look and feel of a stainless bottle. In fact, companies generally tend to use this material as a sort of knock-off of the higher quality stainless steel. However, it is not recommended.

 

It dents very easily and cannot be washed in a dishwasher. Plus, aluminum is a reactive material that can corrode when acidic beverages (including soda and juice) come into contact with it. For this reason, they use a plastic inner coating that may contain BPA.

Basically, aluminum bottles are not recommended at all. Choose any of the other materials discussed over aluminum.

Glass

Glass reusable bottles are growing in popularity. They are sleek, nice design that guarantees you will be safe from the threats of plastic. Plus, glass doesn’t add any unwanted flavor to your beverage like plastic or metal do. And, when you do end up throwing it away, it will degrade more quickly than plastic. It’s also easier to recycle than plastic.

 

With all the different options out there, reusable water bottles offer so much more than disposable bottles. Once you make the switch, you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with disposable before. Save money, improve your health, enjoy more versatility, what more could you possibly ask for from a water bottle?