If you are like me, you don't like drinking out of plastic bottles. Sure, some of them claim to be BPA-free, but what else is in them? Plastic is a manufactured material with lots of possible contaminants that can leach out into your water over time. Plastic is especially volatile when exposed to heat, such as when you leave plastic bottles in the sun or run them through your dishwasher. This happens in common usage, and few of us stop to think about what kind of chemicals we are ingesting with our water. Now there's a better solution--old school glass bottles, just like the milk man used to deliver, except more stylish. Glass is a much simpler and more chemically stable material. In addition, I know from personal experience that glass bottles are far more durable over time. I have been drinking from my Aquasana bottles everyday for months now, and they look like the day I bought them. When I put them on the bottom rack of the dishwasher (don't try that with many plastic bottles, as they will melt), they come out crystal clear--no streaks, spots or gunk stuck to them, like the old plastic bottles I hated to use. There are many more things I love about my Aquasana bottles: + Thick Glass to Protect Against Accidental Breakage: Sure, it's glass, but it isn't a wine glass. These puppies will hold up to a good knock before breaking. In fact, I have never had one break, and they have taken a few hits. + Wide Mouth Opening: This feature has 2 key benefits. First, it makes them very dishwasher friendly. As I previously mentioned, they come out of my dishwasher crystal clear--no streaks, spots, or gunk. Second, I actually put the cubes from my refrigerator into the bottle. No, I am not talking about crushed ice. I put CUBES into the wide opening. The cubes my Whirlpool makes automatically are the semi-circle shaped cubes. I stick them into the opening and hit them with the palm of my hand to knock them down into the bottle. This works great, and I have never had a bottle crack on me despite this dare devil maneuver. + Colored Cap Options: Aquasana sells 6-packs of colored caps in a rainbow of colors on their website. For some strange reason, it doesn't appear that they sell them on Amazon, which puzzles me. Anyway, they are a very good price on the Aquasana website, if the standard caps don't float your boat. + Fashion Forward: Yeah, I am a guy, but I try to be somewhat "with it". Carrying around a Nalgene, Camelbak, or other hideous water bottle makes me feel like a cheapo or a tree hugger, neither of which fits my persona. These bottles, on the other hand, are unique. Few people sport glass bottles. These are just funky enough to get the attention of others, without drawing attention like a mohawk at a funeral. OK, odd analogy, but that's the first thing that came to mind. + Tight Seal, No Leaks: The caps have a rubber o-ring in them that seals tightly when you close the caps. I have never had a problem or concern about leaking water. I wait until all 6 of them are dirty in my sink before I wash them by hand all at once. I put them in a big bowl with a cover on it, add hot water and dish soap, and shake vigorously. I then rinse them off with clean water and let them dry. Entire process takes 5 minutes and I am good for another 6 days. I don't want to chance it by washing them in the dishwasher, where the o-rings could come loose or get dirty from food contact. So, is there anything I don't like about my Aquasana bottles? Well, there are just a couple of drawbacks: - Sometimes Tough-to-Grip Caps: They are incredibly smooth on the outside. Because the o-rings grip the top of the glass bottle tightly (keeping the liquid safely inside), it can sometimes be difficult to untighten the bottle cap. This is a minor drawback, but an old lady or weakling might object. - Branding on Bottle: I am a marketing guy. I get it. They want to market their products and build awareness by emblazoning their logo largely on the bottles. However, as a consumer, I would rather not have such bold branding on my bottles. They did have the decency to make the branding an etched-glass look, rather than in some loud color, but it is still unmistakable on the bottles. Again, not a huge deal, but it's kind of like the car dealer who puts the big decal on the truck lid. A little tacky. These bottles are an outstanding value and sure to please even the most finicky purchaser. I have recommended them to many people at my workplace.
