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The Gear Junkie: BPA-free water bottles

Last update: April 22, 2008 - 4:28 PM

Bbisphenol A is a controversial compound found in polycarbonate plastics that some studies have shown to cause medical ills in lab rats. The chemical -- called BPA for short -- has been in the news recently because of a new study and a continuing push by anti-BPA groups to ban the substance.

For outdoorsy types, the fuss has been over water bottles, namely of the translucent type made by Nalgene, which employs BPA-containing polycarbonate in its ubiquitous 16- and 32-ounce cylindrical bottles.

But last week Nalgene (www.nalgene-outdoor.com) announced a BPA-free line that embodies the characteristics that made its polycarbonate bottles so popular: The company's Everyday bottles are made with copolyester, a clear and colorful material that is seemingly a cousin to polycarbonate -- just without the BPA.

The copolyester bottles -- which come in three styles, starting at $8.25 -- are strong and leak-proof. Drop one from head height onto rocks and it will most likely survive.

Although Nalgene is getting the attention this week, CamelBak (www.camelbak.com) was actually first in the copolyester game. The company announced its Better Bottle line -- also polycarbonate-like vessels that do not contain BPA -- a couple of months ago.

Starting at $8, the CamelBak Better Bottle comes in three iterations, including half-liter, three-quarter-liter and 1-liter sizes. Like Nalgene, Camelbak markets its water bottles to outdoors users as well as the general water-toting public. Both companies offer the copolyester bottles in translucent colors.

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