Alameda Runners – Get After It!

Trying to become more eco-friendly is a popular trend among athletes, and a major problem is the use of plastic water and soda bottles. A common method to reduce the amount of plastic purchased is to purchase an aluminum or stainless steel water bottle. I chatted with Klean Kanteen to learn about its products and innovations for reusable bottles.

I’ve recently had a greater interest in plastic alternatives, and wanted to reach out to companies like Klean Kanteen to learn more.

A common complaint I have about aluminum and steel bottles is the learned lesson that many of them can be extremely difficult to clean. Convenience is an important perk that must be met by products aimed at being more Earth-friendly than the competition. 

“Klean Kanteen Classic bottles have wider openings than most aluminum bottles, (and) they are wide enough to fit ice cubes and put in the dishwasher for easy cleaning,” Klean Kanteen recently told Alameda Runners.  “We also make the WIDE bottles, which has a huge mouth at 2.125 inches. Take a look at this Klean Kanteen anatomy page for more details on the design of our bottles.”

Aluminum may be safer for the environment, but it has been discovered that it may not be the best for our bodies. There is a threat of bisphenol A (BPA), and the Klean Kanteen BPA info page can help inform you. When asked about why stainless steel is ideal over aluminum (related to safety), Klean Kanteen was more than happy to explain.

“Great question, not all metal bottles are created equal. While aluminum is lightweight, it can leach harmful substances and chemicals when it gets hot or comes in contact with anything acidic. Studies have also linked aluminum exposure to Alzheimer’s disease.”

To read the full interview, please visit after the jump.

To help reduce a safety risk, a bottle lining is used — but that also causes problems. “The most common materials used to line aluminum bottles include plastic resins or baked-on epoxy, both of which can leach BPA and other harmful chemicals or can get scratched, exposing the aluminum underneath. Ceramic is another material used to line aluminum bottles, but it’s more rigid and can crack.”

Another issue is that some manufacturers won’t say what their liners are made from.

Each steel bottle should offer a large number of reuses during its lifetime, but $10+ dollars is still a lot to spend on a bottle.

“When you buy a Klean Kanteen you’re getting a handcrafted bottle designed to last a lifetime. We use an extremely high quality metal that will remain stain and rust resistant for decades. Every Klean Kanteen is made from pieces of stainless steel welded together by hand then electropolished for a smooth, shiny finish. Made to last a lifetime The walls of Klean Kanteen bottles are noticeably thicker than most copycat brands. It’s a well-researched balance between weight and durability, so they don’t dent easily. If you take care of your bottle, it can last a lifetime. Stainless forever Not all stainless steel is the same. We make our bottles using an extremely high quality metal so our bottles stay stainless and shiny forever.”

Klean Kanteen also provided an answer related to BPA, but we’re going to save that one for a future article here on Alameda Runners.

Do you drink water from a stainless steel bottle instead of plastic?