nikwax

Not liking the taste of plastic in my water, I bought a stainless steel water bottle the other day. Took it out on its first long trip today, and yagh....the longer the water was in the bottle, the more it tasted like steel, until I had to toss it out as it was giving me a stomach ache.


So...is there something I need to do to season or prep the bottle? do all SS water bottles do this? or only certain (i.e., cheap) bottles do this?

BridgeRider

This page says to use white vinegar to get rid of the taste. I regularly splash in a little vinegar when I'm cleaning my plastic bottles, but I've never tried it with stainless.

https://www.ehow.com/how_5718515_rid-...r-bottles.html

divtag

I use Kleen Kanteen all of the time, including the bike. I have never had a problem. Tasteless. Much better than plastic.

warmachine

You could try to find a stainless steel or aluminum bottle with an inner ceramic coating or lining.

fietsbob

Sigg, and Zefal make nice lined aluminum drinks bottles.
They designed caps to let the air in as the fluid is drunk..

ObjectAgnosia

I second Kleen Kanteen. Use it as my everyday bottle, can only taste the water and it's easy to clean.

Andy_K 

I find that only cheap plastic water bottles give the water a plastic taste. I love the CamelBak Podium bottles -- no added tastes and the always open thing works great. I also have bottles from Specialized and Trek that don't flavor my water.

vik 

I have no taste issues with my stainless steel bottles - assuming they are washed and dried occasionally.

bluefoxicy

My thoughts entirely, though my Podium Chill is getting replaced definitely; I ran out of fluid 40% through my trip today! Guess I do need a hydration pack...

JeffSG

Anyone have any good BPA free bottles they use?

Ride safe,

Jeff

shouldberiding

Never noticed a plastic taste with my Polar bottles.

prathmann

All the normal squeezable plastic bike water bottles are BPA-free.

Doohickie

If you're thirsty enough you'll drink the stagnant, fetid water from the ditch on the side of the road. Nasty plastic taste is like spring water in comparison.

AlmostGreenGuy

I'm a heavy user of Klean Kanteens. Never had a problem. This is my favorite model for cycling. Good flow and easy to drink from.

JPMacG

About once a year I accidentally drop my plastic water bottle and run over it. With plastic the lid just blows off and the contents spray out. I don't know what would happen with steel, but I suspect it would not be fun.

iflyskyhawks

Love my Klean Kanteen - always have it in the fridge full of filtered water ready to grab at a moment's notice for my next bicycle ride. No taste issues at all, lightweight and great flow.

WalksOn2Wheels

I can dig the kleen kanteen business, but in Texas, it doesn't seem to make much sense. I feel like water in a stainless steel bottle in the Texas sun will heat up a lot faster than water in a camelbak insulated podium chill bottle.

AlmostGreenGuy

The 20oz Insulated Klean Kanteen will keep your water cold for about a billion times longer than a Podium Chill. It's even good for coffee if you use the Cafe Cap. The only downside is that the insulated bottle doesn't come with any type of bike friendly sip cap. I regularly carry a basic Klean Kanteen or Podium Chill in one bottle cage, and the Insulated Klean Kanteen in the other bottle cage. Once I empty the first bottle, I refill it with the ice cold water from the Insulated Klean Kanteen.

There is no better feeling in life than riding on a sunny, humid, and 95 degree day, and having 20 ounces of ice cold water when you're 2 1/2 hours into your ride!!!!! The word "refreshing" cannot even begin to describe.

DaCiscoKid

+1

I'll have to look into these. Although I use one on my "indoor" bike, I've never really liked the stainless bottles on the bike because of the "flow" issues. I do really like my insulated Polars, though.

Sixty Fiver

I have moved to using stainless and the Clean Canteen is my favourite and I also carry a 500 ml thermos on most trips. The cap / cup is only about 100ml and that is 5 little cups of coffee or tea that I can space out and iced tea (the real stuff) is also wonderful on a warm day.

The thermos is more work to keep clean as it does have a plastic cap with a push button and the stainless stuff takes drops pretty well whereas Al bottles are lighter but do not like to be dropped.

ShinyBiker

In the summer, I use a vacuum Thermos Raya bottle. It rocks. Keeps water ice cold. It is stainless steel on the inside. Just pop a few ice cubes in there and they gradually melt and make the room temp water cold. In the winter, I go with stainless steel nalgene. It is single walled and the cold weather eventually gets the water cold. No need for insulation in winter.

Some cheap stainless steel bottles will rust esp. along the lining. That's probably what's happening to yours.

I would avoid aluminum bottles that are lined with anything. I think Sigg got in trouble for this. Their lining wore away and leached and caused problems for some people. Instead of owning up to it Sigg lied about it (google it). I avoid Sigg products for this reason.

Arcanum

A good-quality plastic bottle shouldn't taste like anything. Try a Camelbak or Polar squeezable bottle.

beebe

I have never heard of stainless steel causing water to change flavor. That's why people cook with stainless. It's all in your head bro.

nikwax

Nah, it's all in my stomach ;-)

thorsteno

They look like nice bottles to me (Kleen Kanteen) but I would like to find a US made one no matter what KK's website says.