Gym Water Bottle Recommendations?

I'm looking for the perfect water bottle.  Did a quick search of the forums, and didn't find anything.  My problem is that I'm very picky.  I know the Nalgene bottles are supposed to be great, don't retain odors, etc.  My issue with them is that I haven't found one that doesn't have a wide mouth, or one of those folding straws.  I don't like the wide mouth, because when I try and drink when I'm on the elliptical or walking, it ends up splashing in my face.  I don't like the straws, because I never feel like they REALLY get clean.  I also don't like the squirt tops, for the same reason.

In my ideal world, I'd like a water bottle that is made of a good polycarbonate that won't leech into my water, that has a twist off cap, is leakproof, and that has a smaller opening you can drink from.  Does such a thing exist?? 

I did find one that has the type of cap I want - it has a medium size opening with a flip cap, and then a screw top - at Target, but it is cheapy cheap plastic, and it has picked up odors from the dishwasher, so it's not ideal.

I was going to recommend the calorie count one that I have but I didnt see it in the shopping area :(


Its an awesome water bottle with a pop up ....like the reg. bottles of water.

Maybe Erik has more??????

wish I could help

Erm, I reuse the 500 ml mineral water bottles. made for the job, and easy to refill. Call it recycling!

elttiks.x.

be careful doing that.  I will see if I can find the info on it but I have read they can hold bacteria and stuff.

I do admit to reusing them once or twice but no more.

Once saliva, sweat and bacteria get inside the bottle, there's no way to completely clean or sanitize it. Also, after extended use and rewashing, the plastic starts to break down. That's why commercial bottled water is stamped with a two-year (or less) expiration date. Although the water doesn't really "expire," it acquires an off taste.

Yeah, I've also read that reusing the commercial plastic water bottles too much is problematic - a combination of bacteria build-up and plastic degredation. 

I'm just really oogy about bacteria, particularly in something I reuse over and over, which is why I don't like those bendy straws and pop-up squirt bottles - too many little spaces that I know aren't getting as clean as I'd like....

I have not had luck with the nalgene because they tend not to fit in the holder on the spin bikes, but I have noticed REI has a huge assortment of caps (with and without straws, and splashguards with smaller holes, etc) that they sell as an accessory to those bottles.

-hope this helps.

Check www.rei.com and check www.lululemon.com

This is the one that I use, although it is designed more for runners than anything else.  I take the mesh part off when I'm at the gym, so it's then just the bottle underneath.  Great for longer runs outside, since it just sticks in your hand and doesn't bounce around like the waist holders do.

I'm a huge fan of the Tupperware water bottle.  It holds a generous supply of water, doesn't leak, and you don't have any valves you have to fiddle with (great while running or biking).  The bottom screws off, so if you want you can stash keys or a small snack in it.  I don't actually do that because I don't want the weight or rattle while I'm running, and when I'm in the gym I have a little bag I keep my stuff in anyway. 

I have another half a dozen other water bottles sitting unused on top of my fridge because I only use my Tupperware one.  With tax I paid about $22Cdn, but it was well worth it.

the splashguards they make for nalgenes are a life saver...I have literally almost drown from those wide mouth nalgenes..haha. They also make small mouthed nalgenes.

Why not soak the mouthpieces or straw things in some bleach for a minute or 2 then rinse well with hot water?  Run thru the dishwasher.  I guess I don't freak out on some germs.  I don't know if freezing kills germs like boiling water but I fill my water bottle 1/2 way and put it in the freezer overnight so I have cold water for the whole dayl  I probably drinking alot of bacteria/ germs or whatever but haven't gotten sick.  Your body needs some germs and some bacteria - just ask most women what happens if they take antibiotics for any length of time

Putting bought plastic bottles of water in the freezer is not a good idea, the plastic bottle deteriorates and leaches nasty stuff into the water.  Reusing the bottles ditto.  

Sports bottles with teat type tops which close wash well in dishwasher.  Buy a screw top one or you can get a cool shower....

Spent hours on this site today and cooked in between, very encouraging, but takes ages to work out calorie counts to start with, especially as I like to cook from scratch mainly.   It appears that I have been grossly undereating, but still gaining weight despite doing hour spin classes four times a week.

My poor body must have been in starvation? mode for years - will it ever recover?

They make inserts for Nalgene bottles so that the opening is much smaller. It's basically a plastic disk with a drinking hole that fits into the mouth of the Nalgene bottle. It's removable so you can totally clean it and keeps the splash under control. I bought mine at REI, but a lot of outdoor and gear stores sell them.

Thanks everyone for all your suggestions!  Turns out part of my problem was that I didn't know the vocabulary of water bottles (who knew it was such a complicated subject!)  Splash guard - THAT's what I needed!  So I've got a splash guard for my Nalgene, which is great.  I'm also trying out one of those Swedish Sigg bottles (they're so pretty! hehe) - they have a sports cap that comes apart into pieces for easy cleaning, is leak proof even when the cap is open, and that you just push with your mouth to open and drink - I haven't tried that one out yet, so I'll let everyone know what I think.  

DO NOT reuse plastic throw away water bottles!  It causes cancer.  Those bottles are made from cheap plastic designed for one time use.  When you re-use them (especially after being left in the car/exposed to heat) carcinogens leak from the plastic into the water that you then drink and absorb into your body.

I use a water bottle I got at target actually. It's the same material as the nalgene water bottles, but it has the small opening at the top and has a push up top thing. It is also twist off if you need it to be. It's really nice. I can't find it on the website, but i swear they have it there.

Veganlove -
I have one of those from Target too - they are nice, but I've found that as I wash them in the dishwasher, they've picked up food odors, and mine leaks, which makes it a pain to throw in the gym bag with water in it... 

On another note, Snopes.com lists the carcinogen fear of disposable water bottles as false, and cites this article from Johns Hopkins:

http://www.jhsph.edu/PublicHealthNews/article s/Halden_dioxins.html

http://www.snopes.com/medical/toxins/petbottl es.asp

I skimmed the article, and while he says that dioxins aren't going to be a problem, heated plastic still can give off phthalates, which don't sound like something you want in your water either...

I use the 1/2 gallon water bottles from the local water store - they must be "reusable" since the idea is to buy the water to refill them from them - its also the same type of container that the water delivery places use and they reuse those containers you know the kind you put on the water cooler.  I fill these 1/2 full and toss in the freezer overnight and then add water to them the next morning and that way I know I am getting at least 64 oz of water a day.

My FAVORITE is the Camelback Lexan bottle with the bite valve. It's spill proof, sanitary, and you just bite the nozzle a little and drink like you're drinking through a straw. Same valve as on their regular bladder systems (which are also really cook for running and cycling because they keep your hands totally free). Look into it, I love mine!!!