I'm taking advantage of Christmas gift giving to replace our old Nalgene bottles with the new BPA-free models. I've found 2 types, both BPA-free. One is $10. The other is $6 and made from HDPE but with some older looking logo stuff on it. Which one do I want? Is HDPE a deal breaker? Help me, O Eco-Genius Offsprung Hive Mind!

I'm a cheapskate. But I bought Siggs, and I'm never going back. LURVE my Sigg.

HDPE is #2 and generally considered safe. Also the added benefit of maybe being made out of recycled materials, or recyclable later.

HDPE is also the most used plastic for hula hoops. You know, for kids.

I'm so confused! Are you guys talking about refillable water bottles? We just finally fixed the water filter in our fridge so I was thinking about getting all of us nice water bottles for X-mas. I have no idea what all these acronyms stand for. Somebody clue me in please! (Oh, and can you point me in the right direction for a good place to buy them?) I had no idea that water bottles had gone so high tech, where have I been???

Yes...water bottles. I'm planning to order some from Campmor. We lurve Nalgene bottles but all of ours contain the evil BPA found in #7 platics. HDPE is (I think) High Density P-something E-something. So many OS'ers are well-versed in the health attributes of different plastics. Step forward! Enlighten us some more, folks!

HDPE is high density polyethelyne.
And, to help everyone relax, the amount you get from a bottle is quite, quite small. Normally, the number they use for health effects is a rise in cancer of one in one million. And I don't think that has even happened. Now, I'm sure that's more than most people want, but still, there is a higher chance of getting cancer from the water, not the bottle.

I'm not *too* freaked out about the safety of plastic water bottles (baby bottles would have been a different story), but I don't like the taste of water in the Nalgene bottles. I really prefer the taste of the water from the Sigg, and the water seems to stay pretty cold even though I didn't get an insulated model. I had also not found a Nalgene that was secure in the cup holder of my car - there was always something wonky. My Sigg fits perfectly. I also really like that the tops are interchangeable.

Diggy, you're probably right about the water. Hadn't thought of it that way.

I switched to using a Klean Kanteen- I got 2 40oz bottles a while ago. I really like them. Not sure about what the safest plastic would be.

Aren't SIGGs made out of aluminum? I'm surprised no one has mentioned the aluminum/Alzheimer's fear. And I'm not getting into that because I don't have time to look through literature today!

The Kleen Kanteens are stainless steel. They are great. I have a SIGG too but yes, they are made of aluminum, and I'm not so comfortable with that.