that new sports cap is pretty awesome. I just ordered a new wide-mouth Sigg as part of their recall. I'm probably in dream land by hoping the Kleen Kanteen top will fit. ;)

Claiming there is "no doubt" about their safety may be a bit strong. They are made in China and I see far too many reports of adulterated products from factories there. I agree the SIGG BPA fiasco is a serious issue and people need to be aware that manufacturers are not always open to their customers. I looked at both but found SIGG's reputation for reliability and durability to be convincing.

If these companies worked with 3rd party verification services, I think we would all benefit.

I have one of these, however not for the reason that others might. When I'm in an all-weapons-are-forbidden-on penalty-of-prison area like an airplane or England, I know that a full Kanteen with a loop of 550 paracord between the bottlecap and the neck makes an excellent impact weapon that can be swung with enough force to break an arm or head. Not all Buddhists are pacifists. :)

(The Sigg also isn't bad, as the bottom edge is quite a bit sharper and can do more damage. I chose the Kanteen because it's stronger.)

I have a Klean Kanteen that I got for a gift, the only time it's leaked was when I hadn't actually closed the lid all the way (and even then it didn't leak very much). I also appreciate that the mouth of the bottle is big enough to get a scrub-brush in there to clean it properly!

My literacy in metallurgy and Buddhism are both limited but, Paul, what would one add to stainless steel to reduce production costs, thereby putting into question the safety of a stainless steel water bottle? And, dingo, what branch of Buddhism sidesteps the practice of ahimsa, and what kind of testing did you do to determine bottle strength, or shouldn't I ask? --es

dingo--thanks for the tip. As one who is from a distinctly rural area and slightly paranoid in large crowds, it's nice to know I can be both hydrated and have a modicum of protection...Do you suppose they would replace it if it was returned with a large dent in the side?

Why does kool tools insist on linking to amazon rather than to manufacturers' website so we can look for local suppliers?

Klean kanteen has a locate function on their website (http://www.kleankanteen.com/) as do many other products reviewed here.

If we only shop at amazon, soon amazon will be our only option. Local jobs anyone?

For some background on the Cool Tools policy of linking to Amazon, take a look at our About page: http://www.kk.org/cooltools/about.php
--es

I've been using my Kleen Kanteen for almost 2 years. A really excellent product. I had problems with the sport cap leaking so I switched to the screw in finger grip (large hole) cap and couldn't be happier.

"And, dingo, what branch of Buddhism sidesteps the practice of ahimsa, and what kind of testing did you do to determine bottle strength, or shouldn't I ask?"

Simply jumping on the sides of a bottle is sufficient to test its strength.

Ahimsa is not the same thing as pacifism - there is a difference between avoiding the initiation of violence (ahimsa) and refusing to fight back (pacifism). Buddhism is perfectly OK with force in self-defense. Sure, using force affects your karma, but as with all things everything is a tradeoff. One should try to use as little force as is reasonably required to resolve the situation, which is why I catch bugs under cups and slide an index card under the cup in order to carry them outside rather than skoosh them. :) I'm also a vegetarian.

The massacres in Burma and Thailand of Buddhists did much to undo my willingness to follow proscriptions against armed self-defense.

...and when I'm in a locality that doesn't ban armed self-defense, a legally concealed 9mm is much more effective than a Klean Kanteen.

@ dingo: An enlightening pleasure, as always.--es

Not all Buddhists practice Ahimsa. I tend to think of it as a Jain thing, personally...

I love Klean Kanteens. I've had them for a couple years now. We have two 40 oz, two 18 oz and I just got a 27 oz for my bike. I love them all. I buy mine from ReusableBags.com. I like the loop lids and I also have the sling for the 40oz and the 27oz, which is great if we're going for a hike and traveling.
I like that the mouth of the bottle is wider than the Sigg I have, making it easier to clean. I've never had problems with leaking. The bottles only get things wet when I put cold water in them and the condensation gets on things.
The only damage I've had to them in the couple years since I bought them was I had one of my 40oz bottles get two dings it it. But that was my fault for letting it fall from a table onto a stone floor when it was completely full of water with the cap on, which increases its weight considerably. I have never had reason to consider using any of my bottles as a weapon, but I'm sure it would hurt to be hit with one full of water.

I have both and prefer the Sigg. I think the Swiss quality is superior to the Chinese.

I've had one for several years. They're very durable and don't show much wear. Occasionally with the standard cap the plastic cap top will spin relative to the threaded metal cap bottom. Usually this happens when there's a temperature difference and the cap is sucked down. When the liquid warms it's possible to open the bottle.

We have first and second generation sport caps. The little silicon rubber breather valve can rot and crack if you store acidic drinks in them. Kleen Kanteen replaced them at no cost. You have to suck on the spout to get liquid out and there's a wheezy sound that comes from the breather valve. So there's an audible when taking a sip in a meetings. I suggested to Kleen Kanteen that they make a wire toggle (swing) top like on Grolsch beer bottles. I like the cap on my Nalgene OTG. It's easy to pop the top and take a sip or big swig.

Another big Kleen Kanteen fan checking in. I solved both the condensation problem and the whose-bottle-is-which-they-all-look-the-same problem with a single trick. I save worn-out thick cotton socks, which always wear out at the heel, cut off the foot, and have a nice, absorbent knitted tube in a different color for each member of the family. The sock top both absorbs condensation and identifies the bottle.

Walgreen's sells a Subzero version of the stainless bottle for $4.
http://www.walgreens.com/store/catalog/Portable-Beverage-Containers/Stainless-Steel-Bottle/ID=prod4770602&navCount=1&navAction=push-product
The picture on the page I linked to is outdated; the current version has a neck that looks like the KleanKanteen. I've been using a Subzero daily for months, with no leaks or other issues.

@ perruptor:
Great find! Any idea whether or not the Subzero is compatible with Klean Kanteen caps?--es

I just recently bought a new set of stainless steel water bottles for my wife and I. We didn't buy the kleen kanteens, as we too wanted to go local (like another commenter).

I found a good bottle, at a great price ($10), and one that helps raise the awareness of the BPA issues in plastic bottles. They are from Poison Bottle Company - http://www.poisonbottleco.com

They offer very similar type bottles, but they have a Poison Bottle label on each one. In just a week I have already had people ask me about it and give me a reason to share about the dangers of plastic bottles, BPA in the liners of things like the Sigg bottles, and whatnot. I love my bottle!