Our Journey to Stainless Steel Water Bottles - EcoUsable

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     Years ago, when plastic water bottles became all the "rage", my husband and I decided to not purchase them unless we were traveling and away from home on a long-distance trip.  It wasn't really because of any "green" factor; it was because they seemed expensive to us just for a drink of water.

     So, we purchased el-cheapo reusable plastic water bottles for the girls and I, and since my husband uses water bottles for backpacking and outdoor activities, he bought a Nalgene brand plastic water bottle. 

     We didn't know anything about the various types of plastics or which ones tend to "off gas" more than others.  To be truthful, when I began hearing about it, I didn't really care.  Still today, there are some things I care about, and others I don't.  At some point in my life, whether I make all of the "right" or "green" decisions or not, my body will wear out and I will die.  Not trying to be morbid or anything, but I'm the first to recognize my human frailty and needing to rely on God for any strength that He has given me. 

     Slowly though, over time, we did become a bit curious about even our Nalgene water bottles (we eventually all bought some) leeching plastic or chemicals into our drinking water when they were left in a hot car or out in the sun during outdoor activities.

     I've been interested in buying some decent, stainless-steel water bottles, but the good ones are quite expensive.  I'm not sure that the ones at the local Wally World are what I want to be using for my drinking water.

     So, copying my friend, Serena, I bought the girls and I some glass SoBe bottles, and washed them out well.  The girls and I began using these for our water bottles.  Elmer refused - it was too risky, in his mind, to be hiking or hunting with glass.  I don't blame him...but I just couldn't come up with any other options.

     Toward the end of August, my family received four very nice stainless steel water bottles from EcoUsable.  This company has been around for some time now, and they are a reputable business. 

     When our box arrived from EcoUsable, I noticed right away that the person who packed the shipment paid attention to how many people were in my family, and picked out water bottles that he or she felt were appropriate for our ages, genders, and activities.  That says a lot!

     These are the water bottles which arrived in our shipment:

This model is no longer available.

Pink Butterflies - 10 oz.
(for my youngest daughter)

• holds 10 fluid ounces (295 ml)...a bit small for a ten-year-old, but we can always refill it, right?
  
• measures 6" H x 2.56" W
• weighs 3.5 ounces

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Purple - 16 oz.
(for my oldest daughter)

• holds 16 fluid ounces (473 ml)
• measures 8.5" H x 2.56" W
• weighs 4.5 ounces

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Garden Flowers - 33 oz.
(for me)

with Flower Power water wrap

• holds 33 fluid ounces (975 ml)
• measures 11.75" H x 2.56" W
• weighs 4.5 ounces

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White "Big Dipper" - 25 oz.
(for my husband)

• Holds 25 fluid ounces (757 ml)
• Fits ech2o replacement filter for fresh water on the go - even from ponds and streams!
  
• Wide mouth opening fits ice cubes
• New curve-shaped bottle for comfort and style

with Camoflauge water wrap

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     We've been using our new stainless steel water bottles out and about, around town, for a few weeks.  Last weekend, we were in the eastern part of our state, about a six-hour drive from our home, and it was really nice to see that the water tasted as fresh and clear when we arrived at our destination as it did when we poured it directly from our Brita pitcher into the water bottles earlier that morning.  Nice!

     Here is my family's "take" on EcoUsable water bottles:

Likes:

• lightweight
• easily portable with included belt clips
• easy to wash and keep clean, although they need to be hand washed
• curved styles fit easily into our hands
• many cute or manly or teen colors and styles, plus appropriate wraps
• keeps water relatively cool over time

Dislikes:

• when washing bottles in hot, soapy water, they become hot enough to feel uncomfortable.  I recommend using dish gloves, or just touching the top rim and the outside bottom rubber base while rinsing bottles clean
• we noticed that the sip/pour spouts were a bit on the noisy side during use.  Just don't use them during a funeral, and you should be fine!  :)

    
    Other than the very hot bottles while rinsing, we have had no complaints!  The rimmed lip makes it easy from which to drink.  The rubber pad on the bottom of the bottles keeps them more stable and prevents damage to nice tables, etc. 

     Below is some additional information about EcoUsable's bottles, especially the Ech2o filtering bottle which purifies stream, lake, and pond water to kill all stomach-problem bacteria.

     Enjoy filtered tap water "on the go" instantly filtered as you drink through the ech2o sport top! This exclusive top removes up to 99.99% of pollutants for up to 100 gallons* of great tasting filtered water. Designed to fit our NEW Ech2o filtered water bottles.

ONLY compatible with 25 oz. Ech2o™ water bottles.

The Ionic-Adsorption Micro-Filtration System is an entire water filtration plant within a portable bottle. The patented Ionic-Adsorption Micro-Filtration reduces up to 99.99% of the following zones of contamination:

• Aesthetics: unpleasant taste, odor, clarity, chlorine, sand, sediment and Radon 222.
• Biological: Pathogens such as cryptosporidium, giardia & other cysts and spores.
• Chemicals: toxic chemicals, detergents, pesticides and other harmful industrial and agricultural wastes.
• Dissolved Solids: heavy metals such as aluminum, asbestos, copper, lead, mercury and others.

Features

• fits 25 oz. Ech2o stainless steel water bottles
• one hand operation
• high flow of liquid
• removes up to 99.99% of pollutants as you drink
• drink from tap water, streams, rivers, lakes and pools
• filters everything but salt water
• 100 gallon capacity - 378 liters
• replaces up to 757 half liters of bottled water

Exclusive filter tested by independent governmental laboratories to EPA/ANSI protocols and NSF Standards 42 and 53.

* Approximately 6 months of use.

     My family also received the following accessories to accompany our new water bottles:

• fits 10 oz., 16 oz., and 33 oz. bottles
• one hand operation
• high flow of liquid
• great for kids and adults on the go
• made from safe, non-leaching polypropylene
• dishwasher safe

     In addition, we received one shoulder strap which uses velcro to wrap around the top of the bottle. 

The Fine Print:  I received these EcoUsable water bottles and accessories free of charge in exchange for my time in writing an honest review containing my own opinions.  No other compensation was provided.