They didn't have that "Green" thing back then

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by basjoos

But they leave a plastic taste (bisphenol-a?) in the water, especially when they have been left sitting in the sun for awhile. Metal leaves a bit of a taste in the water as well, but not as bad. I prefer to use glass for water containers, it doesn't taint the water left in it.

I've never been able to detect any plastic taste from soda/water type bottles, though I can taste just a bit from e.g. bike water bottles. As for glass... well, aside from the weight, I think I'd re-think that the first time I slipped, or dropped the backpack on some rocks...

[RobertSmalls]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I've never been able to detect any plastic taste from soda/water type bottles, though I can taste just a bit from e.g. bike water bottles. As for glass... well, aside from the weight, I think I'd re-think that the first time I slipped, or dropped the backpack on some rocks...

Polycarbonate doesn't taint your water, and it's light weight and durable. The only drawback I can think of is cost.

[basjoos]

Most drink bottles are made of PET (Polyethylene terephthalate) that is supposedly non-leaching, but it does leave a plastic taste in the water that I can taste to the point to where if the bottle has been left out in the hot sun for a few hours the, plasticy taste makes it practically undrinkable to me. Its probably one of those things that you don't notice if you are exposed to it every day, but I only very rarely drink out of plastic containers (once a year at most) so the taste is very obvious to me. I figure that if I can taste it, there is something being leached into the water.

Polycarbonate contains bisphenol-a which can start leaching out of the plastic as the plastic ages or gets dishwashered often. This has been brought up as a problem with polycarbonate baby bottles.

The easiest way to avoid the breakability problem with glass bottles is to encase it with a foam cover, which also insulates the container so it stays cold longer.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by basjoos

The easiest way to avoid the breakability problem with glass bottles is to encase it with a foam cover, which also insulates the container so it stays cold longer.

Which adds more weight, and volume. And the breakability is still there - knock your pack just the wrong way against a sharp rock, and it's gone.