I bought this to replace my KOR BPA-free plastic water bottles that broke, which I loved. They cracked at the hinges and one of them also got a coating inside it that was difficult to clean off. I mention the KOR because they were extremely easy to drink from--the opening was just the right size for easy drinking and the hinged top made it easy to manage the bottle--push a button to flip the top off for drinking and no separate top that you have to set down somewhere. So I really loved the design of my KOR bottles and hoped to find something similar in glass. I am not as happy with the design of this bottle, as it is less usable:
Pros:
Silicone sleeve makes it easy to handle and protects from breakage
Bottle, silicone sleeve and top are dishwasher safe
Large opening makes it easy to clean
Ring on cap makes it easy to carry
Fits in large cupholders in cars (not in small ones)
Glass makes it non-toxic and no taste imparted to water
Does not leak
Easy to see in the bottle so you can see the water level and whether it is clean
The bottle is less narrow than the KOR so does not tip over easily as the KOR did (thus leading the KOR to break)
Cons:
Large opening makes it difficult to drink from without spilling on self
The size of the opening, while being large enough to cause spilling, is not large enough to keep from bumping my nose on the other size of it. So my nose is always in the way when I drink from it, particularly as it gets below half full. I find that really frustrating (and yes, I have a large nose, but so do many people...). What I would really like to see is some sort of screw on top that creates a narrower opening for drinking, while still keeping the larger opening below so you can easily clean the bottle--SIGG has some bottles designed like that, which is a great design, however SIGG bottles had BPA in the old linings and the new linings quickly peel off. The company is developing a "sport top" but I don''t know if that will solve the problem. My experience with sport tops on hard water bottles (metal) is that it''s impossible to get enough water to flow out of them because you cannot squeeze the bottle.
The top is tricky to screw on straight--I keep putting it on slightly crooked and then it won''t screw on and I have to unscrew it and get it positioned just right, so it will screw on straight. This is time-consuming and frustrating, compared to the KOR bottle that just has a push button to flip it open and then easily clicks closed. It''s also much trickier than screwing the top on a SIGG bottle--I always found them easy to screw on.
Since the top is not hinged like the KOR, once you take it off, you have to find somewhere to set it down while you drink. Not a big deal if you are at work but if you are on the go, that can be a problem. And it is a large top, so it''s not like you can just slip it in a pocket.
Being glass, it is heavier than plastic bottles, though I am willing to live with that to have non-toxic and taste-free water
It is a bit too large to fit in the water bottle holders of my fanny pack, so I''ve had to buy plastic bottles for that
I have had MANY different types of bottles metal and plastic with different tops: screw top, flip top, spin top, or squeeze top. Overall, while this bottle is heavier than some of the others, it is far superior because you do not taste anything but water, there is no metallic aftertaste or plastic smell. For me, this is the most important thing. I love water but have always hated the weird aftertaste some of the other bottles produce. The large handle at the top makes this easy to carry. Once screwed on, there is no leaking or spilling. The mouth is large and therefore, makes it easy to fill up and drink from. I have yet to drop the bottle so can''t speak to how well the silicon cover protects it. The silicon does help if you put the bottle in the fridge because your hands won''t slip from the condensation.
I have taken this bottle to professional events, to playing tennis, and to the beach and honestly, this is my favorite bottle of all that I have ever owned!
Buy Lifefactory 22-Ounce Beverage Bottle Now
Goodbye stainless steel water bottle. Good riddance plastic bottles. I have searched high and low for alternatives to steel and plastic water bottles. I was ecstatic to see LF offer a good-sized glass bottle and it already included a protective cover; I purchased two. Admittedly, I think the bottles are over-priced. Plus, LF missed the mark by not offering a sports cap with the initial release. For outdoor joggers/runners, I would not recommend this because it''s too heavy. I have used this in a gym but it''s a bit inconvenient. Without the sports cap, I am forced to pause to drink.
These should have been priced at $15 (as is) and $20 (with a regular cap and one sports cap); I would have given this 5-STARS. It also would have been nice if it was 25 ounces as opposed to 22. Ultimately, I doc this a half a star for the high price and another half star for not having a sports cap readily available.
I cannot comment on durability because I have not drop it. Really looking forward to the sports cap being release. On LF''s website you can purchase a 22-ounce bottle without a cap or cover for $8; if Amazon offers, I may buy a few more as standbys.
Read Best Reviews of Lifefactory 22-Ounce Beverage Bottle Here
I ordered the Lifefactory 22-ounce green beverage bottle in early September and absolutely love it!
I have carried water bottles since before Nalgene bottles were cool. As more information came out about plastics that leach into the water, particularly those with BPA, I wanted something where I wouldn''t have that concern. I switched to an unlined stainless steel bottle (Klean Kanteen) and liked everything except that beverages tended to take on a metallic taste and that the bottles (like all I tried except for the double-walled ones) perspired if you had cold beverages in them.
Fast forward to the Lifefactory bottles. I''d heard of them about a month prior and did quite a bit of research, both on Amazon and on the company''s website. The bottles are a fairly thick, high-quality glass that are covered with a grippy silicone sleeve. The top is wide-mouthed with a screw top. The entire thing is dishwasher-safe. (Well, I don''t know about the lid, as I hand-washed it separately.)
The pros:
No BPA to worry about. Glass doesn''t have BPA, nor does it have any of a variety of other chemicals known to leach. This is pretty much inert.
Grippy silicone sleeve offers some protection against breakage and keeps it from slipping out of your hand, even if the bottle is sweaty.
Fully-dishwasher-safe.
Replacements are easily ordered online for bottle (if it breaks) so you can just swap the silicone sleeve.
Can see what you''re drinking
The cap is secure and the loop is comfortable to hold, even when the bottle is full.
Awesome looking water bottle.
The cons:
Glass breaks. The silicone sleeve helps, and I''ve dropped this from counter height onto carpet without problems.
Glass is heavier than plastic. And also than metal. (Or it is in order to have thick glass.)
After using 27 and 32 ounce bottles, this one seems small, and a bit of an awkward size. (Though it does have measuring guides on the side if you want to use a powder packet designed for a 16 ounce bottle.)
Honestly, I love the bottle and have gotten a ton of compliments on it. Enough so that I bought a navy one at a local retailer. (Price with tax was about the same as price here with free shipping.) Also, I think Lifefactory plans to come out with 16 ounce bottles later this month (October 2010,) which I think is perhaps a more versatile size than 22 ounce. At any rate, excellent product.
UPDATE 2/2012:
I still use my spring green Lifefactory bottle regularly, on a nearly daily basis. After nearly a year and a half, here''s what I''ve learned.
The bottle is SOLID. I''ve dropped it from waist height and higher (3.5 to 4 feet) several times and it hasn''t broken; the glass is still pristine, the silicone sleeve has scuffed, but that rubs right off. The plastic lid does scratch if you drop it onto pavement, but Lifefactory sells replacement lids. I haven''t gotten one, as the bottle still looks great and the lid is still leak-free and functional.
I have also added a gray 16 ounce bottle to the collection and it''s a great product, too. The same goes for the 9-ounce bottles, which I use for milk or juice in lunches or for to-go breakfast. I would unhesitatingly recommend this bottle.
Want Lifefactory 22-Ounce Beverage Bottle Discount?
I love this bottle. I feel confident knowing I am drinking from a safe container because it is glass. The silicone sleeve is great and really does protect it from breaking. It fell over while I had it sitting on a concrete bench at the beach and it did not break. The top seals tightly, I don''t need to worry about having it lie on it''s side in my bag.
I have one suggestion for Lifefactory make a lid that is also a cup. Something phthalate-free that screws on as a top but you can also pour water into and drink from. I love that this bottle holds 22 oz, but it is heavy to hold against the face while drinking especially while walking at the same time.
I think this product is great and own 5 of them for my husband and myself alone. My son is not bottle-fed, but if he were, this company''s baby bottles are the ones I''d chose.
I had been looking for years (yes, years!) for a replacement for an 11 yr. old water bottle that I love but is looking rather worse for the wear at this point. Most bottles have a narrow mouth that makes it difficult to get ice into even so called wide mouth bottles (think Camelbak/Nalgene) aren''t wide enough to easily fill. And they almost all have a screw off top can be challenging to sip out of sometimes, such as while driving. When I saw this item I knew it would be perfect and I was right! It''s BIG it holds 36 oz! It''s slim enough to fit securely in the large cup holder in my car(Honda minivan). The very wide mouth makes it so easy to fill with ice, the top is leak-proof with a straw that you can safely close off and the removable insulated "jacket" does a fantastic job of keeping beverages cold. It''s also very easy to clean, no problems with mildew like I read about with some bottles with a locking straw mechanism like Camelbak''s. It is just what I wanted! I also have to mention how great this vendor is! There was no color choice option and the photos showed three colors so I called the folks at Camping Station to ask them if they could possibly send me the item in blue. Customer Service was very nice and said he would do his best. He asked for a second choice in case they didn''t have the blue. I had ordered two bottles and I was lucky enough to be able to get both in blue! I am really, really impressed with Camping Station and could not be happier with the whole experience. I had purchased a 32 oz Nalgene widemouth bottle and tried to make it work, but I''m returning it because this is SOOO much better for me.
