I did my share of research prior to moving forward with the Kleen Kanteen. I read almost all the reviews...including many that claimed the taste of the liquid from the Kanteen tasted like metal. I must agree with part of the statement as the first three times I used the Kanteen my drink did taste like metal. Having worked in the restaurant industry for may years with stainless steel, I had a theory. So I did a little experiment. I put some water in the Kanteen and let it sit for a while. I took two drinks: the first drink involved putting my lips around the rim and taking drink. The second, using a straw and taking a drink. The first drink did taste metallic. However, the second drink did not....at all. So my conclusion was the taste was coming from the rim of the Kanteen. But the metallic taste from the rim only lasted for about three uses. My forth time I used it, no metallic taste as all...even drinking it from the rim. You got to love that.
How do I clean it? I hand wash it using regular dish detergent (Dawn) and hot water. I rinse it thoroughly a few time with hot water and a final rinse with cold water. I wash both the inside and outside. I never put it in the dishwasher as I have seen what the dishwater detergent does to stainless over time.
Overall, I am very happy with my Kleen Kanteen. I plan on buying a 60oz one soon.
On the 31st day of using this nice bottle, the cap broke. Well, part of the cap. The sealing rubber ring came off and I cannot get it to set into the cap. Now my bottle leaks. I would really like to just exchange the cap with Amazon.
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I have had several different water bottles and am pretty picky about my water quality. My two old KK''s were fine (with the exception of the bad idea of having a stainless steel top grinding on a stainless steel body, releasing the metals therein). When I saw that KK was coming out with a 64 oz version that would sate me for longer, I jumped at the chance.
The first problem I had was the metallic/VOC taste that many others have commented on. I rinsed, washed, rinsed, washed, etc and it still wouldn''t go away. But I noticed something else. I was drinking out of it one time when I was eating fish. With other water bottles, there might be a residual fish taste in the water if I didn''t clean it out for maybe 2-3 refills (no, I don''t backwash). Not so with the 64 oz KK. The taste persisted for weeks. Such taste persistence repeated itself with other meals I had, even after I cleaned it out. Still happens.
I also noticed the bottle had problem retaining water, so to speak. By that, I mean that the bottle leaks unless I screw the top on with a force that I would have to call excessive. That''s a problem for me because I often carry papers and my computer in my bag. The other "retaining" problem it has is that every time I take a sip after removing the cap, water runs down the bottle and onto my shirt. I never had this problem with any other bottle including other KKs.
I have been trying to make sense of all this and here is my hypothesis.
There is a very thin seam about 2 mm below the top of the mouth. I think it retains minor amounts of oils or liquids. That seam is not there on my other KK water bottles. It would explain the metallic taste because the manufacturing process involves coatings and manipulation of the steel, both which taste metallic or solvent-y. These chemicals could have been stored in the seam or whatever small space is beneath it. It would explain the fish and other food tastes because lips touch that area whenever a drink is taken. And it might be enough to retain the couple drops of water that dribble down my front. It wouldn''t explain that the bottle lid needs to be cranked down (I have the lid that comes with the bottle, not the Flip D-Ring).
I shared this email with Klean Kanteen and never got a response after at least 3 weeks.
Pros: Big. Lighter than the glass bottle I was using. no BPA, phthalates, or other organic chemicals that leach from plastic.
Cons: Leaks. Gets my shirt wet. Reminds me of meals I didn''t want to remember. Possible health hazard by retaining bacteria, chemicals, or who-knows-what.
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I bought this bottle after I lost my other Klean Canteen. I opted for this one because I could get the larger bottle. Despite the reviews I purchased this anyways, because I haven''t owned and enjoyed a previous bottle of theirs. The first time I drank water(after washing with soap) out of this canteen I instantly noticed the extreamly strong metalic taste so many others have experienced. Additionally, if my water was left in the canteen for more than 24 hours the water began tasting metalicy also.
I also noticed that the rubber ring in this canteen is almost impossible to remove. This is why so many of you are getting that green goo. It is called algea. I used to get the green goo on my other one. It''s from improper cleaning. It is important to remove the rubber ring and wash it along with the small groove where the ring sits. If you put iodine in your water, you can kill bacteria that grows. I always do this because I sometimes have water up to 48 hours in my jugs without cleaning it.
Another note is that while riding my bike I noticed this canteen leaks, just a few drops but none the less, it leaks.
sigh...
I plan to return this canteen and do not recommend this for purchase. This is disappointing because Klean Canteen has some nice canteens, check out their other ones.
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Clean lines, functional and durable. My only wish is that there was a way to have fewer dribbles when I carry it. It seems some of the water gets stuck in the threads that the cap screws on to and occasionally makes a surprising drip.
I have been using the large FuelBelt FuelBox for several years now, and love it. In it, I carry mini Cliff Bars and/or gels, AND my BlackBerry or cell phone. The advantage over a Bento box, is that the FuelBox zippers closed and protects the contents from the elements. My cell phones and on-the-road nutrition have survived torrential rains and dust, thanks to the FuelBox. It has completed 11 triathlons, several in pouring rain, and innumerable training rides and long trips in all varieties of upstate NY weather, road and riding conditions. The FuelBox, and it''s contents, stay put and are easily accessible while riding.
