Non-Toxic Water Bottles for Adults & Kids: Glass and Stainless
Between school, sports and the car, our family goes through a lot of water bottles. I wanted bottles where the water mostly touches glass or steel, and I wanted to know which lids and straws are still plastic. Here's what I found.
Water bottles are an easy low-tox swap because you use them every day, often in a hot car or a warm backpack. The bottle itself is simple to get right: glass or 18/8 stainless steel. The lid is the hard part. Most lids, spouts and straws are still plastic, so I've noted that on each pick.
What to look for
- Body: borosilicate glass or 18/8 (304) stainless steel.
- Lid: plastic-free lids exist (Pura is the best known), but most are BPA-free plastic. That's fine for many families, especially if the bottle is mostly upright.
- Straws: silicone straws are a step up from hard plastic ones and are easier to clean.
- Cleaning: wide mouths and few small parts make cleaning easier, which matters more than anything for mold.
Glass bottles
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Illustrative photos, not the actual products. Tap a photo to see that pick on Amazon.
Lifefactory 22 oz Glass Water Bottle with Active Cap
Glass bottle in a protective silicone sleeve, so it survives most drops.
Why we picked these
- Lifefactory 22 oz Glass Water Bottle with Active Cap Classic glass bottle Glass bottle in a protective silicone sleeve, so it survives most drops. Water only touches glass and the silicone spout area. A long-time favorite in low-tox circles. Worth knowing: The cap is plastic (BPA-free). It touches the water only when the bottle is tipped.
- Contigo Purity Glass Water Bottle, 20 oz Budget glass bottle A glass bottle with a protective sleeve and a small leak-proof lid, at a lower price than most glass bottles. Worth knowing: The lid and mouthpiece are plastic.
- HY3 Borosilicate Glass Bottle with Bamboo Lid, 22 oz Bamboo-lid glass Borosilicate glass with a bamboo lid and silicone sleeve. Good for water and cold tea at home or the office. Worth knowing: Bamboo lids have a silicone seal and shouldn't go in the dishwasher. Let them dry fully between uses.
- sunkey 32 oz Glass Water Bottle with Time Markers Biggest glass bottle A 32 oz glass bottle with time markers to help you drink through the day, a bamboo lid and a neoprene sleeve. Better for a desk than a backpack.
Glass bottles with sleeves survive most drops, but not all of them. For toddlers and the playground, stainless is safer.
Stainless steel bottles
Illustrative photos, not the actual products. Tap a photo to see that pick on Amazon.
Pura Insulated Stainless Steel Sport Bottle, 22 oz
Pura bottles are built so that water touches only stainless steel and medical-grade silicone, with no plastic in the lid.
Why we picked these
- Pura Insulated Stainless Steel Sport Bottle, 22 oz Most plastic-free Pura bottles are built so that water touches only stainless steel and medical-grade silicone, with no plastic in the lid. One of the few truly plastic-free insulated bottles.
- Klean Kanteen TKWide Insulated Bottle with Twist Cap, 32 oz Best insulated 18/8 stainless steel, double-wall insulated, from a company that's been making stainless bottles for years. Wide mouth fits ice and cleans easily. Worth knowing: The twist cap has plastic parts. Water mostly touches steel unless the bottle is tipped.
- Bambaw Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle, 32 oz Wide mouth with handle Insulated stainless bottle with a handle and wide mouth. A simple, sturdy bottle that's an easy swap from plastic.
- Owala FreeSip Stainless Steel Water Bottle, 32 oz Kid & teen favorite Stainless body with the built-in straw and sip spout that kids and teens love. If a fun bottle means they'll actually drink water, that's a win. Worth knowing: The lid and straw are plastic (BPA-free) and do touch the water. This is a 'less plastic' pick, not a plastic-free one.
Kids' bottles
Illustrative photos, not the actual products. Tap a photo to see that pick on Amazon.
Pura Sport Mini 11 oz Stainless Bottle with Silicone Sport Top
Small stainless bottle with a silicone sleeve and sport top.
Why we picked these
- Pura Sport Mini 11 oz Stainless Bottle with Silicone Sport Top Best for toddlers Small stainless bottle with a silicone sleeve and sport top. Water touches only steel and silicone, and it grows with your kid since Pura tops are interchangeable.
- Klean Kanteen 12 oz Classic Kid's Sippy Bottle Classic kid's sippy Stainless steel kids' bottle sized for little hands, with a dust cover and loop. Durable enough for daycare. Worth knowing: The sippy spout is silicone and the cap has plastic parts.
- Pura Toddler Straw Bottle, 11 oz Stainless Plastic-free straw A toddler straw bottle that's plastic-free and MadeSafe certified, with a silicone straw. Great for the age where everything has to be a straw.
- THERMOS FUNTAINER Stainless Steel Kids Bottle, 12 oz Best for school Insulated stainless bottle that keeps water cold through the school day, with fun prints and a straw kids like. Worth knowing: The lid and straw are plastic. Water sits against stainless steel in the bottle.
For cups, plates and lunch gear, see our plastic-free kids' dishes guide. And if you're filling bottles from the tap, our water filter guide covers what's in the water itself.
Cleaning tips
- Take the lid apart and wash every piece, including silicone rings and straws. That's where gunk builds up.
- A bottle brush and a straw brush are worth having. A spoonful of baking soda and warm water clears most smells.
- Let everything air dry fully, with the lid off, before putting it back together.
- Insulated stainless bottles usually shouldn't go in the dishwasher. Check the care instructions.
