An over priced water bottle that still leaks.  It looks attractive and you feel really smart and environmentally conscious buying it because it has all the key words – green, BPA-free, toxin-free, blah, blah, blah.  That is all great, but if my kid’s water still leaks all over his lunch box and gets his peanut butter and jelly sandwich soggy, then it’s not doing the job.

I bought this water bottle with the sports cap, which includes a dust cap, thinking it would be easier for the boys to use without having to unscrew the cap.  However, unless you really press the cap down strongly, it is going to leak.  When dealing with small children, this translates to leakage.

Since I already made the investment, I am almost inclined to dig deeper into the hole and buy the loop screw cap to replace the sports one.  This type of cap should not leak, but still has a loop on it that can be attached to a backpack with a carabiner for ease of use on the trails.  Of course, because it has to be unscrewed to drink, there is always the chance that the boys will lose the cap somewhere.

The Skinny:

• USE – Yeah, it holds liquid, but if your little kid’s using it count on some leaking.
• AFFORDABILITY – One of the higher priced canteens out there.
• SIZE – Average size for a kid. Not too obtrusive, but not noticably designed with size in mind.
• SIMPLE STYLING – Good styling.  Rugged, clean, built to last.
• SANITY – This is a decent product but we feel like marketing plays too big a role in their pricing, playing both on image and the new fear of plastic bottles.

Hydration is always important of course, so I’m still on the lookout for a better designed and cost effective product that has small hands in mind.

Retail price – $16.95