by Alicia MacLeay
With all the concerns about Bisphenol A (BPA) in certain older water bottles, I've occasionally heard glass mentioned as an alternative. After all, glass bottles are reusable, recyclable, and don't leach chemicals into your drink or give off a metallic taste. You can buy glass baby bottles, so why not ones for outdoorsy adults?
Well, because glass bottles are breakable, right? And who wants a wet pile of glass shards in his or her backpack miles from the trailhead?
Lifefactory, maker of glass baby bottles, now has introduced 22-ounce glass beverage bottles for the adults. The bottles have silicone sleeves for grip and to prevent breakage.
Lifefactory says its glass bottles are designed to withstand normal drops and wear, though I have yet to use one myself. The San Francisco Chronicle called them "practically unbreakable" and repeatedly dropped a bottle on a concrete floor without any cracking.
Lifefactory doesn't list a weight per bottle, so that's another factor to consider. Glass, especially sturdy glass, is not lightweight. And you'd want to leave a glass bottle at home during freezing conditions.
I'm curious though. Would you consider carrying a glass bottle on a summer hike or other outdoor adventure? Do you already use one or know someone who does? If so, tell us about it.
