Not true. The number is a Resin Identification Code...basically what type of plastic it is so that recycling centers know how to sort it. Different polymers need to be recycled in different ways.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resin_identification_code

Ironically the infamous '7' is the 'other' category and contains many plastics which don't contain the controversial Bisphenol A...which has yet to be proven as harmful.

Changing the subject slightly back on course these look almost exactly like the Source liquitainers I like only the Source ones have a bottle top like a bottle of water instead of a zipper.

Brrr, no credit. The number is supposedly a code for recycling with some numbers good and some not-so-good for recycling. High Density Polyethylene "2" is supposedly food grade plastic (Tupperware, et al). These can be reused many more times than the number indicates.

Polycarbonate gets a "7" (All other resins and multi-materials). I'm not sure there is a problem with polycarbonate bottles (such as the now retired Nalgene bottles) as long as you only fill them with cold water. I still use mine, but all I ever used them for was cold water. Because of that I never use anything stronger than mild dish soap to clean them. One issue in some of the tests was the use of sodium hypochlorite bleach to clean polycarbonate which allowed the release of bisphenol-A. Cold water, no chemicals, no problem IMO.

That said, the only material commonly found in camping bottles/cookware I fully trust is titanium -- non-reactive with just about anything. Even some stainless steel is known to leach into liquid (that metallic taste you're familiar with).

I am just going on what we saw one night on one of the network news shows (Dateline NBC or something), they said that you should never re-use any plastics with a number 1,6 or 7...

Oooo... I like... I do have my Platy bags, but they are a pain to deal with the closure when I want to pack something flat.

This may be a very good alternative!

There was your mistake.

I was blown away by the Nalgene brand polycarbonate GI canteen. I was on the verge of giving up my old beloved canteens in exchange for classic Nalgene bottles because they can accept boiling water. How long have they been around?

No mention of shipping charges on the site - has anybody ordered from them?

I went ahead and placed an order for some of the bags and a few other items. I don't remember where I read it on the site (maybe it was their store link/shopping cart page) but their shipping policy is to charge the actual USPS rate plus a $1.50 handling fee. Not too bad.

I'll test out the bags and post my findings & pics.

Tupperware is also #7. Do you throw those out after each use?

It's all hype people. Until there's real science, don't trust the media!

There is some science behind some of the risks of using plastic. Wikipedia references a couple:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plastics#Negative_health_effects

I thought Tupperware was a "2". Yep, falls under high density polyethylene.

The site seems to be a decent one-stop-shopping place for many of our favorite survival items. The also carry the survival speedhooks and a few other nice items.

Damn! Now I have to figure out which it really is so I can log in and correct it!