Good point. However, would keeping them under your gortex, next to your body prevent a crack in the lining? And if stainless steel in the answer, is there a similar product that also incorporates the filtering feature?

Good question. I just worry about the filter being damaged by "slushy" water and then letting all the creepy stuff thru.

BTW, What area of Texas?

I'm not entirely convinced by the BPA is an immediate threat toxin, however SIGG lied to the company Patagonia about BPA in their liners, and that damages SIGG's credibility no matter what the outcome of the debate.

From Rick Ridgeway, Patagonia's VP of Environmental Initiatives:

"Once we concluded there was basis for concern (regarding BPA), we immediately pulled all drinking bottles that contained BPA from our shelves and then searched for a BPA-free bottle. We very clearly asked SIGG if there was BPA in their bottles and their liners, and they clearly said there was not."

Patagonia has recalled all their co-branded SIGG bottles.

SIGG later introduced the EcoCare Liner.

SIGG is also offering, until the end of October, to exchange all pre-ecocare liner SIGG bottles for the cost of shipping.

SIGG isn't concerned about BPA being harmful, but they are concerned that potential customers, past and future, are concerned about the issue, enough so to replace their liner, replace old bottle and to lie about it in the first place.

East Texas, a couple hours south and east of you. But, I have spent time in mountainous regions before (obviously the only thing you will find in Texas if the hill country and the only mountains are in El Paso). But, I am looking at doing some hiking camping in the mountains where temperatures dip drastically. There are places like Sun Spot, NM where even in the middle of summer at night it is freezing.

It's not a question of whether BPA _can_ be a threat but rather dosages in water bottle usage. As Blast pointed out, when there are *eleven* zeros to the right of the decimal point it's time to start asking questions.

If you ate the water bottle then the dosage levels might be more problematic...


It would be interesting to hear Sigg's side of the story, and whether the Patagonia Procurement team actually specified BPA-free or not. The "VP of Environmental Initiatives" may want it but Procurement may not bother asking for it - after all, Procurement guys are paid to filter out unnecessary specs that add costs. That's been my experience in the corporate world anyway.


Agreed - what is the risk that a 1 micron filter silently becomes a 10 millimeter filter after freezing?

Unless it's possible - and cheap - to buy a water solution with 5 -to 15 micron particles suspend I'm not sure how to test a filter.

Food coloring? The filter system we use at home from Nikken will remove food coloring from water. It is not rated as a true water purifier, but I know it takes all the minerals out of tap water. It comes with mineral stones to replace the ones removed by the filter.

Oh yeah, it makes the tap water taste like... well um uh Water?

Without all the crap

1, Get some water from a backcountry source
2, Put through filter
3, Don't stray too far from the bathroom

an old camping book's water test was to put the water in a glass jug along with some sugar and leave it in the sun to warm and see what if anything grows in it--

Interesting idea. Though I'm going to pass on the man-purse carrying case.:)[/quote]

Not meaning to sound personal, but I've always liked that idea for carrying a canteen, like you see in the old explorer/tarzan type movie.
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To each their own. I don't think there's anything wrong with a canteen on a strap.

I think there IS something wrong with THEIR canteen holder on a strap, however! A bit too... yuppy... for my taste. My first impression regarding the canteen itself stands.

I'm not so much concerned about the amount of BPA I may consume due to every day contact with or usage of polycarbonate water bottles, canned goods liners etcetera, but rather what the shear tonnage of such containers placed into the waste stream can leach into the environment. That is where I am concerned that those "eleven zeros to the right of the decimal point" can add up and come back to haunt us.




Patagonia's continued stance is that they asked specifically about BPA in SIGG bottles and that SIGG assured them there was no BPA in their bottle liners. It is in Patagonia's official press release about dropping SIGG and terminating co-branding contracts.

Thus far, SIGG has not responded to Patagonia's claim at all, but have changed their bottle liners and have officially apologized for "Less than transparent" practices.