By now, you’ve probably seen the grim statistics about water bottles.  The issue seems to be getting more and more media coverage lately. In case you haven’t heard the case against bottled water, here’s a brief summary:

Pollution: 38 billion plastic water bottles are thrown out each year, contributing to a frightening “plastic stew” in the Pacific Ocean twice the size of Texas.

Health: Bottled water is not necessarily more “pure” and “healthful” than tap water, despite what water packaging may have us believe.  Plastic bottles leach harmful chemicals such as PET and BPA (see below), and 40% of bottled water is merely filtered tap water anyway.

Value: Even though 90% of tap water in the United States is proven to be as clean or cleaner than bottled water, manufacturers charge (and we pay) 1,900 times what it costs them to make their product.

Yikes.  So, you’re ready to move on to a convenient, stylish, eco-friendly, and economical reusable water bottle.  But with many brands and varieties on the market, and so much recent debate about the pros and cons of each, how will you choose which bottle to go with?

Here’s the latest on the healthy water bottle debate, and the bottom line on the best bottle options:

Brief Primer on BPA

The crux of the issue today is a chemical called bisphenol-A, or BPA.  According to dozens of independent, peer-reviewed studies, BPA mimics the hormone estrogen in the human body, leading to numerous problems in developing children as well as fully-grown adults.

BPA has been linked to prostate and breast cancer, infertility, obesity, diabetes, ADHD, and practically everything in between.  BPA can be found in (among other things) plastic baby bottles, canned food linings, aluminum beverage cans, and, as it turns out, water bottles.  A recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found BPA in 9 out of every 10 Americans.

Despite the wealth of condemning evidence, however, and the fact that many countries have already banned the use of BPA, the FDA has yet to acknowledge the problem—to the great dismay of health experts across the country.  Several states have already enacted legislation to outlaw BPA in products designed for children and babies.

Your Best Bets: Recommended Bottles

Since any reusable water bottle will provide the environmental and financial benefits that disposable plastic bottles do not, the choice of the best bottle primarily comes down to health, durability, and style.

After Nalgene’s BPA scandal in early 2008, water bottle lovers made a big push for aluminum and stainless steel bottles.  One company in particular, SIGG, seemed to rise to prominence for selling a highly functional, durable, and fashionable product that was environmentally friendly and (purportedly) “chemical-free.”  Recently, however, SIGG confessed that the liners of their aluminum bottles made pre-August 2008 do contain traces of BPA.

While there may be some traces, keep in mind that both of these brands of bottles leech significantly less BPA than disposable plastic water bottles and are a much safer choice.

So put all worries aside, below are a few of the best, BPA-free choices on the market today.  Maybe the bottles are a little on the pricey side, but with all the scandal lately, many health-conscious consumers think the extra cost just might be worth it.

And, “pricey” is relative when it comes to reusable water bottles, since the $10-$25 spent on a bottle will only buy you a few weeks worth of disposable bottles of water.

Visit the sites, browse the products, and choose for yourself from these high-quality options:

Klean Kanteen
Klean Kanteen’s trick: the bottles are made of stainless steel, not aluminum, so they don’t require any kind of inner liner.  Therefore, the bottles are completely free of BPA and other toxins.  Kleen Kanteen bottles are very well reviewed.  They have a large selection of cool-looking styles, and the smart, convenient design promises to be durable.

Camelbak
Camelbak also sells stainless steel bottles.  For those of you who still love plastic bottles or worry about a stainless steel aftertaste, Camelbak also sells a guaranteed BPA-free plastic bottle.  Camelbak was the first major water bottle company to offer a completely BPA-free hard plastic bottle.

Earthlust
Earthlust has very trendy and unique stainless steel bottles.  Their plastic caps are guaranteed BPA-free, and their awesome designs are sure to make a statement.

Born Free
Baby bottles are particularly a problem since babies are so susceptible to chemicals.  Born Free offers a nice selection of all-natural glass and plastic baby bottles free of any harmful chemicals for your child.