Which Water Cup Is the Right Choice?

The plastic water bottle that was widely used in the past few years was gradually left out by people because it might seep chemicals into the water. The glass water cup is fragile, and for stainless steel water bottles, we are not clear whether the material is qualified. So, if you want to buy a cup, which material should you choose?

Advantages and Disadvantages of Glass

The advantages of glass: to a large extent, glass is considered the healthiest material for storing beverages. Glass is made of 100% natural raw materials and is impermeable, which means it will not break down into water or impart flavor (some call it "pure flavor") or retain odor. Due to its natural production and unlimited recycling capabilities, the glass bottle is considered as a kind of eco-friendly water bottle. The glass can safely store hot or cold beverages, acidic or alkaline beverages and oils.

Disadvantages of glass: glass is fragile and breaks more easily than stainless steel or plastic bottles. However, most of the glass bottles in our country are made of borosilicate glass, which is a relatively hard glass. In fact, many of these glass bottles have a cover made of sports (or for children) protective silicone to help prevent breakage. No food-safe glass may contain lead or cadmium residues, but as far as we know, our glass bottles are all made of high-quality borosilicate or soda lime glass, and have been tested and certified without any metal residues.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Stainless Steel

Advantages of stainless steel: stainless steel is also a safe and healthy beverage storage material. When the stainless steel bottle is kept warm, stainless steel is a safe choice for storing hot beverages. For outdoors, a stainless steel vacuum flask with double insulation layer is usually the best solution to keep drinks or food (such as soup) warm for a long time. Food grade stainless steel usually does not decompose into hot or cold liquid under normal conditions, and can be safely used for food storage and cooking. For our stainless water bottles, we use 18/8 or 304 food grade quality stainless steel, which has been tested to contain no residual metal.

Disadvantages of stainless steel: Although stainless steel cannot be decomposed into measurable food or liquid, some people report that the residual water in non-insulated stainless steel drinking cups can produce a "metallic smell" for a long time in direct sunlight or in hot cars. We recommend not to use insulated stainless steel water bottles in a closed high temperature environment or under external high temperature conditions. In addition, be careful not to use stainless steel to store highly acidic liquids, as this will cause metal leaching.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Plastic

Advantages of plastic: Plastic is light and soft, and is usually regarded as the best choice for outdoor sports or gyms because it will not crack or break if dropped. If you want to run, or especially in marathons or competitions, lightness may be the key. In this case, plastic may be the best solution.

Disadvantages of plastic: Plastic is a recyclable material, but it is made from non-renewable resources. If the bottle is placed at high temperature or liquid inside for a long time, the plastic may decompose into (leaching) liquid. Plastics can immerse the chemicals used in their production in water and leave a noticeable difference in taste. There is also concern that certain plastics contain BPA (a substance known to destroy endocrine) and other harmful substances such as formaldehyde and phthalates.

To sum up, stainless steel is suitable for more conditions and safer when storing water and food. In our daily life, we can choose containers made of stainless steel, such as stainless steel drink bottles, stainless steel insulated tumblers, stainless steel lunch boxes, etc.