SIGG Aluminum Water Bottle Product Review
February 21, 2008 · Written by Joel
The reduction in the use of plastic bottles in our lives is an aim I think most of us share. It’s all too easy to pick up a new plastic bottle of water rather than carrying your own, over 100m in the US alone are ending up in landfills every day. There are a few schools of thought, using aluminum bottles, steel bottles or corn based biodegradable plastic bottles (with or without a water filter). This review looks at one of those choices, a SIGG aluminum water bottle.
It’s an aluminum bottle. That’s pretty much it, it carries about 1 litre of liquid and does a fine job of it. At about 22.5cm (9 inches) in height, not including the cap (more about them in a minute) it’s a decent size to use on a walk, picnic, or gym, and just about fits in an average car cup holder. The bottles are fully recyclable at the end of their, probably long, life.
Who are SIGG? SIGG Switzerland dates back to 1908 when metal processing specialist Ferdinand Sigg established an aluminum product factory about 30 kilometers outside of Zurich. Still manufactured in Switzerland, they’ve been called the world’s toughest water bottles. Available in 144 designs with 22 bottle lids, some of the bottles are also displayed in the Museum of Modern Art in New York. SIGG is also a member of 1% For The Planet - donating 1% of all sales to helping to preserve our environment.
What about leaching? Steel bottles do not usually leach, that is they don’t make the liquid inside taste of metal. Aluminum bottles do, so therefore need a lining, with SIGG’s being a water-based, non-toxic coating that is baked into the interior walls and remains flexible and crack resistant for the life of the bottle. The lining is taste neutral and resistant to fruit acids and energy drinks, and though it is FDA approved it would be nice to know generally what it’s made out of.
How as the bottle? I’ve had the bottle for a couple of weeks and found no problems with it at all. I like the fact it’s tough and I can throw it if I need to without worry. While using a dishwasher is not recommended as due to the small opening it wouldn’t get clean effectively, it seemed fine to me. The paint might eventually wear off though. There are a variety of caps that can be used, the default screw cap isn’t especially friendly, unless you need to attach the bottle to something, the sports caps are much more convenient for day-to-day use. After refrigerating the bottle can be too cold to hold (being metal and all), though they do sell sleeves and rubber handle grips to help.
An extremely quick video is embedded below, frankly after the written review I wasn’t sure what benefits and features I could show you, so I’ll be honest and say it’s not fascinating, but is short!
Starting at $16.99 to $24.99, SIGG bottles are available from from Amazon
I’ve looked at these before and almost bought one, but I already have a few Nalgene bottles that do the trick.
How would a Nalgene stack up against a SIGG?
Interesting. That is one fancy pants water bottle I must say!
Me, I’m a bit paranoid about aluminum. I know there’s a lining, but I’m crazy.
Like Levi, I do the nalgene thing, a whole lot cheaper that’s for sure. But besides the landfull issue, now there’s that whole “plastic causes breast cancer” or death or whatever thing and really, where does it end? So much fuss over what to drink water out of these days. lol
I have taken to re-using glass bottles (i.e. Fuse, Pom, etc.). Not as sporty, but good for most purposes.
Thanks for your comments.
Levi - I will get ahold of a Nalgene bottle. I am also getting a steel Klean Kanteen one and a corn based plastic bottle with a water filter. Then we can take a look at the whole “range”.
Oots - I’m not exactly light in the way I treat my SIGG bottle, but isn’t the glass a bit breakable for use in backpacks and out and about? Or is it sturdy?
I think it’s great people are using alternatives, with 60m out of the 70m plastic water bottles (100m overall) used a day in the US going to landfills then at least it’s a start!
I switched from carrying a plastic water bottle to a SIGG bottle last summer and I’ll never go back. I found that even ‘expensive’ water bottles like Nalgene tended to add a funny taste to the water over time, where as the aluminium SIGG bottles don’t affect the taste whatsoever. And my SIGG bottle is actually lighter than a similar sized plastic bottle believe it or not.
The screw on cap is fine for when you have both hands free, but there’s also a quick access sip cap available if you want to use it while ridiang a bike etc. Over the past few months my bottle has managed to acquire a tiny ding here and there, but it gives it character more than anything.
Thanks Andrew. There’s definitely no taste from the bottle I’m testing. Apparently there’s not in the steel ones too so I’ll let you know in my review.
Thanks Rachel, it is worth mentioning that the plastic taste you get with drinking from some plastic bottles is because of leaching - if you can taste plastic, you’re ingesting plastic. Can’t be good for you!
[...] Joel at provided some great details about these eco-friendly bottles last week. This post was originally published on Thursday, February 21, 2008. (Disclosure: SIGG has advertised on the GO Media [...]
I have been using a Sigg Bottle for the last several months and I love it! It is a great bottle. Completely leak proof and its very stylish. I have always been one to buy new water bottles whenever I see a cool one, but I can gurantee that from now on, I will only be buying Siggs. And yes, they do get dents and scratches if you drop them on concrete, which I have several times. But they still look cool, I just consider them battle wounds. Buy a Sigg and you wont be dissapointed.
Interesting I think I am going to go out and buy this bottle would be great to fill up with water and be able to have a clean sanitary way of enjoying it as well.
Hi all,
I have alot of time to kill at work so I was surfing the internet the other day and discovered that the Nalgene company actually makes devices used for animal testing. There is a terrible pic of a bunny in a nalgene labeled trap. Turned me off of em…that is why I’m at this site looking for info on the aluminum bottles. Thanks guys!
Thanks Cory for the info about Nalgene and animal testing. That is a HUGE turn off.
I’ll take a look to see if I can find out more info about Nalgene, thanks for the info.
[...] Reina: Thanks Cory for the info about Nalgene and animal testing. That is a HUGE turn off. [...]
i got mine at http://www.metalwaterbottlestore.com
[...] to test, seven in total. Reusable bottles are a great alternative (we’ve previously looked at SIGG) and these plastic bottles represent many different styles and uses so it was great to test [...]