Sippy Cups From SIGG and Klean Kanteen A Hit With Kids
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY on 12.18.07
With all the excitement this year over lead in toys and the leaching of BPA from plastic cups and bottles, I thought it might be time to give some alternative, non-leaching sippy cups a review here on TH.
To pull it off properly I handed my requested samples over to a couple of local experts, my nephew Nick and niece Cailey. They gave models by both Sigg and Klean Kanteen the once over along with their mom Jodi without me around, and reported back with a kids-eye view.
First up, Little Kids SIGGs scored big with a handle. Picked up through NubiusOrganics, it was just the right size for a sippy cup, and Cailey loved it. Turns out there are a whole bunch of great styles to choose from too. The only real drawback was the price. At $15.99 a clip, you may want to seriously consider gluing it to your child’s hand before heading out for a drive with the windows open. But non-toxic glue, of course…
Secondly, the good folks at Nubius also sent along a copy of SIGG’s larger-sized bottle for kids, and Nick loved it as well. Even took it bed with him according to my sister… And while I’m not sure if that’s because it was free, from me, a novelty or what, the truth is that he could have left it on the floor where he leaves everything else as most 5 year-olds do…
And last up, the sippy cup from Klean Kanteen had it’s positive points too. While the kids didn’t quite give it the high marks the one’s from SIGG with kid-friendly designs on them received, my sister pointed out the fact that it accommodates a standard sippy cup nozzle made it ideal for transitioning from the bottle to a standard cup for infants. The only real drawback I could see for that function was the absence of a handle for kids, which definitely would make everything a whole lot easier if they had one available.
And having tried all of them myself, I can say that the taste from all three tested bottles was crisp and clean. SIGG’s have a proprietary lining and Klean Kanteen’s do not. And as you might imagine, both companies extol the virtue of having, or not having, a lining depending on what they’ve got for sale. But I didn’t think it made a difference at all.
So I’ll leave the final decision up to you, but it seems to me that any of these could make a great stocking stuffer for the holiday next week that will help keep unwanted toxins out of your kids as well as mine...
via:: Personal Investigation
Glad to see this topic covered here--it's still one that a lot of people aren't paying enough attention to.
Something that bears mentioning that was left out of this article is the difference in composition between the two brands of bottles--there's more to it than just liner vs. no liner.
SIGG bottles are made of aluminum, which is why they require a liner (everyone visiting this site has presumably heard about issues with aluminum). They seem to have validated their claims about non-leeching, though since their liner is proprietary, they share no details about it, and so there's no way to verify whether it may be problematic to anyone.
Klean Kanteen bottles, on the other hand, are made entirely of stainless steel--no liner or other material added. There are a small percentage of people who have a sensitivity to nickel (which is present in stainless steel), though KK claims their nickel content is very low. I've been using a comparable brand of stainless steel bottles for a few years and have experienced no problems of any kind.
The best bet is probably to learn more about the intended uses and limitations of these bottles (for example, not intended for freezer use, should not be used like a thermos for hot liquids) and decide from there.
Klean Kanteen web site
SIGG web site
Reusablebags.com (another good source for these and other similar products)
As for me personally, though I really like the snazzy designs of the SIGG bottles, I prefer the simplicity of the all-steel bottles, and like knowing exactly what the bottle's made from and that there's nothing to potentially wear off or break down. But it sure looks like either option is miles ahead of any plastic.
For everyday use, I also frequently re-use glass bottles--no leeching, easy to clean, and recyclable.
I really like the Sigg bottles and my son has been using one since he was six months old, which is to say that they're actually pretty easy for very little ones to use and they don't make a mess. Kids need the top with the twist spout, though.
Klean Kanteen also has the option of a stainless steel cap which further reduces your contact with plastic.
We are a retailer of SIGG bottles and thoroughly researched the differences between these and Klean Kanteens before deciding which to carry. Both are tons better for the environment than plastic water bottles and healthier to boot. There are three things not mentioned in this article that might affect your decision if looking to buy a metal water bottle:
1) Aluminum is lighter weight. This doesn't make a big difference to adults, but for little kids, aluminum will be easier to lift to the mouth.
2) SIGGs come with a dust cap. In our experience, water bottles end up being thrown into the diaper bag, floor of the car, gym bag, etc. and having a barrier from the funk on these surfaces is nice.
3) There is a difference in taste. SIGGs are 'taste neutral'. Before trying the two bottles I didn't really understand what that meant, but now I do - water doesn't taste like anything in a SIGG, even after two nights on the bedside table. In a Klean Kanteen (not to mention plastic bottle) water begins to take on the taste of the container.
If you do decide that SIGG is the right choice for you, please consider purchasing from my company, www.bayinghound.com/sialbo.html We are a small business and pride ourselves on being conservation minded.
Keep in mind that Klean Kanteen products are manufactured in China.