It costs $38. It’s marketed to contain “none of the bad stuff — no paint, no plastic, no rubber seals.” Made of stainless steel, food-grade silicone and sustainably-harvested bamboo — and laser-etched on top with the Nau Inc. brand name! — the new Nau/Klean Kanteen collaboration bottle might just be the ultimate yuppie hydration accessory of the year.
But seriously, the 10-inch-tall bottle is a slick, if overpriced, incarnation. Advertised as “the most environmentally safe, non-toxic water bottle on the market,” this vessel assures your liquid comes into contact only with stainless steel and silicone — two substances generally assumed to be safe. There is no BPA, no plastic, and no lining in the bottle. Water tastes cold and good from stainless steel, I will attest. For me, Klean Kanteen bottles are often my top pick from a shelf of hydration options.
Klean Kanteen sells the same bottle, but not Nau-branded, for $32.95; it’s called the Reflect bottle, though at this date the bottle is sold out on Kleankanteen.com. The bottles hold 27 ounces of liquid, and they are made in China.
The Nau/Klean Kanteen bottle — official name: “nau klean canteen,” all lower-case — is not a “performance” product. We tested one out and found, like most metal bottles, this one is not made to be toted on a run or clamped in a bike-bottle cage. It’s a bit heavy for hiking, weighing about a half-pound. But take it to yoga or along on your daily commute. This is a “lifestyle” piece, something that looks nice and feels good in the hand. Water is cold inside. Put it in your gym bag. It screws tightly shut, and the silicone gasket guarantees it will not leak.
—Stephen Regenold
