I have always been a fan of SIGG bottles. Not only do the feel well made, they always look like an important plot device in an action movie. It is the kind of bottle that carries the antidote, or it is the bit that you stick in the slot that brings the spaceship to life, or the one you twist to start the detonation sequence! Okay, maybe not the Hello Kitty ones, but a lot of them. This is part of what makes them so cool, and the new Active Top Bottle is no exception.
The SIGG Active Top Bottles have the usual, sturdy aluminum* body with their EcoCare lining (BPA- and phthalate-free) and a nifty new leak proof, straw top. The top has an inner bezel with four settings – CLOSE, AIR, OPEN and CLEAN. The CLOSE setting is kind of obvious. AIR acts like a pressure release, allowing you to use it with carbonated drinks. OPEN, again, obvious. And lastly CLEAN which actually unlocks the top allowing you to take it apart and clean the inner workings of the cap. Pretty cool.
In use, you rotate the bezel to OPEN, bite down on the aptly named “bite valve” and then suck your beverage of choice through. Simple. While I can see how this one hand convenience would be great for some, I found it to be a little awkward. Then again, I wasn’t riding a bicycle or climbing a rock face when I used it.
As it stands, it is a predictably well made, well engineered product from SIGG that looks cool and would probably make some one handed drinkers very happy.
Good:
- Leak-proof
- Sturdy aluminum bottle
- BPA- and phthalate-free
- Excellent fit and finish
- Breaks down for easy cleaning
- Looks like an action movie prop!
Bad:
- A little awkward to use at first, but probably just me.
Recommend?: If you are down with the whole bite/suck thing, yes. I still prefer the classic Traveler Bottle.
The SIGG Active Top Bottle – $20 – $29 from Amazon
The More You Know: Even though aluminum is the third most abundant element (after oxygen and silicon), and the most abundant metal in the Earth’s crust, until the late 1800’s, it was so difficult to extract, that in its pure form, it was more valuable than gold. Napoleon III of France is reputed to have given a banquet where the most honored guests were given aluminum utensils, while the others had to eat with boring old gold.