Drinking water is one of the easiest ways to improve your health, as well as one of the most important. However, hydration has gotten a little confusing lately -- what bottles are okay, and which ones will cause cancer or defects or death? I just want some water!

Bev did a great post showing you some options of BPA-free water bottles, and now, Camelbak (one of the options Bev listed) was nice enough to send me some samples of their Better Bottles to review for Fit Gadgets. And so, aside from wanting a bottle that won't cause health issues, I sat down to think about the qualities a perfect water bottle would have:

• One-handed operation. If I have to hold the cap in my other hand, it's a pain to use running, driving, or talking on the phone.
• Large enough mouth for ice cubes. I live in Florida, and if there aren't ice cubes in my water when I go for a run, it's pretty warm by the home stretch.
• Also, large enough for plenty of water. I go through a lot of water at the gym, and I prefer to avoid refilling my bottle mid-workout.
• Easy to hold. There is nothing more frustrating that struggling to hold onto a bottle while running or walking, whether it's because of the size or the shape or the slipperiness.
• Halfway attractive. I mean, I don't need to want to make out with it or anything, but, I am putting my mouth on it -- I wouldn't mind a cute bottle.

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Bisphenol A (BPA) is a dirty word these days. Found in items such as polycarbonate plastics (e.g., certain Nalgene bottles), some plastic baby bottles and the lining of canned goods, BPA is linked to a host of ailments in animal studies. The National Toxicology Program is officially concerned, Canadian retailers are taking BPA-containing products off the shelves, Canada just banned BPA from baby bottles and Nalgene has succumbed to market pressure to remove BPA from their hydration offerings.

I've tossed every polycarbonate plastic bottle our family ever owned into recycling. We recently purchased a couple of BPA-free water bottles and are looking to expand our hydration repertoire with two or three more. If you're seeking BPA-free hydration, consider these:

CamelBak: We now own two BPA-free Camelbak Better Bottles and love their sleek and slim design, 24 oz capacity and easy-off lid. At $9.00 a piece, they were affordable. Check out their flip cap Better Bottle which features that famous bite/sip valve. Eastman Tritan copolyester plastic is the magical material here -- it's BPA-free.

SIGG: With 144 designs and 22 interchangeable lids, these aluminum water bottles have style. The interior lining is non-leaching, resists residue build-up and retains good taste. Cute kid bottles, too. Prices vary. Check out my earlier post on SIGGs.

Enviro New Wave: Stainless steel bottles available in a variety of sizes. Their 12 ouncer is a nice fit for kids. It might be harder to find a retail source, however the website offers a store locator.

Klean Kanteen: Available in 12, 18, 27 and 40 oz sizes, this stainless-steel wonder is non-leaching, toxic-free and not lined with any material. A wide mouth swallows an ice cube and it's dishwasher safe. Prices vary.

Nalgene: A new player in the Tritan/copolyester market, their Everyday bottle line offers a variety of durable, colorful choices. I've always loved the look of a Nalgene and their Everyday line delivers. The OTG Tritan/22 oz costs around $10.00.

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I often bought organic baby food for our babies. We also worried about all the plastics surrounding them. While just last month the Food and Drug Administration reported, "It's not clear what effect, if any, phthalates (a plastic additive) have on health" -- a new, February 2008 study in Pediatrics reported baby care products are possible sources of infant phthalate exposure. They also state young infants may be more vulnerable to developmental and reproductive toxicity of phthalates. No doubt the dangers of phthalates is big news these days, and chemical-conscious consumers are throwing more and more money at chemical-free goods for their newborn bundles of joy.

Retailers are listening. Toys "R" Us has announced it will not sell baby products containing phthalates by the end of 2008 and Wal-Mart Stores has placed a similar demand on its suppliers. From organic cribs, mattresses and chemical-free baby carriers to stainless-steel sippy cups and shatterproof glass bottles, green baby alternatives are a big buck market.

Case in point, while we're past the baby years, we just bought two BPA-free water bottles by CamelBak for our son's lunch bag. I'm also looking for a couple of large SIGG aluminum water bottles, but they were pretty picked through at our local REI, so I'm waiting for a restock. In a previous post, I reported Canada's Mountain Equipment Co-Op (similar to REI in the U.S.) pulled polycarbonate (BPA) water bottles from their shelves last December.

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