Testing filtered water bottles

A big proponent of using tap water, I'm always eager to check out the latest water bottles touting built-in filtration. What's better than saving money (and waste) while traveling?

You tell me:
A) A $4.00 bottle of Aquafina once you've made it through airport security
B) Or cold H2O from the drinking fountain in a filtered water bottle?

I choose B. And needless to say, not one of these is made using BPA.

So, it only made sense that I put the latest claims to the test. This round-up takes a look at some of the more recent portable filtration units on the market, including one that you can find at Target, and two others that are most easily purchased online. This week, we'll take a look at basic ease-of-use. (And next week, I'll reveal the particles-per-million results of each with a TDS meter, which shows the total number of detectable dissolved solids in a sample.)

The Clear2O bottle is, in my opinion, the easiest to use. Holding 24 oz., it's lightweight, a breeze to clean, and held up well during my travels. In fact, on a recent bike tour of Baltimore, it was the ideal hydration companion. It's life cycle is 100 gallons. Grade: A-

Bottle w/filter: $16.99
Replacement filter 2-pack: $11.99

The Wellness H2O bottle, on the other hand, was hardly convenient. (In fact, I'm beginning to wonder if this particular bottle has a defect.) Barely squeezable, water merely trickled out the spout with the filter in place, and no matter how I tried, the wheezing sound that emitted from the cap had every other gym-goer staring at me. Holding 22 oz., it weighs in at 7.5 ounces thanks to a heavier filtration system, andt boasts a lifecycle of 150 gallons. Grade: C

Bottle w/cartridge: $49.95
Replacement cartridge: $20.00

The LivPURE bottle, coming in at 20-oz., makes slightly lower filtration claims than both of the above and has a lifecycle of only 75 gallons - but these are reflected with a smaller pricetag. While the bottle is fine for deskside hydration, it requires a bit too much effort for use during real activity or exercise. Grade: B

Bottle w/filter: $12.99
Replacement filter: $7.99

Pictured above, left to right: Clear2O, LivPURE, Wellness H2O