Recently, I was at the gym taking a group fitness class.  As we were all putting equipment away at the end, a woman approached me and began, “Excuse me…”

Just as my insecurities descended and I thought she was about to tell me I stunk or something (hey—we were all really sweaty!) she continued, “Is that your water bottle?”

I know this seems like a boring, innocent question, but to me, it had a higher meaning.

I had just purchased a SIGG (Swiss made) aluminum water bottle.  Although I paid $20 for my 20 oz. bottle, I felt it was worth every penny, and raved about its uses to anybody who would listen at the gym, which turned out to be several people. My former self would have never paid $20 for a reusable water bottle.  In fact, some of the “gym bunny” women even scoffed at me, saying that was too much money for an aluminum bottle.

Okay I get it—but, let’s use some common sense here.  I wonder how much money they have spent on bottled water in just the past month, let alone the past several years?  That is a far more ridiculous amount to ponder than my $20, especially considering the fact that tap water is often better quality than bottled water– oh and the fact that we are polluting the Earth, with staggering amounts of plastic water bottles piling in landfills!  Get it?!

I am a professor at Southern New Hampshire University, where, I am proud to say, passionate groups of students have begun a One Earth One Bottle campaign.  On their webpage, they remind us all of important facts such as:

• If we drink tap water instead of bottled water, we will save energy and cut down on waste.
• Americans used about 50 billion plastic water bottles in 2006. With a U.S. recycling rate of only 23 percent, about 38 million bottles were thrown away. It takes about 24 million gallons of oil to produce just one billion water bottles.
• Much of the world lacks access to clean water. Water should not be commoditized.

Thanks, students, for re-emphasizing these critical thoughts, which should be common sense and intuitive to all of us!

Anyway, back to the SIGG bottle.  It is lightweight and attractive.  The bottles come in a variety of styles, from simple, to highly colorful and stylized.  In fact, they even make different bottle sizes and cap styles for a variety of uses, such as sports, or those that are more appropriate for children.

I purchased a SIGG .6-Liter Bottle with Sport Top from Eastern Mountain Sports (www.ems.com)

I carry this bottle with me everywhere.  I love the fact that it’s spill-proof, so it’s perfect for my desk at work, or for throwing into my bag at any time.  I’ve read other online reviews stating that the bottle is difficult to clean.  I don’t really understand what those people are talking about.  Ever heard of warm, soapy water?  It’s not rocket science!  In fact, the bottle is considered dishwasher safe, although it’s not necessarily recommended.  On Amazon, they even sell SIGG Water Bottle Clean Tablets for a closer cleaning, which I think is a great idea for those times you need a more intense cleaning, for example when you are sick.

My only slight gripe with the bottle is that I’ve noticed it dents rather easily, yet they are not significant dents, and they don’t bother me, or compromise the bottle.

So, people—save a dollar, save the planet.  Buy a SIGG water bottle!

The SIGG .6-Liter Water Bottle is available from EMS for $21.99. In addition to a great selection, and outstanding customer service, EMS offers Free Shipping on Orders Over $150.