I don't know if you all have been paying attention to this. Just curious if anybody is concerned enough to switch to non-plastic bottles. Of course, the water we carry is usually cold and so should not cause any damage to the plastic and so maybe, it is not a concern?

Non-plastic bottles like stainless steel or titanium are very heavy. Close to 9 to 12 ounces for 1L water bottles. It will be impractical to carry 5 liters worth of non-plastic bottles.

Asking Google what causes plastic particles to seep into water produced this from its AI - check the last bullet regarding repeated use and how most backpackers use Smart water bottle in conjunction with Sawyer squeeze and squeeze the water bottle - "crushing the bottle". I use Steripen - so at least a little insulated from this. I know some of us use the same Water bottle for too long. Maybe replace it as well every few weeks rather than carrying it for 1000's of miles. We cannot control the first two bullets except by going to non-plastic bottles.

Plastic water bottles can cause plastic to seep into water in a number of ways, including:

• Manufacturing: High pressure, temperature changes, and transportation during production can cause plastic to break down into microplastics, which are smaller than a sesame seed.
• Chemicals: Some plastics, like polyethylene terephthalate (PET), can release chemicals into water when exposed to high temperatures or stored for a long time. Other plastics, like those containing bisphenol A (BPA) or bisphenol S (BPS), can also leach chemicals into food and water.
• Repeated use: Repeatedly opening and closing the cap, crushing the bottle, or using it in a hot car can break off PET particles. Wearing down the material from repeated use can also allow bacteria to build up in cracks

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