Like our friends Kyle at Green Daily and Kristen at That's Fit, we were lucky enough to get to try the new CamelBak BPA-free Better Bottles.

In the past we've tried to get into the reusable bottle thing, but for one reason or another -- the creepy feeling of drinking out of a metal bottle, the giant drippy mouth of some of those plastic bottles, plus the shaggy, hemp-scented aura of having something from a camping supply store on our desk -- we just never got into it.

We are pleased to admit that the CamelBak bottle changed us.


Like Kyle, we appreciated how easy the CamelBak "bite straw" makes drinking on the go - no more dribbles! And like Kristen, we loved being able to put ice in our water. But really, we have to admit we mostly loved it because of all of the stylish choices.

The new back to school line of Better Bottles come in 10 limited edition designs, including the badass "Black Tattoo" the preppy "Ocean Argyle" and the artsy "Black Doodle." At last, a bottle we can wear with heels. Or knee-high black boots.

We do, of course, acknowledge that the really important reason to like them is that the polycarbonate bottles are non-toxic and 100% free of bisphenol-A, more commonly known as the dread "BPA," and also phthalate-free. Instead, CamelBak partnered with U.S.-based supplier to create an entirely new material, Eastman Tritan™ copolyester that's safe for us, and safe for the environment.

Still, healthy do-gooding aside, check out how cute they are in the gallery. You might come for the chemical-free, but you'll buy one because of the hot pink color!