Ever get tired of plastic-tasting water while you’re biking? Soma Fabrications has just the thing for you: A polypropylene water bottle!
These are available online from Soma, or you may be able to find a local retail outlet. The dealer locater could be a lot easier to use, e.g. enter a ZIP code and find the nearest store(s). Also, just because a dealer is listed doesn’t mean that they carry every Soma product — make sure to call and check availability before you cruise to the store.
I bought one of these and agree that there’s no taste and should also be minimal on the endocrine disruptors, however, the pop top doesn’t stay open when I put my mouth on it so I don’t get much water unless I pull up on it with my teeth. Is this the way all of them are made or do I have a defective pop top?
Amy you’re not the only one having problems with the bottle top. There is a review here (http://www.campyonly.com/roadtests/2005/soma_bottle.html) that says the same thing, and my own experience is similar. The bottle top is almost impossible to open without using your hands (as in, can’t be opened one handed, which sucks when you’re riding)and when it finally is opened, the valve slides shut so water barely comes out (or worse it finally comes out in a nice spray all over your face). To top things off, I sometimes use this off my bike and it often leaks all over my bag. I have to have the top completely torqued on tight in order for it not to leak, and even then water sometimes seeps out. THE SUMMARY: excellent taste-free plastic in a very shoddy design.
I heard at my local bike shop that Soma will put a new softer top on their bottle — as early as Nov 07. Hopefully easier on your teeth. They are also working on a 32 oz size similar to the Nalg camping bottle.