I’m on a mission. I have been since the day I decided to kick throw-away water bottle convenience in favor of something healthier and less wasteful. Over the past few years, I’ve bought and tested dozens of BPA-free plastic, stainless steel and glass vessels… and right now, I’ve settled into a nice rut with a couple of standbys: a Precidio glass bottle for my cold drinks (so pretty with its birds-on-a-wire design) and a generic insulated stainless steel thermos for my hot tea. Both dutifully serve their purpose and until I drop the glass bottle (which will no doubt occur before year end), I’m content with lugging either on my daily ventures.

There is, however, one dilemma. I drink a lot of water. And in the conventional offices that I work in everyday, our H2O comes from a pre-filtered water cooler—the kind where you pull one plastic container off the top and replace it with another. (Granted, they re-use the jumbo jugs… but don’t even get me started on the energy consumed by the re-filling, pick-up and delivery of ‘em.) Why bother pouring my water into glass or stainless steel when it’s been stored in a giant plastic jug for the past three weeks?

In those moments when I can’t use my own tap water filtration system, I’m at a loss. That’s why I jumped at the opportunity to test WaterGeek’s new stainless steel, filtered bottles ($24). The company sent me one of their bright orange, slightly hourglass-shaped bottles, fitted with a mouth that’s just wide enough to squeeze in ice cubes, if desired, and an easy pull-top spout. Since I was using my own filtered water the first couple of days, I removed the filter and just used the naked bottle. I loved it. And perhaps most of all, I love that it’s dishwasher safe.

When the time came to insert the filter, I was a bit nervous that I’d tarnish my view of the lovely vessel. I’ve yet to find a filtered bottle that’s easy to use. But, I’m beginning to see that I may have to adjust my expectations accordingly. While the filter did create a slowed sip as the water ran through it, the H2O was clear and fresh tasting and in truth, a better experience than I’d had with similar products. Most importantly, the filter ensures the removal of chlorine and contaminates and allows you to hydrate wherever you can find tap water. In the long run, it saves the average consumer what might have been 400 disposable plastic bottles. If you’re interested in seeing more statistics or checking out the various sizes and colors available, visit www.thewatergeeks.com.  You can also purchase the bottles and filters @ amazon.com

Full disclosure: For this review, WaterGeeks provided us with a complimentary sample of their large stainless steel water bottle.