Stainless Steel vs. Aluminum Water Bottles: What's the Difference?

Aluminum bottles usually need a liner; steel is bare and non-reactive. Here's why it matters.
By Better Human Goods
1 min read

Stainless steel and aluminum look similar but behave differently as bottles. The biggest difference: most aluminum bottles need an internal liner (often an epoxy or plastic coating) because bare aluminum can react with acidic drinks. Stainless steel is non-reactive and doesn't need a liner — the inside is just bare steel.

That matters if you're trying to avoid plastic and liners touching your drink. With steel, what touches your water is steel; with a lined aluminum bottle, it's the liner. Steel is also more durable and dent-resistant, while aluminum is lighter. For people focused on clean materials and longevity, bare-interior stainless steel is usually the preferred choice; aluminum's main edge is weight. More in non-toxic water bottles.

Try the Steely vacuum flask.