Review and Giveaway: Eco Vessel CLOSED

Thank you to Eco Vessel for participating in the Bloggy Birthday Blowout Event on Goodie Goodie Gumdrops!

Nate is getting older and more and more "boy". Rough. Tough. Dirt magnet. He's super active so he needs to stay hydrated. But the vast majority of the sippy cups we own leak with just the slightest jostle. This is not only wasteful but creates more of a mess than I need. I already spend enough time cleaning up after my toddler tornado! We need a sippy cup that is durable enough to withstand toddler abuse yet is also eco-friendly so there's less mommy guilt for me.

Eco Vessel marries durability and style for a darn near perfect sippy. Based in Boulder, Colorado, Eco Vessel is dedicated to their slogan, "live clean & be green". Their line of single-wall, insulated and filtered stainless steel water bottles for adults and children aim to make their plastic counterparts obsolete. Their 100% recyclable, BPA-free bottles are made of high quality, non-leaching materials and are designed for safety and convenience.

I was fortunate enough to review an Eco Vessel 8 oz. stainless steel sippy cup. This cup is insulated with food grade #304, 18/8 steel to keep drinks cold. It is ergonomically shaped for small hands, is lightweight and BPA-free. It also comes with a clear cap for easy travel.

Right away, I recognized the Avent valve and spout. I had never tried this system before but I don't know how I lived without it for so long! Many cups claim to be leak-proof but fall way short after one reassembly. Not this one! Our Eco Vessel hasn't leaked on us once in the two weeks we've had it. It does have six parts in all (spout, lid, valve, handles, cup and cap) which can be a little cumbersome to keep track of but since it works like a charm, I can't complain.

The stainless steel construction not only looks cool but can weather any amount of tosses or tumbles. Unlike other plastic versions, I know we'll have this cup around for years to come. It keeps his drinks cold for hours, even in triple digit weather. The handles make it easy to carry around and the flow seems to satisfy Nate. We have a winner!

The only real disadvantage to the Eco Vessel cup is the price. At $14.95, it's a bit pricey for a sippy cup. However, considering how much I've spent on subpar cups, I would have saved money if I had just gotten this one first and foremost. I also wish there was a clear window or another way to see how much liquid is left in the cup but that isn't a dealbreaker for me.

Bottom line: If you want a truly leak-free, sustainable cup that will also be the talk of the playground, Eco Vessel is it.

BUY IT: You can purchase an 8 oz. or 12. oz. stainless steel sippy cup or browse their reusable adult water bottles online at www.ecovessel.com.

WIN IT: Eco Vessel has another 8 oz. sippy up for grabs for one lucky reader!

MAIN COURSE (MANDATORY ENTRY): Visit Eco Vessel and tell me another product you'd like to own or something you learned on the site. Remember to please leave your email address in your comment if it isn't visible on your profile to prevent disqualification!

SUGAR ON TOP (BONUS ENTRIES): To maximize your chances of winning, you may do any or all of the following. Be sure to complete the above mandatory entry or your bonus entries will not count! Remember to leave one comment per entry.

1.) Follow my blog and/or subscribe via reader or email. If you already follow and/or subscribe, that counts! (1 entry each)

2.) Follow me on Twitter and tweet about this contest. You can do this daily! You may use the following tweet of come up with one of your own:

Go green with a stylish, stainless steel sippy cup from Eco Vessel @kris10chumley! Ends 8/11 http://bit.ly/9bWRj1

Just leave a comment with your tweet link. (1 entry per day max)

3.) "Like" Goodie Goodie Gumdrops on Facebook. (1 entry)

4.) Become a fan of Eco Vessel on Facebook (1 entry)

5.) Add my Bloggy Birthday Blowout event button to your site and leave a comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

6.) Add my blog button to your site and comment with the link to where I can find it. (1 entry)

Giveaway will end on August 11, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. Open to U.S. only. Winners will be chosen via Random.org and will have 48 hours to respond to congratulatory email or prize will be forfeited and another winner will be chosen.

Disclaimer: I received the stainless steel sippy cup above from Jonathan at Eco Vessel in exchange for my honest review. I was in no other way compensated for this post. The thoughts and opinions expressed in my review are purely mine. Your experience may differ.