I've owned a lot of hot water bottles and I abuse them by putting boiling water in them. I sleep with one every night for extra warmth. They usually last about a year before the seam splits. This bottle doesn't appear to have the same seam system if any seams at all. It is made of a very thick silicone which holds the heat very well. With a towel cover over it, it stays solidly warm for eight hours. The textured surface on one side is quite a high texture which does a good job of preventing it from getting too hot to touch. The neck is wide and easy to pour water into without it spitting back at you. I'm in love with this bottle and I expect that it will last longer than the usual year. Seller was great. The bottle came on time and in great condition. They even threw in a free bar of soap!August 2009-Nearly two years later and the bottle is still holding up strong!
January 2011-Still in perfect condition!
After using this bottle for 2 years, it is hands down the best one I've ever used.
######### AFTER 4 YEARS ######
(1) YELLOWING I have two of these Fashy transparent bottles and still love them to death (so does my mum), but one thing to note that I also experiencing a "yellowing" of the bottles. It is NOT based on the water supply. I have learned these bottles are made of TPU (Thermoplastic polyurethane). 'Transparent' TPU discolors and turns yellowish (same as my iPad case). Anyways, it doesn't affect the performance, but I loved the original clear, clean look. It still has it, but with a tinted yellow discoloration. The manufacturer should use aliphatic TPU based on aliphatic isocyanates to prevent the yellowing.
(2) Also, the smooth side of the hot water bottle has begun to peel somewhat. It has not affected the job performance. I tend to abuse my bottles (lie down on them -all 165lbs of me) and put boiling water, so YMMV.
(3) Bottle leaks if I don't tighten it very hard after years of use/abuse(?)
PROS:
1) Huge mouth and anti-"spurt" lip prevent water spitting back out like those old rubber ones
2) OMG It's transparent!!! No more guesswork about how much hot water is inside!
3) VERY easy to tighten, and SECURE bottle cap! I've literally sit on this thing with boiling water, and filled to the max, and it has never leaked
4) Leakproof design, unlike old rubber counterparts, due to the fact that is made in a single mold, without any kind of
5) It's frikken' transparent!!
CONS:
1) No doubt about it. For $24-27 shipped, it is expensive, but IMO if you use this thing daily like I do for muscle pain/helping with sleep/feel warm and toasty in a cold room, then it's damn worth it (this is coming from a loyal tightwad gazetter :P)
2) Yellowing of the bottle
3) Long time, top portion, smooth side of the bottle begins to peel after 2-3 years. 4 years later, still working
4) LEAKS after 3-4 years. Make sure you tighten the twister HARD after years of usage!
Still the best hot water bottle made.
NEUTRAL:
1) Sweet lemony smell for the first few weeks, then disappears
Buy Transparent Classic Hot Water Bottle - Made in Germany Now
This is an excellent product! Those of us who live in homes with solar 12-volt electricity have discovered hot water bottles as the best way to pre-heat the bed before retiring. (They are also perfect for cold toes or an achy back.) We have tried many and this is the best one yet! The wide mouth is easy to fill. The clear container makes it easy to determine that it is not over or under-filled. The material is heavy and seems durable. The bottle is also manufactured without a seam--one of the primary causes of failure. There is little worse than a bed full of water in the night! The only thing this product needs is a flannel jacket, which is easy to make at home.Read Best Reviews of Transparent Classic Hot Water Bottle - Made in Germany Here
Yes, it is clear and sturdy. The best bottle I've ever used. I have bought 6 of these and they are all flawless!I recommend buying the clear bottle since you can visually inspect if the seam to see if it is getting weak in any areas. The seam is thick and strong, but it appears to be thinner at the neck. So I try to avoid stressing that area.
There was a lemon scent when new to mask the plastic smell. I washed the outside of the bottle with warm water and a mild soap and the lemon smell disappeared. I've used one of the bottles about a dozen times now and there's still a faint generic plastic smell, but it's only noticeable if I have the bottle an inch away from my nose.
The plastic is pretty thick which means it take a while for the heat to radiate through it. I preheat it under hot tap water for about 10 seconds before filling it.
When I fill it with hot tap water (mine is about 120°F, but I think 140°F is normal), the bottle stays warmer than room temp for about 2 hours if I don't move it around much. 120°F through thermoplastic is not hot enough to sooth any aches, but can still provide some warmth.
Other times I pull out my tea kettle and fill it with nearly boiling water (180-200°F) the bottle stays very hot for many hours. The neck of the bottle stays cool enough to hold while filling it with near boiling water. I've been sleeping with one at my feet and it is still lukewarm 7 hours later. I sometimes use full boiling water (212°F) and haven't seen any problems other than it is really hot!
The bottle comes with a little hanger attached on the top of the water bottle (where you fill it). I don't know if the hanger is just for storage or retail purposes. The hanger is detachable, but I am disappointed that it won't fit in the hole on the bottom of the bottle to hang it upside-down for drying or storage. Problem solved with looping a rubberband tying a loop of string/ribbon a few inches long to the bottom hole. A practical solution for hanging upside down should have been included.
Note: I don't have a use for the hanger so I removed it and tied the plug to the hole left behind so I don't lose it.
I did some searching and found UV light causes "thermalplastic" to yellow. I'm not sure if this is the same exact material used in the water bottles, but I try to keep mine covered.
*Sept 22, 2010 update: My bottles still work great and look like new! On hot days I've put them in the freezer and it made an excellent ice pack!
*Nov 26, 2010 update: Using them daily again. No signs of wear. Works great and clear like new! Cat also loves it under his cardboard box.
*Nov 22, 2011 update: I've been lazy and put straight boiling water in it several times now and it seems to have stretched out a little, but still holding up great! The seals still look very strong. I stopped covering the bottles and left them hanging in my shower. No yellowing.
Now for some product info not listed on Amazon:
=============
Water bottle: 7.5 inches wide and 10 inches tall (12.5 inches tall including funnel). Less than 1/2 inch thick when empty. One side of the bottle is smooth and the other side has diagonal ridges on it. The smooth side is noticeably hotter.
Volume: The bottle holds about 2 quarts of water (or 1/2 gallon or 64 ounces) when filled to the top. Note that you should only fill it 2/3 full so no more than 43 ounces of water should actually be used or almost 1.5 quarts.
Seam: 1/4" thick all around and tapers to 1/8" thick at the neck.
Filling hole: The hole where the plug screws into is 1 inch in diameter.
Neck (threaded part where the plug/stopper is inserted): About 2" wide and perfectly round and about 3/4" tall. The neck is seated inside the bottle is made of hard white plastic (nylon?). The shape is slightly tapered (top wider than the bottom) which makes it a great place to hold the bottle while filling. It does not get too hot to hold.
Plug: Threaded hard white plastic (or nylon?) with no gasket or washer. When screwed in, the plug comes in contact with the thermalplastic lip holding the neck in place that acts as it's own seal. The plug also has a tiny hole drilled into the handle to tie it to the bottle. It originally comes tied to the hanger, which I found useless. Plug's handle is about 1" tall and 1.5" wide. --Good for big fingers.
Built-in funnel: Oval shape about 2" wide and 3.25" long and about 2" deep (from the neck to the top of the funnel). --Also good for big fingers.
Text on bottle:
===============
"DO NOT USE BOILING WATER"
"Fill not more than 2/3 full and expel air."
"Ensure stopper is securely fixed. Store empty and with stopper removed."
"Warning: Hot water bottles can cause burns. Avoid prolonged direct contact with skin."
"Read instructions from swing-ticket first!"
Text on swing-ticket:
======================
2 Jahre Gewahrleistung auf die Warmflasche --(A translator tools gives the following English translation: "Two years. Two Year Warranty on the Warmflasche". There are no further details on the warranty.+
Material und Verarbeitung entsprechen den gesetzlichen Bestimmungen --(translating to "Materials and workmanship comply with the statutory provisions")
Improved design no washer is required
British Standard B.S. 1970:2006
FASHY GmbH 70822 Korntal Munchingen Germany
Mod. 3443 13 2,0 I
UPC: 4008339641259
Instructions (printed in 23 languages):
=======================================
Do not use boiling water, even hot tap water can scald.
Holding the hot-water bottle by its neck, fill carefully to a maximum of 2/3 to prevent any water from splashing back. Gently squeeze the bottle until water appears at the neck insert the stopper and tighten. Check that it is sealed.
Avoid contact with hot surfaces, oil, grease and direct sunlight pointed and sharp objects. Do not allow anything to rest on the bottle. After use, empty the hot-water bottle completely and keep in a cool, dry and dark place.
Uses: For relaxation and a feeling of well-being. Also effectively relieves pain when heat therapy is recommended, such as peristalsis and circulation problems, relaxation of muscle cramps, and relaxation of menstrual cramps.
Not to be used for: feverish conditions, inflammations, etc. In case of doubt, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
Warning: Do not heat up in the microwave. Avoid prolonged contact with the skin as hot-water bottles can cause burns. Do not use any additives such as cooking salt or similar. If children use the hot-water bottle, adult supervision is recommended. Check the hot-water bottle and closure regularly for wear and damage, we recommend replacement after five years. Please retain the instructions for further use. The fashy hot-water bottle is to be used only for its intended purpose.
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I really like these hot water bottles. They feel very durable. One side has ridges while the other side is smooth depending on how much heat you want. I will start by saying that I abuse the hot water bottles quite a bit. I use them frequently and while I generally do not use straight boiling water, I mix it with some cold tap water, the bottles get pretty hot. The negative I found is that after 3 months of owning one of these bottles it tore. That's right, it didn't burst or get a hole, it literally tore at the seam. I imagine it was while I was laying on it and shifted and combined with the heat of the water it just came apart. Also, some of the plastic coating that is on the smooth side started to peel off. These are expensive bottles and even though I use them a lot I expected a bit more durability. The last hot water bottles I had lasted for over 10 years before they sprung a hole. I decided to give these bottles another shot and ordered 2 more of them because I really do like these bottles. Hopefully it may have just been a fluke or a bit too much abuse. I will update this review if anything happens to the new bottles I received.
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