Contigo · Insulated Drink Tumblers
Contigo Ashland Chill 2.0 Stainless Steel Water Bottle
Low risk. Bare stainless steel bottle with no disclosed coatings.
This stainless steel bottle has no reported surface treatments or coatings requiring PFAS. The bare metal itself carries lower PFAS risk.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
stainless steel, bare uncoated
Lab data
No public lab test
What Contigo Ashland Chill 2.0 Stainless Steel is made of, ingredients and materials
The Ashland Chill 2.0 is constructed from food-grade stainless steel (typically 18/8 or 304 grade) with no internal coating, enamel, or polymer liner. This material does not leach metals under normal drinking conditions because stainless steel is a stable alloy that resists corrosion even when in prolonged contact with water. The bare metal design eliminates the degradation pathways that plague coated bottles, where protective layers can chip or degrade over years of use.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Plastic lid and gasket components
The lid typically contains plastic gaskets and seals that may include BPA or phthalates depending on Contigo's polymer sourcing; however, these do not contact the drinking water directly and present minimal migration risk during normal use.
Bacterial biofilm in crevices
Stainless steel seams and the lid mechanism can harbor bacteria if not cleaned thoroughly; this is a use-dependent hygiene risk, not a material defect. Regular dishwashing or hot-water rinsing minimizes this.
Lead
Physical denting can expose underlying steel and create localized oxidation spots; while not a leaching hazard for plain water, it may accelerate minor discoloration if the passivation layer is breached.
Source, ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Bare uncoated material
Recorded as a bare, uncoated material with no surface coating or treatment.
Stainless steel corrosion and leaching
Food-grade stainless steel (304/18-8) is passivated and does not leach iron, chromium, or nickel into plain water under normal conditions. No reported incidents of metal leaching from the Ashland Chill 2.0 exist.
Coating degradation and flaking
This product has no internal coating, eliminating the risk of enamel, polymer, or epoxy flaking that affects coated bottles over time.
The full breakdown
The brand's record and disclosure
Contigo does not publicly disclose PFAS use or avoidance in their product line, though the Ashland Chill 2.0's bare stainless construction naturally sidesteps PFAS-containing water repellent coatings. The brand has not faced major safety recalls or contamination incidents involving this model. Contigo maintains a standard consumer-product safety posture with no documented controversies specific to stainless steel bottles.
How it compares in its category
Bare stainless steel bottles have lower concern for coating-related risks (peeling, leaching) present in some plastic, aluminum, or enamel-lined alternatives. Unlike BPA-containing plastics or PFC-coated fabrics, stainless steel introduces no chemical migration pathway under normal use. This design is more durable than cheaper alternatives but offers no special advantage over other quality bare-steel bottles in the mid-price range.
If you buy it
Stainless steel bottles tolerate hot and cold liquids and dishwasher cleaning without degradation. Inspect the interior periodically for surface rust (rare but possible if water sits unused for extended periods); if rust appears, rinse thoroughly and dry. The lid gaskets and hinges may wear over years; replacement components are typically available. No special storage conditions are needed beyond keeping it dry when not in use.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Contigo has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
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More insulated drink tumblers grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.