Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I contacted Klean Kanteen via email before purchasing to ask if they had improved the lid/seal problem. I eventually heard back from Ricardo at KK but not before I went ahead and purchased this. His reply : "Hello Bill, Our insulated kanteens feature a leak-proof cap as the standard option. It uses a food grade silicone gasket which is made to be removable for cleaning but can sometimes pop out after wear and tear resulting in leakage if unnoticed. We provide complimentary gaskets if requested. We do recommend changing them out every six months or so. Our café cap was designed as a convenient alternative to the leak proof cap and is not leak-proof. We are working on leak-proof option for our café cap, which should be released later this year, although no specific date has been established." The second time I used this it leaked out, ruining a shirt. Instead of getting mad, I wrote back to Klean Kanteen with some suggestions that would improve the design and reliability. My response is as follows: "Hi Rodrigo, Thanks for the reply. I purchased this item before I got your reply and I have to tell you it has leaked 2x and messed up a good shirt with coffee. I am a bit miffed about this but instead of getting mad I will contend with some suggestions for this item. As an engineer, I naturally look at design strength and weakness. To note: removing the seal for cleaning and / or inspection just invites leakage issues. The fact that this needs to be replaced every 6 months indicates a bad design problem as well. The flaws with this product can be corrected two ways: 1. During manufacturing, lengthen the stainless steel at the lip and roll press it back to create a flat or wider rounded top lip to contact the silicone. Flat would be the preference and could be more easily done during manufacturing and it would be easier to make it precise. Then use a thicker longer lasting round silicone O-ring seal for durability and to provide a complete seal. The semi sharp lip will cut into the silicone in due time as is and removing for cleaning just damages the seal. 2. Ditch the current stainless/plastic combo lid. The flat silicone seal and the stainless insert is a bad and unsanitary design out of the gate. With such a thin stainless lip and a flat seal, any variance in precision with the seal or the lip will guarantee a leak as I have already experienced. Go to complete stainless top or at least have the inside of the cap completely stainless and have the plastic thermal-molded to the outside of the new stainless cap. Sort of half and half looking on the outside. Use a good thick flat silicone seal inside the cap. If KK wants to remain a dominate contender in this product market, then incorporate the best of both suggestions and you will have a long lasting winner and eliminate negative reviews of this product. I ask you to pass this on to Michelle and Jeff in hope that they will take this as corrective criticism. I'd love to recommend this product with the enthusiasm I have for other KK products but unfortunately, I can't. I've got a cheap 24oz Stanley ( China made too ) that has never leaked on me with all the abuse I can throw at it. " To all who wish to purchase this, I would wait to see if they improve the design. The standard leakproof lid is NOT leak proof. It is also unsanitary after time because you must remove the stainless insert and seal to clean it. That compromises the thin seal. If you have to have something right now you can try the 24oz Stanley version. It does not leak, at least with me it has not and I'm very rough on equipment. Klean Kanteen has a good product line. This item has potential and will be a top runner if they improve the design to keep it from leaking with the standard lid and the cafe cap. I don't have the cafe cap. I hope this helps Amazon shoppers.