All Laken bottles, but the grolsch style top, have 1.5 inch diameter opening. Perfect for ice cubes to slide in!

BackpackTracker I understand some of what you are saying relative to a difference in comfort between the two styles, but they should be relatively the same because when you put the two side by side, they are almost the same pad. On the note of being cold when sleeping, well there is a lot more going on then the temperature in your tent. In order to create the same circumstances is hard and more than a single test is necessary. The simple difference between sleeping with or with out a hat can feel like a 15 degree difference in temperatures. The entire sleep system needs to be looked at; pad tent and bag yes, but also, how much you ate before sleeping, hat or no hat, how hard did you work that day, hot water bottle?, and the clothes that you where while sleeping. All of those things apply. The pad only provides comfort and padding from sleeping on the ground and insulation from the grounds temperature. There might be some other areas of the sleep system that you need to analyze before chalking it up to the pad.

The packed size of this pad in my bag is about 9 inches from left to right and about 6.5 inches in diameter.

The bag is made of 100% waterproof fabric and when sat in the hull of the boat, zipper side up, I have not experienced leakage. I have even secured it to the top of my boat once, and it shed all of the water that splashed up. I know that it is not a waterproof zipper, but for the price, it works great and is pretty close to being waterproof. I rolled the kayak, and did not experience any leakage, but Pacific does not recommend submarining this bag.

R-Value is a misnomer when it comes to attesting to a sleeping pads warmth. I believe that it is a three season sleeping pad, so, if the snow sticks to the ground, the ground is cold enough for a 4 season pad. Also, R-value is a measurement that comes from the building industry, and has created a false sense of security. It is your sleep system that you should look at; ie, pad, bag, tent or tarp or none, what you ate before you sleep, hat or not hat, hot water bottle or not, etc. Nevertheless, I saw once that one of the pads they made in the past had an R-Value of 2 to 3.5.

There is a zipper under the roll top that can be locked between the Zipper pulls. The external zipper cannot be locked. However, if you are worried about stuff getting stolen, I would be more worried about the thief having a knife. If I was a thief and saw a lock, I would think that there would be some great stuff in that bag because someone took the time to lock it.

Unfortunately, you're stuck with the lids from Laken. If you want a better bottle, try Camelbak's Better Bottle (amazing name, seriously) or Podium Bottle. They're both fantastic bottles, and also BPA free:http://www.backcountry.com/store/CAM0269/CamelBak-Better-Bottle-w-Bite-Valve-75L.htmlhttp://www.backcountry.com/store/CAM0262/CamelBak-Podium-Bottle-24oz.html--------------------Laken makes a flip top cap that may be easier. I would not recommend a plastic bottle. YUCK!

Are you dead yet?-----Umm... Sorry, Filo. I think Michael's in a bad mood tonight. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't right. I would exchange it. If the new one is the same, you'll know that you were safe all along. And if you still don't like it, just return it all together. You have to have a water bottle that you like drinking out of.------The threads are not painted, but an food grade, non-toxic ABS plastic. I would consider sending it in, but it is probably fine. Maybe give Laken a call of send them an email.

The inside is not polyethelene, it is lined with a BPA Free Poly Aramide lining that has been third party tested, according to the Laken USA website. I like it because it does not hold taste. It might sweat a little because the foam that lines between the two layers of aluminum is not as thermally efficient as a vacuum, but I have never seen a vacuum double wall aluminum bottle.

The bottle is lined with a BPA Free lining! The polyethylene dose not come close to your liquid inside. This bottle is composed of two walls of aluminum and the foam is between them; capped on the top with recyclable PP#5 or food grade, non-toxic polypropylene .

YES, Laken bottles are BPA Free. This lining is a Poly Aramide and not an Phenolic Epoxy. They lined their bottles in the past with the same kind of flexible epoxy that Sigg does now, but have changed to an entirely BPA Free coating. Check out the website at LAKENUSA.COM.

I would recommend looking at a LAKEN ISO bottle. They are a double walled aluminum bottle, with a BPA Free lining. Also, they make a 1L Double Walled Thermos!