I have learned that all plastic water bottles are not created equal. I’m not talkin Nalgene-type plastic bottles, but the squeezy plastic type that you’d usually bring with you on a bike ride or a run. When CamelBak asked me to test out a Podium Bottle along with their Delaney Plus running belt, I didn’t think much of it. Figured it was just another plastic squeezy bottle with a CamelBak logo on it. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I’ve only really used that type of plastic bottle for bike rides, and I had perfected the maneuver of “grab bottle with one hand, wrench open with teeth, squeeze some hydration, jam the bottle up against my hip to re-cap it, place the bottle back into its lovely little cage.” Those of you who cycle, you know exactly what I’m talking about! I first used the Podium Bottle on a century ride when I was running out the door, and grabbed it by accident, thinking it was my usual bike bottle. 3 hours later, I was stoked to have made that mistake. The coolest feature of the Podium Bottle? You get to skip the “wrench the bottle open with your teeth” and the “jam the bottle on your hip to close it before placing it back in the bottle cage” steps! The Podium opens and closes with a valve called the Jet Valve, which operates using pressure. You squeeze the bottle, or suck on it for some water, and the valve opens, allowing water to flow freely. The instant you stop, the flow stops, and the valve is closed. No more opening and closing! I was really impressed!
So impressed, in fact, that I started carrying my Podium with me other places. First, it was just a bike bottle. Then, it came with me on all my runs (even those that I didn’t bring the Delaney on). Then, it also got tossed in my backpack for yoga classes. Next, it was living in my TimBuk2 bag, and coming everywhere with me. I’m currently commuting about 2 hrs a day to and from and internship, and I love my Podium bottle, simply for hydrating in the car. I don’t have to fiddle around with opening and closing a bottle if I want a drink while I’m driving, I just grab my Podium. Comes in handy when I jump straight off my bike and into the car for my hour long commute every morning!
CamelBak Podium Bottle
- Jet Valve allows for easy access to water, and has a lock off feature, for when you don’t want anything getting out of the bottle.
- Bottle is lined with HydroGuard, intended to prevent the growth of bacteria that give bottles that “old, stale water funk.”
- Bite valve is made of medical grade silicon, so when it’s closed, it’s closed. There’s no sneaky leaks of water or gatorade to drip out onto your frame as you’re crankin out the miles.
- Available in an insulate version called the Podium Chill, that keeps drinks cold for hours.
- Around $8.00 per bottle= relatively affordable!
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Check it out! The CamelBak Podium Bottle
02.03.2010 at 12:42 pm - by Jimmymack
This goes to show that simple innovation can have real value, even to a simple water bottle. And, yes – I know what you mean about the act of popping the top before you can take a drink. You feel like you are going to crack a tooth sometimes.