What do you get when you go for a bike ride with just any water bottle? Bisphenol-A (BPA) and phalates, a chemical that has been linked to obesity, neurological disorders, cancer, and a number of other health problems.
CamelBak makes BPA-free bottles from a material called Tritan, that doesn’t allow properties to leech in the water and compromise taste and health. KineticShift took a look at three of CamelBak’s bottles, two made from BPA-free materials, and one stainless steel. Here’s what we found.
Better Bottle, 16 oz ($12)
A clear bottle, you can see the liquid. It has a cap with a bite valve and straw so you bite and sip water rather than tipping it and squeezing like other bottles. The cap is what differentiates the Better Bottle from others on the market.
You bit a silicone nipple and then draw water like sipping through a straw. When you’re not drinking, the bite valve flips down into the cap, a more protected position. The cap won’t spill, even in the open position.
Better Bottle Stainless, 24 oz ($24)
Made from medical-grade stainless steel and no inner liner, this 24 ouncer
has the same straw and bite valve as the Better Bottle. This has a larger capacity, and is sturdier for taking along on treks.
Stainless steel offers mild cooling properties, but don’t expect your drink to be ice cold after hours in the hot sun.
Podium Chill, 21 oz ($12)
Podium Chill is the closest bottle to the classic bottle used by most cyclists, though with some updated features that makes it worth it. It’s made from TruTaste polypropelene.
It has the same properties of not leeching chemicals into your water. The Podium Chill has a thermal insulation sleeve between two layers of bottle to keep beverages cool on hot days. It also has a new twist on the old spout cap that’s leak-proof.
It has an on and off position, so when you’re riding you can keep the spout on the on position and not worry about contaminating your water. When you have the bottle in a bag or your car you can turn it into the off position so it won’t leak.
Comparison
All three are great bottles for keeping hydrated during your workout, or to carry water any other time. The Better Bottle is the most basic and doesn’t claim to keep your drinks cool. Of the other two bottles, the Podium Chill kept water slightly colder than the stainless bottle, but not by much. Neither held water poured in from the filter in my refrigerator particularly cold for very long. After a few hours it was getting close to room temperature. It’s still good to have some defense against a really hot day.
Both the bite valve cap and pour spout are great improvements on the typical water bottle. Both tested well against spills. Washing is the only issue. You can put both caps in the dishwasher, but all of the bottles wash better by hand. It’s hard to wash the bite valve thoroughly, and I worried that there might be some residue in the valve. If I drink something other than water I will want to get that part washed for sure. Drying out was a bigger issue. There was water inside all three caps the following day. You’ll have to be a little vigilant before putting these bottles and caps away if they’re still wet.
I’m happy to add a CamelBak water bottle (or three) to my rotation when I ride and workout this summer. The water tastes like water instead of water in a plastic bottle. I feel better about the materials not corrupting my water. And maybe my water will stay just a little bit cooler on a hot day.
- CamelBak
- CamelBak Better Bottle
- CamelBak Better Bottle Stainless
- CamelBak Podium Chill