Camelbak
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Recent Reviews
My wife and I each got one of these and we both like them. Not sure what the straw is for, it doesn't seem to make a difference in how the water pours out (either way air gets in through the lid) and not using it just means one less thing to keep track of and clean. You can leave water in these bottles for a long time and it won't taste funky. Insulation works great, and worth the extra weight. There are two issues to be aware of:
1) if you leave the valve in the open position and the bottle tips over it will spill water (unlike the plastic bottles, which you have to squeeze for them to leak substantially).
2) After drinking, a little bit of water sits in the valve, so even if you have the valve in the closed position this little bit will spill out if you tip the bottle over.
Even with the two issues above, I don't think I would ever go back to the plastic bottles...
I have used Camelbak Podium bottles for years. I bought two of the stainless steel as soon as they became available. I've never timed them for how long they stay cold, but fill them with ice and they are good for multiple refills for a century ride in hot weather. I also fill them with warm drink during the winter to provide a boost when it's getting cold.
The only down side is if you want to share drink with someone. You cannot just squeeze the bottle.
Did a 90 mile ride on a hot humid day and these bottles kept my electrolyte and carb drink cold long after my insulated podium bottles would have. Also, appreciate that I'm not worrying about the plastic leaching into my drinks on hot summer days. Couple caveats that made me lower to 4 stars. I needed new water bottle cages because one of the bottles popped out of the carbon cages over rough roads which are plentiful in New Jersey. Fortunatly the cheaper recycled cages worked well and I'm not worried about them popping out anymore. One of the stone colored bottles, which looked great when I got them, was scratched up pretty good when it came out on a ride and both are getting a little scratched up in the cages. Still look decent, but you're probably better getting the stainless steal. Overall, the fact that my drinks stay cold made them worth the buy.