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Camelbak Podium Water Bottle – Review

03.14.2010 by Ray Niekamp // 4 Comments

Guest poster Jeff Hemmel says if you’re looking for a good water bottle, this is the one to try.

Ray’s recent post on water bottles exposed something interesting. Namely, there are quite a few fans of Camelbak’s Podium water bottle. The proof is that, in a world where cycling enthusiasts often get bottles for free or pick them up dirt cheap, people will actually pay a premium to trade up to a Camelbak.

I’m one of those people. In fact, I’ve paid for two, and may even grab another insulated model before the height of summer. Here’s why.

Like a lot of people, I viewed the Podium with a little skepticism the first time I laid eyes on it. It was probably the whole “reinventing the wheel” thing. After all, a water bottle’s a pretty simple thing. Why throw a lot of tech at it? Even when I ultimately bought one, it was because I liked the bottle’s looks more than I bought into its hype. But after using it for a while I suddenly noticed my other bottles remained in the cupboard, while the Camelbak was on constant rotation.

One reason is the Jet Valve. Rather than a conventional bottle’s pull-up nozzle, the Podium features a medical-grade silicone “valve” that doesn’t drip or leak. Squeeze the bottle and the valve opens up. Stop squeezing and it clamps shut. No grabbing the nozzle with your teeth to pull it open while riding, pushing it against your chin or hip to close, and no sticky sports drink drips on your clothes or bike unexpectedly. Just grab, squeeze, and stick it back in your bottle cage. Should you want to more permanently close the bottle, like if you throw it in a gym bag, you can turn a rotary valve at the base 90 degrees to stop any flow.

Another reason is the 100% BPA-free, polypropylene bottle material. Camelbak calls it TruTaste, and claims it lets you taste your drink, not plastic. I’d say that’s true. You don’t get the nasty taste you get from cheap bottles. Podiums are also lined with HydroGuard, an antimicrobial embedded into the bottle walls that inhibits bacteria growth that could result in odors, discoloration, and deterioration. I’ll take them on their word on that one, as I’m pretty good about washing my bottles after every use.

That polypropylene material is also, however, exceptionally soft, even in the insulated version I picked up as my second Podium. I received another “name brand” insulated bottle as a gift, and it’s ridiculously hard to squeeze. That may seem like a silly thing to gripe about (what am I, some kind of wimp!), but when you’re looking to grab a quick gulp on the fly, it’s nice to be able to squirt your bottle without a second thought, rather than actually squeeze with concerted effort just to get a decent flow.

So what’s not to like? Some would say the price, although I’d argue an MSRP of $8 ($12 for the insulated Chill Jacket version) shouldn’t be enough to sway anyone from avoiding a Podium. I’d also note the Jet Valve design makes a Podium a little harder to clean. The top of the valve forms almost a small, tight cup, which is hard to get into with a sponge or bottlebrush. Camelbak says throw the cap in the dishwasher. The bottle itself, however, should be hand washed.

But that’s really the only bad thing I can say about it. Others agree. Loren Mooney, the editor of Bicycling, noted last year in an Editor’s Letter that she also thought the Podium was a gimmick, but quickly became a convert.

So yes, apparently you can build a better mousetrap…or at least, a better water bottle.

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Categories // Accessories, guest post Tags // Accessories, guest post, Hemmel

How Many Water Bottles Do You Need?

03.09.2010 by Ray Niekamp // 16 Comments

Spring has come to Central Texas! It was 78°F (25.5°C) and sunny today, a great day for a bike ride. I saw two members of my club head out on theirs just as I was leaving for yet another trip to the doctor. Oh, well.

The other day when I was cleaning my bike, I took two half-filled water bottles out of their cages and put them aside for the dishwasher. I’m not really good about hydrating on cool weather rides, but when it warms up, I tend to sweat easily, which reminds me to keep drinking. I try to take a swig every 10 to 15 minutes.

Even so, it seems to me that we don’t need a lot of water bottles. Two will do nicely, if I remember to wash them after every ride. Okay, four, if I decide to skip a day of washing.

But these days, water bottles are easy to come by. Lots of organized rides include a souvenir bottle in their goodie bags. When you rent a bike, the bike shop will throw in a bottle or two that you can keep. Ride sponsors have given me bottles for volunteering to work rides. We’ve got a cabinet reserved just for our bike ride water bottles, and I thought I’d empty it to see just what we have.

There are nine in the picture. We have two more I can’t account for at the moment. They take up a lot of space in that cabinet.

Some aren’t really very good as bike ride water bottles. That aluminum thing in the back right is awful. It has a screw top, so unless you’re stopped for a rest, you can’t take a drink while pedaling. The Monster.com bottle has a leaky top. I guess I’ll dump it. My wife, Pat, has a nice-looking Camelbak bottle with a sort of built-in straw. It looks high-tech, but doesn’t work very well. It’s missing from the picture, because she took it with her to a seminar today.

I didn’t even count the Camelbak hydration pack she owns, but never uses anymore.

Pat tends to favor large bottles, even though she rides shorter distances than I do. The Hill Country Ride for AIDS bottle is hers, as is the TCU Horned Frogs bottle — a souvenir for attending a conference at Texas Christian University.

Other bottles actually have some sentimental value. No kidding. The Outlaw Trail bottle in front is from my first century ride. The MS 150 bottle is from my ride there last year, and the clear bottle on the left is from a terrific vacation we took in Michigan two summers ago.

And yet, with all these bottles cluttering our cabinet, I’ll bet we’re pikers when it comes to collecting them. How many water bottles do you have? How many do you need?

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Categories // Accessories Tags // Accessories, water

The Rear-view Mirror Question

02.23.2010 by Ray Niekamp // 25 Comments

I was riding laps around the Veloway a few days ago, when I closed on another cyclist. I was about to call, “On your left,” when he glanced up, and moved over on his own. As I drew even with him, I saw that he had a rear-view mirror mounted on his helmet. He obviously saw me coming, and knew when he would have to make way for me.

My friend Gilbert with a helmet mirror.

I’ve never used a mirror. On a typical group ride, I see only a few. Most appear to be helmet mirrors, but occasionally I see a mirror attached to a bar end.

I wonder — would a mirror make a difference?

I always try to be aware of my surroundings when I ride, and I scan behind me frequently. There’s no doubt in my mind that a mirror would make the scanning a little easier, since I wouldn’t have to worry about keeping the bike on a straight line while looking back. But it’s the looking back that I think keeps me aware and on my guard.

Besides, a helmet mirror looks a bit dorky, doesn’t it?

Bar-end mirror.

The bar end mirrors are less so.

Like most of us, I also drive a lot. I have a rear-view mirror and two side-view mirrors on my car. I use them constantly. I suppose I should consider doing the same when I ride my bike.

I guess the real question I’ve been considering lately is — are mirrors a biking necessity? Should we all be using them?  And if so, what arguments are there in favor of one type over another?

I’d like to hear about your experiences.

Get Some

Handlebar Mirrors

Helmet Mirrors

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Categories // Accessories, Safety Tags // Accessories, mirrors, Safety

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