Product Description

The New Bottle that is changing it all starts its dominance of the bike bottle market with even more color options than ever. Rethink how you ride!. CamelBak has been the innovation and performance leader in outdoor hydration products since 1989

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #878 in Sports & Outdoors
• Color: N/A
• Brand: Camelbak
• Model: PODIUM21OZ
• Dimensions: 2.40" h x 3.00" w x 8.90" l, .20 pounds

Features

• Refillable water bottle made of TrueTaste polypropylene
• HydroGuard lining inhibits growth of odor-causing bacteria
• Self-sealing Jet Valve lets you sip from any direction
• Positive shut-off closure on the valve for leak-proof transport
• 100-percent BPA free; comes in 21- and 24-ounce sizes

Amazon.com Product Description
Step up to the podium while cycling with the CamelBak Podium bottle. In addition to the environmental benefits of using a refillable bottle, the Podium offers a number of physical benefits as well. The bottle is made of TruTaste polypropylene, which lets you taste your water and not your bottle. The interior, meanwhile, is lined with HydroGuard to inhibit the growth of bacteria that can cause odors, discoloration, or deterioration of the bottle surface. And in contrast to most water bottles, the Podium doesn't have a "bite-open, hip-slap-shut" valve. Instead, the Podium incorporates a Jet Valve, a revolutionary self-sealing valve that lets you sip from any direction or squirt water over your head on long rides. Made of medical-grade silicone, the Jet Valve also eliminates splatter on your bike frame or jersey. Other features include a high flow rate, a positive shut-off closure on the valve for leak-proof transport, and your choice of 21- or 24-ounce sizes.

About CamelBak
The CamelBak is the originator and world leader in hands-free hydration systems. The first CamelBak products proved extremely popular among mountain bikers and motocross riders, because it allowed them to drink without taking their hands off the handlebars. The product eventually began to cross over into other sports when scientific studies showed athletes drank more fluids and performed better when they wore a CamelBak. Since then, athletes from an ever-growing list of sports and activities use CamelBak hydration systems for their convenience and performance benefits. In addition to cycling, CamelBak offers hands-free hydration systems for hiking, running, snowboarding, and skiing. CamelBak is a privately held company headquartered in Petaluma, California.

Customer Reviews

One less distraction
This bottle is designed to eliminate the messes created by normal water bottles. Normal bottles have a valve that pulls open and pushes shut. Often it is loose and doesn't stay open, or it leaks around the sides and the residue eventually runs down the sides of the bottle. That's not too big a deal if all you carry is water, but any sports drink will soon make a sticky, dirty, insect-attracting mess on the bottle, your hands, and the bike frame.

The Podium bottle replaces the normal valve with a membrane that has a tiny "x" cut in it. It won't let fluids out unless there is pressure applied by either squeezing the bottle, sucking on the mouthpiece, or both. The mouthpiece is not the typical CamelBak bite valve; think of it as a short straw. When you drink, the fluid goes through the mouthpiece and into your mouth -- not onto the bottle. You don't have to pull it open with your teeth. You don't have to shut it with your hand (or by pounding it against your chest). It's simple and it works.

There is one moving part: a cutoff valve that will seal off flow even if you squeeze the bottle. However, under normal circumstances, it can be left in the open position. The membrane is enough to keep the contents in, even if the bottle is inverted. For that reason, it also works well for use when running. The plastic is more rigid than most bottles of this type, but I didn't find that to be a problem. These are 2-3 times the cost of a typical water bottle, but you can eliminate the distraction of messy bottles for under $20 (for two), and that's a good deal.

Not easy enough to use
I wanted to like the CamelBak Podium water bottle because I'm a big fan of my several CamelBak backpacks. However, I'm retiring this product after a couple attempts to use it while cycling.

Hydration while cycling is best when it's effortless. The largest problem is that the bottle is made of too rigid plastic. This is a problem for me because unlike the Better Bottle by CamelBak, this bottle has no straw and thus needs squeezed. Instead, you tilt it up while squeezing and then you bite the valve to cause the water to flow. Using this bottle will illustrate instantly why most cycling bottles are made of flimsy soft plastic. After several hours on the saddle (heck even on a strenuous part of a short ride), the last thing you want is to strain your hands while biting and trying to squeeze a too rigid bottle.

On top of that, the bite valve that we have come to love of CamelBak's is not part of this product. The biting serves no purpose in a bottle without the straw. In conclusion--I don't recommend this bottle for cycling. It would be better to consider the Performance Bottle which appears to integrate the best elements of this bottle's shape with the best elements of the Better Bottle straw and bite valve.

Too rigid. No straw. Bite valve is not the normal one and besides is not needed on this design. Too hard to use.

Best Bottle !!
I bought the Blue/Silver one. The bottle is transparent so I can see the drink level. The nipple is nice and perfect fit for drinking. I was kind of compelled to order the second bottle from Amazon.com within two weeks again (getting rid of my old bottles). This bottle is a perfect fit for Road Biking, where no time for opening the cap. I never have to squeeze the bottle, all I do I suck for a brief and that works the way I want to drink.

I have at list 8-10 different water bottles but I think this is the best one.

Pro: 1. Suck and Drink. (Although drink flows by itself, without sucking too).
2. Transparent Bottle to See the Drink.
3. Nice shape Sucking Nipple, I love it.

Cons: 1. The Bottle is not Insulated or Thermal. Wish they have a Thermal Product like Polar Bottle.