Review of CamelBak Podium Bottle

CamelBak Podium Bottle
By: Camelbak Average Rating: 4.0 Total Reviews: 32
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no issues

On: 2010-03-03

The valve on this bottle is awesome. I just wish the bottle came in a 32oz size. Still, very nice bottle that I use every day.

CamelBak Podium Water Bottle

On: 2010-02-28

This product is the closest I could find for use in helping my mom. Shes 89 and needs something that wont spill. Works great for bedside use - no spills! Will buy again.

Pay the extra few dollars to get the insulated one

On: 2010-01-18

Good bottle for cycling, but if you are going to spend the money for a camelbak bottle, get the insulated one.

no leaks but won't fit in cages

On: 2009-10-21

great valve, no more spills and sticky frames but the bottle is too big around and has to be forced into my bottle cages (Tacx and Specialized) on both bikes. A serious defect and makes them useless for racing.

Great bike bottle

On: 2009-09-12

This bottle eliminates the whole opening the bottle with your teeth and jamming it shut on your hip while riding, but it fits a little funky in my cage. Otherwise, its great.

Great no-drip bottle

On: 2009-09-02

This is a great water bottle for biking. I have used it for about a month and I dig it. You do need to squeeze it to get anything out of it, but you can hold it upside down with the valve in the "open" position and it will not drip. The plastic is not too hard to squeeze. Dont expect it to keep your water cold for long.

like other reviewers, it leaks, unless it's screwed on really tight

On: 2009-08-01

Well, after reading the reviews, I crossed my fingers and hoped I didnt have a leaky one. Mine leaked after a few uses. I tried tightening it and that worked... BUT, its so tight that its difficult to unscrew, if youre not a buff guy like me. jk. But yeah if you dont want to make it really tight and difficult to unscrew then pass on it. If youre okay with this then buy it.

Hmmmm...Made in China

On: 2009-06-22

Works okay...kind of confusing about the bite valve...really note a bite valve..just suck on the opening and it comes out. On/Off dial could be a little smoother with better grab handles. Supposed to be BPE free...hmmm but made in CHINA...have my doubts? I use this in my WW Kayak.

JAC

Nipple Mold is a Problem

On: 2009-06-16

I bought these bottles on Camelbaks advertised claim that they didnt leak on your bike frame and found that that was true. The bottles dont leak even when ridden over rough roads in the "unlocked" position. But they have a more serious problem: Mold grows inside the nipple and cant be rinsed or soaked away with a chlorine or vinegar solution, making the bottles useless. I would not recommend purchasing until Camelbak provides a solution to removing the mold.

Great water bottle for biking

On: 2009-06-04

This is a great water bottle for biking. Squeeze and it squirts. No knobs to twist or pull with dirty fingers (I mountain bike). The cap secures nicely too. I think Ill get another one for my wife!

Better way to drink

On: 2009-05-22

No more pulling the valve out with your teeth or closing with a slap on the thigh. Works like a champ

Good idea, bad design

On: 2009-05-20

As many reviewers mentioned, this is a really poorly designed water bottle. Very stiff plastic, very hard to squeeze after riding for a couple of hours. Also, the diameter of the bottle doesnt fit many water bottle cages. I cant believe they didnt buy few of the popular cages out there and test the fit prior to releasing this design!

Once you have a CamelBak, you'll never go back

On: 2009-05-12

I didnt understand the hype over CamelBak products, but I purchased this bottle (21 ounce - Black/Clear) when I bought my new biking helmet because it had good reviews.

Ive had a chance to use it quite a bit and I couldnt imagine having another water bottle. It is big enough to take the amount of water I want with me and it dispenses without any spills or leaking. I have become so accustomed to it that I now take it to work with me to drink water throughout the day.

We stopped buying cases of the individual waters a while back to save money and eliminate all the bottles we had to recycle. Now I can refill this as much as I want for free and it cost less then $10. This summer Ill be purchasing these for my kids too.

very good water bottle ever

On: 2009-05-08

locking feature is nice. It never spills accidentally unless you drop it or something and its hit hard enough to simulate a squeeze.

All Water Bottles Aren't Equal

On: 2009-03-26

I didnt like this particular water bottle. The nozzle is unique and pretty functional but the bottle itself is very stiff. I prefer a bottle that is more flexible. Flexibility makes it easier to use.

Favorite bottle

On: 2009-03-25

This is my favorite water bottle, more than the polar bottle. It is unique and really works as advertised. It will only leak when you forcefully shake it upside down when full with an spout lock. I like the lock that lets you manually close it for when transporting it in a bag. Force needed to squeeze is what I would expect. Got the clear version. Finally I have a bottle that doesnt force me to hurt my teeth or lips to close the spout. I also dont have to worry about germs and bacteria growing on the spout so much compared to a regular bottle when you are sucking on the part that gets pushed down.

con: somewhat difficult to clean the inside of the spout area if dirt or sand gets in that area.

Camelbak h2o bottle

On: 2009-02-19

Great bottle, love it!! Doesnt leak, carry it in my bag! Perfect if you like or are used to a squeeze bottle.

Good bottle...no complaints

On: 2009-02-15

Overall not a bad product but it depends on what you use if for. I do not like this bottle while biking. It simply is not flexible enough and requires too much hand pressure after you have been on the road a few hours. I do like this bottle while running though as the soft nipple will not hurt the teeth. I find it best though at the gym while working weights or doing one of the horrid machines those places have in them. Use on the dreadmill is a snap as well as some of the other stationary horrors. The container is attractive and it works the way they say it should work. I also carry one of these in my car as I put on a lot of mileage and am so cheap that I do not like to buy bottle water all the time, and besides, my well water is better than the bottled stuff.

xlnt product

On: 2009-02-04

water bottle lives up to its promise: doesnt leak, imparts no plastic flavor to the water

Lightweight yet sturdy

On: 2008-11-19

Perfect for bicycling. Fits perfectly in bicycles bottle holder. No caps to remove or misplace. Lightweight yet sturdy.

Best Sports Bottle ever

On: 2008-11-10

Awesome Sports bottle. It has an easy twist valve. Even if the valve is open, it still will not leak..even if you turn it upside-down. There is a 2nd valve that only opens if you squeeze the bottle. Best part is it is non-BPA so it is safe to drink from. You dont get that plastic taste either like other bottles.

It comes in several colors but I recommend one of the transparent ones so you can easily see inside. It fits perfect in a bicycle cage.

Over rated

On: 2008-11-05

Purchase three sets of the three different colors and they work as advertised and definitely no leaching from performance drinks. The bottles appears to be of good quality. Dont know how many uses the self sealing valve will last but I hope itll be years.

The only problem I have with these bottles is that they dont have a good fit in any of my carbon cages thus making it difficult to insert and remove. They fit really tight. If the top part of the bottles have a rough surface and not smooth they would be much easier to remove and insert especially during hot sweaty rides. They are not good for use in crit races with my setup.

One less distraction

On: 2008-10-23

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 doesnt stay open, or it leaks around the sides and the residue eventually runs down the sides of the bottle. Thats 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 wont 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 dont have to pull it open with your teeth. You dont have to shut it with your hand (or by pounding it against your chest). Its 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 didnt 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 thats a good deal.

Not easy enough to use

On: 2008-10-22

I wanted to like the CamelBak Podium water bottle because Im a big fan of my several CamelBak backpacks. However, Im retiring this product after a couple attempts to use it while cycling.

Hydration while cycling is best when its 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 CamelBaks is not part of this product. The biting serves no purpose in a bottle without the straw. In conclusion--I dont recommend this bottle for cycling. It would be better to consider the Performance Bottle which appears to integrate the best elements of this bottles 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.

Drink while you run

On: 2008-10-19

I found this bottle a little hard to squeeze but the no drip lock worked great. The spout is soft so it I can drink while running and not hurt my teeth or gums. I prefer a bottle without a straw so this works great for me. Maybe it will soften just a little as it gets worn in and will be easier to squeeze

CamelBak Podium

On: 2008-10-15

I have been a serious road cyclist for 20 years. During that time I have used many and various water bottles. I use sport drinks such as Gatorade and Powerade while riding. Prior to purchasing the CamelBak Podium, all the water bottles leaked on my bike frame, and on the bottles themselves while riding. Ive not experienced the CamelBak Podium leaking. The research and development that went into the design of this water bottle is much appreciated.

new and improved bicycle water bottle

On: 2008-10-06

These are a great addition to the camelbak product line even my 3 year old can use this on our bike rides. Love that they can go in the dishwasher.

Camelbak solid quality

On: 2008-09-20

Its just a water bottle, yes. Still, I really like the dispenser. Its leak proof, its soft/rubbery, so you dont accidentally wop your teeth. Ill buy another.

Great answer for a question no one asked.

On: 2008-08-19

Ive used bike bottles for over twenty-five years now and never really had an issue with the bottles I have purchased over the years. From the cheapest to the most expensive theyve all featured the simple spout that you pull open with your mouth and close with your thumb as you replace it in the cage.

Cheap ones may not work as well or make your water taste like plastic but they work well enough and were cheap enough that when they were shot or you didnt like them you could simply toss them away. I have water bottles in my collection that are easily ten years old.

Enough of the back story...I decided to test this bottle solely for the reputation of Camelback and the integration of their bite valve into a water bottle. A perfectly logical extension of their product especially among the roadies.

Despite their condescending advertisements I purchased a bottle to test. I can say that the bite valve doesnt disappoint in this application. We are all pretty familiar with the Camelback bite valve and its a proven performer. It works very well in this application and I enjoyed using the bottle. However, considering the price, did it work four times better than a typical water bottle? probably not.

I think on unexpected market that Camelback may have over looked is the under 5 year old demographic. The bottle allowed my 3 year old to use the bottle without spilling any water like he normally would with my "regular" bottles. Like a giant sippy cup he was able to drink all the water he wanted and be as care free as he liked without spilling a drop.

one last thought. These bottles are make in China. While not normally an issue I think that considering the price point they could have found a US company to make these for them.

Perfect size!!

On: 2008-04-21

My husband has been looking for a bottle that will fit the cage on his bicycle, which he uses to commute. This one is perfect, finally a great fit!