Camelbak Podium Water Bottle Range

CamelBak Podium Water Bottle Range

by Larisa Chinces & Robert Thorpe

Camelbak Podium Bottle 620 ml & 710 ml

We’ve written before about the excellent technical bottles from Camelbak, and so it’s time to look now at their standard Podium bottle, that’s anything but standard. If you’re looking for a robust, strong, well made and reliable bottle, with an easy flow, then the Camelbak Podium could be just for you. We tested both the smaller 620 ml bottle and the larger 720 ml. Camelbak have a new design and improved cleaning ability for the Podium® bottle, helping to maintain its position at the top within the cycling industry. This is definitely a premium bike bottle, and it prioritises performance with its high flow and self sealing cap, and the easy squeeze design, to help the flow at those vital moments on the bike. As with other bottles using the self seal technology, there’s no spills, drips or leakage too.

The actual bottle shape and size of both bottles mean that it’s a comfortable fit in the hand, and is easy to grip on the move, plus it fits easily and securely into bottle cages. It’s made by Camelbak as a BPA, BPS and BPF free bottle, which is a positive direction, and the whole unit comes apart for ease of cleaning – voila. Finally and most importantly, due to the Camelbak Trutaste™ Polypropylene with Hydroguard™ , all that you taste is your chosen drink and nothing else.

Design and colour wise, it’s simply and stylishly finished, and comes with a variety of new colour options for 2022, meaning that it’ll also look great on your bike in either size – and that’s important 😉 . It’s priced very reasonably for the tech and performance, and the Camelbak Podium performs well on the bike, looks good and is super strong and long lasting. That’s probably an ideal resume for a bike bottle this summer.

Camelbak Podium Chill Bottle

What makes the Camelbak Podium Chill different from their Podium Ice – it’s an interesting question. Well, for a start, the Podium Chill is Pink 😉 which I like… but no, seriously, it comes with a double walled and insulated skin, designed to keep drinks cool for longer. Camelbak say that this double skin means that drinks stay cold for twice as long.

It comes with the same great design as the rest of the Podium range and is easy to hold and squeeze, delivering fluid in a smooth flow, without drips and leaks, due to the high flow, self-sealing cap – which maximizes flow rate while eliminating splatters and spills. Best of all, it really works. Add to this, the Camelbak positive lock-out, and you have a bottle that you can throw into your bag between rides, safely knowing that it won’t leak. It’s a string and well made bottle, but doesn’t feel hard and as I say, is easy to squeeze too. It’s strength and quality of production means that it’ll stand up to lots of tough trips and last a long time.

All of the parts come apart easily for cleaning, and simply click back together. The material used is BPA, BPS and BPF free, which is a good start in terms of eco friendly sports. And, when you’re ready to use it again, due to the Camelbak Trutaste™ Polypropylene with Hydroguard™ , all that you taste is yiur drunk and not that awful stake bottle taste. It’s a super quality, sift and yet strong bottle in use, and with a hydrating flow system that’s second to none. You can twist and lick it off, but it’s really unnecessary due to the awesome technical design. Best of all – it’s pink too 😉

Camelbak Podium Ice Bottle

With spring already here and summer to look forward to, it really is time to look in detail at the best bottles for hot days in the saddle. Camelbak do hydration… more than anyone else, this world leading brand is synonymous with excellence in keeping athletes cool and refreshed. Time then to take a look at their latest Camelbak Podium Ice 620 ml bottle.

Like the entire Podium® collection from Camelbak, it’s a technological bottle, being 100% free of BPA, BPS and BPF, which is always good to know in a more eco friendly world. More importantly for cyclists, it features an improved cage fit design, meaning that it easily fits into just about all bottle cages on the market, without rattling around or bouncing out on rough tracks. The design is also kind of cool… pardon the pun, but it is – simple and stylish and oozes the modern look of this forward thinking brand.
The fluid inside the Podium Ice is kept cool due to the Aerogel insulation developed by the brand, which Camelbak says “keeps water cold 5x longer than other bottles” – maybe we need a thermometer test here sometime, but it certainly does keep drinks cool all day long.

When you need to get the fluid out and quench your thirst, the Camelback Easy Squeeze system works a treat, and you get a steady but controlled flow, with thankfully no drips or leaks. Best of all, even when the nozzle is unlocked, it holds back fluid from dripping out, keeping bags and clothing dry when transporting you and your kit to rides. Yes, the high flow, self-sealing cap works superbly and maximizes flow rate while eliminating splatters and spills.

In terms of cleaning, like all of the Camelbak bottle range, all parts can be separated for thorough cleaning, and go back together by simple clicks. And, best of all, once cleaned and refilled with your favourite drink, the Trutaste™ Polypropylene with Hydroguard™ means that all you taste is your water and nothing else, time after time. In terms of design and colour, it’s a silvery finish, trimmed with either red of blue.

Cost wise, it’s not a cheap bottle, but it’s not cheaply made. This is a high end hydration system bottle for serious people, and it’ll last you many years on tarmac or trail and keep you cool. Think about it as an investment, as you use this excellent Podium Ice bottle across multiple active sports.

Summary

There’s a great range of bottles to choose from this year from Camelbak, and best of all, they come in a variety of colours too; which means that you can choose the perfect bottle in the perfect style 😉 . We really like the flow system on the Podium range. It works when you need it to, and it ensures that water only comes out when you want it to. In terms of prices, the Camelbak bottle range is an investment, as these high quality and tough water bottles will last for a long time and keep looking as stylish as you do 😉