My guest reviewer Seth G has been testing the Camelbak Podium® Steel 18oz Bike Bottle. This is what he has to say about it.
I have been using Camelbak Podium bottles for years – and now that they have a new Steel edition. I decided to try it out to see if it was worth the upgrade. Here is what you need to know if you are interested in this bottle.
Features:
- Made from premium 18/8 stainless steel
- Double‐Wall Vacuum Insulation
- No Squeeze Required
- High‐Flow Cap
- Leakproof Lockout
- Optimized Cage Fit
- Easy‐to‐Clean
- Universal Cap System
- 22.4 cm x 7.5 cm x 7.5 cm
- Weight: 300 g
- 80% Type 304 Stainless,10% PP Copolymer,5% HDPE,5% Silicone
- Price: £ 35.
Pros: What’s good about the Podium® Steel bottle?
Durable. The main reason why someone would purchase this bottle is because of its construction. Steel is a great way to avoid the plastics, maintain durability and ensure a long life for your bottle. The bottle has withstood plenty in the past months and it has received its share of scratches (see below), but it is still in good shape. If you are frustrated with plastic bottles, by all means check this bottle out.
No squeezing. Because of the steel construction, Camelbak has circumnavigated the need to squeeze the water out by inserting an internal straw which allows air to flow in as liquid is sucked out. This “Vent Tube” allows you to drink deeply without needing to squeeze. It works great.
Easy to clean. Whether you are mixing in electrolytes and accidentally forget to clean the bottle or you had a particularly muddy ride, the steel bottle is easy to toss in the dishwasher and clean quickly. It doesn’t maintain those odours or smells, which sometimes get into plastic bottles and never seem to leave.
Cons: What’s not so good about the Podium® Steel bottle?
Camelbak titles this a “lightweight design“. That is fair in comparison to other metal bottles, but not in reference to the standard Podium bottles. For comparison, the Podium Chill 21oz Bike bottle weighs 99g. If you are weight conscious, take this into account.
Camelbak claims that liquids stay cold for 14 hours. I am not sure how they figure out those numbers with all the possible variables, but I don’t think you can expect to be taking the bottle out for 14 hours and having your beverage as cold as when you started. Neither do I think that is necessary. If you are going to need the fluids, you will most likely be drinking them, not just carrying them around. This isn’t a negative. This bottle beats the other plastic bottles for temperature control, but we need to be realistic.
It scratches. Camelbak has done a good job on the finish with other bottles and cups, but the finish on this is easily scratched. It isn’t a deal breaker by any means, and Camelbak even recognises this. But the buyer needs to be aware that “steel” does not mean “scratch-free”.
Conclusion: I like this bottle. I have replaced my older plastic version with it’s stronger, more rugged, older sibling, the Podium Steel. If you want a well constructed bottle with a familiar design and a long life, this is a good buy.
*Seth received the bottle free of charge in exchange for an honest review. See Seth G.