Water bottles are a cheap accessory usually running between $4 and $10, and unless you’re using a pack hydration system such as Camelbak’s, a necessary one for longer rides. The Camelbak Podium Ice bottle sells for $25. What in the world would justify a premium price for an item that we use without a thought, mistreat callously, and dispose of as quickly as last week’s boyfriend? The name gives it away: this is an insulated water bottle, which one will appreciate greatly in hot weather. Camelbak makes two insulated bottles, the Chill and the Ice. The former sells for $12 and claims to keep water cool “for twice as long.” The Ice ostensibly commands a premium price because your water is kept cold “4X longer!” Show A little history: A few years ago Camelbak sold the Ice bottle and then after one season it mysteriously disappeared. I had bought both the Chill and the Ice and found the Ice to work better than the Chill. On a typical hot day I’d fill the bottles with cube ice and cold water, and an hour later all the ice in the Chill bottle would be melted; in the Ice bottle it would last about 45 minutes longer. So, that’s not “4x longer” but almost. But as we all know, size matters and Camelbak sold the Ice only in a 21 oz size whereas the Chill came in both 21 and 24 oz. So I mostly used the Chill. Riding in Contra Costa County in the summertime can get hot—often over 90 degrees—and having a cold sip is so much more refreshing than a tepid one. I was dreaming of a 24 oz (or bigger!) Ice bottle. Unfortunately Camelbak stopped selling them, and subsequently I found out that the insulating material that Camelbak used in the Ice bottle was no longer available, which is why production ceased. Darn. Well, at least we had a few Chill bottles and one small Ice bottle. A couple of weeks ago we were wandering through REI and what do I spot but a new Ice bottle. I’m not sure what insulation was used before but now Camelbak is using Aerogel, an extremely light material, and it works very well. The Ice bottle still holds just 21 oz of fluid (a standard water bottle holds 20 oz) but it has the size of a typical 24 oz water bottle; all that extra space must be the insulation. The Chill still comes in either 21 or 24 oz sizes, and there still is no 24 oz Ice bottle. Now seeing the size of the current Ice bottle (the previous model was quite a bit smaller), I can’t imagine how you’d fit a 24 oz version on your bike: imagine the difficulty prying that thing out of your bottle cage. It would have to be the size of a typical Thermos! That must be the reason Camelbak doesn’t make a larger Ice. So if you want the additional cooling power of the Ice, you’re stuck with 21 oz, which is only slightly more than a small water bottle. If you need to carry a larger bottle, then you’re stuck getting a Chill, which isn’t a bad thing, just not as good as the Ice is. At least with the Chill you pay less, $12 for the 20 oz bottle and $15 for the 24 oz. Yesterday we went for a ride out to Danville. It was in the mid- to high-80s. I filled both the old and new Ice bottles with cube ice and cold water. The new one lasted nearly the entire ride including a long coffee break at Peets, about 3 ½ hours total. I can’t recall when the old Ice bottle got warm but it was well before. I’d say that’s an improvement! I got it as a substitution for the original for my bike. And it keeps the water cool for a longer time and the ventosa system provides a better experience Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023 *for the size, at least. It won't stay cold as long as something like a big Igloo jug, but a jug won't fit in a cup holder or on a bike, will it? Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2023 Best water bottle I've ever owned, worth the price for the ease of use, locking spout, and insulation, I have increased my water consumption and I owe it to a great water bottle, years in the marine corps using camel back products they have never let me down. One person found this helpful Report Reviewed in the United States on December 5, 2023 This bottle does keep water cold longer however, it’s a bit harder to squeeze likely due to thicker plastic. I have some arthritis from an old injury in my hand so it’s harder for me than the traditional which I have no issues with. Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2023 Getting great use out of the bottles. Good way to keep hydrated Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2022 Wife is a bike rider. She was recommended this botte by another rider. She loves it. Reviewed in the United States on September 12, 2023 Color: BlackPattern Name: bottle Easily doubles the "life of ice" on hot days. Love the 24" size. Fits great in Standaed mtn bk cage. I do wish that they had this size in the dirt series because those dust caps aren't cheap. Reviewed in the United States on August 15, 2023 Color: BlackPattern Name: bottle It keeps my water much cooler than other bottles I've tried. Top reviews from other countries3.0 out of 5 stars Buena opción. Reviewed in Mexico on September 13, 2023 Es una buena opción en tanto a tamaño se refiere. Pero a diferencia de lo que ofrecen en la publicación, no mantiene por mucho tiempo el líquido frío. Yo lo probé en mi bicicleta, en plena actividad y me duró fría la bebida aprox 45 min..... Claro en comparación con botellas es mejor opción. También recomendaría que le pongan una tapa para cubrir la boquilla del polvo y suciedad. 5.0 out of 5 stars Garde l'eau froide Reviewed in Canada on August 2, 2023 Très bonne bouteille garde l'eau froide pendant longtemps. 3.0 out of 5 stars Preis\Leistung passt nicht so ganz. Getränk kühlt schnell aus. Reviewed in Germany on January 28, 2024 Bei ca. 5 bis 7 Grad Außentemperatur war mein Tee nach 2 Stunden schon kalt. Hatte etwas mehr Isolations-Leistung erwartet. Preis-Leistung stimmt hier für mich nicht so ganz. 5.0 out of 5 stars Para el verano lo mejor Reviewed in Spain on January 6, 2024 Muy buenos para el verano, te mantienen el hielo unas horas, poner medio bidon lleno de liquido el dia anterior a salir, y rellenar la otra mitad justo cuando vas a salir, y unas 3h estas con el agua fresca en el bidon Is Podium Chill worth it?This bottle is great if you're cycling and like having cold water. It doesn't spill so it's great in that regard. The water is fairly tall though so if you plan on putting it in a bottle cage you may want to ensure you have sufficient clearance to do so. Mine just barely fits on my bicycle. What is the difference between CamelBak Podium Chill and Ice?The only differences between these bottles are the capacity and thermal insulation. The Podium is non insulated, while the Podium Chill should keep your drink cool twice as long as a regular bottle while the Podium Ice should keep your drink cool 4 times as long as a regular bottle. How long does CamelBak Podium last?Camelbak's best insulated water bottle is not going to score points with survivalists or marathon cyclists, because its special insulating powers wear off after two hours. Hot liquids stored inside the Podium Ice bottle lose half their temperature somewhere between 60 and 120 minutes. Are CamelBak water bottles worth it?It can keep your hot drink hot for almost 12 hours, while cold drinks can stay cold for up to 24 hours depending on the weather. But if you're someone forgetful of your daily water intake, the CamelBak Chute Mag is a great water bottle that can help you out. |
