I unintentionally conducted a psuedo-scientific test of insultaed bottles the other day. I have several Polar insulated bottles with the foil liner and one Camelback podium with the thin foam liner. I filled both roughly 2/3 with ice and topped off with cold water from the fridge dispenser (Camelback) and cold G2 (Polar). About 1:15 into my ride in mid-90 degree heat I realized that the water in the Camelback was still plenty chilly and even had ice cube remnants swimming around while the G2 in the Polar bottle was already luke warm. Another 30min later and the water was still on the cool side and the G2 was like bath water (or piss). I can’t claim to have put the same # of ice cubes in each bottle but they were close enough and the results were distinct enough for me to declare the Camelback Podium the clear winner without a doubt.
Anyone want to buy 2 sude Polar insulated battles cheap
On the other hand, you cannot take the Camelback nipple apart for cleaning, as you can for the polar. Stuff starts growing in the former, and even taking their advice and putting the lids in the dishwasher won’t get that blackness out. DAMHIKT.
I’ve found that the Polar bottles keep fluids cold longer than the Camelback. But I always have the same liquids in each bottle, and I don’t think I’ve done a side-by-side comparison. Maybe tonight…
I did a test of the bottles a few weeks ago that hit the cutting room floor due a product cancellation.
There were two versions of the bottle you mention. One was significantly more effective than the other. Unfortunately, the most effective version has been delayed until next year. The other version was significantly less effective over time in maintaining fluid temperature.
I must have older Polar bottles - they just use a standard lid/nipple. My Camelback top has a nice pressure nipple so I can leave it “open” all the time. You could just as easily swap a top from the new Specialized Purist bottles with the nice lid valve too. I was never really imnpressed with the Polar bottles but I figured it was better than nothing. But 90+ min in 95 degrees and the Camelback was still refreshing - that impressed me. maybe there is something about the thermodynamic properties of water vs G2 that made this an unfair comparison I’ll count ice cubes and use the same liquid in both tomorrow.
The largest Camelbak is 20 oz, the largest Polar is 24 oz (but they do make a 20 as well).
The bottles are shaped differently, the Polar has a “notch” and the Camelbak doesn’t, which means the Camelbaks don’t really fit in some cages that hold the Polars quite well. (I’ve ejected a Camelbak out of a down-tube cage on a bumpy road that holds the Polars just fine.)
That said, I always use the Camelbaks on my tri bike in the Cutter carbon cages I got off Bonktown with no adverse issues. They hold well and the spin to close means even when horizontal I don’t drip any of the sticky liquids onto my bike. I use the Polars on my road bike for the extra 8 oz and the fact that they fit in the cages.
I can confirm what you have found, that the camelbak bottles last about twice as long (keeping liquid cold) as the polar bottles.
On my long rides I usually have one standard bottle between the bars for dumping water on my head, and one polar bottle and one camelbak insulated bottle. I always try to drink the polar first but it is inevitably warm by the time I finish it off. Then when I switch to the camelbak its still got small pieces of ice floating around! If I didn’t have 4 of the polar bottles, I would probably never use them again.
About them fitting into the bottle cages, I agree that the polar bottles fit “better” into standard cages, but I think the camelbaks fit tighter and I prefer that. I have never had a problem with either being ejected.
The new camelbacks have a valve that can be taken apart for cleaning. It is really the same valve, except now outer part pops off for cleaning.
I have one of the purist water bottles and it is not nearly as good as the camelbacks that I have owned. The camelbacks I can just leave in the “open” position and liquid will not leak out if the bottle is turned upside down. The purist on the other hand will initially leak a stream when turned upside down, but then seal up and not leak anymore. There may just be something wrong with my bottle, does everyone else have this issue. If it is just the design, it is not much better than a normal sports bottle, since it needs to be closed all the time to avoid leaking.
The new camelbacks have a valve that can be taken apart for cleaning. It is really the same valve, except now outer part pops off for cleaning.
I have one of the purist water bottles and it is not nearly as good as the camelbacks that I have owned. The camelbacks I can just leave in the “open” position and liquid will not leak out if the bottle is turned upside down. The purist on the other hand will initially leak a stream when turned upside down, but then seal up and not leak anymore. There may just be something wrong with my bottle, does everyone else have this issue. If it is just the design, it is not much better than a normal sports bottle, since it needs to be closed all the time to avoid leaking.
