Ultimate Direction Kicker bottle - Sturdy?

Triathlon Forum
1

I just bought one of these water bottles, and when I got it home I pulled out the mouthpiece to show my wife and SNAP - the hard plastic collar holding down the mouthpiece (the white ring at the top) broke right off.

I’m thinking I must have bought a lemon. But before I exchanged it for a new one, I thought I would ping the group to see if others have had problems. If so, I’ll probably just go with a return instead of exchanging it.

Mike

http://www.ultimatedirection.com/images/Inn_kickerclosed2.jpg

2

I have one … I love the bottle holder for your hand that goes with that bottle BUT the bottle itself sucks - too much water sometimes, too hard to get water while you are running most of the time … I just hate the mouthpiece thingy … poor design if you ask me.

3

I’ve had mine for quite a while and like it alot. I have the opposite opinion from the above post. I use it all the time for running. The thing I like the most is the soft rubber mouthpiece, easier to drink while running than a regular bottle. I was worried there would be leakage when the mouthpiece is extended, but that does not seem to be an issue.

CST

4

at the 2 running stores I have worked at, both have had nothing but positive feedback for the bottles and only about 1% return rate if that
.

5

I’ve got three of them. One wore out I used it so much. NEVER had a problem, would buy more if I needed them.

B

6

my buddy is an Ultimate rep and therefor a bunch of the people I train with have kicker valves on things. I found that once I got used to it it was great. The learning curve sucked though. I still warn people when I sell them, “give it a week or two and you’ll love it…”

I’ve only seen one defect and it was the same thing that happened to you. Only seen it once though, well now heard of it twice after yours. I think they are bringing the original Sportflask back again, that was the best bottle ever made!!!

7

Same thing happened to me–white ring came off, valve leaked thereafter.

8

I’ve had mine for about 3-4 months now, no problems at all. As related above, it takes a little time to get used to it, initially I thought it was stupid but I like it a lot now. It never leaks a drop (as opposed to my bike bottles, which leak a bit when I run with them) and the flow can be controlled very well.

9

Update…
So I did and exchange/return, and got a new UD bottle, and have worked with it for a couple weeks now.

Pros…

  • no pinched lips, the “kicker” valve is soft on the lips

Cons…

  • 2 flows: completely off, and FIREHOSE
  • the finger loop needs to be properly positioned when the bottle is put in a seat post bottle holder - if it’s pointing out it was sticking out just enough to touch my leg.
  • once you squeeze it, the valve seals and the bottle doesn’t re-fill with air - so I’ve been biting it to let some air in.

So with all that, I’ll not be buying another one.

Mike