Do insulated bottles actually work?

[p nut]

I’m looking to buy a whole new lot of bottles as the ones I have are 2+ years old and taste like plastic 10 min into the ride.

I’ll most likely buy a few Purist bottles (or any other suggestions for ~24-26oz bottles with no plastic taste welcome).

But I’m also thinking of trying out an insulated bottle. I wonder how well they work (and is it worth giving up the volume). I don’t mind a warm sip of water but rides in late July/August, it’d be nice for a nice, cold gulp of water.

I see a few with decent reviews. Polar, Camelbak, etc. Any favorites?

[mjf]

I like CamelBak for their valve more than anything else. But broadly haven't found much of a reason for an insulated bottle while riding.

Matter of preference, but I'd rather have the extra liquid in the same space, than for it to be cold

[windsurfer]

Podium chill are nice if you don't like drinking hot water. If you use a purist on a hot day you might as well add a tea bag.

[djg21]

Originally Posted by mjf

I like CamelBak for their valve more than anything else. But broadly haven't found much of a reason for an insulated bottle while riding.

Matter of preference, but I'd rather have the extra liquid in the same space, than for it to be cold

I like insulated bottles. I fill them about half way with ice cubes before adding the hydration/electrolyte drink I use. The bottles stay cold for a decent amount of time depending on ambient temperature. I use the Camelback Podium Ice bottles. I echo comments about the valves. I like them because they can be easily cleaned. I actually put the bottles and caps in my dishwasher to sanitize them every few of uses.

I wouldn’t use steel or titanium bottles because are more dangerous if they fall off your bike or get dropped during any kind of group ride.

[carpediemracing]

I use Podium Ice bottles (not the Chill). At first I bought both the Ice and the Chill, and noticed the Chills were not as effective. Did a "test" - filled one of each, rode on a really hot-to-me day, maybe 95F. Within an hour the Chill was lukewarm. There were lots of ice in the Ice, and there were still pieces of ice after 2 hours (the Chill had gone warm so I used that up first).

I find that for a hot one hour crit, I can use two Ice bottles and be okay.

Prior to that, carrying uninsulated bottles, I'd dump a large on myself before the start, carry another large as dump bottle, dump on me in the first 15-20 min, then move a regular bottle from pocket to cage, and have another in the other cage. 4 bottles for an hour crit. These are bottles I filled with ice, had in the cooler, etc, so my final two bottles were 3/4 ice when I started the race. The insulated Ice bottles made it so I was okay carrying two on me and that's it.

The Chills I've now reserved for post race rinsing off, pre-race over-the-head stuff, etc. I have a cooler for all of it. Bought a second pair of Ice bottles which I seem to have misplaced. For a long time they were unavailable for some reason, but now I think they're available.

To prep the bottles for a race, I fill them about halfway, put them in the freezer so they're tilted (otherwise they bulge at the bottom), and fill with ice cubes and water, then pack in cooler. Usually pack-cooler to line-up-at-start is 2-3 hours max, so there is a lot of ice.

I only do that with one Ice bottle unless it's a long drive to the race or it's super hot, and definitely if I'm just riding from the house. I found out the hard way that the Ice bottle full of ice will not allow the ice inside to thaw, even after an hour plus of riding in really hot weather, even after leaving the cap off for a while. Frustrating to be beet red from heat and not being able to drink the ice tantalizingly beyond reach.

I've finished 85-90F races (so not terribly hot) shivering with cold after aggressively dumping ice cold water on myself in preparation for the sprint. I learned the hard way that being cold is just as bad as being hot, maybe worse, so now I try to tame down the ice water dumping on myself.

Note: I try to dump the water not on my head unless I'm truly suffering, like I've already stopped. It seems that if I dump on my head my body instantly tries to retain heat, but if I dump on neck down, my body doesn't do a "it's freezing out!" reaction.

[Tickdoc]

Originally Posted by p nut

I’m looking to buy a whole new lot of bottles as the ones I have are 2+ years old and taste like plastic 10 min into the ride.

I’ll most likely buy a few Purist bottles (or any other suggestions for ~24-26oz bottles with no plastic taste welcome).

But I’m also thinking of trying out an insulated bottle. I wonder how well they work (and is it worth giving up the volume). I don’t mind a warm sip of water but rides in late July/August, it’d be nice for a nice, cold gulp of water.

I see a few with decent reviews. Polar, Camelbak, etc. Any favorites?

I consider them a must around here. Over 100 degree summer days will still melt your ice within an hour or so. You will at least have cool water on extended rides rather than bathwater.

Camelbak have been the best I have tried, polar is the only other brand I have tried, but they don't seem to insulate as well, at least in my experience.

I wish Stanley should enter the insulated cycling bottle arena.

[Mark McM]

If you want a bottle that keeps drinks cool the longest, and has no plastic taste at all, consider stainless steel vacuum insulated bottles like the Bivo Trio bottles.

[Likes2ridefar]

They eliminate sweat and work for a couple hours when loaded with ice but have their limits. I’ve not noticed any difference in performance across brands.

[makoti]

Originally Posted by Likes2ridefar

They eliminate sweat and work for a couple hours when loaded with ice but have their limits. I’ve not noticed any difference in performance across brands.

Came to say that these do work quite well

[54ny77]

camelback insulated. here's the trick for hot days: fill it at least halfway with water (or add a splash of your favorite sports drink) and leave in freezer overnight. key is at least half the bottle is frozen. that will last a good long while.

if you ride with two bottles on hot days like i do, i ride with one regular and 1 insulated, fill both to almost full and leave in freezer overnight. the regular bottle melts steady over the first hour or so and then the insulated bottle is perfect after 1.5 hours and is halfway melted, leaving me with nice cold liquid.

that covers me for 3 or so hours on a hot day wherever i may be.

[Likes2ridefar]

Thx never done that and I’m curious if the arizona sun disagrees

If I fill my two insulated bottles completely with ice then water and go ride the first bottle will be air temp by when I finish it, and when I move to the second bottle it’s usually not cold at all…maybe cool.

[RoosterCogset]

Originally Posted by 54ny77

camelback insulated. here's the trick for hot days: fill it at least halfway with water (or add a splash of your favorite sports drink) and leave in freezer overnight. key is at least half the bottle is frozen. that will last a good long while.

if you ride with two bottles on hot days like i do, i ride with one regular and 1 insulated, fill both to almost full and leave in freezer overnight. the regular bottle melts steady over the first hour or so and then the insulated bottle is perfect after 1.5 hours and is halfway melted, leaving me with nice cold liquid.

that covers me for 3 or so hours on a hot day wherever i may be.

A variation on this is to fill halfway, then lay the bottle almost flat in the freezer, but tilted up a little bit to keep ice from forming around the nozzle. Makes it a bit easier to squeeze along the length of the bottle vs trying to squeeze only the top half (since bottom is solid ice).

[Veloo]

Been using insulated bottles for a long time now.

I tried the first gen Camelbak but didn't like the valve.

I have Polar and Elite.
I prefer the Polar cuz it has a valve I can disassemble for a thorough cleaning when needed.
The Elite one opens and closes by twisting the entire cap which is annoying but I kept it. It's insulated with a sheet of cork.

If not using ice cubes, I freeze the bottle at an angle so there's more surface area exposed to the water. When I would freeze half the bottle standing up, I'd finish the water too fast and the remaining ice wouldn't melt fast enough for me to have water to drink.

The Bivos were on sale here at a shop but not the stainless ones. I didn't want to get the painted ones and have it get all scratched up against my King Ti cages. If the insulated stainless goes on sale I'll try it out.
The Bivo valves are also more complicated to allow flow like a straw so that's another turn off.

I like my valves simple and cleanable. Pull with your mouth/teeth to open. Knock it against your thigh to close.

[trener1]

Just as a fyi, I got a email from Polar a few days ago, they were running a BOGO sale, I'm not sure if it's still on or not, but worth a look.

[Alistair]

Camelbak insulated in winter (with a hot drink) - it'll keep the liquid warm for a bit (30 min?), but it won't keep it hot and it'll eventually be cold.

I haven't tried ice in summer.