The Redesigned CamelBak Podium 3.0 Bottles - Dirt Series + Ice + Chill Bottles Reviewed
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- čas přidán 26. 07. 2024
- CamelBak’s Podium series of water bottles have been a favorite of many cyclists and one of their most popular bottles. What sets the Podium bottles apart from other water bottles on the market is Camebak’s patented jet valve nozzle. The self sealing, and high flow nozzle makes them easy to drink from and eliminates accidental spills. With the latest Podium 3.0 bottles, CamelBak has addressed the two major flaws the Podium bottles have had - bottle cage fit and cleanability.
The CamelBak Podium bottle lineup contains a number of unique variations. Many of them are available in 24oz as well as the 21oz sizes (reviewed here). First is the standard transparent Podium bottle which has modern and simple graphics. Next is the ‘dirt series’ which features what CamelBak calls the ‘mud cap’ that protects the nozzle from grime. It is nothing more than a rubber cover that is also easy to remove from the bottle. There are also two insulated versions, the Chill and the Ice. CamelBak claims the Chill bottle keeps water cool twice as long with the double-walled construction. With the dirt series version, the exterior graphics are different and the mud cap is included. The Ice version of the bottle is more expensive but keeps water cooler for 4x longer using Aerogel insulation. Note, despite all the bottles having 21oz capacity, the insulated bottles are quite a bit taller due to the smaller inner diameter.
The biggest improvement with the Podium 3.0 bottles is the fact that they are easier to clean. The valve assembly is easier to take apart and can be broken down into smaller pieces than ever before. As you can see in the photo, the nozzle is wider than the previous iteration and can be fully removed from the cap itself. Once disassembled you have: junk filter, plastic lock ring, jet assembly, rubber gasket, nozzle cover and the full nozzle assembly. It takes a little force to separate the valve assembly from the cap, but once apart you have full access to easily clean the bottle. Unlike the previous jet valves which had small ridges that were difficult to access for cleaning, the Podium 3.0 bottles are far easier to clean.
Overall, we found the updated Podium bottles to be an impressive improvement from previous generations. The Podium bottles retain the self-sealing jet valve that has made the bottle so popular, but have been redesigned to be easier to clean. The entire nozzle assembly can be removed from the bottle cap, along with a wider nozzle head that is easy to clean and less prone to accumulating junk. While the mud cap isn’t as secure as we’d like, the dirt series are great for mountain biking while the insulated chill and ice ensure your water stays cool even on the hottest days. Who said you can’t teach an old dog new tricks?
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00:00 Intro
00:12 Unboxing + Specs
02:47 Fit + Finish
07:02 Comparison
10:01 The Final Score
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Read The Full Review - thesweetcyclists.com/camelbak...
Follow Us On Instagram - / thesweetcyclists
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CamelBak Website - www.camelbak.com/podium-bottle
~ - Sport
Put the bottle in the closed mode and the jet assembly is easier to remove.
You left out the valve removal from the jet assembly. Pretty easy to pop out with a chopstick handle. This is where the mold, yes mold, will grow.
Great review here and on other products! Thanks!
Thank you so much for the awesome review! Very helpful.
Thanks for your review. you covered everything I wanted to know!
Glad you found it useful! The Podium bottles are still our favorite for cycling.
Excelent!!! Great Review 👍🚲
Love the review, have you tried doing a follow-up review regarding the chill vs ice regarding how long it can retain their temperature is different scenarios like indoor(control) and outdoor with variable temperature?
Nice bottles, but they are missing a big market by not making a dirt series, insulated bottle that is 8.3" tall!
Super good review
Thanks for taking the time on this review!, quick silly question , is the rubber cap on the Dirt Series compatible with the regular Chill series?
Great review and excellent full cleaning instructions in the second half. For anyone having trouble removing the translucent top piece, try using a teatowel (dishtowel) for better grip. Hold the ridge tightly with the thumb and forefinger of one hand and the black part with the other hand, then slowly rock it while applying a lot of force to pull it off... this worked for me. The teatowel also helped in putting it back on.
Glad it to be helpful. Thanks for sharing the tips for removing the nozzle cover.
i realize I am pretty off topic but does anyone know of a good place to watch newly released movies online?
@Crew Sawyer Flixportal
@Princeton Edgar thanks, I signed up and it seems to work =) I really appreciate it!!
@Crew Sawyer No problem =)
Awesome video.
Which would you prefer between elite and camelbak?
Specially on insulated bottles?
To be honest, I've been using the Polar Breakaway insulated bottles more recently. They have a similar no-spill valve, simplified nozzle design but are not quite as insulated as the Podium Ice bottles. However, I like the non-insulated Elite bottles for drink mixes since they are so easy to clean.
Thanks for the detailed review, its just what I was looking for. Just bought the Podium Dirt chill bottle. Any idea how well the insulation performs?? It gets very hot on the road sometimes, 38 degC or so.
That's pretty hot! I'd recommend the ICE bottles, they should be twice as insulated as the Chill. Where we ride it is only about 80 F (26 C) but the ICE bottles have been great. They stay cool for multiple hours.
@@TheSweetCyclists thanks
I got the dirt podium chill in white foe my mtb 🚲
Thanks. I just bought the Camelbak Insulated Podium in black. It actually looks grey and has what appears like a very tight seran wrap around the bottle. I that part of the insulation? It also has what looks like deep scratches thoughout the bottle? Is that part of the insulation? Reminds me of the huge cheap styrofoam coolers. Thanks
Yes, what you're seeing the insulation on the exterior of the bottle. That layer is what has all the graphics and coloring. I'm not sure what "deep scratches" you mean though, the bottles I have all look pretty nice especially brand new.
you can easily remove the whole jetassembly when ure locking the bottle. you dont have to use so much force there :D
Does the new camelbak podium 3.0 fit the elite vico carbon bike cage?
Yes, the Elite Vico Carbon is designed for 74mm diameter bottle which is what all the CamelBak Podium bottles are. You'll notice all water bottle have almost the same diameter, and the little indentation ring a inches from the base to accommodate all standard bike bottle cages.
Where do I buy these Podium bottles? Amazon seems to mix the versions together. Some reviews of the new going back to 2017.
Great question. Based on the photos, Amazon seems to be selling both the older Podium and the newer 3.0 bottles. They are easy to tell apart based on the bottle shape and the cap (the new bottles have a beveled cap and the tapered bottle profile). You can buy the bottles directly from CamelBak (www.camelbak.com/) as they have more color choices.
I would suggest going to Evans cycles it also has all other cycling gear
I prefer camelbak podium over elite. You can’t go wrong with camelbak for hydration. I run the elite because I only have a bottle cage and it holds 950 ml compare to the 24 oz.
That's one draw back of insulated bottles, you sacrifice some capacity for the thicker walls.
@6:04 The display of the disassembled cap is incomplete! There is a screen-like membrane and its frame still inside. This is removable and a critical step in thoroughly cleaning.
How do you recommend removing it? I've only had it removed by accident after freezing the water bottle.
@@TheSweetCyclists I picked it out w needle nose pliers. It really needed careful cleaning. Your video showed me its reassembly orientation. Everything is now spotless! I should specify, pinch (w needle nose pliers) the rigid plastic edge of the frame. Do not pinch the membrane. It could tear.
Thank you for a great review. I have a couple of Podium 3 bottles. Can I put some water and microwave to sterilize just the bottle (without cap), then put the cap on and squeeze the hot water through the spout? My concern is that will it remove the Hydroguard or the silicone valve? I've done this many many times with the older model.
Interesting - I've never microwaved my bottles before. Not sure if these bottles are microwave safe, I'd recommend checking with CamelBak just in case. The Podium bottles are dishwasher safe so you can just put it in the top rack with valve open and get it pretty clean that way.
I have purchase the podium ice but I didn’t realize it’s so tall and I’m afraid the tall bottle might not fit into my frame :(
That's one downside to the insulated bottle design, the thicker walls means you need a taller bottle. If it doesn't fit the Podium Chill or Polar Breakaway bottles are a good option.
it is much easier to take apart if you lockout the nozzle
Good tip, we'll give that a try next time.
This sounds ridiculous to say, but what Camelbak have done here is finally made an ambidextrous bottle! The design seems much improved but the bottle itself actually feels much cheaper -- they seem to be using higher margin materials that don't feel as good in the hand. Oh well, it's a cheap bottle.
Interesting observation. We've had the older CamelBak Podium bottles as well, but didn't think they felt that much different. The improved cap is a nice upgrade though. We'd recommend also trying out the Polar Breakaway and Elite FLY bottles as well to see which one feels better for you.
Hello how are u?
Can a dust protection cover be installed in podium ice?
Yes, the rubber mud cap can be installed on any of the bottle variations. CamelBak sells two versions, just make sure you get the right one - www.camelbak.com/recreation/accessories/caps/CB-1947.html?dwvar_CB-1947_color=Black / www.camelbak.com/recreation/accessories/caps/CB-1522.html
@@TheSweetCyclists thanks very much
Can I take your opinion. Should I buy a size 24 or 21 better for the bike, knowing that I will buy one bottle, but I need it to keep cold for a long time. Advise me which model is better for me?
Personally I always choose the 24oz bottles as I do longer rides and prefer the additional water storage. You want to make sure you are well hydrated on rides. Note the larger bottle may not fit smaller framed bikes so I would confirm you have the space on your bike.
@@TheSweetCyclists What is the best model in camelbac bottles that keep cold and volume 24oz
Does anyone know what number plastic the water bottle is?
2
store you caps in the freezer to prevent mold
That's an interesting tip, do you freeze your bottles between rides then?
4:51 I did it like the way you showed, but the tabs get cracked because of excessive force. In camelbak cleaning tutorial video czcams.com/video/c-VCHklIV8g/video.html they taught us to switch it to closed position first before pushing. But i don't want to try it again, so i'll keep it like the way it is.
Great tip! I wasn't aware of that. It's definitely not easy to flex the tabs inward so like you, we don't often take the bottles completely apart anymore.
Busted the black tabs on mine, fresh out of the package. 😢 Way too complicated.
Please show me where the recycle symbol if thiss bottle?
Good question - I went looking on our bottles and couldn't find the symbol. According to CamelBak's website they don't print it on the bottom anymore and to consider it a 7 - www.camelbak.com/en/customer-service/help-center/care-cleaning/materials-safety-and-recycling/recycling
@@TheSweetCyclists Okay, thankyou. Bit I still don't understand it clearly what did they mean with #7 hard plastic. It hought for food grade it would be number 5 in symbol be the best.
@@arias1169 You can try to reach out to CamelBak support and see if they can give you any more info. Let us know if you find any more details.
I always stop to drink water. Can you imagine bombing a massive rocky and rooty descent trying to drink water??
Good point. As more of a road cyclist you have to learn to eat / drink one handed. At least the nozzle dirt covers are easy to install and cheap to replace.
Based upon your video, I bought a 24oz Chill and a dirt cap. On Amazon. Both together was about $20.
Much prefer the old style lid, the new one is too stiff and too sharp to use one handed on the fly. The quality of the plastic molding in my one is also shocking!
You prefer the cap or the bottle itself? As you can see in the video, you can actually swap the caps with the previous Podium bottles if you prefer the previous bottle shape. The cap is really the big improvement here, it's a lot easier to clean.
Ok so you might be able to just about prevent mould poisoning now which is an improvement, but what a faff! Still no from me for camelbak bottles.
The jet valve is a great feature, but definitely requires more cleaning. You should look at the Elite FLY bottles we've also reviewed here if you want something easy to clean. They have a simple two part cap with a push-pull valve.
The nipple came out of the inside of my Camelbak Podium when I ran a brush through it. How does that go back in?
Great timing with that question, mine just fell out the other day after freezing the bottle. There are two pieces, the soft membrane and the transparent plastic piece it sits in - these simply attach together.
To attach the two pieces back you just need to push it in from underneath the nozzle cap (remove the junk cover to get access), I used the back of a screw driver to apply a little pressure. It'll pop into place like new.
Hmmm you showed all the parts apart from the one inside the nozzle which broke on mine! Useless bottle avoid! Way too complicated!
Are you talking about the flexible round rubber piece that is part of the nozzle membrane? If you are - that actually fell out of my bottle after freezing it. I was able to re-install it by simple pushing it back in place.
Way over-thought product. Since the actual opening to the bottle is recessed deep in the nozzle, the nozzle can collect about a full tablespoon of road grit and dirt, which will mix with the next squirt of water you drink! :S An 'old-fashioned' soap bottle type nozzle would be 1000 times better and more sanitary----before drinking, a quick wipe would clean it. With THIS model, you'd need to waste water to clean out the spout before drinking. The other puzzling thing about this bottle is their so-called 'gunk filter'----it's rubber!! It is NOT a filter at all. All it does is slow the flow. The best use for this piece is to use as a 'dirt cap' on the OUTSIDE of the nozzle! You will get much better flow, PLUS you then have a nozzle that's got a cap on it to protect it from road gunk. It actually fits perfectly like that and is a MUCH better use for it. I bought this thing and that's the best way to use it. It would be 100X better with a 'standard' old-fashioned push-pull nozzle. Why try to reinvent the water bottle?? It didn't work.
What bottle do you use?
I never had the problem with their water bottles and infact I think they are good and the redesign is better cause the "gunk" will build up on the inside of the nozzle of the last design with this design the "filter" keeps the inside cleaner.
Also, you shouldn't have to use your teeth to move something... That's how you break your teeth. And you shouldn't touch it cause it's brings germs to the mouthpiece for you to indigest.
NOT easy to take apart/put back together for small hands! Urrgggh