Camelbak’s New Podium Insulated Steel Bottle Brings a Touch of Class to the Humble Sports Bottle

Camelbak’s created a bottle that we’re not sure anyone asked for, but now Tim won’t leave home without it.

There’s nothing like a good sports bottle, and for a while now the Camelbak Podium has been one of the greats. Instead of a lid or nozzle you open and close, the bottle featured a lockable spout with a valve, allowing you to squirt water into your mouth on a whim, but easily lock it out to chuck it into a bag or the car. 

Add in an optimised shape for bottle cages on the bike, and car cup holders, and the podium was kind of the perfect sports bottle. Or was it?

As a certified Podium-enjoyer, I couldn’t help but be intrigued by the new Podium Insulated Steel when I saw it last week at the Sea to Summit Roadshow. My Podium bottles are looking tired after years of riding and Hydralyte abuse, so I bought a few and took them for a spin.

How does the Podium Insulated Steel work without squeezing?

Damn I was sceptical of this. ‘Am I going to have to suckle this thing like my life depends on it?’ was my thirst (ha) thought. Camelbak solved the problem with a straw that goes almost to the bottom of the bottle, you simply tip the bottle above 90 degrees and the water flows out.

It’s remarkably nice to drink from, but there are a few things to be aware of:

• If you knock it over when it’s unlocked, it will spill, unlike a regular Podium which would need to be squeezed to spill
• A little water sits in the spout after locking. I solved this by locking, then taking one more little sip, then putting it in a bag.

Blue hose so you know it’s a Camelbak

What’s the benefit of the Podium Insulated Steel?

Well firstly, they’re insulated. Camelbak has made insulated plastic Podium bottles in the past (some use Aerogel to keep things 4X cooler) but it’s hard to go past the performance and simplicity of vacuum insulation.

Camelbak are claiming 14 hours cold in the 530mL option, which seems like a lot, all I can say at this stage is that it kept my water cold on a hot day, even once it was mostly empty.

Another benefit of the stainless steel construction is that it’s damn easy to clean. I’ve kind of just embraced the mould in the nooks and crannies of my plastic Podium, but that’s unlikely with the simple interior of the Podium Insulated Steel. I’m more worried about the long hose getting dirty, but will have to update you on that later.

There’s also an updated locking mechanism, which is both easier to turn, and gives your hand feedback as it clicks into place, so you know it’s locked.

It’s also tough as, being made from metal, though how tough is yet to be seen. Camelbak have given the Podium Steel a gloss finish but they told me to ‘expect natural wear’ if I’m using it regularly with a bottle cage. A pity, because it’s so damn pretty, but I’ll keep an eye on it.

What are the drawbacks of the Podium Insulated Steel?

Weight’s a big one. This bottle is about 300g (345g for the 650mL model) and it’s 70mL smaller than the regular Podium, at 530mL. If you’re a weight-weenie this probably isn’t the bottle for you, but I think you already knew that.

There are some things to be aware of with spillage – as mentioned above – too, but on the whole it appears to be a very well-executed product.

Who is the Podium Insulated Steel for?

Judging by the marketing, gravel bikers, however I’ll be using the bottle on my road and mountain bikes, and have already been using it in the city too. It’s quite an aesthetically pleasing bottle, which makes it a bit less intense to have out in a meeting than your run-of-the-mill Podium.

Like gravel biking, the Podium Insulated Steel feels like it filled a niche that didn’t even exist. Lots of people are really loving gravel biking now, and I expect they’ll love this bottle too.