Polar Water Bottle Review (Great For Any Sport)
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Polar Water Bottle
The Polar Insulated Sport water bottle is a best-selling water bottle for hikers and cyclers. It’s available in two sizes, and the main selling point is the insulation that keeps your drink cold for hours. View Latest DealWondering if you should get the Polar water bottle? Then you’re certainly in the right place because this detailed review will answer that and any other questions you might have about the Polar water bottle!
We’ve covered quality, durability, pricing, and pretty much everything else you need to know about this popular water bottle. Read on to see why the Polar water bottle is one of the most popular options on the market, and figure out whether it’s the right option for you!
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Suitable for one-handed use on bikes
- Great insulation properties
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Water can sometimes taste like plastic
- No information on filter compatibility
About Polar Water Bottle (Sport)
Polar is a popular Colorado brand of water bottles. They have many different products in their range, but this review focuses on the Insulated Sport bottle – the first and most popular water bottle they ever made.
The main selling point of this water bottle is that it has much better insulation than all the previous models. It’s still not as capable as a stainless steel bottle, but if you need a bottle that allows for easy, one-handed drinks on the go, then this is a great choice.
Also, the insulation is amazing for a plastic bottle, but don’t expect wonders. You still need to fill the entire bottle with ice cubes if you want to have cold water for long runs and rides, and it’s not suitable for hot beverages.
Anyway, read on to learn more about the materials, quality, and ease of use of the Polar water bottle, and see whether it’s the right fit for you!
Materials and Taste
The Polar Insulated Sport water bottle is made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) with a TPU valve. It is 100% BPA-free with Tri-Layer Insulation that can keep your drink cold for hours, as long as you put enough ice cubes in the bottle.
The bottle features a leakproof sports cap made from separate pieces, a cap, and a valve. The sport cap is easy to disassemble for thorough cleaning and both pieces are dishwasher safe. The cap also has a dash handle that allows easy access to the bottle during any activities, as well as convenient transport.
This bottle is designed to fit into standard water bottle cages on bikes, for ultimate convenience. Depending on the size of the cage on your bike, you can choose between a few different sizes of the bottle. The price difference between them is minimal and even the largest bottle they offer is under $20.
In terms of taste, it’s worth noting that some people did complain about water tasting like plastic. However, most of those complaints state that water tasted bad when it was left in the water bottle for a few hours, so it seems like an issue that’s easy to solve.
On the other hand, what’s the point of such great insulation if you need to change the water every couple of hours anyway, just to avoid it tasting like plastic? If this is a problem for you, you can always add a water enhancer to improve the taste.
It’s recommended to thoroughly wash the water bottle before the first use since this can help you avoid having water that tastes like plastic.
Structure and Durability
The Polar is a soft water bottle, meaning that you can just squeeze it to get the water out of the cap. It’s not collapsible like some other options, so it takes up the same amount of space whether it’s full or empty.
It weighs a little more than 4.5 ounces, which is not bad for a plastic water bottle that can hold 20 fl ounces of liquid. It’s very lightweight, which is just one of the many things that make this a great companion for bike rides and other outdoor adventures.
Additionally, this bottle features grip grooves, which make it a bit easier to handle, especially when refilling. Even if you get water on the outside of the bottle, it’s not going to get too slippery. But even if you were to drop the bottle, it’s important to know that it can withstand pretty much any fall without getting damaged.
The bottle might get scuffed and scratched with regular use, but it will take a lot of effort to damage it to the point where it’s not usable anymore. The plastic material it’s made from is extremely durable, and you should be able to get a lot of use out of the Polar bottle.
On top of that, it’s worth noting that Polar backs all their bottles with a lifetime warranty. This covers any defects in the materials or the manufacturing process, plus they offer free replacement parts, in case you lose or damage the cap and handle. They don’t sell replacement parts, so it’s great of them to offer free replacement to all their customers.
Ease of Use
The best thing about the Polar water bottle is how easy it is to use. It’s perfect for one-handed drinking while you’re still on the bike, and the handle on the cap makes it super easy to grab the bottle while you’re still riding. You just need to pull on the cap and you’re ready to drink!
Also, it’s worth noting that it’s super easy to have ice-cold water for hours in the bottle. Thanks to the wide mouth, you can easily fill the entire bottle with ice cubes and then add water until it’s full to the brim. The ice melts slowly thanks to the excellent insulation, so you have an ice-cold drink for hours, even on hot summer days.
The Polar water bottle fits into bike cages, cup holders, and side pockets of backpacks, for ultimate portability. Also, the handle on the side makes it very convenient to just carry the bottle in your hand, and it gives you the option to attach it to the outside of your backpack or another bag. However, keep in mind that exposing the bottle to the sun will make the insulation slightly less effective.
Another thing worth noting is that Polar doesn’t state anything about the diameter of the mouth or compatibility with water filters. This can be an issue if you’re used to refilling your bottle from natural sources, but it’s a problem you can solve by using filter tablets.
Weight and Portability
The Polar bottle weighs just 4.5 ounces, which is pretty good for its size. Keep in mind that this is the weight of the bottle that has a 20oz capacity – the bigger bottle is a bit heavier, but it’s a minimal difference. Both will fit into standard bike cages and backpack pockets, plus both feature a handle on the cap so you can easily carry the bottle in your hand.
Soft plastic bottles are generally super lightweight, and the Polar is no exception. If you don’t want to lug around a heavy water bottle, then this one is a great option because it’s not heavy at all. Also, it has a rather small capacity, so even when you fill it up with water and ice, it’s still a much lighter option than bottles with a larger capacity.
If you want something even lighter, look into hydration bladders and collapsible water bottles. They are much lighter, but they’re not as easy and convenient to use. Collapsible bottles aren’t suitable for one-handed hydration, and bladders can only work if you put them in a hydration backpack.
Made in the USA
Another important selling point of the Polar water bottle is that it’s made in the USA. The brand is based in Colorado, and all the bottles are manufactured there. This minimizes environmental impact, and it supports the local economy, which is reason enough to get the bottle for most people.
If you’re from the USA and you generally prefer shopping for local products, then this bottle is perfect for you.
Polar Water Bottle: Good Enough?
Should you get the Polar water bottle for yourself? It depends on what you’re looking for.
If you want a portable water bottle for the gym or bike rides, then it’s a viable option. It’s especially a good bottle for you if one of the key things you’re looking for is a bottle that can keep your drink cold for a long time. The Polar water bottle boasts excellent insulation that outperforms most of its direct competitors.
- TRI-LAYER INSULATED WATER BOTTLE: The original, 100% BPA-free water bottle - our updated sports insulated water bottle feature triple wall insulation, keeping your liquid cooler 2 times longer than older models
- SPORT CAP WITH HANDLE: Pull for a quick stream of water and push for leakproof transport, the Dash Handle makes carrying and accessing easy; stow in your backpack, gym bag, tote bag, or carry by the handle
On the other hand, if you need a large-capacity bottle for hikes, and if even a hint of a plasticky taste is a deal-breaker for you, then this isn’t the best water bottle for you. But don’t worry – we’ve got plenty of other options you can consider, so be sure to check out our related posts to find your ultimate water bottle!
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