Siobhan Tests the Latest Bottle from FLEXR

Triathlon seems to inspire innovation like no other sport today. After I recently tried the FLEXR handheld waterbottle and wrote up the results, I actually received a call from Jim the CEO and founder of the company. He's another great example of people in this business who are not afraid to take a risk and build something new. In this case, Jim took a fresh look at a very old product - a water bottle - and came up with a way to make sure every drink is fresh and the environment stays a little cleaner.

After that call, another bottle design of his showed up on my doorstep. I decided to let someone else have the pleasure of letting me know how it works. Siobhan, a mountain bike racer, said she would happily give it a try on one of her off-road adventures. Here's what she had to say in report from the hills of Maryland:

The flat bottle design allowed for tucking into rear of garment during steep trail climbs and/or rock scrambles. I found the surface texture of the bottle provided nice gripping surface during outdoor exercise in inclement weather.

The plastic used was softer than other bottles. I liked this because oftentimes sport bottles are designed with plastic that is too firm – making it difficult to get a sufficient flow of water without a lot of exertion. For those lacking in hand strength, this actually makes a big impact.

The shape ruled it out for use during cycling activities as it didn’t fit in a typical, frame-mount cage. But I really liked it!"

Thanks, Siobhan! We'll try a hands-free bike hydration system from FLEXR next.