Sports water bottles at Black Friday

Pocket bottle, soft flask or canister: running while drinking

When running, the bottle should be forgotten. The pocket bottle, like the Nathan LittleShot, is held in place by an adjustable strap passed over the back of the hand: the runner doesn't need to grip with their fingers and can drink without slowing down. The soft flask, like the one from Dynafit, slips into the front pocket of a trail vest and folds up as it empties, without bouncing against the chest. The rigid canister, larger in size, remains the tool for gyms, fields, and breaks at the side of the track, where there's no need to carry it while moving.

Other accessories

Running accessories for Black Friday also come in different types:

• Bags / Hydration.
• Electronics.

All accessories are gathered on the accessories page.

Pressure, straw or wide mouth: three ways to drink

The cap makes a difference in use. The pressure bottle, like the Nike Refuel and Fuel, is squeezed with one hand: the valve opens by pulling on the spout and water shoots out without tilting the head. The integrated straw of the Nike Recharge allows sipping while walking, with no risk of spilling. The wide mouth of the Big Mouth accepts ice cubes and drink powder without a funnel, and can be cleaned to the bottom with a bottle brush. A lockable cap prevents leaks in a gym bag, between a towel and a change of clothes.

Capacity according to the duration of effort

US brands indicate the capacity in ounces: twenty-two ounces is about six hundred fifty milliliters, twenty-four ounces just over seven hundred. For a one-hour outing in mild weather, a flask of three hundred to five hundred milliliters is often sufficient. Beyond that, or in hot weather, a larger bottle or two flasks distributed in a vest is planned. Indoors, a bottle of about seven hundred milliliters covers most sessions. Needs vary according to each person’s sweat: weighing oneself before and after an outing gives a precise idea of the lost water.

BPA-free materials and cleaning a bottle

Sport bottles are usually made of plastic, either soft or rigid, guaranteed BPA-free, a compound banned in France in food containers since 2015. To avoid odors and deposits, rinse it with hot water right after use, with the cap removed, then let it dry open, upside down. A spoonful of baking soda in lukewarm water, left overnight, eliminates the taste of sweet drinks. The soft flask, hard to brush, is cleaned with effervescent tablets designed for this purpose. Boiling water is avoided, as it deforms the plastic and weakens the valve.

Frequently asked questions

How to drink while running without choking?

Slow down slightly, take small sips and swallow between two breaths rather than during exertion. Drinking regularly in small amounts also avoids the feeling of a full stomach at the end of the outing.

Is a soft flask easy to fill?

Yes, its spout accepts water from the tap or a fountain, but it needs to be held upright to prevent it from bending during filling. A drink powder can be poured more cleanly with the help of a small funnel.

Can you put hot drink in a sports bottle?

No, soft or rigid plastic bottles are not designed for hot liquids, which deform them and weaken the valves. For a hot drink in winter, you need an insulated bottle.

Water or sports drink in your bottle?

Water is enough for a session of less than an hour. Beyond that, a sports drink provides carbohydrates and sodium, useful to delay fatigue and compensate for the salt lost in sweat.

Can a bottle go in the dishwasher?

Some rigid bottles can withstand it in the top rack, as noted by the manufacturer’s instructions. Soft flasks and valve caps should be washed by hand, as the heat from the dishwasher deforms them.