Camelbak Podium Dirt series bottles – do the caps work?

Always on the lookout for a better water bottle with a mud cap, especially for muddy gravel rides over winter!

Elite’s efforts leave a lot to be desired and depend upon a thin piece of plastic as the hinge, which seems very delicate, have had 2 of them fail on me.

I saw an off-road.cc review which suggested the mud cap wasn’t worth it, I think because they were prone to falling off?

The review is correct! The coverage on the cap is good, unlike the ones on Fidlock bottles, but they drop off fairly quickly. I think you used to be able to buy the caps separately but you shouldn’t have to.

Useful to know – I’m just in the same market.

I can confirm the Elite ones are hopeless and break off in quick fashion due to just having about 2mm of thin plastic as the hinge.

Perfectly happpy with mine, been using them for a good couple of years.

Zefal do a ‘no mud’ bottle with a rubber cap that looks more promising.

I and a mate had these or their predacessor 20 years BC (Before Camelbak).

I’ve been using a few of them for about two years now and the caps have never worked loose for me.

The only issue with them is, if you squeeze too hard the water can come out where the lid screws on.

I’ve not lost one yet – famous last words. Work okay, but bidons and mud aren’t really a great combo even so.

I’ve not had a problem with the Podium Dirt caps, I don’t see how you can lose one without deliberately pulling it off the bottle.  It is admittedly easy to remove them but it’s not something I do in normal use.

Also found the Fidlock bottles with a cap fine.

Maybe I’m just a little more careful than some?

Zefal do a ‘no mud’ bottle with a rubber cap that looks more promising.

I bought one.  It works exactly as you’d want it to, so I bought two more.  Was relatively cheap from Spacey Jeff’s MegaMart.

I’ve used the add on cap for a normal podium for good few years and had no problems. Which reminds me, i could do with  buying a couple more

I’ve got a podium dirt, never had the cap fall off but I do find it too floppy to use 1 handed, so avoid taking it on any ride that’s not super muddy

Works fine for me, never lost one.  I only drink when I stop so don’t have an issue with fiddling with the cap.

Work okay, but bidons and mud aren’t really a great combo even so.

Interesting point, I do have an old Camelbak rucsac that I could use, but was put off by sweatiness under the rucsac and how it might affect waterproof performance.

I like the look of those Zefal bottles, not fussed about the twisty locky thing on the Podium.

I also use Camelbak Dirt Caps with no issues on the mountain bike all year round.

Got a couple of Podium Dirt bottles, not lost a lid yet. Have had one come off in my hand in use, but not when it’s just on the bike.

Yes theyre great, I have a few dirt & non dirt ones and I always swap the caps round

and Ive not lost one yet!

I’m with the ‘i’ve not lost one yet’ camp, and tehy keep mud out.

I ight actually try 3d printing a few more!

DrP

Another Dirt Chill user here who’s never lost the cap, and the bottle is a few years old now. I do only use it when I’ve stopped though.

We’ve got a few in the house none of which have had any kind of cap falling off issue. They aren’t the easiest caps to use on the go though when compared to others

Oddly, I’ve also got an Elite that’s pretty ancient now. It certainly looks like the hinge should snap any second but it just keeps going

The Decathlon own-brand ones have a flimsy looking cap but i’ve found they’re actually fine.

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/water-bottle-650ml-black/_/R-p-347994?mc=8809628&c=black

though looking on their site, I see there’s a stainless steel Riverside-branded one that looks worth a try:

https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/800-ml-stainless-steel-cycling-bottle/_/R-p-330919?mc=8645460&c=steel%20grey_black

Zefal ones for me especially as they can be under a fiver!

but I do find it too floppy to use 1 handed

I thought this, then realised if I removed the floppy cap whilst it’s in the bottle holder it makes life so much easier. Cap off, take out of holder, drink, back in holder, cap on. 🙂

Had my Podium with the rubber cap a few years now. Never once has the cap fallen off.

The bottle came out of my cage the other week and when i realised and went back to get it, it had been run over and flattened by a tractor. The cap was still on it.

IIRC the Dirt series are opaque so can’t see how much water left. I bought a clear and cap separately, works great.

For serious conditions though, https://dawntodusk.bike/product/dirt-mask/

I thought this, then realised if I removed the floppy cap whilst it’s in the bottle holder it makes life so much easier. Cap off, take out of holder, drink, back in holder, cap on.

This is the way.

For serious conditions though, https://dawntodusk.bike/product/dirt-mask/

I looked at these a while back but gave up trying to get one in the UK . . . looks easy enough now though: https://www.multisportonline.com/collections/dawn-to-dusk

Also, fwiw, just noticed that the caps Dawn to Dusk use on the “Ice Flow” are exactly the same as some cheapo Halfords (and far more expensive) Fidlocks use. So good chance that just buying the cap on its own will fit a fairly normal bottle

I just ingest the mud. Maybe swill and spit the first mouthful if there’s a lot. But there is minimal sheep and cow poo where I ride.

I’ve had a pair of the podium bottles for a year.

No mud in mouth yet.

None of what ever it was that gave me a horrible dose of food poisoning 13 months ago.

I have used the caps for years on 2 bottles, never had an issue with them falling off.

The caps stay on well for me on the bike and keep the muck out, but give the bottle to my toddler and the cap is instantly removed.

I use a Podium Dirt cap on my Fidlock bottle – seems to work fine

I don’t like the valves on Camelbak bottles – it’s impossible to get the last cm of water out!

Another vote for Fidlock bottles here (and the whole system).

I just ingest the mud. Maybe swill and spit the first mouthful if there’s a lot. But there is minimal sheep and cow poo where I ride

I’m trying to play an immunity ‘marginal gains’ game this winter to try and keep riding at a decent level. Every winter I’m thwarted by bug after bug after bug so my philosophy is every little helps!

Have had my flue jab already although sadly I think the real low hanging fruit is booze and sugar intake which will be a much tougher one to reduce, rather than my mud intake!

I’ve largely moved over to metal bidons and use Sigg bottles, for both environmental and cost reasons. They do make a silicon mouth piece, but I’ve just carried on with their screw in stopper. It does mean you have to stop to have a drink, but I’m not a heavy water user, so it doesn’t bother me, and if anything I could do with stopping a bit more anyway. They don’t seem to collect as much mud/dirt around the opening.

I like the camelbak bottles and they’re my go to, but the small rubber cap is exactly that, pretty small. Doesn’t really stop the mud getting onto the mouthpiece on really foul rides in my experience.

Obviously i haven’t read the rest of the thread, but has anyone suggested ion8 bottles? The lid fully covers the mouth piece and it’s spring loaded. Only problem I’ve had is that they don’t necessarily fit in all bottle holders. https://www.ion8.co.uk/collections/sports-water-bottles-1?_gl=1*je1i0r*_up*MQ..*_ga*OTI3MTA0NTkuMTczMDQ2ODIxOA..*_ga_ZEFHVKKF91*MTczMDQ2ODIxNy4xLjAuMTczMDQ2ODIxNy4wLjAuNzkwMTcwOTU5&gclid=CjwKCAjw-JG5BhBZEiwAt7JR64Tr9LKGWQKm0hGR_1W4wSrNLT-al4Vc_hd9yRFdHJvta3TTeElHBxoCnLYQAvD_BwE

the small rubber cap is exactly that, pretty small. Doesn’t really stop the mud getting onto the mouthpiece on really foul rides in my experience.

Depends if you’re a suckler or a squirter innit.

It stops mud collecting inside the nozzle so you can flip the cap and squirt into your mouth without getting any sheepy do-do squirted with it.

If you like to stick the nozzle in your gob, then yeah, coverage isn’t huge and so this can be a thing.

I use a hybrid approach, putting the nozzle to my mouth and squeezing. So far I’m not dead.

Had mine for years and they work well enough. Is it the best most sophisticated solution no. I paid 8 quid for the 620ml insulated bottles with caps, an older and newer low profile valve type. I prefer the older teat 😀

As others have mentioned – I’ve had no problems with Camelbak podium dirt cap and, also I find it possible to open/close the cap with one hand while riding.

The other bottle I use is a Sigg metal water bottle which has a really good mud cover for the cap – the only drawback with the Sigg is the bottle hasn’t beeen specifically designed for cycling and it doesn’t quite fit into some cages.