off-road.cc

The new CamelBak Podium Dirt Series21oz (620ml) water bottle is a simple plastic drinks bottle with a brand new valve and cap. The new valve is great but the Mud Cap is an afterthought and doesn't work well in practice. 

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CamelBak bottles have undergone a makeover this year, this is the 'Dirt Series' bottle which is the same as the new Podium, with the addition of the Mud Cap to protect the drinking valve from dirt and muck.

The new bite valve gets a new twisting lock mechanism which, with larger 'grip tabs' is easier to grab hold of and move. The locking function is very secure when transporting in a bag, I haven't had any accidents. The lid is now easier to take apart and clean, better than the previous iteration where we have previously seen dirt stuck, or worse, mould. 

Just like previous CamelBak bottles you have to suck on the cap or squeeze the malleable bottle to get water, water flow is good though. 

The Mud Cap sits on top of the new valve and keeps mud off the part you'll put in your mouth when you are riding. I found the cap did stay in place when closed but there's nothing to secure the ring of the cap to the nozzle and if you are not careful, you'll end up dislodging and losing the cap when you remove it. The Mud Cap is available as an accessory for £5.99 if you want one for a bottle you already own. 

Like the Podium Dirt Series Chill bottle we reviewed recently, this one can also contain 620ml of liquid and is 100% free of BPA, BPS and BPF. The size and shape of this bottle fitted nicely in my Specialized bottle cage and, although I expect this to be the same for most, bottle cages do vary in shape and design so it might not always be the same. 

£14.99 isn't cheap but I've used CamelBak bottles for years and not had one give up the ghost yet. The bottle comes in three different colours and if you aren't bothered about that Mud Cap, you can purchase a regular Podium bottle for £10.99 (620ml) or £11.99 (720ml). 

• www.zyrofisher.co.uk

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