SIMPLE HYDRATION BOTTLE 18oz: Bigger is better.

 

"They say the world has become too complex for simple answers.  They are wrong."

Yet again, I use the words of the great communicator President Ronald Reagan in writing about the Simple Hydration Bottle (SHB) .  First used the words when I wrote a review of the original Simple Hydration Bottle  back in 2012.  

This 2021, I again am reminded of the words as the Bicolano Penguin marvel at the simple yet uber effective SHB, only this time it is bigger.  At 18 oz, it is 38% greater in capacity  than the original.  And that additional 5oz of hydration can be  crucial when running on trails or provincial routes where 7 Eleven convenience stores are not as readily available.    

Brian Hock designed and developed the Simple Hydration Bottle in 2011.

This latest creation from graphic designer/running enthusiast Brian Hock was launched recently and thank God we have a Simple Hydration distributor in the Philippines.  The Bicolano Penguin ordered from Race Yaya  earlier this week and in a couple of days, the package was delivered. 

Countries that have Simple Hydration Distributors

Tin Ferrera of Race Yaya and Simple Hydration Ph.  An avid runner, she  walks the talks when it comes to her running products. 

Immediately tested the new  18 oz SHB. Ran 10kms on a Friday and 21kms this Saturday while running with the Simple Hydration Bottle.  I first tried it with the usual position I have become accustomed to with the smaller 13oz Simple Hydration Bottle, that is placed inside the back of my running shirt.  Because of its bigger bulk, the new  SHB was not secured firmly at the back of my shirt, and there were times, especially when I increased the pace that the bottle was kind of moving left to right at the back of my shoulders. 

I usually run with the SHB placed inside at the back of the running shirt.  

But for this 18oz SHB, I like  running with it placed inside the back of the running shorts. 

What I did was to try it in another position:  inside the  back of my running shorts. There it worked very well.  It was secured firmly in that position.  

Here is another discovery.  the 18oz SHB is more smooth to the skin than the 13 oz SHB. Why is this so? I checked out additional info from the  website and there it was:  

"Seam on Side - By adjusting the hook design of the original bottle with a new 3/4 inch edge (that will catch and hold to a waistband, race belt of  sports top) we're now able to separate the mold in a different direction, which allows us to have the seam on the side of the bottle.  Therefore, no seam will be up against the body - just smooth plastic will be touching the skin."

Unlike the 13oz SHB, the 18oz SHB has the seam on side. 

This is a big improvement.  Those seam at the front of the 13oz SHB can potentially cause a minor irritation on the skin.  With the 18oz SHB, with its seam on  side, no such potential. Eliminates chaffing. 

Now, if bigger is better, why did the  inventor not just come up with 20 oz or even 22 oz rather than the 18oz?  Indeed, why not?  Brian Hock will have his reasons but the Inventors Digest  article  in 2015 can be enligthening. The article talked about the genesis of the SHB  more than a decade ago when the inventor tried a bigger size.  Since most water bottles are 20 ounces, the first prototype was similar in  size. After testing,  he found it was too heavy and bulky had a tendency to pull down his shorts.  The second prototype was decreased to  13 oz and it worked so well. And now we have the 18 oz SHB and that size is in the sweet spot between adequate and bulky. 

Love this product and I can't wait to try it on the trail routes in our province in Bicol.  That is as soon as we are vaccinated (against the covid) and non essential travel is not anymore prohibited to and from our National Capital Region. 

Bigger is better.  Bigger + Better.