CamelBak MultiBev Bottle Review

The Concept and Materials

The CamelBak MultiBev bottle is available in 22 oz. (650 ml) and 16. oz (470 ml) model.  We tested the bigger model but essentially the two models differ only by capacity.

The MultiBev bottle has four parts: the insulated vessel, the cup, the bottle cap and a silicone lid for the cup. The cup sits on the bottom of the vessel and can be easily unscrewed from it when you need it. Both the vessel and the cup are made of stainless steel and have a coating on the outside so that they are not slippery.  I find this non-slip coating really useful, especially now in the summer when I often have sweaty hands. It makes handling the bottle so much easier. Another neat feature is that the outer bottom of the bottle (i.e. the cup) is covered with non-slip rubber. This enables you to put the bottle (or cup) on various surfaces without worrying that it’ll fall down. I often put the bottle on the roof of my car while I’m packing stuff in the trunk, and it always stays there.

Since both vessel and cup are made of stainless steel they can be used for various beverages. Unlike plastic, stainless steel doesn’t absorb flavors and is super easy to clean. The MultiBev bottle also has a very special cap. It’s made of robust plastic and consists of two parts which are screwed together. Between the two parts is a compartment for the so-called “roll and fold” lid that goes on the cup. CamelBak included this feature to reduce the amount of disposable cups (and lids), in that you can buy a coffee or other hot beverage on the go and have it poured directly into the MultiBev cup rather than using yet another disposable cup.  I haven’t been really using this lid, but I did use the compartment to store tea bags and instant coffee to get a fresh brew. The handle on the top of the cap is also very useful as it allows you to easily carry the bottle, or you can even attach it to your backpack and other gear with a carabiner or a HeroClip.

Functionality

I started using the MultiBev bottle in April and was immediately very satisfied with it. At that time, the temperatures were still relatively low and thus I mostly used it for tea, soup and sometimes coffee. My beverages always stayed steaming hot although I was often out and about for the whole day. Now in summer I mostly use the bottle for coffee and rarely for cold drinks. For cold drinks I use the CamelBak Chute insulated bottle instead. I don’t find the cup vital for cold drinks because you might as well drink directly from the bottle. The Chute bottle has a larger capacity of 32 oz. and is with the weight of 16 ounces (440 grams) lighter than the MultiBev bottle. The MultiBev bottle weighs 21 ounces (600 grams). The detachable 15 oz. (450 ml) cup indeed adds some weight, but it is well worth it for hot beverages.

All in all, I found the bottle very convenient because of the carrying handle, anti-slip coating/bottom and the relatively wide opening at the top which makes it easy to fill. The detachable cup also fits nicely in hand and is like the bottle insulated so you don’t burn your fingers when you pour steaming hot drinks into it.

The only thing that did bother me a bit about the CamelBak MultiBev bottle is that when you detach the cup, the vessel becomes rather unstable because its bottom is very narrow. I once left the vessel standing on a picnic table, and the vessel of course fell to the ground which left a small dent at the bottom. I recommend that you instead lay it down, and check that it doesn’t roll away in case the surface isn’t completely flat. In any case, you should be a bit more careful with the vessel when the cup is detached, as it doesn’t provide the same stability or durability as with the cup attached. But besides that, I’m really happy with the functionality of the bottle.

Care and Maintenance

The vessel, the cup and the cap are dishwasher safe which is indeed a good thing. Nevertheless, since the bottle doesn’t take flavors, it’s often enough that you simply wash it with warm water. I haven’t washed the bottle in the dishwasher yet because there was no need to do so. The only thing that you shouldn’t put in the dishwasher is the “roll and fold” lid for the cup.

Verdict

I’m very satisfied with the CamelBak Multibev bottle and I find it perfect for travelling and everyday life. The bottle has quite a few neat features such as the big integrated cup, carrying handle, coated nonslip body and rubber bottom. The downsides are that it’s quite heavy for the capacity and that the inner vessel is not very stable when the cup is detached. Nevertheless, these are minor things. The bottle is also dishwasher safe and very easy to clean. If you are looking for a bottle for coffee, tea and other hot beverages on the go, whether in town or nature, I do recommend going for the CamelBak MultiBev.

If you have any questions about this product, drop me a line in the comments below.