Klean Kanteen Sport bottle top accessory.
Written: Oct 02 '09 (Updated Oct 02 '09)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Keeps plastic out_of_landfills, easy to take on and off, the main seal is great.
Cons: It can leak if it is full and upside down.
The Bottom Line: A great option, especially for those on bikes, etc.
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| yakkowarner's Full Review: Kleen Kanteen Classic Sport Cap 2.0 |
This is a #5 plastic, sport cap top designed for usage in the Klean Kanteen medium (normal) sized mouth. It works great with only one major drawback. But would I buy another one? Absolutely. On my next trip to REI.
Normally when you think of a sport cap you think of plastic bottles that you can squeeze. This plus the suction your mouth provides is enough to get plenty of water flowing. There is also one opening because the bottle itself can collapse and doesn’t need a second air way. But because Klean Kanteen is made of stainless steel, you can’t put any pressure on it. And if you can squeeze the bottle (well unless your really strong). This is a major problem and a reason why they can’t compete in the biking industry, until they engineered this top that is. Perfect? No. But it works and I am looking forward to trying and testing their 3.0 version.
The product I am reviewing is the sport top cap 2.0. After looking at old reviews, it appears that version 1.0 sucked and they knew something had to change So now they have the 2.0 version which is the only version I have ever seen or used.
It screws off and on just like the plastic cap. It has a thumb sized hole in the back to fit a carabineer, loop, or a finger. It also has the typical, pull up water dispenser that you suck from to get water. The whole unit screws off fairly easily and has a silicon ring mold to seal the cap so it does not drip through this particular seal..
The one thing you will notice is it has a silicon half-sphere on the top. This seals the water from the environment unless you start to suck. When that happens the silicon piece stretches ever so slightly and allows air to go through while water is coming out. Without this design you would not be able to get water out very easily. It is a very tight design and I'm concerned with the durability, hopefully my fears are exaggerated.
To drink you pull the sport cap all the way up. It will not work well if you only pull it half way out. Then you just suck and water comes at a good clip.
The problem
The major problem with this cap is it can leak. I’ve only been able to do this when the bottle is full. A half full bottle has not leaked on me. If it is full and if you have it turned upside down then it will start to leak at a rate of a drop a second.
The cap cover
There is a loop that fits around the top of the bottle and a cap on the other end that is put on the top of the sport cap. It works but it is just a hollowed out piece of plastic. It really isn’t that strongly attached and does not solve the leaking problem.
Ergonomics and ease of use.
It is easy to screw on and use. The one major design is that hollowed out hole provides a hole for a carabineer. Also the holder is at an angle which means it never gets in the way. A great design decision so nothing gets in your way while drinking. Yet it still remains a great way to install a carabineer. In fact a way to getting past the leaking issue you can connect a sport top with a normal cap together using the loops.
Who is this for?
This is for someone that likes the convenience of a sport cap top with something that does not go into the landfill. Just keep it upright.
But how easy is it to use?
The first time I tried it I used a little suction and got hardly anything. I discovered quickly that there was two things missing. First the cap was not pulled up all the way. Secondly I was not using enough suction. These do require more suction than a standard #1 plastic sports bottle because of a wider design on the nozzle and because you can put pressure on the plastic bottle to force the water out. So this lack of flexibility will always be a problem with these bottles, but for me I view us as the caretakers of Earth for our children and I'll use a little more effort to keep plastic out of the landfill.
Cleaning
Nothing to clean except your backwash. Just rinse it in the sink, no special cleaning is required. The only exception is if you use coffee then you will want to get a sponge in there to clean out the residue.
Durability
I have had this type of plastic on another bottle fall on concrete and survive with only a scratch. So the plastic gets a 5/5. But I’m not sure about the sport top unit. It is slightly flexible and like I said it does leak under certain conditions. But I need a year or two until I can really discuss the true durability of this accessory. Other than that unfounded concern, this plastic cap should last the life of the bottle.
Weight and dimensions
Weight of loop and cap: 1/8 oz
Weight of sport cap 1.25 oz
Maximum diameter: approximately 2 and 1/3 inch
Height: 3 inches total; 1.66 inches exposed
The reason for the score
The main reason I give it a 4 out of 5 is because it can leak when placed upside down and when full. They need a serious design overhaul on this cap to really compete head to head with the standard sports cap we are used to. But I have no other complaints.
Clarification
I received this as a gift with the expectations that I publish an unbiased review.
Summary
A great accessory for your Klean Kanteen that I do recommend. Just be careful how you transport this.
© Common Loon Productions
Other reviews you might be interested in.
My 27 ounce black stainless steel bottle
Recommended:
Yes
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