Swivel Bottle Hydration System Product Review

Running can be seen as a simple sport. Put on a pair of running shoes, socks, shorts and a shirt and off you go. This still holds true for me today but after 17 years there have been additional components added. I have used various running hydration systems including belts, bottles and flasks. Each has its place and I didn’t think anything of them anymore. Then along came the Swivel Bottle and a new hydration system became part of my running routine.

What makes the Swivel Bottle unique? It is a 2 in 1 sports bottle. That means that you can have one bottle filled with water while the other carries your electrolyte drink or something else. The beauty lies in the ability to literally swivel the bottles back and forth in your hand. 

I have run with the Swivel Bottle a few times. It is definitely going to be part of my running experiences going forward as there are a lot of positives that come with the use of the product.

Here is my review of the Swivel Bottle hydration system:

How does the Swivel Bottle enhance a runner’s hydration experience?

The Swivel Bottle allows me to have both electrolytes and water in one hand versus multiple bottles or wearing a vest with flasks. On runs that are between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours, I found the Swivel Bottle to be the perfect companion. 

Prior to the Swivel Bottle, I would have had water or electrolytes in my handheld. Their hydration system allows me to have both in the palm of my hand.

Many people do not like to run with a handheld but I’m not one of those people. The ergonomic design allows the bottle to sit in your hand comfortably. One flick of the wrist and the bottle will spin and your drinking from the other reservoir.

Is the Swivel Bottle durable and practical for various types of runners?

I am a trail runner but that doesn’t mean that I don’t run on the roads so I tested the bottle on both. I also tested the bottle on the treadmill, during hill repeats and strides.

The Swivel Bottle passed all the tests in these scenarios. I don’t find their hydration system cumbersome in terms of being in my hands during any of these various types of runs. The comfort was similar to other handhelds that I have used. The added benefit of having multiple reservoirs in a convenient system made it preferable.

If you are racing and there are multiple aid stations on the course then there are no concerns. You can unscrew the cap, fill, re-screw and be on your way. Having two reservoirs allows you to refill at each aid station with water and electrolytes versus having to pick one if you are carrying a single handheld.

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What are the pros and cons of using the Swivel Bottle during short runs versus long-distance runs?

The amount of time that I was out running was the biggest determining factor in me taking the Swivel Bottle versus other hydration systems. For runs that were between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours, the Swivel Bottle was ideal. Longer runs and I wanted to have my vest because I could carry nutrition with me.

One way to combat this is to use a waist belt. You can put your nutrition there and that would remove the need to wear a vest. If you were e going to run longer than 1.5 hours you could also put an extra flask in a waist belt.

This also leads to the lack of storage space on the Swivel Bottle. It is a handheld with no place for keys or a phone. You will have to use a waist belt for some of those extras. This isn’t a deal breaker but it is something to be aware of.

How does the Swivel Bottle compare to other hydration solutions?

At a price point of $29.99 the Swivel Bottle is slightly cheaper than other handhelds on the market. A Nathan handheld will cost between $30 to $45. Some of those will have the ability to carry a phone. This may be the determining factor in choosing the best system for you.

An extra reservoir is $12.00 on their site and would be a smart way to go if you are running a looped race. Having extra reservoirs to swap out will save you time from trying to refill the existing reservoirs.

I would also add in the ability to have water and electrolytes or two different flavored electrolytes is ideal for avoiding dehydration and flavor exhaustion. 

Hydration vests will cost you approximately $150. The storage ability for going long hours is the main difference between a vest and the Swivel Bottle.

My Recommendation

The Swivel Bottle hydration system is perfect for running between 30 minutes and 1.5 hours. This timing hold regardless of being on the road or the trail.

When you are planning out your hydration strategies, I would include the Swivel Bottle as a system for helping you reach your goals.

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