Camelbak Eddy+ Review
Compare prices at 3 resellers Pros: Lightweight, portable, updated straw is an improvement
Cons: Straw and bite valve still attract mold and dirt, flavors linger
Manufacturer: Camelbak
Our Verdict
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Camelbak Eddy+ | |||||
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| Awards |  | |  | | |
| Price | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $20 List Check Price at Amazon | $9.99 at Amazon | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Lightweight, portable, updated straw is an improvement | Light, durable, resists flavors, simple design, wide mouth makes for easy filling | Affordable, insulates well, has interchangeable lids, portable | Inexpensive, passed our drop tests, easy to carry, easy to drink from, ergonomic design | Useful carabiner attachment, well-designed lid, lightweight, very collapsible |
| Cons | Straw and bite valve still attract mold and dirt, flavors linger | Diameter too big for cup holders, wide mouth makes it difficult to drink from when walking or driving | Paint chipping after a few months of use, flip cap seemed to lack security | Narrow mouth makes it hard to clean by hand, heavy, inherently less durable than steel competition | Tips easily, hard to clean |
| Bottom Line | For those who like a built-in straw design, this bottle has survived the test of time as a proven model | A tried and tested classic, this model is versatile and reasonably priced | This is one of our top ranking bottles because it's easy to use, just the right size, lightweight and inexpensive | This affordable bottle's no-nonsense, ergonomic design wins us over for the top glass option of all we tested | This bottle combines a collapsible design with a spout for convenient, easy drinking |
| Rating Categories | Camelbak Eddy+ | Nalgene Wide-Mouth | Simple Modern Summit | Ello Pure 20 | Platypus DuoLock So... |
| Ease Of Use (40%) | |||||
| Durability (25%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Taste (15%) | |||||
| Specs | Camelbak Eddy+ | Nalgene Wide-Mouth | Simple Modern Summit | Ello Pure 20 | Platypus DuoLock So... |
| Body Material | BPA-Free Polypropylene | Eastman Tritan co-polyester | 18/8 stainless steel | Glass/ BPA-free silicone | Nylon/ Polyetholyene |
| Empty weight (oz) | 7.1 oz | 6.4 oz | 12.4 oz | 18.5 oz | 1.6 oz |
| Volume (oz) | 25 oz | 34 oz | 22 oz | 20 oz | 34 oz |
| Bottle weight (oz) per fluid oz capacity | 0.28 oz | 0.19 oz | 0.56 oz | 0.93 oz | 0.05 oz |
| Mouth diameter | 2.25 in | 2.5 in | 2.25 in | 1.75 in | .75 in |
| Base diameter | 3 in | 3.25 in | 3 in | 3 in | 6 in |
| Height | 9.25 in | 8.25 in | 9.5 in | 10.75 in | 11 in |
| Body Type | Hard-sided/traditional | Hard-sided/traditional | Hard-sided/traditional | Hard-sided/traditional | Collapsible |
| Free of Materials | BPA, BPS, BPF | BPA, BPS and Phthalate Free | BPA-free | BPA-free | BPA-free |
| Cap/Lid Type | Screw cap with straw | Loop-top screw cap | Screw Cap | Screwtop | Duo-Lock flip cap |
| Volume Options | .6 L, .75 L, 1 L | 16 oz, 48 oz | 14 oz, 18 oz, 22 oz, 32 oz, 40 oz | 20 oz | .75 L, 1L |
| Warranty | Got Your Bak Lifetime Guarantee | Lifetime Guarantee for normal use | Limited Warranty | Lifetime warranty | Limited Warranty |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Eddy+ received average-to-above average scores in our rating metrics, with its strengths being durability and weight.
Performance Comparison
Ease of Use
It seems like the Camelbak Eddy+ is designed with this metric in mind. The whole point of the bottle is to make drinking easy, and we found that the days we had the Eddy+ with us were days where we drank a ton of water. The retractable straw feature and carrying handle make up the bulk of the lid. The carrying handle is large enough for three fingers to fit into it and allows the bottle to be carried easily in hand.
The retractable straw is the Eddy+'s claim to fame. When the straw is in the closed position, it is out of the way and doesn't leak. When open, the straw will leak a little bit if tipped on its side or upside down.
In some ways, the Eddy is easy to clean - with only a few different parts that are all dishwasher safe and able to be disassembled fairly quickly and easily. On the other hand, the bottle seems to attract mold and get dirty pretty quickly with consistent use. We found the straw and to be pretty hard to clean by hand.
Durability
Overall, this bottle proved to be very durable. Its plastic body bounced off the ground when dropped, remaining pretty much unscathed. The updated lid seems like it is made out of more burly plastic than the previous version of this bottle, improving its overall durability. The straw and bite valve are the weakest points of this bottle, and if you are prone to chewing on the straw, it will definitely wear out quickly. Luckily, Camelbak sells replacement parts for the bottle online.
Weight
With a measured weight of 7.1 ounces, the Eddy+ is one of the lighter hard-bodied bottles in this review. Plastic bottles will definitely weigh less than stainless models, and the collapsible options we tested, of course, take the cake in terms of lightweight design.
Taste
The Eddy+ did not excel in this metric. The rubbery bite valve and straw seemed to impart flavor. When we filled the bottle with sports drink mix, these fruity flavors seemed to linger for days after. Similarly, the Simple Modern Summit had lingering flavors in its flip cap lid — both lids have many nooks and crannies where flavors can live for weeks if the bottle is not cleaned frequently. The Summit has the advantage of having interchangeable lids, which kept flavors separate and the bottle cleaner overall. Also, the Eddy+ had a plastic-y flavor initially that took a few days of use to get rid of.
Value
The Eddy+ is a pretty good option for folks on a budget. The bottle is durable, long-lasting, and versatile — we find that versatility is a big factor in a bottle's value; bottles that can be used in many different situations are good investments overall.
Conclusion
The Camelbak Eddy+ is a slightly revised version of a classic. This plastic bottle with an integrated straw has been replicated and emulated by many different bottles over the years. We like the Eddy+ because it is simple, inexpensive, and versatile. There are a few drawbacks with the bottle, though, that take away from it winning any awards in our eyes. The tendency toward funk build-up and the lingering flavors that occur with the straw and bite valve take away from the overall positive experiences we have had with the Eddy. Overall, this is a good bottle, but not our favorite pick.
— Jane Jackson