CamelBak MultiBev Review

Performance Comparison

Ease of Use

Whew. Lots to say here. The CamelBak MultiBev is unlike any bottle we have ever tested. This 2-in-1 beverage hauler consists of four separate parts: the bottle itself (22-ounce capacity), the detachable cup (16-ounce), the bottle lid, and the separate storage compartment for the cup lid.

We like using this bottle for tea on hikes and picnics because it works like an old-school Thermos — pour a hot drink into the separate vessel to drink a slightly cooled hot drink. That said, we were a bit confused by the design. The bottle sits inside the cup, so you have to be cognizant of what you are setting the bottle on (avoid germ-ridden or dirt-covered surfaces because the bottom of the bottle and whatever has adhered to it will live in the bottom of your cup once the cup is stowed). We also found that the silicone lid could have fit better over the mug, and often chose to skip using it. Once you get the hang of it, the bottle is fairly easy to use, but there are certainly a lot of parts for a water bottle.

Durability

When it comes to durability, this bottle is a TANK. The cup and bottle make for a substantial, two-layer bottom that protects the bottle from damage, especially during our drop test. This bottle didn't see a single nick or dent after being dropped onto concrete — impressive. Unfortunately for this bottle, there are two parts to our durability test, and two lids that have to be tested on this complex bottle. The lid to the bottle itself survived our leak test, but the silicone mug lid did not. The lid is not secure and is frankly quite flimsy. We often ended up not using it at all, which made the mug prone to spilling.

Weight

Because of all its parts and components, plus its stainless-steel construction, it's on the heavier side compared to other top water bottles we tested. Its empty weight is well over a pound, landing at 22.4 ounces on the scale. This places it among the heavier bottles in this review, which isn't surprising, considering it has a detachable, insulated mug. Its weight means it's not the most portable, and we preferred to use it at the office or around the house rather than as a hiking or biking bottle.

Taste

The MultiBev aced some aspects of our taste test while falling short in others. We used this insulated bottle/mug combination to hold all types of flavored beverages and ended up with a menagerie of flavors inside the bottle. We felt like this one in particular held onto scents, making everything we drank out of it smell and taste the same. Now, this is all without a proper wash, and thankfully, the MultiBev is easy to clean.

Though it has multiple parts and a complex design, it was easy to clean and shed flavors after a wash with soapy water. The bottle itself has a narrow mouth, which fits a bottle brush but just barely. The mug cleans easily with a sponge or brush. Additionally, when we first opened this bottle, it had no lingering metallic or plastic-y packaging flavors.

Should You Buy the CamelBak MultiBev?

The CamelBak MultiBev took some getting used to, but after our testing period, we are overall quite impressed with the bottle and its usefulness for hydrating in a variety of situations. There were a few design kinks we'd like to see worked out, but we also enjoyed the separate cup and its sleek storage set-up. The bottle passed our durability and taste tests with flying colors, and it fits into a car cup holder. It is a bit of an investment, but this is a great versatile option for those who love hot beverages on the go.

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