Sistema Water Bottle | Twist 'n' Sip Sports Water Bottle | 460 ml | BPA-Free | Blue

Product Information

In our Lab, we performed drop and leak tests on both a plastic and a stainless steel model, and we tested nine different flavor pods that we rated based on flavor, longevity and strength. We also evaluated the water bottle for how easy it was to fill, carry, drink from and clean. What is in the flavor pods? In the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, we've tested countless water bottles over the years. We evaluate them for performance, durability and ease of use. In addition to Lab tests, we send water bottles to consumers to get their opinions on how the water bottles fare in the real world. Parsing through data points and tester notes, we confirmed an inevitable result: Some testers didn't like a certain pod, while others loved it. People perceive scents differently, especially if they have personal ties to a scent or if their sense of smell isn't as strong as another individual's. For example, some testers didn't see themselves reaching for the Air Up water bottle after testing, but others found it to be innovative.

Did we find that our water tasted like each flavored pod? The short answer is yes. We were particularly impressed with the mango-passionfruit pod and its juicy "flavor," but we thought the orange-vanilla tasted artificial. Air Up was founded by Lena Jüngst and Tim Jäger, two German university students who, during their studies, read Neurogastronomy: How the Brain Creates Flavor and Why It Matters, a book by neuroscientist Gordon M. Shepherd that posits that the sense of smell is a more powerful component of flavor than previously thought. Comfort: We found the mouthpiece to be more comfortable than other water bottles we've tested with soft silicone material, but we did note that you had to sip a little harder on the water bottle to get enough water compared to competitors. And the straw was difficult to remove and to reattach as well. "I wish the straw were easier to put on the bottle," said one consumer tester. "I struggle to get it on just right every single time, and then I can't screw on the cap." Good Housekeeping Institute Nutrition Lab Director Stefani Sassos, M.S., R.D.N., C.S.O., C.D.N., NASM-CPT said, "I think people who struggle with staying hydrated would enjoy this bottle, and people who say that they hate the taste of water or think it's boring would really benefit from this product." So if you're a consumer who doesn't have time to cut up fresh produce to infuse your water, you might enjoy Air Up. Jocelyn Ivanov, MIT, Drinking fountains: the past and future of free public water in the United States, September 29, 2015Our experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab tested the Air Up to evaluate the performance of the pods as well as to assess the bottle's durability and ease of use. Place the center of the circular pod over the mouthpiece and push it into place. If you don't taste the flavor, pull the pod up and ensure it is “activated.” Jon Hamilton, Beyond BPA: Court Battle Reveals A Shift In Debate Over Plastic Safety, NPR, February 16, 2015 Weight: We found the plastic Air Up bottle to be lightweight, but the stainless steel version is on the heavier side. Jenna Bilbrey, BPA-Free Plastic Containers May Be Just as Hazardous, Scientific American, August 11, 2014

If you've seen the Air Up water bottle on social media, you may already know that it's a water bottle that utilizes flavor pods to enhance the taste of your water without actually adding any flavoring to the water itself. The pods are placed on the water bottle and when you take a sip, the flavored air bubbles travel through your mouth to your nose where your brain interprets it as flavor.

WATER COOLERS

According to Air Up, the flavorings in the pods are made from natural flavors, extracted from plants, fruits and spices. The company noted that specific details that "relate to Air Up's [intellectual property] are proprietary." Fill your water bottle with water to the capacity line, then attach the mouthpiece with the straw to the bottle. When you sip from Air up, scent-flavored air bubbles travel through the straw into your mouth which produces a bubbling sound and means it’s working. As the scent-flavored air bubbles rise it is perceived as taste. That means u sing the science of retronasal olfaction, you will perceive scent as flavor through Air Up.