For decades, Polar Bottle was a trusted companion for athletes, celebrated for its insulation, cleanability, and Boulder, Colorado roots. Now, under HydraPak, that legacy evolves with a new and improved Squeeze bottle collection.
Innovation in Design: Enhancements for Better Performance
After three years of meticulous research, design, and testing, we reimagined and modernized Polar Bottle’s Squeeze Bottle lineup, putting the HydraPak spin on things—enhancing performance, streamlining aesthetics, and adding thoughtful details. Our new bottles are built to meet the demands of today’s athletes—whether commuting to work or racing to the podium.
Behind the Scenes: The Evolution of our Bottles
A key focus for our product team was updating Polar Bottle’s beloved caps—the classic Sport Cap and the high-performance Surge Cap. The goal was to reimagine these caps with a sleek, contemporary design while preserving the trusted features and patented technologies that athletes rely on, including the removable valve for easy cleaning.
Improvements included a more pronounced height difference to make it easier to see whether the valve is open or closed. The alignment indicators were also refined for greater visibility, offering a clear guide to help users quickly align the valve and cap for seamless removal.
The product team also turned their attention to the look and shape of the bottles, striving to create designs that not only performed better but looked great too. Their new designs feature streamlined, ergonomic forms that are more comfortable to grip and easier to squeeze, fitting in a wider variety of bike bottle cages.
A clear fuel gauge was added to all Breakaway Surge bottles, allowing users to monitor their hydration and fuel intake at a glance. Unlike other bottles, which often have narrow and hard-to-read gauges, the Breakaway’s design has a wider gauge that makes it much easier to see the contents of the bottle. To integrate this new feature, we utilized precision blow-molded technology, ensuring the fuel gauge was perfectly aligned and sealed with the bottle’s exterior for a smooth, leakproof finish.
Built to Last: Testing for Real World Use
- Before any of our bottles make it into the hands of athletes, they undergo rigorous testing to ensure they meet the highest standards of durability and performance. Engineers subject bottles to a series of tests to simulate real-world use.
- Every bottle endured drop tests from a height of three feet, fully filled, to evaluate their resilience against everyday accidents.
- Following these tests, bottles were put through leak testing to ensure material and seal integrity.
- To guarantee dishwasher compatibility, each design was subjected to 10 standard dishwashing cycles, ensuring they could handle repeated washings.
- The team also conducted squeeze tests, measuring the force required to compress the bottles. This ensured that our designs fell well within the optimal range for ease of use and squeezability.
Tried and Tested by the Pros: From Training to Race Day
At HydraPak, we rely on our athletes to be the ultimate product testers. Their demanding training and racing push our bottles to the limit, ensuring every design meets the highest standards of performance and reliability. In 2024, we partnered with pro cyclist Alexey Vermeulen to put our bottles to the test. From countless training rides on the backroads of Boulder County to his podium-topping finish at Big Sugar, Alexey’s feedback and insights were invaluable.
His input helped us fine-tune key features—ensuring our bottles fit securely in nearly any bike cage, offered the perfect capacity for long races, and delivered reliable hydration and fuel when it mattered most.
"Until recently, I had always thought that bike bottles are one in the same. Some keep drinks cooler, some have a better flow, others are light - but every bottle has a flaw. The new Hydrapak Surge bottle line changed my opinion. From the high water flow and squeezability to my favorite feature, the removable nozzle, Hydrapak set a standard that will be hard to beat." - Alexey Vermeulen
Thanks to athletes like Alexey, we were able to refine every detail, creating bottles built to perform for both elite competitors and everyday adventurers alike.
*photo credit Avery Stumm
A Range of Bottles for Every Athlete
At HydraPak, we’re committed to pushing the boundaries of hydration innovation while staying true to the quality and reliability you’ve come to expect. Our new Squeeze Bottle line represents the perfect balance of design, durability, and performance. Whether you’re an athlete, adventurer, or everyday hydration enthusiast, these bottles are built for you.
