Which CamelBak bottle or tumbler should you choose?
The range splits into five types, and the choice mostly comes down to whether the drink needs to stay hot or cold, and how much the recipient will carry it around. Everything below comes from the product pages, so the figures are the ones CamelBak states for each model.
| Type | Models in the range | Construction and stated detail | Choose it when |
| Stainless bottles | Thrive Chug VSS and Thrive Flip Straw VSS, 0.6L to 1.2L | 18/8 stainless steel, double-wall vacuum insulation, leak-proof lid. The Thrive Chug VSS 0.75L is 280 x 80 mm with a carry handle, in black, silver, stone or moss | You want one bottle for the desk, the gym and the commute |
| Cycling steel bottles | Podium Insulated Steel, 0.35L, 0.5L and 0.65L | 18/8 stainless steel, double-wall vacuum, listed to keep drinks cold for up to 18 hours (0.5L), made to fit most bike cages | The group rides, or you want a slimmer bottle |
| Tumblers and mugs | Thrive Tumbler VSS 0.6L and 0.9L, Thrive Mug VSS 0.5L and 1.0L | Vacuum-insulated steel. The 0.9L tumbler is listed at 14 hours cold and 7 hours hot, and the 0.5L mug at 21 hours cold and 10 hours hot. Both fit a cup holder | The drink is coffee or something hot, or it lives in a car |
| Plastic bottles | Thrive Chug 0.6L, 0.75L, 1.0L and 1.5L, Podium 0.6L and 0.7L, Podium Bike Bottle 700ml | The Thrive Chug 0.6L is made from Eastman Tritan, listed as BPA free and dishwasher safe. The Podium Bike Bottle is single wall, hand wash only and not for hot drinks | You are handing out a lot of them and the drink is water |
| Can cooler | Horizon Can Cooler Mug 500ml | Double-wall vacuum stainless steel with a powder-coated finish and silicone collar, listed to keep drinks cold for two hours, in a black gift box | It is a gift for someone who drinks from the can |
For most staff or client gifts we'd pick a stainless Thrive Chug VSS in black. Steel is the surface that takes laser engraving, the leak-proof lid means it can go in a bag, and the vacuum wall keeps water cold on a warm day. If you need a lot of bottles for an event and the budget is tight, the plastic Thrive Chug does the same job for water. If you want to see the wider choice beyond this one brand, our promotional drink bottles, branded tumblers and vacuum flasks sit alongside it.
How do we put a logo on CamelBak drinkware?
Different materials take different methods, so the method follows the bottle rather than the other way round. Our artwork team confirms the final method and logo size on your proof.
- Laser engraving is the usual choice for stainless steel. It marks the metal itself, so there is no ink to scratch off, though the result is a single tone set by the finish and not a colour.
- Pad print or screen print suits the plastic Thrive Chug and Podium bottles. The logo prints in solid colours, and the curved surface means a simple one or two-colour logo reads best.
- Full-colour digital print is for logos with gradients or photos. It is less hard-wearing than engraving on a bottle that gets knocked about every day, so we'd keep it for events and short runs.
Product pages in the range offer one, two or three decoration positions. Two things are worth knowing before you plan the design. The product pages for the Podium Bike Bottle and the Horizon Can Cooler Mug say CamelBak's brand guidelines don't allow its items to be supplied unbranded, and on the Horizon the CamelBak logo is printed on the front, so your logo sits next to theirs. You also need to own the logo, or have permission to use it, before it goes on a bottle.
How does ordering work?
There's no minimum, so a clinic can order eight bottles and a conference can order eight hundred. Each order has a one-off setup for the logo, which is why the price per bottle falls as the quantity grows. Many of these products show quantity pricing on the product page, and your quote confirms the branded price. Vector artwork gives the best result for engraving and print. We send a free digital proof showing the position, size and method, and nothing is made until you approve it, with timing confirmed in the quote. Freight is quoted upfront.
Who buys branded CamelBak drinkware?
Most orders fall into a few jobs. Companies buying client and staff gifts, particularly at the end of the year, like a stainless bottle because it is used daily for years and tends to stay on the desk where colleagues and visitors see it. Christmas production slots fill from September, so book early if that is your plan. Employers building new starter kits pair a bottle with a notebook and tee so the pack feels like a proper welcome. Cycling clubs, fun runs and sports teams go for the Podium bottles, because the logo travels to every ride and race.
More drinkware to consider
If your recipients drink hot drinks, our branded mugs and cups are another route. Another popular stainless brand is Frank Green, which suits buyers who want a wider colour choice to compare.
When you are ready, use the instant enquiry form at the top of this page, or call us on 1300 247 766, and we will send a proof with the quote.