Feiten. Anders bekeken.

Contigo Grace

Geschreven door  op in Review, The Mobile Life.

A few weeks ago I received a press release from the reusable bottley company Contigo. They partnered up with a local festival, and offered their Grace bottle for a much reduced price (6 euro instead of 20 euro) at the scene, and provided everyone who purchased a bottle with free tap water refills throughout the festival.

A day after the initial press release we received a Grace bottle to test. The built quality seems sturdy plastic that will last. Upon opening the first time, there is a very plastic smell, which reminded me of basilica. However, with use, the smell is completely gone.

The top is a nice bit of engineering with their unique Autoseal technology. A fancy name that means if you push the big collored button, water comes out. Another claim is that it’s ‘100% Leakproof’. Is it? No. But it is almost is.

And that is how most of the product is. Almost 100%.

In the month that I’ve used it, dangling from my photo-belt, stuffed in a backpack, or just handling it on the street, I used it nearly daily, and you can see it on the bottle. It is already covered with scratches and pits. The nice rubbery carry ring can’t really handle a metal hook to dangle on, and as a result much of the rubber is scraped off, which seems weird for something that looks like it was designed just for that function.

When drinking the bottle there is a real chance of spilling. Or at least several drops of water that go everywhere. For example, while working the festivals, shooting in an overcrowded photo-pit, overflowing with photographers, security, crowd surfers, and the occasional singer deciding to join the crowd, you have those precious moments between songs to drink. So you quickly grab the bottle, push the button, and drink. And spill.

When drinking from a glass you don’t have to think how you are holding or using it. But with this bottle you have to think how you are holding it. Even while writing this review I spilled. It’s just odd that when creating a product that is meant to suit one of our basic instincts, they managed to create something where you have to think to use it. Just very odd.

It’s a great product, but not worth the 20 euro retail price. (However, at local music festival Rock Herk the bottle was available at a subsidized price of 6 euro, which hits a sweet spot.) In the end I still enjoy using my bottle on trips, but it’s not something I use day to day in the office. A glass will do just fine.

Ook interessant

Survival Gear

07/06/2013

07/06/2013

<p>This weekend I'm traveling on the bare necessities. What's in the bag?  </p>

Weird Al Yankovic live at the AB

02/10/2015

02/10/2015

Since the eighties, Weird Al has risen to fame and managed to stay relevant over the past three decades with...

London Underground Typeface turns 100

15/06/2016

15/06/2016

It might be one of the most iconic and beloved fonts out there: Johnston. Since its creation in 1916 it...

Sengled Pulse

12/11/2015

12/11/2015

The Sengled Pulse is a new product that aims to combine two experience each day: Light and Music. The problem with...

Planning a connected house

08/07/2014

08/07/2014

<p>We are moving to a new home. How can we make it smarter? </p>

Apple reveals big updates at WWDC

08/06/2015

08/06/2015

As we all where hoping, Apple’s yearly update for the desktop and mobile operating systems are focussed on refinements instead...

State of Mobib 2017

05/01/2018

05/01/2018

MOBIB (MOBility In Belgium), het groots aangekondigde systeem om tickets op openbaar vervoer te vereenvoudigen is ondertussen al enkele jaren...

Contigo Cortland

21/09/2015

21/09/2015

It’s been quite the warm summer! So it’s only fitting we look at the latest offering from Contigo. The Cortland is...

Ricoh THETA

29/04/2015

29/04/2015

<p>Fun 360° images with the push of a single button! </p>

West Side Story (2021)

04/12/2021

04/12/2021

Bestaat er zoiets als een tijdmachine? Sinds vanmorgen durf ik denken van wel: na enkele CST-controles, mondmaskers en aanverwanten leek...

The Primark Effect

11/06/2015

11/06/2015

Last month, big blue neon letters where erected in our city center, making the opening of our cities Primark coming...

Wearing the future

10/09/2014

10/09/2014

<p>Apple Watch. Need to say more? The curtain has been pulled back on one of the most anticipated products coming from Cupertino.</p>

Death on the Nile (2022)

07/02/2022

07/02/2022

De terugkeer van Hercule Poirot. Na een succesvolle reboot door Kenneth Branagh met ‘Murder on the Orient Express’ is het...

Cogito Connected Smart Watch

13/07/2014

13/07/2014

<p>The two new Cogito smart watches try to simplify your notifications. Too bad they only complicate it. </p>

Doxie introduces Flip

06/11/2013

06/11/2013

Our all-time-favorite paperless company Doxie just introduced a brand new way to digitize your life. The first specialized Doxie built...