It’s Hip To Be Square—If You’re This New Water Bottle
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Since GFR first covered the Coolest Cooler, the invention that won Kickstarter, as well as an environmentally friendly water bottle redesign, it makes sense that we round out the trifecta with another cool crowd funded idea: the square water bottle.
Sure, it looks cool, but what’s wrong with the conventional round shape of a water bottle? If you’re wondering that, you’ve probably never brought a bottle of water on an airplane (purchased or filled up in the airport, rather than brought through security, of course). I can’t tell you how many times I’ve lost my water bottle because I left it in my bag and it rolled out, disappearing under the feet of the folks behind me. The square design solves that problem. If they’d only invent square chapstick for the same reason, I’d be seriously impressed and delighted. And in case you’re wondering, the square design doesn’t impede shoving the water bottle into a cup holder.
The square had a successful 2012 campaign on Kickstarter, racking up design awards and a cover spot on Wired Magazine. But Clean Bottle has improved on that design and has now launched its second campaign to fund a production run of the bigger, better square water bottle.
The new model is 25% bigger than the old one, and it’s cheaper. The best new feature, in my opinion, is the removable bottom, which makes it easier to clean and fill the bottle. It’s made of BPA-free materials, and has a lifetime guarantee. And this new iteration has some fancy options too, such as a water filter and an infusing chamber for folks who want their water to taste like fruit, or really anything. You could put a clove of garlic in there if you’re feeling antisocial and see how it goes. They’ve even got something they call the “bloom infusion,” packets of dried fruit that could enhance the water if there are no other options around.
You might be wondering who would do this, but I completely get it. The folks at Clean Bottle live in the same city I do—Somerville, Massachusetts, a city being gentrified and yuppified to a frightening extent. I bet folks around here infuse just about everything. They’re environmentally conscious and serious about hydration—I’m surprised I haven’t noticed these square water bottles before, but I bet you anything I’ll notice them now.
