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Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle Review [Wide Mouth]

Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle Review

Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle​: QUICK OVERVIEW

​Cool

​Value

​BPA Free

​Eco-Friendly

What We Like
  • ​Durable construction
  • ​"Powder coat" makes for firm grip
  • ​Wide-mouth design compatible with several lids as well as many backcountry water filters
What We Don't Like
  • ​Doesn't always keep beverages hot as long as advertised
  • ​Doesn't fit standard bicycle bottle racks
  • ​A bit on the heavy/bulky side for certain outdoor activities

​Whether it's a lazy summer's day spent poolside, a game of touch football at the park, or a vigorous day hike in the foothills, staying hydrated is easy with the Hydro Flask Insulated Wide Mouth Water Bottle on hand.

The sturdy construction of pro-grade stainless steel and BPA-free plastic and the broad mouth define this water bottle, which comes enhanced by Hydro Flask's patented TempShield™ Insulation and a grippy powder coat. 

It's a fine choice for beverages of both the hot and cold variety, and for settings from the office desk and the playing field to the backcountry campsite and the sea kayak.

​Hydro Flask Insulated Water Bottle Review

 Hydro Flask 32 oz Double Wall Vacuum Insulated Stainless Steel Leak Proof Sports Water Bottle

​Who Is This Product For?

The Hydro Flask Insulated Wide Mouth Water Bottle serves the needs of just about anybody looking to remain hydrated all day long.

It's a handy and leakproof container to bring along to work or school, stow in the car for a road trip, or haul along for hiking, ski touring, snowshoeing, kayaking, paddleboarding, and other outdoor adventures.

Whatever your beverage of choice--from steaming coffee or tea to ice water or a fresh-made smoothie--the Hydro Flask Insulated Wide Mouth is designed to keep the hot stuff hot and the cold stuff cold for hours on end as you go about the day's work or play.

​What's Included?

The Hydro Flask Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle comes with the Hydro Flask Flex Cap, which includes a flexible holding strap secured with stainless-steel pivots.

The Wide Mouth is also compatible with Hydro Flask's Wide Straw and Wide Flip lids, but those are sold separately.

You can choose between four different sizes of water bottle:--18 oz. (532 ml), 32 oz. (946 ml), 40 oz. (1180 ml), or 64 oz. (1900 ml), the latter being basically a growler-sized jug--and a wide array of colors, from flamingo pink and mango orange to pure black or white.

​Overview of the Features

At the (literal) core of the Hydro Flask Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle's performance is the TempShield™ construction: a double-walled, vacuum insulation designed to keep cold liquids cold for 24 hours and hot ones hot for 12 hours.

The exterior of the Wide Mouth boasts the Hydro Flask powder coat, which, along with the TempShield™ Insulation, helps ward against the formation of exterior condensation and improves both the bottle's grip and its all-around durability.

A Hydro Flask bottle filled with piping-hot goodness won't be hot to the touch.

In terms of materials, the Hydro Flask Insulated Wide Mouth Bottle is made from BPA- and phthalate-free plastic and food-grade 18/8 stainless steel meant to keep your beverage tasting pure and untainted.

The Flex Cap comes with its own Honeycomb Insulation to contribute to the sealed-off temperature maintenance. Its strap makes the bottle easy to hoist and carry around.

As mentioned above, you can also choose to accessorize with the Hydro Flask Wide Straw Lid or Wide Flip Lid for convenient on-the-go sipping.

Backcountry travelers will appreciate the Wide Mouth's compatibility with many water filters.

All the Hydro Flask Wide Mouth sizes have mouth diameters of 58 mm (2.28 in.) except for the 40-oz. bottle, which has a 48.5-mm (1.91-in.) opening. These broad openings make it easy, for example, to plunk in some ice cubes.

The width of the Wide Mouth's bottom, meanwhile, ranges from 74 mm (2.91 in.) for the 18-oz. bottle, 91 mm (3.56 inches) for the 32- and 40-oz. bottles, and 119.6 mm (4.7 inches) for the hefty 64-ouncer.

The 18-oz. Wide Mouth stands the shortest at 199 mm (7.8 inches) tall, while the 40-oz. bottle is the tallest at 260 mm (10.2 inches).

Weight-wise, the bottles range from 343 grams for the 18-oz. bottle to 794 grams for the 64-oz. jug.

​How to Use

Obviously using a water bottle such as the Hydro Flask Insulated Wide Mouth isn't rocket science. That said, the company recommends this handy test to make sure the bottle's insulation is working as it should.

Place the bottle on a sturdy surface and fill it with boiling water; don't hold it while you do so. Keep the cap off. After roughly five minutes have passed, feel along the exterior of the bottle below the neck.

If you notice any "hot spots," the bottle's insulation is compromised and you should be able to replace your Wide Mouth from the company or potentially through a third-party retailer you purchased from.

​Alternative

Hydro Flask offers a whole range of different water bottles, including Standard Mouth models.

You might choose instead one of the company's coffee mugs or flasks, or maybe the specialized party- or campfire-ready containers it offers for beer, wine, and spirits.

Keep in mind that you'll likely want a different size/design of water bottle when you're looking to attach it to a bicycle bottle rack, as the Wide Mouth is too hefty for most standard racks.

​Conclusion

Hydro Flask's double-wall vacuum TempShield™ Insulation and powder-coat exterior make the company's Wide Mouth water bottle an excellent choice for storing both hot and cold beverages.

The durable construction particularly recommends the Wide Mouth for outdoor and sporty activities (though you might consider outfitting it with the Hydro Flask Straw or Flip Lid for the purpose), but really it's a fine choice for anybody looking for a long-lasting, up-for-hard-knocks hydration companion.

Iced Coffee Culture from Around the World // With Recipes

Worldwide Ice Coffee Culture

Iced coffee is one of the most delicious drinks in the world – especially in the hot summer months. No matter the season, no matter the reason, iced coffees always hit the spot. 

Americans aren’t the only ones enjoying iced coffee beverages, around the world iced coffees and espresso drinks are popular. There’s more to an iced coffee then, well, ice and coffee.

In the northwest, where American fascination with coffee was born, an iced coffee includes very little flavoring or sweeteners. Seattleites will pour a shot of hot espresso over a cup of ice and add a bit of coffee to fill it to the top.

In California, iced coffee drinks are often created by filling a cup with ice, adding milk about half way up the cup then topping off with strong coffee. A squeeze or two of caramel and whipped cream topping finishes it off.

Ice Coffee California Style

Coffee lovers on the east coast dig coffee martinis. Cold brewed coffee is mixed with vodka and a splash of coffee liquor, shaken in a martini shaker and served in an iced martini glass.

Italians have been known to serve iced coffee drinks on hot days by placing a cup filled with ice under the espresso maker nozzle. They claim espresso begins to turn bitter if cooled slowly.

In France, they like their iced coffee sweet and syrupy. After brewing a strong cup of Joe, they add sugar cubes and spices before stirring and adding ice.

Iced Coffee 101: Cold Brewed vs Hot Brewed

You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to know that if you add something hot, like coffee, to something cold, like ice, they both end up diluting and becoming lukewarm. There are a couple ways to counter this rule of science.

Making cold brewed coffee is one way to combat the ice melting issue.

While almost everyone knows how to make a decent cup of hot coffee, the ability to make good iced coffee is a rarer skill. There are two main methods for making iced coffee: cold brewed and hot brewed.

We’ll cover the more time intense cold brewed method first then move on to the faster hot brewed method.

Don’t confuse the cold brewed coffee described below for cold, brewed coffee – the leftovers from this morning’s pot.

Ice Coffee and Straws

When made properly, cold brewed coffee serves as a refrigerated coffee concentrate that can make hot beverages as well as cold.

Ice Coffee: Cold Brewed Coffee Recipe

  1. Start with a pound of freshly roasted, high quality, coarsely ground coffee beans.
  2. Place the beans in the bottom of a one gallon pitcher.
  3. Fill the pitcher with ten cups of filtered water.
  4. Leave at room temperature for twelve to fifteen hours.
  5. Place folded cheesecloth or other fine mesh filter over another pitcher that is one half to a full gallon in volume. Secure cheesecloth with a rubber band around the lip of the pitcher. It doesn’t have to be tight, just secure.
  6. Pour the cold brewed coffee and sludge over the filter, filling the bottom pitcher with a filtered concentrate.
  7. Squeeze the remainder of the essence from the beans by wadding the cheesecloth or filter around the beans and compressing tightly over the pitcher.

Cold Brew Recipe

You can use cold brewed coffee to make a plethora of iced coffee drink favorites.

Fill a glass one quarter full of milk. Stir in two tablespoons of chocolate beverage syrup or Ovaltine. Fill with ice. Pour concentrated cold brewed coffee to the top of the glass. Substitute strawberry beverage syrup or protein shake powder to make a tasty iced coffee treat.

Another way to combat the melting issue is to use the low temperature of your other ingredients to temper the coffee or espresso, making the melt far less obvious. When you will be using milk in your iced coffee drink, you can mix the shot, milk and anything other than the ice before adding your ice cubes.

Ice Coffee: Hot Brewed Coffee Recipe

The above cold brewed ice coffee method is a lengthy process that requires the coffee to sit overnight. You may want to also use the quicker hot brew method when you can’t wait for your coffee.

When you are craving your cold drink immediately, hot brewing is the only way to go. As long as you have ice cubes on hand, your task should only take a few minutes.

Hot Brew Ice Coffee Recipe

Begin by preparing a cup of hot coffee.

This coffee must be made much stronger than normal, since it will be diluted later by ice. Double or triple strength is advised. To make the final product cold most of what goes into it needs to be frozen.

To this end the initial cup of hot coffee should be relatively small. Aim for a two or three to one ratio of ice to hot coffee. Keep in mind this ratio, as well as how large you want the final drink to be when preparing the hot coffee.

Combine the coffee and the ice together, either by pouring the coffee over the ice, or the ice into the coffee. Both work.

You will probably also want your iced coffee to be sweet. Sugar dissolves easily only in hot liquids, so you must add it in first. This can be a problem if you later discover that your coffee is not sweet enough. If that occurs (or if you wish to add in your sugar after the coffee has been cooled) make some simple syrup.

Simple syrup, which is usually used in cocktails, is sugar dissolved in water. Mix as small an amount of boiling water as possible (so that your iced coffee will not be significantly diluted) with sugar, then add the simple syrup to your iced coffee. Alternatively, you can use an artificial sweetener.

If you drink your coffee with half & half, add it in either before or after the ice. Since the half & half will do part of the work of cooling down the coffee, this can allow you to adjust your ratio of coffee to ice.

The more half & half you use, the less ice needed. This will result in a creamier, thicker drink. It will also take off the bitter edge that can appear in strong, hot brewed coffee.

Those are the basics of making speedy, delicious iced coffee at home.

There are a number of tasty modifications that can also be made, either as a permanent part of your iced coffee routine or as an occasional twist:

  • Try adding a little whiskey to make an adult beverage of iced Irish coffee.
  • Use sweetened condensed milk in place of half & half for a decadent, creamy drink.
  • Adding flavored syrup can also give your iced coffee an intriguing new flavor.

In general, the key to making good iced coffee is experimentation.

It can be tricky discovering what ratio of coffee to ice you prefer, or how much sugar you need to suit your tastes. Luckily the method described above takes up little time.

When your first effort isn’t to your liking, try again. Soon you will be enjoying delicious, easily prepared iced coffee at home whenever you like.

Making Iced Coffee at home

With a little forethought, you could also place your iced coffee drink glass in your freezer until you’re ready for it.

Pour the hot coffee or espresso shot into the frozen glass. The liquid from the coffee or espresso will absorb the cold temperatures, making for a cool cup of coffee in just a minute.

Keep cool. Keep caffeinated. Travel far.

More Coffee Adventures Await

Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles Review

Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles

​Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles: QUICK OVERVIEW

​Material

​Weight

​Grip

​Price

What We Like
  • ​Ergonomic cork handle
  • ​Light weight
  • ​Free carrying case with water bottle pocket
What We Don't Like
  • ​Cork can ​break down with use
  • ​Available in one color only
  • ​Minimal instructions

​Go the distance in hiking style with a set of lightweight trekking poles designed to ease discomfort, deliver flexibility, and promote heavy duty trekking.

Whether you are new to the world of hiking or you are an experienced climber, Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles offer a reliable set of walking sticks that are built to last. They are lightweight, stable, and come with several useful accessories.

This review provides all of the specifications you need to figure out if Titan Trekker is the right brand of trekking poles for you.  

​Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Pole Review

Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles collapsible Lightweight Hiking Stick

​Who Is This Product For?

​The styling of Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles makes them an ideal choice for individuals at any level of expertise in hiking, backpacking, climbing, mountaineering, or walking.

Their design minimizes the risk of arm fatigue and joint strain, enabling longer adventures and opening up the possibility of trekking difficult terrain.

The retractable nature of these walking sticks allows individuals of different heights to enjoy using them. Each pole can be set for lengths ranging between 24 inches and 56 inches.

Their easy adjustability, lightweight design, and durability allows kids, beginners, women, and men to enjoy using these sticks.

​What's Included?

​Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles are crafted from carbon fiber, delivering lightweight styling that is gentle on joints.

Tungsten carbide tips help to create the best possible traction for most types of terrain. An easy-locking system makes adjustments simple.

Cork handles provide a non-slip fit, while also helping to keep sweat away from your hands. This set of trekking sticks also offers extended handle grips, ensuring a good fit for everyone.

The wrist straps are adjustable and padded for the ultimate in comfort.

Your set includes a carry bag, two rubber tips, two rubber feet, two mud baskets, and two snow baskets.

​Overview of the Features


Your new set of Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles offers features fabricated to deliver strength and provide a comfortable fit.

Accessories designed to assist hikers in meeting the needs of different climbing situations are included.

The adjustable design provided by a quick lock system readily allows users to easily collapse their poles for storage or transport.

These versatile poles are easily set for a range of 24 inches and 56 inches. This adjustability also allows hikers of different heights to use these poles with the same level of ease.

The quick lock system also prevents unexpected shifts in the height of your poles. It creates a secure lock for the poles, giving hikers peace of mind at all times.

The handles are crafted from non-slip cork that helps to minimize the accumulation of sweat. Cork also provides a firm but comfortable grip for hikers and walkers alike no matter what type of terrain you are traversing.

There is a grip extension with ridges that delivers additional support whenever the terrain proves to be more difficult to navigate.

The carry bag includes a mesh pocket that you can use to hold a water bottle, spare set of tips, or similarly sized item. Plus, you receive a variety of all-terrain accessories for your adventures.

As you might expect, these walking sticks are extremely lightweight due to the use of 100% carbon fiber in their construction. Each pole weighs 7.6 ounces, making the full weight less than 16 ounces.

The lightweight construction minimizes the impact on your joints and muscles.

Titan stands behind its products. The manufacturer's warranty is good for a full year from the date of purchase.

How to Use

If you've used trekking poles before today, you'll have no problems figuring out how to set up this pair.

It's important to take the time to ensure you've done so properly in order to fully support your body on your adventures.

Once you take your poles out of the package, you'll want to set their height.

The quick lock with flip design allows you to instantly extend your pole shaft and secure it in place.

To measure the correct height, place your poles in an upright position and make sure that the top of each pole should fit into the palms of your hand.

​Alternative

​If you aren't quite sold on the idea of purchasing Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles, you may be interested in a pair of Montem Ultra Strong Hiking and Trekking Poles​. 

They offer a slightly heavier weight with each pole reaching 9.6 ounces.

This particular set offers a wide range of height settings falling between 24 inches and 53 inches.

The EVA foam grips are comfortable to use and considered to be stronger than cork. Montem provides a lifetime guarantee, a deal that is impossible to beat.

Montem Ultra Strong Hiking Trekking Poles are made from aluminum, fitted with tungsten tips, and available in several attractive colors.

The price is a few dollars more than the Titan Trekker but--because of the aircraft grade aluminum the Montem poles are made from--they will likely last longer than the Titan Trekker carbon fiber poles: the tradeoff is weight for durability if you choose to go with the Montem poles over the Titan Trekker model.

​Final Verdict

​Titan Trekker Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles feature a superior design and excellent features for novices and experienced hikers alike. They offer perfect fit no matter your age, sex, or chosen activity. 

You can hike, climb, or walk through mud, snow, dirt, or rocks like a pro with this set of poles built to support treks on rough terrain and simplify walking for people of all ages and skill levels.

If you are concerned about reducing fatigue and joint strain, this is the set of 100% carbon fiber trekking poles for you. They are shock absorbent, retractable, and lightweight.

5 South Korea Attractions You Won’t Want to Miss

South Korean Attractions

With over 5,000 years of rich culture and history, South Korea is one of the best places to visit on any trip to Asia.

This stunning peninsula offers a diverse range of experiences to tantalize the taste buds of even the most experienced traveler.

If a trip to South Korea is on the horizon for you, it may be a good idea to check out the following attractions:

1. Trick Eye Museum

If traditional art galleries aren’t generally your cup of tea, then the Trick Eye Museum in Seoul might be something you would enjoy.

While there are indeed many art pieces scattered throughout the museum, many of them are oversized, rotated or 3D lookalikes.

The beauty of these pieces is that visitors to the museum get swallowed up by these paintings; they can make you feel as though you are hanging off a cliff, climbing a wall or being swallowed by a Venus Flytrap.

2. Third Tunnel of Aggression

North and South Korea have a long history of military aggression towards each other. As such, the development of military tunnels running from North to South Korea began in the 1970s.

It is estimated that North Korea could move 30,000 men per hour into the South’s territory through these tunnels if they chose to do so – though the North has always denied the existence of these tunnels.

South Korea blocked the tunnels off as a form of further protection against the North years ago.

Still, visitors to the DMZ (demilitarized zone) can walk 265 meters down the tunnel and get to experience what using these tunnels must have been like, the site is close to Panmunjom.

For details on visiting check with Visit Korea here.

3. Jeju Glass Castle Theme Park

This beautiful theme park is an exquisite example of how glass can be used to transform a space into another world.

This theme park is divided into an indoor and an outdoor section.

Everything in the outside section, from waterfalls to fish in ponds and flowers in flower beds, is delicately crafted out of glass.

The inside is no different and features a room of mirrors which can transport visitors into an infinite journey of escapism.

Although nothing in this theme park can be touched, the beauty of the creations certainly has the ability to touch the souls of anyone who visits the park.

4. Seongsan Sunrise Peak

5,000 years ago, hydro-volcanic eruptions formed the volcano upon which the Seongsan Sunrise Peak lies.

This peak, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site some in 2007, is famous for bringing visitors to its edge. It is here that visitors can experience the breathtaking sunrise views.

If you prefer something a little more adventurous, you can hike up the northwest side ridge.

5. Gwang-An Bridge 

This bridge, also called the Diamond Bridge, connects Suywong-gy and Haeundae-gu.

Being two-stories above ground offers visitors breathtaking views of surrounding mountains, beaches and glistening city lights.

The only downside to this bridge is the fact that no pedestrians are allowed to cross it, but the site of the bridge from a distance is equally as impressive.

Packed full of history and natural wonder, South Korea truly has something to offer for every visitor.

While there, don’t forget to try out some of their delicious food options – you won’t be disappointed!

TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles Review

TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles

​TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles: QUICK OVERVIEW

​Material

​Weight

​Grip

​Price

What We Like
  • ​Extra-long foam handles
  • ​Aviation-grade aluminum
  • ​Quick lock
What We Don't Like
  • ​No mud baskets
  • ​Wrist straps shorter than some styles

​If you lead an active lifestyle that includes backpacking, hiking, camping, trekking, and walking, you may be interested in taking a look at TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles.

These poles deliver more than just the basics when it comes to outdoor adventures. The price is affordable, and the quality is superior to some of the standard walking sticks available today.

TheFitLife​ products tend to be sturdy and these poles continue the tradition offering stability and support for your weight when you need to take a break.

If you want to learn more, just keep reading this review to get the information you need to make an informed purchase.

​TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Pole Review

TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles

​Who Is This Product For?

​TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles deliver the level of strength and stability required by individuals of greater than average height and weight.

The adjustability of the poles enables their use by individuals of smaller girth and height. These lightweight poles are good for hikers at different skill levels.

Embracing a modern trend in styling, the manufacturer of this set offers it in five colors, providing attractive options for both men and women. 

Users who prefer help in using their hiking poles will appreciate this pair. It includes a measuring scale and a stop mark to assist them in figuring out accurate positioning.

​What's Included?

​With your purchase of TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles, you receive a few essentials for your adventures.

In addition to a pair of poles, you get a free carry bag, which is just the right size to transport or store your poles.

This set also includes:

  • a set of standard-sized rubber tips
  • a pair of snow baskets
  • a pair of holders.

Each pole has adjustable wrist straps, a quick lock system, the EVA foam handle, and a rubber grip.

​Overview of the Features  

​ 
TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles offer many beneficial features that most hikers can appreciate.

The poles are noise absorbent, creating a quieter trek than many other models. These walking sticks are easy to collapse and store in a backpack or carry bag when they aren't actively being used.

TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles come with extra-long EVA handles with wrist straps that prevent unwanted slipping. EVA grips are known to absorb moisture and reduce chafing, while being comfortable to hold.

This ultralight pair of trekking poles is also shock absorbent, a feature that protects your knees and minimizes the possibility of joint damage caused by hard impacts. It is important to reduce the force on your knees, even if you aren't having any issues with them currently.

Each pair of poles is corrosion resistant and capable of bearing up to 440 lbs.

These poles are constructed from aviation-grade aluminum, making them one of the strongest styles available today. They are so strong that the risk of bending your poles ​remains miniscule

It is possible to collapse the poles as short as 26 inches or extend them to a length of 53 inches. Each telescoping pole is labeled with the word "stop" to indicate the maximum extension.

Once the quick locks are securely twisted into place, the poles offer a sturdy aid for trekking on rugged terrain.

It's easy to customize your look, because TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles are sold in several colors, including black, blue, red, silver, and purple.

A 100% money back guarantee is in effect during the initial 180 days. All you need to do is use your poles during that time to ensure you are happy with them.

​How to Use

​The instructions on how to use your new trekking poles are simple and to the point.

  1. ​Take your trekking poles out of the packaging.
  2. Grasp one pole by the handle and hold it vertically from the ground up toward your shoulder.
  3. Extend the pole by pulling the bottom part of it all of the way out to the "stop" mark.
  4. Twist the bottom to tighten the pole.
  5. Now you are ready to pull and set the middle section at a length that you feel is suitable for your height.
  6. Tighten your setting securely and insert the correct tips for the terrain you intend to travel.

​Alternative

​TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles offer a reliable and sturdy option for serious walkers and hikers. However, it is possible that you may want a product that is fitted to your personal measurements.

​When this is the case, you may want to look into a set of American Nordic Walking System Real Nordic Walking Poles. They come highly recommended as a reliable solution for individuals undergoing physical therapy.

Each set of poles is tailored for a specific individual in order to create a custom product. The price is higher than a pre-made set of poles. 

On the upside, you never need to worry about setting the height of your poles, because this step has already been accomplished for you.

​Final Verdict

​Whether you are climbing uphill or hiking up a slight include, you need a pair of reliable trekking poles to minimize the impact to your knees and joints.

You may also want to maintain your balance, enhance your stability, and improve your average walking time.

TheFitLife Nordic Walking Trekking Poles can deliver on each of those goals. Not only do they offer anti-shock capabilities, but they also skid resistant.

If you enjoy snow walking, mountain climbing, or hiking on rugged terrain, this pair of poles have the features needed for a safe trek.