Relaj Shape bottle

The Relaj shape bottle came about when Bruce Bernstein's teenage son quizzed him as to why standard bottles were so awkward to drink from, or need tipping to the point they obscure views of conditions ahead. Bruce embraced this challenge, designing one from scratch that was easy to grasp and required minimal head tilting. To my mind, though, the valve needs further development.

The Relaj borrows from old school trade bidons, hydration packs and baby bottle teats. Everything dismantles to individual component parts and can be bunged in the dishwasher. That said, the blue lock valve is easily lost, so it's best washed in the sink or steriliser.

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This little chap is basically a stop cock that spells an end to leakage, sticky jersey pockets, luggage and that revolting layer of road grime peppered with dung and similar unmentionables. It's a doddle to open/close while riding along – even hurtling along 1-in-7s at 35mph.

The shapely contoured body is made from UV stable, BPA-free food grade plastics, so after the precautionary first time rinse, it won't taint your favourite tipple or leach nasty chemicals.

Being stronger than the bog standard BPA type means the walls can be thinner, thus easier to grip and squeeze. Ours had fluoro green graphics but smoke or clear versions are also available in red – if this is important to you.

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The neck resembles that of a 500ml soft drinks bottle, so get into the habit of locking the valve, unscrewing its base and filling from the bottom. This makes adding ice that little bit easier – assuming you didn't fancy re-freezable 'ice-sticks' to keep fluids refreshing on hot days.

Things have remained surprisingly hygienic on bikes without mudguards, aided by the bottle's comparatively long and slender profile, although the old freezer bag and rubber band trick was essential off road.

The elongated spout is quite narrow, which enables easier drinking from unusual angles – you can pop it in the side of your mouth, thus maintaining a clear view of conditions (and bar-mounted tech) without excessive tilt.

However, the flow rate errs on the pedestrian. On our first few outings, I felt like one of those tiny lambs desperately nudging their feeding bottle for more, and even with practice, I couldn't achieve a truly seamless/consistent flow. Frustrating on training runs but potentially ruinous in competitive contexts.

Despite its slightly unconventional profile, the bottle seems an excellent companion with most carbon/composite cages. Titanium and T6 aluminium alloy versions proved more of a lottery; in some cases it was absolutely fine, others a sloppy fit resulted in annoying chatter and even ejection when hurtling along lumpy lanes.

Ultimately, I loved the concept and materials, and pricing is pretty much in line with other technical models. The flow rate needs improving before I'd part with my cash, though.

Verdict

Brilliant concept but valve needs further refinement