Almost everything is given a ‘smart’ treatment these days, giving ordinary equipment with connectivity features such as WiFi or Bluetooth, so it can communicate and send data to our mobile devices. Water bottles are not spared, though, thanks to companies like HidrateSpark. They released smart water bottles the HidrateSpark PRO, sporting Bluetooth connectivity and RGB. Read our hands-on below.
The HidrateSpark PRO is just one of the smart water bottle products from the company, in addition to the Tap, and Legacy. The PRO comes in three sizes: 17 oz Stainless Steel, 21 oz Stainless Steel, and 24oz Tritan Plastic. It comes in Straw or Chug lids. What we have is the 17 oz chug.
There’s nothing much to talk about in terms of design. At first glance, it looks like your typical water bottle. The lid and bottom are made of plastic while the body is stainless steel. It looks well-made but not exactly the rugged type. It’s more like the type of water bottle that you bring with you to the office or gym.
The lid has a spring mechanism, so it automatically flips up once you press the button. There’s a built-in lock as well. Just push it down and it will secure the lid. The bottle is pretty much insulated and can keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours, and doesn’t sweat.
The bottom part is what separates the HidrateSpark PRO from other water bottles as it glows as an indicator for the user. Reach towards the bottom and twist counter-clockwise to remove the sensor and RGB module. The module also features the metal contacts for the USB magnetic charger, which, in our experience, only needs to be charged once a week.
To fully take advantage of the HidrateSpark PRO, you’ll need the Hidrate Spark app. You’ll need to turn on your Bluetooth connection, create an account, and it will pair to the water bottle right away. From here, you’ll be able to see your water intake goal for the day and your estimated intake so far.
When it’s time to drink, it will glow to get your attention, which is handy as we’re normally too focused at work that we forget to hydrate. When the bottle is outside the Bluetooth range of your phone, the Find My Bottle feature will activate and give you the bottle’s last synced location via Google Maps.
We just use it as a normal water bottle, but after setting it down, the app will update and provide us data to see how far we are from our goal. You can also manually input data if you drank water from other sources. There’s also a bit of gamification as you’ll get trophies depending on the achievement or compete with friends by connecting your Facebook account. Your water intake data can also sync with the Apple Health app, Apple Watch Series 5, and Fitbit.
For the RGB part, you can choose from a number of glow options based on your preference but if you want to customize, you’ll need the GlowStudio feature. Unfortunately, it’s an in-app purchase worth PHP 240. HidrateSpark should’ve just included it for free.
The HidrateSpark PRO 17 oz is priced at PHP 3,390, while the 21 oz is at PHP 3,690. Obviously, it’s not for everyone. If you’re already used to drinking water frequently, you’ll be fine without this gadget. This is for those who are too focused at work that they need to be reminded to hydrate. As we all know, drinking plenty of water is important to staying healthy.
The HidrateSpark PRO is available at Digital Walker Mall of Asia, Glorietta, and Trinoma, as well as on Beyond the Box Ermita, Uptown Mall, and V-Mall. In addition, you may also get it online via the official Digital Walker website and official store on Lazada 13.
