BackpackGearTest
  Guest - Not logged in 

Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Avex Brazos AUTOSEAL Water Bottle > Test Report by Andrea Murland

Avex Brazos AUTOSEAL Water Bottle
Test Series by Andrea Murland

In the Field

Initial Report - June 16, 2014
Long Term Report - October 21, 2014

Tester Information

Name: Andrea Murland
Email: amurland AT shaw DOT ca
Age: 29
Location: Kimberley & Elkford, British Columbia, Canada
Gender: Female
Height: 5 ft 2 in (1.57 m)
Weight: 130 lb (59 kg)

I began hiking frequently in 2006 and have since hiked in Western Canada, Australia, and spent 2 months backpacking in the Alps. I spend most weekends either day-hiking or on 2-3 day backpacking trips, with some longer trips when I can manage them. I also snowshoe and ski in the winter, but don’t have a lot of experience with winter in the backcountry yet. Elevation is typically 500-3,000 m (1,600-10,000 ft), in the Canadian Rockies and the Selkirk, Purcell, and Monashee ranges. I try for a light pack, but I don’t consider myself a lightweight backpacker.

Avex Brazos

Initial Report – June 12, 2014

Product Information

Manufacturer: Avex
Manufacturer's URL: www.avexsport.com
Model: Brazos AUTOSEAL Water Bottle
Year of Manufacture: 2014
MSRP: US $15.99
Size: 32 oz (946 mL)
Other Sizes Available: 25 oz (739 mL)
Colours Available: Blue, Charcoal (tested colour)
Listed Weight: None
Measured Weight: 209 g (7.4 oz)

Description & Initial Impressions

The Avex Sport Brazos AUTOSEAL Water Bottle is a plastic water bottle which has some interesting features in the lid. The plastic of the bottle is BPA-free, and the body of the bottle is transparent. The main feature of the lid is the AUTOSEAL, which prevents spillage. To take a drink, I have to push a button, which is located directly opposite the spout, on the side of the lid, right where my fingers sit when I take a drink. Pushing the button opens up the spout and allows water to escape into my mouth. To keep the spout clean, there is a cover which flips back out of the way when I want to drink, and latches over the spout when in place. I can flick back the spout cover with my thumb and very little effort. Also on the lid is a handle, which rotates above and over the front of the spout, which could be used for attaching the bottle to something. The handle latches back out of the way just above the AUTOSEAL button if I’m not using it.

The manufacturer indicates that the 32 oz (946 mL) Brazos bottle measures 3.25 in (8.3 cm) in diameter and 10.25 in (26.0 cm) in height, and my measurements match these values. I will note that the diameter is at the widest point, at the bottom, as the bottle tapers a bit towards the neck. My kitchen measuring cup indicates that the bottle does in fact hold about 32 oz (946 mL).
Lid Details

Trying It Out

I am happy to say that in my initial trials with the bottle it held water. I also spent some time shaking it upside down, and it didn’t leak. I quite like the spout cover for keeping things clean. I also found that the bottle dispenses quite a bit of flow when I push the button and sip. I don’t have to suck at all, it’s very effortless for a good amount of water. I also think that I’m going to like the handle, as if I have my water on the outside of my pack it’s nice to have it attached in case it falls out of a pocket or something. I also found that the mouth of the bottle is wide enough to fit my UV water purifier in it. What I’m not sure about is if the bottle is narrow enough at the bottom to fit in a standard cupholder...but then I can’t think of any other bottle of this volume that does either!

Summary

The Avex Sport Brazos AUTOSEAL Water Bottle is a large plastic bottle which offers some features to keep the spout clean and keep water from spilling. I like it so far and am looking forward to carrying it hiking this summer.

Long Term Report – October 21, 2014

Field Conditions

The Avex Brazos Water Bottle has become an important part of my gear this summer. I have used it on three overnight hikes and one three-day hike, plus fourteen day hikes or Search & Rescue missions. On the day hikes, I carried the bottle inside my backpack, and on the overnight hikes it was in an exterior pocket. The exception was on three of the days of Search & Rescue, when I was wearing a vest rather than carrying a pack, so carried the bottle in the vest. The temperatures overnight never got lower than just above freezing, and during the day it was up to about 30 C (86 F).

Observations

First of all, I am happy to say that the Brazos water bottle has held water and not had any major leaks through the test period. I have found it to be a highly functional water bottle.

I have found the bottle to be easy and comfortable to use. The width of the bottle, in the upper tapered section, is comfortable to hold in one hand. The size of the bottle, although it doesn’t fit in a standard vehicle cupholder, works quite well for the pockets on my backpacks. I also found that it fits perfectly into the pocket on the back of my Search & Rescue vest. It is easy to fill and also, as I mentioned in my Initial Report, wide enough at the mouth to fit my UV water purifier, which is a requirement for an overnight bottle for me. The AUTOSEAL button is easy to depress and a nice large flow of water is delivered to my mouth with minimal effort, in a concentrated stream that all makes it into my mouth. Actually, if I’m trying to drink a lot of water in a hurry, I prefer to use this bottle than a regular glass, as it lets me gulp water without spilling it from the edges of my mouth by accident.

I have had a couple of brief instances where the AUTOSEAL button has been depressed accidentally in a bag (usually when I’m throwing it around in a vehicle), but I haven’t had any major losses of water. I did some tests, and with the spout cover closed the flow of water out of the bottle is more like a rapid drip, which at least slows the rate of accidental water loss. It would be nice if there was a way to lock the AUTOSEAL button in the closed position so that it couldn’t accidentally be pressed.

I like the other features of the lid as well. The spout cover is a nice touch, especially as I carry this bottle on the outside of my pack on overnight adventures. The handle is also a nice security touch. I clipped the bottle to my climbing harness with it once, and it worked well. I also threaded a strap on a backpack through it. I did find out, at about 1 a.m. on the side of a mountain, on a rescue, that the handle comes off with relatively little effort if pushed and pulled in the right directions. Thankfully I didn’t lose it, and I’m glad I know that now. The other feature of the lid that I didn’t even notice in the Initial Report is that there is a textured area on the sides of the lid. This texture makes the lid easier to unscrew when the bottle is wet.

One feature that I felt was missing from the Brazos was volume markings at intervals up the side of the bottle. There is one at the top that says “32 ounce”, but nothing else. After a couple of dinners where I guessed at how much water to add (which never helps the consistency of re-hydrated food), I added markings of my own up the side.

As far as durability, the main part of the bottle has a few scuffs, and there are a few dings in the lid. None of these have affected the function of the bottle. I have cleaned the bottle simply by washing by hand when necessary, and it seems to clean easily.
Long Term Pictures

Summary

The Avex Brazos AUTOSEAL Water Bottle is a great plastic water bottle for hiking. I like the seal mechanism to prevent leaks and to allow for easy drinking. I also like the handle and spout cover on the lid.

Thumbs Up:
Doesn’t leak
Wide enough opening
Good flow of water out spout – good for drinking!

Thumbs Down:
No volume markings
No way to lock the AUTOSEAL button

Thanks to Avex and BackpackGearTest.org for the chance to test this water bottle! It has definitely earned a place in my gear pile.



Read more reviews of Avex Sport gear
Read more gear reviews by Andrea Murland

Reviews > Hydration Systems > Bottles > Avex Brazos AUTOSEAL Water Bottle > Test Report by Andrea Murland



Product tested and reviewed in each Formal Test Report has been provided free of charge by the manufacturer to BackpackGearTest.org. Upon completion of the Test Series the writer is permitted to keep the product. Owner Reviews are based on product owned by the reviewer personally unless otherwise noted.



All material on this site is the exclusive property of BackpackGearTest.org.
BackpackGearTest software copyright David Anderson