Guyot Designs Splashguard Owner Review
Review date: September 30, 2005

Personal biographical information

Name:  Jesse McCulloch
Age:  23
Gender:  Male
Height:  6’ 4” (193 cm)
Weight: 165 lb (75 kg)
Email address:  mccu420@comcast.net
City and State:  Hillsboro, Oregon

Backpacking background:  I began backpacking as a Boy Scout.  Last year, I began backpacking again, as well as mountaineering.  I currently backpack in the Pacific Northwest at elevations from sea level to 11000 feet.  I like to backpack in all seasons.  I hike in the sun, rain, and snow.  I currently consider myself a medium weight backpacker, but I am slowly moving towards lightweight packing.

Product information

Manufacturer:  Guyot Designs
Manufacturer web site: http://www.guyotdesigns.com
MSRP:  2.95 USD
Total Weight: 0.5 oz (14 g)
Dimensions:  2 in diameter x 0.5 in deep  (5 cm diameter x 1 cm deep)

Introduction

The Guyot Designs Splashguard is rubber insert that allows me to drink or pour liquids from my wide mouth water bottle (Nalgene).  It serves a single purpose, and that is to keep me from spilling the contents of my water bottle all over myself.  Once I found this product, I was amazed that nobody came up with the idea sooner.

Product



The Splashguard came in a plastic case attached to a cardboard hanger.  The cardboard hanger had directions printed on it, as well as information about the company that makes it.  It product itself is a piece of food grade silicone rubber.  It is shaped like a circle, with a small half moon shaped cutout for me to drink or pour out of.  It also has a drain hole so the beverage does not become trapped on top of the product.  It comes in assorted colors, of which I chose black.  The cardboard hanger stated that the Splashguard would not absorb or retain odors or tastes, and could be sterilized by boiling in water.

Field Use

My first use of the Splashguard was on the way home from the store where I purchased it.  As soon as I got out to the car, I opened the package and immediately put it into my wide mouth Nalgene water bottle.  The Splashguard fits nicely inside the mouth of my Nalgene.  All I did to insert it is push it down until flush with the top of the bottle. 



I have always had a really hard time drinking from a Nalgene while riding in a moving vehicle.  The motion of the car usually conspires to slosh liquid over my mouth and onto my shirt.  Since adding the Splashguard, I haven’t had this problem again.  On the trail it has allowed me to drink while moving, instead of stopping to drink.  I have used it in the winter, however I turn my bottles upside down in the winter to keep them from freezing shut.  This being said, I have never had the Splashguard freeze on me.  I wash my Splashguard about once a month unless I have had something other than water in the Nalgene.  I wash it with warm water and soap, and can attest to the claim that my Splashguard has not retained any odors or tastes.

Conclusion

I cannot believe how long I went without this product.  I would not even think of buying a new bottle without getting the Splashguard to go with it.  My wife will no longer be able to get mad at me for splashing Kool-aid on my shirts.  This alone is well worth the cost.  And at such a light weight, why not bring one along.