KENMARK SPORTS ARMBAND WATER BOTTLE
TEST SERIES BY CHARI DAIGNAULT
INITIAL REPORT
November 19, 2012
TESTER INFORMATION
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NAME:
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Chari Daignault
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EMAIL:
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chari DOT daignault AT gmail DOT com
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AGE:
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50
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LOCATION:
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Orlando, FL USA
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GENDER:
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F
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HEIGHT:
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5' 6" (1.68 m)
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WEIGHT:
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135 lb (61.20 kg)
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I've been a light hiker for 41 years. I've hiked all the Florida State Forest trails in Central Florida, backpacked the Na Pali coast on Kauai, and climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan. I have hiked dry & sandy, rough & rocky and wet & boggy trails and as a result, have found what does and doesn't work for me in terms of equipment and clothing.
INITIAL REPORT
PRODUCT INFORMATION & SPECIFICATIONS
Manufacturer: Kenmark Sports
Year of Manufacture: 2012
Manufacturer's Website: Kenmark Sports
MSRP: US $29.99
Listed Weight: N/A
Measured Weight: 18 oz (510 g) (Aluminum Bottle with cap, armband and detachable pocket)
Listed Volume (Aluminum Bottle): 16 oz (473 ml) Liquid
Measured Volume (Aluminum Bottle): 16 oz (473 ml) Liquid
Color: Aluminum Bottle, dark blue; armband and detachable pocket, black
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| Kenmark Sports Armband Water Bottle |
INITIAL IMPRESSIONS
The entire armband package (empty) feels lightweight enough to me, but once filled, I'm sure the aluminum bottle will weigh considerably more. The armband fits nicely on my upper arm and although my initial impression was that it would be bulky, it actually does not feel that way. It is bigger than anything I've worn there before and I'm curious how it will feel with the water bottle completely filled with liquid. The cap of the water bottle screws on and off and although it has a small hole in it through which a key ring could fit, there doesn't appear to be any way to keep it fastened other than when it's screwed on -- a potential for loss.
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| Aluminum bottle and cap |
The two arm straps are made of a stretchy, soft material and have hook and loop fasteners on the ends. I'm able to adjust the tightness of the straps two different ways; by shortening the length of the straps and by stretching the straps tightly around my arm prior to fastening them. The body of the armband, which holds the aluminum water bottle, is made of soft, thin Neoprene and has a flap with a hole in it on top, which pulls over the top of the water bottle when inserted, allowing the cap to poke out of the hole. The flap then fastens to hold the water bottle in with a hook and loop fastener. This flap can fasten either to the face of the armband itself, or to the top of the detachable pocket. The detachable pocket fastens with hook and loop to the face of the armband and is thin, see-through plastic on the outside. Although the manufacturer advertises that a smartphone or iPhone can fit in this pocket and actually be utilized, it is in reality a very tight-fit even for my small Samsung Exhibit, which is roughly 2 1/4" (5.72 cm) wide by 4 3/4" (12 cm) high and 1/2" (1.27 cm) thick. The pocket would however, work very well for me to hold an ID card, a credit card and a car key all at once. (There is also the issue of attaching headphones, for which no allowances have been made.)
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| Armband and detachable pocket |
READING THE INSTRUCTIONS
Instructions were on a small slip of paper stashed inside the armband, underneath the water bottle. The instructions are basically for the use and care of the water bottle itself. Below are the recommended uses and care tips for the aluminum water bottle:
1. Wash all parts in warm soapy water before using
2. It is not for microwave use (ed. note: good idea since it's aluminum)
3. Do not use bleach or cleansers containing chlorine to clean
4. Hand wash only. Dishwasher may damage
5. Do not overfill. Hot liquids can scald the user
6. When filled with hot liquids keep out of reach of children
7. When drinking hot liquids, please allow to cool to a drinkable temperature before securing the lid
8. CAUTION: Hot liquids will increase temperature of exterior wall
Other than the above noted tips, there were no other instructions. However, using the armband appears to be pretty intuitive to me and I haven't found anything I'm not sure how to use or that seems confusing.
SUMMARY
Overall, this appears to be a useable product for me on trail runs and short hikes. I believe I can even use it while doing some cross-training workouts which consist of push-ups, pull-ups and other strength-training exercises that don't involve any equipment. It will allow me to take some water along on dog walks without having to use a hand to hold a bottle -- which is a Good Thing, since I have two dogs!
I'm curious to see if the bottle sweats when filled with cold liquid and if it does, how that affects the comfort of the armband during exercise. Whether any skin irritation may occur is always something I look out for as well.
Things I Like
Soft feel of the materials
Aluminum bottle (Eco-friendly)
Storage pocket
Hands-free!
Things I'm Not Sure About
Storage pocket (too thin for my smartphone)
Whole thing seems bulky
Possible weight issue when bottle is full
Water bottle cap is not lashed to the bottle
This concludes my Initial Report. Come back soon for my Long Term Report. Many thanks to BackPackGearTest.org and Kenmark Sports for the opportunity to test this product!
This report was created with the
BackpackGearTest.org Report Writer Version 1.
Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
