As we all struggle with the extreme temperatures triggered by global warming, we have been admonished by our doctors, especially those of us older folks taking strong medications that require adequate hydration for proper infusion and flushing from our bodies afterwards, to drink at least 64 oz. of water a day. When I was told that I wondered how I could possibly drink that much water every day! But, my daughter, who now lives in Alabama, told me her doctor prescribed a smart water bottle for her and urged me to try it.
Although specialists in Alabama can evidently prescribe smart water bottles, I wasn't sure about doctors here in Oregon so I just went up on Amazon and bought one. The smart bottle my daughter recommended is called a HidrateSpark. It comes in various configurations but I selected the 21 oz. version with a straw-style top. There is a version with a chug-style top as well.
The bottle has a Bluetooth-enabled "puck" screwed into the bottom that you charge via a USB cable. It communicates with the HidrateSpark app on your phone that can be downloaded for free from either the App Store or Google play depending on whether your phone is an iPhone or Android device.
I downloaded the app and provided my height, weight, and activity level and the app calculated based on that specific information that I actually should be drinking 70 oz of water every day (sigh...). I charged the puck - this took overnight for the first use. (It's been a while since I bought my last USB splitter and it may be just USB 2.0. If your computer has USB 3.0 it may charge a little faster during the initial charge.) While the puck is charging, it flashes green lights periodically until it becomes fully charged then the lights will be on solid. After the first full charge, though, it will stay charged for a couple of days and the next charge will be much faster.
My first blunder was assuming the bottle, once charged, would be automatically detected so I was confused when I filled the bottle and drank some of the water that the app did not appear to register the amount. Then I realized that you have to press the "bottles" icon, add new bottle, provide the capacity (in my case 21 oz.) then the app will search for and "discover" the bottle. Once it is discovered (paired through Bluetooth), however, you won't need to do that again. After each drink you need to set the bottle down on a level surface for a few seconds within 30 ft of your phone to allow the information to "sync" over Bluetooth. If you take your water bottle on a walk, you just drink from it as needed then "sync" it to your phone when you return (I usually don't take my phone with me when I walk my little dog since I am just walking around the perimeter of our five acres.)
The app also has an icon of a large drop of water. You use this icon whenever you drink from any other source. I prefer to drink ice water from a glass at meals and whatever beverage container I use when I'm drinking a protein shake or a cup of hot chocolate. This "other source" feature actually enables you to record your fluid intake without a smart water bottle if you want to and the app is free. You can select from a default list of beverages and the app will automatically calculate the water content. To access an expanded list, however, you are offered an in-app subscription purchase of $1.99 per month. I try to avoid these small subscription fees because I think they represent a "death by 10,000 cuts" to your bank account! My daily protein shake and hot chocolate are about 80% water and I can do the math in my head. I don't need a monthly subscription to calculate it automatically for me!
If you do purchase the smart water bottle, you also have the option to customize the color of the puck's reminder glow but this too requires the "Pro" subscription. Hey, the default color is fine with me!
The puck glows periodically if you have not taken a drink and you have not recorded water consumption from anywhere else. At first, I didn't think it was working because I begin each day with a variety of water, juice, hot chocolate, etc. that I record after breakfast so the app considers me well hydrated for a while. Yesterday, though, I was concentrating so hard on image editing that I didn't notice how much time had passed and the bottle began to glow and pinged my phone with a little text message telling me it was time to take a drink. It reminded me a couple of more times throughout the day and I was able to meet my goal of 70 oz of water by the time bedtime arrived.
One small observation about the instruction manual. It is printed in such a tiny font I could not read it even with my 2.5X readers. So, I went online and downloaded a pdf of the file so I could zoom in and read it more comfortably.
Another first time blunder occurred when I attempted to upend the bottle to take a drink and wondered why the water didn't come out evenly. With the straw-style cap you need to suck on the spout like a straw! I know - its the simple things that ultimately get you! If you want to drink by upending the bottle, you need to choose the "chug" cap instead. By the way, the caps are dishwasher safe but don't put the bottle with puck attached in the dishwasher!
Anyway, the smart water bottle is proving to be helpful and will hopefully keep my doctors happy!
| Brand | Hidrate Spark |
|---|---|
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Bottle Type | Straw Lid |
| Color | Abyss |
| Capacity | 621 Milliliters |
| Special Feature | Reminder, Insulated |
| Age Range (Description) | Adult |
| Product Care Instructions | Hand Wash Only |
| Model Name | PRO |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Sports, Travel |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Theme | Sport |
| Reusability | Reusable |
| Shape | Cylindrical |
| Style | Modern |
| Finish Type | Glossy |
| Sport | Sports |
| Unit Count | 1.0 Count |
| Package Information | Bottle |
| Specific Uses For Product | General use, Fitness, Health-conscious individuals |
| Manufacturer | Hidrate Spark |
| UPC | 810099250879 |
| Item Package Dimensions L x W x H | 11.02 x 3.23 x 3.15 inches |
| Package Weight | 0.53 Kilograms |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 10.7 x 10.7 x 3 inches |
| Brand Name | Hidrate Spark |
| Part Number | HI-007-018 |
| Size | 21 Ounces |
