Sports bottles are used by almost every cyclist as an essential means of hydration and are a great promotional tool to use as giveaways for tour companies or for clubs wishing to give members a practical gift. Bike hire businesses can be sure of getting water bottles returned when they have a logo printed on them and they are also a great gift for any business to give sporty individuals who will promote them every time they take a drink.
Sourcing custom sports bottles can be difficult as there are always minimum quantities on print runs and there is a confusing array of different online companies offering drinks bottles at varying prices and quality levels.
Custom Printed Water Bottles Quality
Before looking at prices, it is worth asking what quality a club or business is looking for. Cheap printed sports bottles can be bought for around a dollar a piece but these are usually lightweight, print is likely to fade easily and they have to be purchased in bulk quantities over a thousand units. This is fine if they are to be used as promotional items at sporting events like a marathon where bottles are immediately discarded after one use, but not if they are intended for longevity.
Clubs and teams will want to invest in premium quality bottles that last with features such as:
- Screw-on rather than flip-up caps that don’t leak.
- Rubber pulling spouts which, unlike cheap plastic spout covers, will not break after a couple of uses.
- Good quality plastic that does not contain the potentially harmful chemical Bisphenol A (BPA).
Personalized Water Bottles Sources
Companies offering a multitude of personalized products often include cheap printed drinks bottles in their collections, but for premium quality, it is often best to start with quotes from specialist custom sports bottle manufacturers, a good example being Wildoo, based in the UK. Alternatively, take a close look at a good quality bottle already owned to see which company made it.
When comparing quotes, ask each company for minimum quantities required and whether artwork design is included in the price. Water bottles normally have two positions for logo and/or club detail placement (see the picture below) and prices will vary according to the number of colors required. For small quantities below 200 units, it is usually best to use only one color to save on costs and most printed drinks bottle companies specify 150 as an absolute minimum. Expect to pay around $3 to $4 for small quantities with one color printing.
Ordering Printed Sports Bottles
Once a suitable source is found, ordering is fairly straightforward:
- Agree the price according to bottle size, quantity, number of print colors and the quality required
- Provide club or company details such as team logo, website URL, telephone number and address.
- Confirm water bottle and cap color (either choose from stock colors or order a specific pantone color at extra cost).
- Request a design proof for confirmation of artwork.
- Add any extras such as a name box for each team member to personalize his/her bottle or a measure bar for those who like to fill their bottles with energy supplements.
- Request a sample if required to check on quality.
- Confirm the final proof, pay the deposit and await delivery, which usually takes between one and four weeks depending on print volumes, delivery location and whether stock colors are used.
Team Sports Bottles
Clubs and small businesses can buy personalized team water bottles for just a few dollars a piece, even if they only need a few hundred units. Be sure to compare quality, minimums and printing complexity before ordering and always get at least one quote from a specialist sports bottle manufacturer as a good benchmark.
Related Articles
Also of interest may be using Custom Water Bottles as Marketing Tools, Where to Buy Custom Cycling Jerseys with Team Colors and Logo or buying alternative personalized gifts like Unique Photo Gifts for Cyclists or Unusual Gifts for Cyclists.
Article updated March 2011.
Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
Join the Conversation