Relay This: A Summer Giveaway from CamelBak!

It’s summer, and for me, that means staying as hydrated as possible during these long sunny days spent outside. I don’t always do the recommended eight glasses of water a day though; sometimes I drink less, depending on where I am and what I’m doing. Did you know that oft-repeated and generally accepted slice of wisdom is actually nothing more than a myth with no medical basis?

Proper hydration relies on several factors, including your age and physical condition, level of activity, intensity of the weather, and what else you’ve been eating or drinking that day. It just makes sense that if you’re hiking at high altitude on a hot summer day, you’ll need to drink more water than when you’re just sitting in front of your computer in an air-conditioned office all afternoon.

CamelBak gets it, and the company teamed up with the University of Connecticut’s Korey Stringer Institute to create a hydration calculator that helps you determine your ideal level of hydration. (My average results recommended 1.5 liters of water per day, which is actually less than eight glasses.)

You know what else CamelBak gets? That most of us with these types of water pitchers — the ones that filter water from the tap — don’t like waiting around for them to fill up when we’re thirsty.

So from this company, a true innovator in the industry and the maker of my favorite hydration pack when I’m out adventuring, comes a household item that anyone will find useful.

I used to have one of those other pitchers, and refilling it meant turning the tap on to a slow dribble and walking away for 10 minutes while it filtered, drop by drop. Now I have one of these pitchers, the Relay from CamelBak, and refilling it means by the time I’ve grabbed a glass from the cupboard, the water’s already been filtered.

I’m not kidding. And today I’m teaming up with CamelBak in this new giveaway so you have a chance to see for yourself!

I first got my hands on the Relay back in March, when Camelbak started rolling out the new product and offered to send me a pitcher. I’ve had these last few months to try it out, and it’s exceeded every expectation.

The Relay is an 80-ounce (10-cup) water filtration system that filters water “at the speed of your faucet,” according to the company.

It’s made with BPA-free plastic and has a snap-tight locking lid that doesn’t drip. At the top is a simple dial for helping you remember when to replace the filter.

The filter itself lasts up to four months on average and is packed with plant-based activated carbon, which removes 97 percent of chlorine, taste, and odor. The secret to its speed is the pleated design, which increases the amount of water that comes in contact with the filter at one time.

Refilling the pitcher takes about 45 seconds from start to finish. Seriously! (You can watch a cool video of that happening on CamelBak’s site.) One of my friends filled the Relay for me when I wasn’t around, and told me later that she didn’t think she did it right, because the water just flowed straight through without the usual drip drip drip that most of us are accustomed to. I had to laugh; the speed and ease of the Relay truly makes it game changing in the kitchen.

Now if you’re anything like me, you probably have a few water bottles laying around the house for hydrating on the go. One of my favorites from CamelBak is the Eddy Glass, a sturdy glass bottle that doesn’t retain odors or tastes. (Ever drank from a plastic bottle that’s been sitting in a hot car all day? Not pleasant at all.) The Eddy Glass comes with CamelBak’s signature bite valve, and a silicone sleeve that protects against any potential impact. I’ve been using mine hard for over a year, taking it everywhere with me from camping to kayaking, and it shows no wear or damage on the surface.

The Relay and the Eddy Glass simply go hand in hand here — filter water from the tap with your pitcher, and use the pitcher to fill your bottle with fresh-tasting water.

That’s why CamelBak is offering both the Relay and the Eddy Glass (a combined value of $62) in this giveaway. And the package goes to not one, but three lucky winners this week! (Colors of items may vary depending on availability.)

How to enter: Leave a comment below and tell me how else you like to stay hydrated in the summer (and no, it doesn’t have to be water… let me know your favorite drinks!). To receive an additional entry, follow @theGardenBetty on Twitter, and leave a second comment below indicating your Twitter username. You have two chances to win! (And three winners will be drawn at the end of the week, increasing your chances of winning considerably!)

The giveaway will end at 11:59 PM Pacific Standard Time on Friday, July 11, 2014. Winners will be drawn at random and announced the following week. Good luck!

Giveaway Rules

1. Giveaway begins July 7, 2014 and ends July 11, 2014.
2. No purchase is necessary. To enter, leave a comment on this blog post.
3. Only US residents ages 18 and older are eligible to enter.
4. Two entries allowed per person.
5. Odds of winning are based on number of entries received.
6. Winner will be drawn at random.
7. If winner does not respond within 48 hours after time of contact, that entry will be forfeited and a new winner will be drawn.

This post is brought to you by CamelBak. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that support Garden Betty.

Update: A big thanks to everyone who entered!
This giveaway is now closed. The winners are Kristi from Kentucky, Sarah from Florida, and Christabel from Washington, DC.