If you’re new to the workout scene and want to fit in seamlessly with the hardcore gym rats, a shaker bottle is one piece of essential kit. Chugging back a protein shake straight from your shaker is a convenient way to get that post workout nutrition.
Although it’s what’s inside that counts, I do think it makes me look a bit more like a pro too! Anything that boosts my confidence in the gym is a plus in my book. I’ve taken a look at the best shaker bottles on the market, so you know exactly which one to pick in order to fit in with the cool kids.
It’s All About the Shaker
We all know that guy right? Let’s call him Steve. Steve has muscles on top of muscles. If Rambo and John McClane had a love child, it would be Steve.
Of course, Steve’s favorite accessory is his shaker bottle. From a superfood green shake in the morning, to a post-workout muscle builder mid afternoon, if you see Steve, chances are he will be carrying his shaker.
Now you’ve tried a few HIIT sessions and you can get one plate on either end of the barbell – you’ve decided you want to be like Steve! Well, you had better get yourself that signature shaker bottle hadn’t you?
Believe it or not, it’s not quite as simple as choosing any old plastic cup to house your shake. Oh no, there are choices galore! We have stainless steel shakers that look like something Sarah Connorused to protect herself from the Terminator. For the high-tech lovers there are USB rechargeable portable mixers that could quite easily be from a future Shark Tank episode. The possibilities are endless and frankly overwhelming!
In time, you’ll probably end up like Steve with a cupboard full of shaker bottles suitable for any event or ensemble (even I have at least 5!). Until then, don’t settle for a supplement store freebie which never mixes your shake properly). With a little research, you can find the best shaker bottle for your needs.
What is a Shaker Bottle?
For anyone who is set on achieving greatness in their workout results, a post workout protein shake is a must. Of course, that muscle-building goodness goes hand in hand with our old friend, the shaker bottle.
Shaker bottles are designed to mix your supplements at home or on the go. They come in a wide variety of colors, shapes and sizes. With the use of an agitator, they quickly and efficiently mix your supplements with a chosen liquid.
What to Look For in a Shaker Bottle
With the fitness industry booming, newer, more advanced shaker bottles have become big business. You’ll probably get a basic plastic shaker bottle free when you purchase some protein powder, but nine times out of ten this will leave you with a lumpy shake with half of the powder stuck at the bottom. Believe me, lumpy protein powders are not an enjoyable beverage!
There are a huge amount of shaker bottles available and the truth of the matter is, many of them are from supplement companies trying to upsell to you. With cheaply made products that are inconsistent in quality, it’s important to know what you are looking for when it comes to choosing a good quality shaker bottle.
Albeit, a shaker bottle will not change your life. I do feel like in a strange way it’s a badge of honour showing your commitment to being the best version of yourself. By investing in fitness and supplements, you’re investing in yourself and your shaker bottle tells everyone around you that you’re taking your health and fitness seriously. Because first impressions make all the difference, it is important to choose the right one.
How Sturdy is It?
The entire point of buying a shaker bottle is to be able to carry it around with you both while you’re working out and traveling to and from the gym. Therefore, you need a bottle that can withstand being thrown into your gym bag and probably dropped or kicked over at least once a day. The ultimate test is when you accidently drop your dumbbell on it!
A cheap plastic option may seem like a good choice, but when it inevitably breaks and your fancy new protein powder leaves your bag smelling like eggs for the rest of its days, you have no one to blame but yourself!
The Seal Needs To Be Tight
Let me tell you from personal experience, when you’re at the gym surrounded by fitness fanatics and you take a swig of your pre workout drink only for it to go all down your front and all over the gym carpet, you’ll wish the ground would open up and swallow you! Total school boy error. No one wants to be sweating it out while stinking like vanilla protein powder.
Nor do you want any kind of liquid breaking free inside your gym bag and ruining your clothes, lunch or even your laptop.
Can you Carry it?
Many cheaply made shaker bottles are round and chunky. These varieties can be difficult to get a proper grip on, especially with a sweaty palm. Trying to grab those bad boys often leads to drops and spills so choose a bottle either with a properly designed grip or a handle.
Some shakers also come with attachments to hook onto your gym bag making them easier to carry out and about.
Does it Have a Mixing System?
To be classified as a shaker bottle, there should be some form of mixing system, even one as simple as an agitator ball. This is to ensure the end result is something drinkable, rather than a lumpy, chalky mess. If you just shake your bottle to mix it up, it’s likely a plain old water bottle, my friend.
Is it Dishwasher Safe?
Although not the highest priority when it comes to choosing a shaker bottle, it may be something to think about for the super busy gymer. Washing your shaker out properly every time you use it is important to prevent a buildup of bacteria. Shaker bottles can get super smelly (especially considering they don’t mix well with hot cars, trust me) so being able to throw it in the dishwasher to get a thorough cleaning can be a great advantage.
Is It BPA Free?
BPA (or Bisphenol-A) is a chemical which can be found in numerous plastic household products. This chemical can interfere with hormones and studies show it causes both breast and prostate cancer. According to the Breast Cancer Fund, not only does BPA increase your risk of cancer, but exposure even to miniscule amounts can cause infertility, metabolic disorders and type II diabetes.
All in all, it’s not good for your health and is definitely not something you want to ingest on a daily basis. Ensuring your shaker bottle is BPA free is essential.
Our Choice
Although all of these shakers are excellent, I feel like the BlenderBottle is a good value all round shaker for anyone and everyone. Simple and cheap, it’s a no nonsense solution for getting your muscle building boost post workout shake.
Leave a comment