u/Futamaki

A while ago I saw a (SMASH) bottle with a 2 way cap. Sip & Chug it was called or something.
Didn't think much of it, but wen I was running on the treadmill and wanted to take a sip from my Camelbak I realised I needed a straw. But also a big opening to easily drink from.
The SMASH was unfortunately gone. After searching a couple of days I found Owala.
The Easy sip is just what I was looking for, drink & sip and no elaborate mechanism to clean. Brilliant. So I ordered one; a 710ml (24oz) very, very black.

Took a bit to arrive but arrived in good condition. Love the look and feel. But the smell, my gods the smell. I opened it at the dining room table and my wife on the couch 3m away from me complained about the smell.
New bottles can smell, my Camelback (hot/cold 600ml) smelled 'new' too when I got it. When I replaced the cap with a Chute cap that too smelled 'new'. But after a good washing my water tasted and smelled neutral again. The drinking bladders I'm used to were almost smell neutral when I got them. Never had a chemical taste.

I cleaned the Owala with warm water and dishsoap, but no luck. The bottle was easy enough to clean and tasted neutral after a single washing. But the silicone used here was incredibly fragrant.
When I decided to contact Owala I got back that 'I'm probably overly sensitive to smells' and that I can buy new seals to remedie the problem. I thought about returning it to be honest. They acknowledge the fact that they can smell, but put the solution entirely in my hands. Which is a poor stance in client support I feel.

Silicone does not have to smell this bad. Looking at other brands (Camelbak, KleenKanten) I believe that's what I can expect. Perhaps it's the mould release, which can be hydrophobic and hard to remove that causes this. But those are choices made by Owala. Perhaps it's inconsistent in the production and affect one batch more than the other.
A hotwash with soap and boiling with vinegar only mildly reduced the smell. This is up to a level that leaves a taste in my mouth after drinking.
Yesterday I took it with me again and ended up dumping my water, frustrated by the smell and taste. removed the seals and drank from the bottle, no smell. Then dumped the seals in ethanol for the rest of the day (a good six hours). End of the day I gave them a good clean and now it's /almost/ good. Though I still prefer my Camelbak.

I'm still using y Camelbak for daily use, but the Owala is great in the gym. It took me a while to get it in useable condition though. The reaction from Owala and the reviews I read after the fact made me reconsider buying a second one for the car though. Should I need a new bottle it's not going to be an Owala again.