AluBall Bottle Design

[Kavafied]

We're in the early stages of designing a bottle specifically suited for the AluBall. With many of you now having over a year of AluBallin experience under your belt I wanted to get some user feedback on what you would like to see in a bottle that would improve the quality of your Kava experience with the AluBall Kava Maker.

The crazier the ideas the better! I love the beginnings of the design process...it's we're all the magic is at!

Much Mahalos,

Matt

 

[kavamehameha]

Hey Matt, glad to hear that! I'm not a good designer, so I don't have any "crazy" ideas... But some practical improvements which I'd like to happen:

• More grip recess for an easier shake. I have quite large hands so I don't have any problems with the bottle, but I think this would be advantageous for people with smaller hands to shake it properly - the bottle can get quite heavy when filled up.
• A spout which is formed such that one can drink directly from the bottle, which would make it a real on-the-go kava bottle. At the moment the screw thread of the pouring opening is a bit rough on the lips. Maybe one can round it off in a way which still allows pouring out in a glass, but also drinking from the bottle itself. (Just to be clear: I don't want a mouthpiece like on those sport bottles - I hate them. Just a pouring spout which is rounded and hence more lip friendly.)

Just my ideas. Mahalo!

 

[blindy107]

Hey Matt @Kavafied sorry for the late inputs.

I haven't used your bottle specifically but having used multiple styles over the years I know what I prefer. The variety with the hard lever style snap on cap has been by far the longest lasting for me.
The lid itself is screw on but the cap snaps on with a very firm "pop" and is just on an arm instead of a loose thin plastic strap. It's the only one in my collection that doesn't leak haha!

 

[schatz]

Maybe also have an o-ring for the lid so you dont have to tighten it so tight. I have a buddy that I encouraged to buy one and he shakes it over the sink and it leaks alot, I asked him if he wanted me to tighten it some more for him and he said no he likes it that way because he is afraid of stripping the threads if he over tightens. So I told him it is almost impossible to strip them but he also said its real hard for him to open sometimes if he really cranks down on it. So maybe an o ring might seal it better without having to tighten it so much. It works fine though the way it is for me though, ttttttthanks.

 

[blindy107]

Maybe also have an o-ring for the lid so you dont have to tighten it so tight. I have a buddy that I encouraged to buy one and he shakes it over the sink and it leaks alot, I asked him if he wanted me to tighten it some more for him and he said no he likes it that way because he is afraid of stripping the threads if he over tightens. So I told him it is almost impossible to strip them but he also said its real hard for him to open sometimes if he really cranks down on it. So maybe an o ring might seal it better without having to tighten it so much. It works fine though the way it is for me though, ttttttthanks.

I had an old one that wasn't any known brand. I screwed the lid on so tight that the lid split in half above the threads. It's a valid concern. Maybe I'm just fuckin rippppped hahaha.
My concern is what the kava does to rubber. I've already seen it eat a plastic magic bullet vessel in about 4 months.

 

[Zentri]

I definitely agree about a better opening for drinking from, the cap now is kind of flimsy and a bit hard to thread on at times.

The only other thing I can really think of would be to somehow try to design little "bumpers" of plastic, like rounded protruding bits into the bottom part of the bottle so when you shake it the Aluball itself runs into those bits and it absorbs the impact so it can't run directly into the bottom of the bottle and break it, for people who like to use small amounts of liquid.

I'm basically imagining very slightly V shaped "bumpers" or indentations towards the bottom of the bottle to slow/stop the Aluball from hitting the very bottom but I'm not sure the exact shape etc.

I'm trying to think of other things to improve but nothing else really jumps out at me when it comes to the bottle design.

 

[Kavafied]

I definitely agree about a better opening for drinking from, the cap now is kind of flimsy and a bit hard to thread on at times.

The only other thing I can really think of would be to somehow try to design little "bumpers" of plastic, like rounded protruding bits into the bottom part of the bottle so when you shake it the Aluball itself runs into those bits and it absorbs the impact so it can't run directly into the bottom of the bottle and break it, for people who like to use small amounts of liquid.

I'm basically imagining very slightly V shaped "bumpers" or indentations towards the bottom of the bottle to slow/stop the Aluball from hitting the very bottom but I'm not sure the exact shape etc.

I'm trying to think of other things to improve but nothing else really jumps out at me when it comes to the bottle design.

I had an old one that wasn't any known brand. I screwed the lid on so tight that the lid split in half above the threads. It's a valid concern. Maybe I'm just fuckin rippppped hahaha.
My concern is what the kava does to rubber. I've already seen it eat a plastic magic bullet vessel in about 4 months.

Hey Matt, glad to hear that! I'm not a good designer, so I don't have any "crazy" ideas... But some practical improvements which I'd like to happen:

• More grip recess for an easier shake. I have quite large hands so I don't have any problems with the bottle, but I think this would be advantageous for people with smaller hands to shake it properly - the bottle can get quite heavy when filled up.
• A spout which is formed such that one can drink directly from the bottle, which would make it a real on-the-go kava bottle. At the moment the screw thread of the pouring opening is a bit rough on the lips. Maybe one can round it off in a way which still allows pouring out in a glass, but also drinking from the bottle itself. (Just to be clear: I don't want a mouthpiece like on those sport bottles - I hate them. Just a pouring spout which is rounded and hence more lip friendly.)

Just my ideas. Mahalo!

Maybe also have an o-ring for the lid so you dont have to tighten it so tight. I have a buddy that I encouraged to buy one and he shakes it over the sink and it leaks alot, I asked him if he wanted me to tighten it some more for him and he said no he likes it that way because he is afraid of stripping the threads if he over tightens. So I told him it is almost impossible to strip them but he also said its real hard for him to open sometimes if he really cranks down on it. So maybe an o ring might seal it better without having to tighten it so much. It works fine though the way it is for me though, ttttttthanks.

Awesome feedback.....I appreciate the time you all took to provide that. We will def be addressing all the functionality issues of the bottle we currently use plus some unique design features that will make a bottle like no other

Our company culture requires that R&D to only be done when fully rooted on Kava so I'm excited to see where this goes lol.

 

[schatz]

Will definately be looking forward to it.

 

[Zentri]

Sounds awesome @Kavafied

R&D while rooted sounds like an interesting experience but one that would probably work for me lol, I'm generally more of an uppity/fidgety/anxious guy so kava makes me more chill and focused flowing with thoughts in a way.

I really look forward to the new bottle and what you come up with, let us know if you need any more help or feedback

 

[Sam Handwich]

A bottle with a rounded bottom on the interior the same couture as the ball would possibly protect the ball from damage and could create more hydraulic pressure between the ball and bottle when the ball bottoms out while shaking.

 

[Vladimir Lemon]

I agree with some of the earlier comments, it'd be great to have a bottle that is easier to shake! I don't have an issue with the lid too much, it's nice that the opening is large enough to pour into and out of. It would be nice perhaps to ensure the top of the lid can't get lost by it being connected to the bottle somehow!

 

[kastom_lif]

How about an extra-thick pyrex jar that accepts regular mason jar lids? It would be tough as nails, easy to clean, and you wouldn't have to worry about finding a special kind of lid for it.

 

[Kavafied]

Thanks for all the awesome feedback....can't wait to get them into production!!!