Here's the thing about the Rivian — I love the truck, but fitting a normal water bottle anywhere in it is a genuine challenge. Cup holders? Too tight for most bottles. Door pockets? Forget it. That little tray on the floor? Sure, if you enjoy your bottle rolling around like a bowling ball every time you turn. So when I saw the Compass 20 oz Bottle in the Gear Shop, I figured it was worth a shot as my "Rivian-friendly" water bottle. Turns out, it mostly delivers.
The Rivian Cup Holder Problem
Let's be real: one of the underrated annoyances of owning a Rivian is figuring out where to put your drink. My normal, full-size water bottles don't fit in the cup holders. They don't fit in the doors. The armrest works, but it's not always convenient. We lead a busy life — kids' sporting events, running around all summer — and I've never had a good smaller bottle that I could reliably stash somewhere in the car without it becoming a problem.
The Compass Bottle fits in the door. It fits in the cup holder (though it's a little narrow and can wobble side to side). It's not a perfect fit anywhere, but it fits — and that alone makes it more useful than most of the bottles I own.
The Compass Bottle in El Cap Granite. Good size, clean look.
The Straw Situation
My go-to water bottles are the screw-off-top variety — unscrew it, drink from a wide opening, get a good flow of water. This bottle is a straw-style design: a straw goes down into the bottle, you flip up the top, and drink from it like a thermos. It's not what I'm used to, and honestly, it bothers me a little.
The issue is flow. I don't get the volume of water I want, especially during anything strenuous. I've tried using it on the treadmill, and when you're breathing hard and want a big gulp, the straw just doesn't deliver. There's not enough airflow to let the water come out at the rate I prefer. For casual sipping throughout the day? Totally fine. For actual hydration during exercise? It falls short.
The Sweet Spot
Where this bottle shines is as a grab-and-go option. Running out for an hour? Taking the kids to practice? Need something that fits in the car without a fuss? That's the Compass Bottle's lane. It's 20 ounces — enough for a quick outing, not enough for an all-day baseball tournament or soccer marathon. It knows what it is, and for that purpose, it works well.
One Caveat: Summer TBD
I've only had this for a few winter months, so I can't speak to how well it keeps drinks cold in the heat. Insulation performance in a Chicago summer is a whole different ballgame, and I'll update this review once I've put it through those paces. For now, it's held up fine in cold-weather use.
Pros & Cons
Final Verdict
4 out of 5 stars.
The Compass 20 oz Bottle fills a real gap — literally. If you've struggled to find a water bottle that actually fits anywhere in your Rivian, this is your answer. It's a great secondary bottle for quick trips and everyday carry. The straw design isn't my preference, and I wouldn't rely on it for heavy exercise, but for what I bought it for — a Rivian-friendly bottle I can grab on the way out the door — it gets the job done. I'll revisit the insulation once summer rolls around, but for now, I'm happy with it.
Want up to $500 toward Rivian gear?
Use referral code JOSEPH12262612 when you order your Rivian.
Community Reviews
No community reviews yet. Be the first!