Behind the Design: Sleeves That Slap
Behind the Design: The Sleeve
Most water bottles hide their design flaws with pointless rubber boots slapped on the bottom. We turned that afterthought into the heart of an entire artist collaboration ecosystem. This is the story of the sleeve that changed everything.
The Problem Nobody Talks About
When we evaluated the insulated bottle marketplace, we kept noticing the same lazy design choice: rubber boots on the bottom that served no purpose except protecting against minor dings. They looked like afterthoughts because that's exactly what they were.
These boots created jagged visual lines. They added bulk without adding value. And worst of all, they represented a missed opportunity.
We asked ourselves a simple question: What if the base protection wasn't an afterthought, but the foundation for something bigger?
"If everyone's adding boots as an afterthought, let's design it into the bottle from the beginning and make it mean something."
The Intentional Design Choice
Instead of slapping a boot on the bottom, we integrated the sleeve directly into the bottle's design language. The result? A clean, beautiful line that flows naturally from cap to base.
But we didn't stop there. We made it removable, transforming it into a second cup for sharing with friends—or four-legged companions. Suddenly, base protection became a functional feature that brings people together.
And then came the magic trick.
The Magic Trick: Art Beneath
When you remove the sleeve, you reveal hidden artwork. Not a logo. Not a brand mark. Original art from independent artists, wrapped around the bottle like a 360-degree canvas.
This wasn't part of the original plan. But once we had this beautiful, intentional sleeve that could be removed, we realized we had created the perfect stage for artistic collaboration.
That's when everything clicked. The sleeve wasn't just functional. It was the gateway to an entire artist ecosystem.
The Artist Collaboration Ecosystem
Here's where it gets interesting. We don't just commission artwork and call it a day. We turn over the entire aesthetic design of the Adventure Flask to the artist.
Each artist works with multiple color blocks: the cap, the handle, the pour-over lid, the threading on the body, the body itself, the artwork canvas, and the sleeve color. They're not decorating our bottle. They're reimagining it as their own creation.
Every artist even re-draws the Hibear logo by hand, putting their unique fingerprint on the brand itself. The result? Every Artist Series bottle is a complete design statement, not just a product with art slapped on it.
It Goes Deeper: The Bookmark Tag
We didn't stop at the bottle. Each Artist Series comes with a bookmark-sized hang tag featuring the artwork. Why bookmark-sized? Because art should live beyond the bottle.
On the back of each bookmark, you'll find the artist's biography, their creative inspiration, and a QR code that links to a Spotify playlist they curated. These are the songs that fueled their creative process while designing your bottle.
This transforms every bottle into a rabbit hole. You discover an artist. You explore their story. You listen to their music. You connect with their creative process.
"Every bottle is a gateway. It's not just about hydration. It's about discovering artists, music, and stories you'd never find otherwise."
The Complete Package
The ecosystem extends to the packaging. The box features vector elements from the artist's work. The entire unboxing experience is cohesive, intentional, and thoughtfully crafted.
This is what happens when one intentional design choice—a removable sleeve—becomes the foundation for an entire creative platform.
It's why our Artist Series bottles aren't just products. They're collaborations. They're stories. They're the perfect gift for someone who appreciates thoughtfulness and craft.
Chocolate Caliente Picante (Spiked Mexican Hot Chocolate)
This isn't your abuela's hot chocolate. This is the après-ski, campfire, "I can't feel my face but my soul is warm" version.
- Heat 24 oz whole milk (or oat milk) with 3 oz Mexican chocolate tablet (Abuelita or Ibarra), broken into pieces
- Add the heat: 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, pinch of sea salt
- Whisk aggressively until chocolate melts and mixture froths (this is key - dale con ganas)
- Remove from heat, add 2-3 oz of either: Añejo tequila, mezcal, or dark rum
- Pour into your AF, cap it, and shake with the cocktail strainer in for extra froth
- Serve immediately in the removable sleeve cup, garnished with a cinnamon stick
Pro tip: Make this trailside by heating water with the Jetboil, adding instant espresso powder for extra kick. The cayenne hits different at altitude.
¡Salud! Now you're ready to celebrate the summit properly.
Why This Matters for Gifting
When you give someone an Artist Series bottle, you're not just giving them a water bottle. You're giving them:
A functional tool with 10x the capability of a standard insulated bottle.
A piece of original art they can use every single day.
A connection to an artist's story, complete with their music and inspiration.
A conversation starter that reveals hidden artwork when the sleeve comes off.
An invitation to go deeper—to explore, discover, and connect with creativity.
This is the difference between a gift that gets used and a gift that gets treasured.
From Afterthought to Ecosystem
Looking back, it's wild how one design decision cascaded into an entire platform for artist collaboration.
Most companies would have stopped at "removable base protection." We asked, "What if this opens a door to something bigger?"
That question led to artwork. Which led to color block design systems. Which led to hand-drawn logos. Which led to bookmark tags. Which led to Spotify playlists. Which led to an entire ecosystem where every bottle tells a story.
All because we refused to accept that base protection had to be an afterthought.
Explore the Artist Series
Every bottle is a collaboration. Every design tells a story. Every artist brings their unique vision to the All-Day Adventure Flask.
From Tropic Thunder to Ecotopia, from Magic Hour to Moontide—discover the bottle that speaks to you, then go down the rabbit hole of discovering the artist behind it.
Thoughtful design. Original art. Stories worth sharing.
Shop Artist Series
