The Backed Pack: HidrateMe’s smart water bottle lights up when it’s time to drink

Each week our friends at Backerjack provide an update on a hot crowdfunded tech gadget. This week we profile HidrateMe, which has raised over eight times its finding goal with 31 days to go.

Water is essential to life, but it can sometimes be difficult to keep track of how much you’ve had, how much you need, and when to drink more.

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The HidrateMe bottle uses a sensor and Bluetooth to communicate with a smartphone app about how much water to drink and when to drink it. The company’s CEO, Nadya Nguyen, said that the team put together the initial Arduino prototype in less than three days. The product has come a long way since then, though, and now includes a refined, sculptured look as well as a ripple near the spout.

A light also glows from its middle when you’ve gone too long without drinking. A coin battery powers the dishwater-safe 24 oz. bottle for a year. Hidrate, Inc. seeks to raise $35,000 by July 13. The bottle, which costs $45, should arrive in December.

The HidrateMe campaign is running concurrent with that of Trago, which claims to be the first smart water bottle. Both products can take into account environmental conditions to personalize their recommendations and help with an important element of health that many people neglect. For those who like the design of the bottle and the glow reminder feature, the HidrateMe could be the better choice.

Also check out these earbuds for tuning the real world, this wallet-sized ax, and this connected peephole.