From Bottles to Cans: How Format Changes Energy and Hydration Routines

When it comes to energy and hydration, most of us instinctively reach for whatever is within arm’s length, whether that’s a can in the fridge, a sports bottle in the kit bag, or a drink bought on the way to work. But behind that quick grab lies a bigger story: the format of your drink can change how you use it, when you use it, and even how effective it feels.

At Shine, we often hear feedback from customers who say they love the format as much as the flavour or function. It turns out the simple choice between a bottle or a can can shape everything from how you pace your energy intake to how refreshed you feel after a workout.

Here, we’ll explore the mechanics of format (portability, dosing and chill-time) mapped across the key moments of everyday life: work, the gym, and match days.

Why Format Mechanics Matter

We tend to talk about drinks in terms of taste and performance: “Does it refresh me?”, “Does it boost my focus?”, “Does it hydrate me enough?”. But there’s a hidden layer - format mechanics.

• A can is sleek, quick-chilling, and naturally encourages a one-sitting experience.

• A bottle is resealable, portable and better for sipping throughout the day.

Customers often tell us that their experience of Shine differs depending on whether they grab a can or a bottle, not because the drink changes, but because they do. How we carry, store, and consume our drinks influences our hydration and energy rituals.

Portability: Who Wins, Bottles or Cans?

Work: In an office or remote work setting, bottles often win out. Customer reviews highlight the value of being able to sip steadily at a desk without worrying about finishing a drink all in one go. A bottle that reseals fits neatly alongside laptops and notebooks, and it makes it easier to measure out steady hydration across a working day.

Gym: Here, portability isn’t just about carrying - it’s about handling mid-session. Bottles are again the clear favourite. You can throw one into a gym bag, unscrew between sets, and reseal without spills. That steady availability can make the difference between burning out halfway through and finishing strong.

Match Days: For those watching or playing, cans have their moment. Whether it’s football on a Saturday or rugby on a Sunday, a can feels celebratory and immediate. For athletes, however, resealable bottles still edge ahead for practicality during play.

Dosing: The Hidden Discipline of Format

One of the most striking customer insights we hear is about dosing. It’s rarely discussed in energy and hydration culture, but the way you portion your intake can change the way you feel.

Work: At the desk, a bottle lets you micro-dose energy or hydration, pacing yourself across hours of concentration. A can, by contrast, is often finished quickly. Some customers describe cans as their reset button during a mid-afternoon slump, consumed in one burst to kickstart productivity. Bottles are framed as more of a steady companion.

Gym: During workouts, bottles allow for planned sips, a small drink before cardio, a bigger gulp after lifting. This dosing helps balance hydration without bloating.

Match Days: Dosing with cans is more social, shared timings with friends or team-mates, everyone cracking theirs open at once. It becomes part of the collective energy. Bottles, though, let players and coaches manage their own intake across warm-up, play and cooldown.

Chill-Time: Cold Counts

Temperature is another mechanic where format matters, and it ties directly to how we feel refreshed.

Work: Cans chill faster and stay colder when stored in office fridges, which makes them perfect for a sharp, refreshing hit between meetings. Bottles can be topped up with ice or kept at room temperature for slower sipping. Customers love the ‘cold shock’ of a can at 3pm, while others prefer the gentle consistency of a bottle.

Gym: Bottles win for flexibility. They can be pre-chilled at home, carried warm if that’s easier, or even refilled with cold water post-session. Cans are less adaptable, but when you do pull one from a fridge immediately before or after a workout, the crisp coldness delivers a psychological reward.

Match Days: For spectators, cans are the format of choice because they chill quickly in cool boxes and feel festive in the hand. For players, bottles are again the go-to, because they can be grabbed at the sidelines at whatever temperature feels right.

Energy and hydration aren’t just about what you drink, they’re about how you drink it. Bottles and cans shape portability, dosing and chill-time in subtle but important ways.

We believe that format is part of the ritual. A bottle may be your steady ally through a busy workday or training session, while a can delivers that celebratory rush when you need it most. Both matter, because both shape the way you experience energy and hydration.

So, next time you reach for a Shine, think not just about flavour or function, but about format. Ask yourself: Am I looking for steady support or a bold reset? Do I need something portable, or something celebratory?

Because when you match the right format to the right moment, you don’t just hydrate, you elevate!