In a world where staying hydrated is key to maintaining good health, finding ways to make drinking water more convenient can make a significant difference in our daily lives. This is exactly what Ryan McLeod, a 43-year-old expat from Singapore, originally from the Pacific Northwest, has set out to do with his innovative product, The AquaBud. As a husband and father, Ryan’s personal experiences inspired him to create a solution for easy hydration, especially for those confined to bed. AquaBud is not just a water bottle attachment; it’s a life-changing invention aimed at helping everyone, from pregnant women to young children, stay hydrated without effort.
The AquaBud Story: From Seattle to Singapore
Ryan McLeod’s journey to inventing AquaBud began back in his college days at the University of Washington. During a particularly tough bout of illness, he found himself dehydrated and confined to bed. Reaching for a water bottle on his nightstand proved to be far more difficult than he expected. The challenge of awkwardly craning his neck to drink water without spilling it sparked an idea in his mind—there had to be a better, easier way to hydrate without having to sit up or spill water.
Years later, the concept of AquaBud truly took shape when Ryan’s wife was hospitalized at the birth of their son. Once again, the issue of difficult, cumbersome hydration became apparent. His wife struggled to reach the generic plastic cups provided by the hospital. Ryan couldn’t believe that a modern medical facility still relied on such ineffective tools for something as basic as hydration. This was the moment when Ryan decided to turn his vision into a tangible solution. With the first prototype, AquaBud was born, and Ryan now had pictures of his wife using the demo version, which would later evolve into the product known today.
AquaBud: A Simple, Yet Life-Changing Solution
The AquaBud is designed to help people drink water without needing to sit up, lean over, or get out of bed. Whether it’s due to illness, pregnancy, or simply being too tired, the AquaBud allows you to hydrate while lying down. Ryan’s experience, as well as his strong ties to environmental sustainability from his Pacific Northwest upbringing, further motivated him to design a product that helps people while also reducing plastic waste.
The AquaBud is versatile and user-friendly, making it a perfect hydration solution for various situations:
- Pregnant Women: During pregnancy and after childbirth, getting out of bed or leaning over to drink water can be challenging. AquaBud provides a way to stay hydrated effortlessly.
- Sick Friends & Family: When bedridden due to illness, reaching for a glass of water can feel like a major task. AquaBud solves this problem by making water accessible in bed.
- Night Hydration: For those who dislike getting up during the night to quench their thirst, AquaBud eliminates the need to get out of bed or search for a water bottle in the dark.
- College Students: After long study sessions or even after a night out, students can benefit from having AquaBud by their side, ready to deliver water without the hassle of sitting up.
- Children: Kids often don’t drink enough water, and AquaBud makes it fun and easy for them to stay hydrated, even while lying in bed.
AquaBud’s hydration stations can also be set up around the house for parents and family members, ensuring there’s always a simple, easy-to-access way to drink water without spilling or needing assistance.
Hydrate Effortlessly: The Benefits of AquaBud
AquaBud offers a range of benefits that go beyond traditional water bottles. Here are some of the key features that make this product stand out:
- Hydrate While Horizontal: AquaBud allows users to drink water while lying down, eliminating the need to sit up or get out of bed.
- No More Spills: With AquaBud, there’s no risk of spilling water on your nightstand or bed.
- No Assistance Required: Users won’t need to call for help just to get a drink of water, making AquaBud perfect for individuals who may have limited mobility.
- Hospital-Friendly: Patients in hospitals often have trouble reaching water bottles. AquaBud allows them to stay hydrated without needing to adjust their beds or wait for assistance.
Whether it’s preventing dehydration after a long night, helping parents keep their children hydrated, or assisting those with mobility issues, AquaBud makes staying hydrated easier than ever.
MiniBud: AquaBud’s Little Companion for Kids
Alongside the AquaBud, Ryan McLeod has also introduced the MiniBud, a smaller and equally useful version tailored for children. MiniBud provides a fun and effortless way for kids to stay hydrated without spills or mess. This child-friendly version is ideal for sick children, making it easy for them to stay hydrated in bed.
Some of the key features of the MiniBud include:
- Effortless Hydration: Perfect for kids who need to drink water without getting up or spilling their bottles.
- Less Spillage: MiniBud is designed to work with water bottles on the go, reducing spills and messes.
- Reusable & Sustainable: With a food-grade silicone seal and a flexible straw, MiniBud promotes sustainability by reducing the need for single-use plastic bottles. It fits most PET bottles, Tetra Paks, and 25mm bottle spouts, making it a versatile and eco-friendly option.
AquaBud’s Eco-Friendly Focus
Ryan McLeod, a self-proclaimed green-oriented and recycling-loving Pacific Northwesterner, has put a strong emphasis on sustainability with AquaBud. By encouraging the use of reusable bottles and minimizing the need for plastic cups or bottles, AquaBud helps reduce plastic waste. This eco-friendly approach is not only good for the environment but also resonates with those who are looking for practical, sustainable hydration solutions.
For more information or to purchase AquaBud, visit theaquabud.com or follow on Instagram @theaquabud_byryanmcleod and discover how you can stay hydrated without hassle, all while reducing your environmental footprint.
We had the privilege of interviewing Ryan McLeod. Here are excerpts from the interview.
Hi Ryan, It’s great to have you with us today! Please share about yourself with our readers.
Hi, I am a 43 years old male expat living in Singapore with my wife and five year old son. I am originally from Seattle/Portland. I have invented The AquaBud product that helps people drink water effortlessly in a fixed position (i.e., in bed) in seconds effortlessly without having to get up or lean over.
What was the inspiration behind your product, The AquaBud?
When sick in bed in college at the University of Washington, I was dehydrated, and it took more work to crink my neck on my nightstand to drink water, and thought there must be an easier way. Then when my wife had our son, I couldn’t believe the Hospital in Singapore was still using crappy generic plastic water cups for hydration on the bedstand, which she couldn’t reach at all. I have pictures of her in the bed using the first demo version of The AquaBud. Being a green-oriented, recycling-loving Pacific Northwesterner, I am also very enthusiastic about how AquaBud can help reduce plastic waste.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
I failed many times with molds trying to get the food-grade silicone wrap I invented to go on most 25mm sized water bottles, but finally got a working prototype. I didn’t give up, and now I find people using AquaBud in so many ways besides in bed, like school bus drivers, people at the pool who want to keep their boozy drink cold under their pool/book reading chair, in the car for kids (The MiniBud) when they can’t get a water bottle cap back on, etc.
Any message for our readers?
We ship worldwide for free, and it makes a great gift for anyone before, after, or during childbirth; great for anyone in hospital, ill, or just dehydrated. The discounts popup at checkout to save $$$ 🙂
Thank you so much, Ryan, for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!