Yeah, the damn insert is just a tad too small for a 20 oz. plastic soda bottle. With a little (OK, very little) mechanical aptitude and some trial and error, I seem to have figured out that if you give the bottle a little twist with your wrist as you are lifting it up, the insert usually lets go of the bottle. Not always, but probably 9 times out of 10. Play with it a bit and you'll see what I mean.