Picking up a water bottle cage for your bike is probably pretty low down on the list of exciting new accessories. However, becoming thirsty is an unavoidable part of cycling, so you're going to need one! There are many bottle cages on the market, from aluminium or carbon designs for rear posts to budget plastic options that can be mounted via a screw.
Whether for MTB, road bikes, gravel, cobbles or bikepacking, we’ve put together a quick-stop buying guide to walk (or ride) you through the main choices to help you find the right one for you and your bike. After this, we’ll show you our favourites available to buy today from Amazon and eBay.
Quick List - Top Bottle Cages
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We think it’s fair to say that all bottle cages will hold bottles, after all, that's what they're made for! There are still some other factors to consider before buying, though. In this section, we’ll look at the materials used, the weight of the cage, and the mounting options available.
Lastly, if you're prioritising the security of your bottle over the cage weight, alloy is a good choice. This heavy-duty material is stable and will likely suffer fewer vibrations. Similarly, this would be our recommended material if you ride off-road in the outdoors on gravel, cobbles, or trails.
Next up, weight. This is only really pertinent if you’re aiming to improve your performance, and is not so much of an issue for those of you heading on Sunday bike rides with the family.
Obviously, the lighter the weight the less you’re going to have to carry around with you, thus making it easier to achieve faster speeds. However, there is something to be said about very light cages not being as secure.
It is known that 40-50 grams is the cage weight Tour de France racers tend to carry, and a happy medium to go by – if it's good enough for the pros, it's good enough for us!
Modern bikes generally come with a couple of sets of eyelets where you can attach a bottle cage to the frame of the bike. These are usually found on the seat tube or the down tube, and both are easily accessible whilst riding. But what other options are there?
Check your bike: if you have an older bike without these eyelets, you’re going to need a different mount. Look for mechanisms with ‘arms’ which can be wrapped around any part of the tubes, and are tightened on instead of being screwed in.
Also, some serious TT (time trial) cyclists may wish to attach their bottle cages behind them, creating a more aerodynamic silhouette. In this case, check for the ability to mount on the saddle, which may even lend a hand in shaving off those all-important milliseconds.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Elite Custom Race Plus | ![]() | A Tour de France (and Our) Favourite | |
2 | Lezyne Flow Bottle Cage | ![]() | A Grippy Cage With a Unique Design | |
3 | Elite Ciussi Alloy Gel Bottle Cage | ![]() | If Grip Is Top of Your List, This Has You Covered | |
4 | Xlab Delta Wing 200 | ![]() | If You're a TT Racer, You'll Love This | |
5 | Zefal Bottle Cage | ![]() | A Flexible Cage That's Perfect for Off-Road Endeavours | |
6 | JABs Aluminium Drinks Bottle Holder | ![]() | A Broad Range of Colours to Easily Match Your Bike's Aesthetics | |
7 | Tacx Deva Bottle Cage | ![]() | Super-Lightweight Bottle Cage With an Excellent Clamp | |
8 | AOBETAK Bike Bottle Holder | ![]() | For Those Riding an Old School Bike Without Down Tube Screw-Ins | |
9 | Fabric Cageless Bottle | ![]() | A 'Cage' That Provides the Ultimate Clean Look |
For our numero uno, we have this beauty from Italian brand Elite. It is said that this bottle cage is used by over 50% of the riders who take part in the Tour de France. We could leave it there if we're being honest because that speaks volumes, but we won't.
The Elite Custom Plus has a self-adjusting retention system which alters based on the diameter of your bottle. Additionally, thanks to the structure that holds the bottle to a slightly higher area, its holding power is outstanding under any circumstance. And just to round it off, it comes in almost every colour imaginable, so you'll certainly find a match.
This cage from Lezyne has a lightweight frame, thanks to a blend of fibre and plastic. Additionally, the unique X-Grip design makes sure that you'll never lose a bottle to the road again, whilst also being easy enough to remove and have a swig while on the move.
Cycling Weekly magazine claimed this is one of the most secure bottle cages they've ever tested, and who are we to argue with those guys?
Made with the very best grip in mind, the Ciussi is another fantastic option for those bumpy roads that the council just never seem to get around to sorting. Elite has equipped this beauty with anti-vibration gel on either side of the accessory too which will hold your bottle firmly in place.
Furthermore, it's made from alloy so if you've got a bottle that's slightly larger or smaller than average then you should be able to shape the cage slightly so that it fits in.
This cage is made for the time-conscious. Not only is it saddle-mounted so that there is no extra drag, but it's also crafted from carbon fibre so it's durable and won't sway whilst you're riding, ensuring easy access.
Additionally, this sleek cage is a great option even if you're not looking to save time. If you've run out of room on your down tube or seat tube, it can also provide a way to add another water bottle so that you can stay on the road that bit longer.
Made from thermoplastic resin, this Zefal cage is highly flexible, which in turn makes it perfect for those that like a bit of off-roading, as this will require the cage to compress and move with the vibrations of the bike. It has a whopping 4.7 out of 5 on Amazon after nearly 1000 reviews, so it's not just us that thinks it's great.
The only niggle here is that Zefal don't provide the screws to attach this to your bike, so if you don't already have them, or you've lost them over time, then you're going to need to pick some of those up as well.
This ultra-light aluminium bottle holder comes in a range of colours that make it much easier to match the aesthetics of your bike. The material allows for the cage to be manipulated slightly if you're worried that the bottle is moving too much, or adversely if you need a little more space to fit your bottle in.
However, the fact that it is easily shaped is a double-edged sword, and you could end up with an out-of-shape holder if you find yourself (hopefully not!) in a little bump. It shouldn't be too difficult to straighten up, though.
This is a hugely popular option in the world of biking. That's thanks to its cylindrical design that reduces the chances of the bottle wriggling its way up while you're peddling over the cobblestones. Furthermore, its blend of carbon fibre and plastic make it super lightweight.
It also comes in a rainbow of colours to match your cycling outfit and accessories. Unfortunately, the lightweight material does mean it's not as durable as other options, so be mindful of too much bashing around.
If you're riding a bike that is a little more old school, then maybe you don't have the down tube or saddle mounting options. No worries, this bottle cage has screw tightening arms that can be placed anywhere, so long as they fit within the 70-80 mm diameter. It can even be used on wheelchairs or pushchairs!
The great thing about this is that you can put the holder wherever you feel most comfortable reaching for it, in turn enhancing your comfort and control while riding. However, being plastic, it isn't as sturdy with longer bottles and is more suited to even surfaces.
Getting us underway is this rather unique product from Fabric that provides an extremely clean look. This system works by via a couple of studs that connect to your bottle-cage screws, which you then attach a specially-designed bottle to using grooves that fit onto these studs. Essentially, the bottle is also the holder!
There a couple of points worth mentioning though. Firstly, some users have found the bottle a little difficult to remove whilst cycling, so you may want to stop to have a drink to be safe. Secondly, you will be stuck using Fabric's bottles as we don't know any others that have these grooves.
Alongside your bottle cage, there are a few other handy bits of kit that can really make your life easier on the road or the trails. Check out our related cycling articles to get the lowdown!
So, that brings us to the end of the track – we hope you've found something on our list that inspires you to get out on that bike ASAP, whether you're a young Wiggins wannabe or a determined Dad of four. Just remember, be safe, and you can always make the time up when you've refuelled!
Author: Lewis Clark
No. 1: Elite|Custom Race Plus
No. 2: Lezyne|Flow Bottle Cage
No. 3: Elite|Ciussi Alloy Gel Bottle Cage
No. 4: Xlab|Delta Wing 200
No. 5: Zefal|Bottle Cage
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