Whether you’re heading out for an hour-long ride or all day, chances are you’re bringing a bottle (or three). And unless you’ve developed an improbable talent for carrying bottles in jersey pockets, you’ll need a cage that holds them securely, releases easily, and ideally doesn’t eject them at the first cattle grid.
In this edition of Collective Favourites, we’re taking a look at the humble but essential piece of kit: the bottle cage. We asked our editorial team and our members what they use and why.
And this time, something unusual happened: we got a clear winner. Normally, these round-ups are a mishmash of choices. But one cage came up again and again – the Arundel Mandible.
Of course, there were others in the mix, so as usual, we'll look at some basic things about bottle cages before getting to our picks.
What to consider when choosing a bottle cage?
Bottle cages don’t often get much attention – until they fail. Like many small cycling components, the best ones are the ones you don't really notice and simply get the job done.
But let's be frank, bottle cages can also be a little blob of colour on your bike and add style to it, so they're not serving a purely functional purpose, either. A bottle cage might seem like a small and simple component – just a loop of metal or plastic or carbon – but there are good and bad cages out there. The right cage should hold your bottle securely, release it easily, and ideally, you like the look of it.
Material
A lot of that comes down to the material it’s made from, which plays a big role in how a cage performs and how much it weighs – and how it fits in with the rest of your setup.
Plastic and composite cages are perhaps the most common. They’re cheap, lightweight, and generally bottle-friendly – meaning they won’t scuff or grind away at your bidons. Some are soft and flexible, offering an easy entry and exit; others are reinforced or fibre-infused for added stiffness. The downside? They can wear out over time or lose their grip. The hard plastic ones also have a tendency to snap when fatigued.
Aluminium cages are the workhorse option, so to say. Often seen on older bikes or budget builds, they’re sturdy, quite light and easy to bend back into shape if they get squashed. That adjustability is a plus for some riders, especially those using odd-shaped bottles, but aluminium can scratch and mark your bottles and easily rattle if not secured tightly. Like hard plastic cages, they can also fatigue and break over time.
Carbon fibre is the pick for weight weenies. At their best, carbon cages are light, strong, and impressively grippy – but come at a higher price. The ultra-light models can sometimes snap under pressure and there is no bending them back into shape. Still, for many road riders, these are the gold standard of bottle cage performance.
Stainless steel cages are a durable classic. You’ll find them on steel bikes and touring rigs but they're not unseen on nice carbon road bikes, either. They’re heavier than carbon or plastic but tend to last forever, have a bit of springiness, and are less likely to mark bottles.
Titanium sits near the top of the boutique bottle cage chain – light, strong, corrosion-resistant, and expensive. They blend the strength of steel with lower weight and are often beautifully hand-formed.
Which way does the bottle go in?
After material, the next thing to consider is what way you want to slot in your bottle.
Top-entry cages are the standard for bottle cages, but riders with small frames, bikepacking bags, or full-suspension setups might need something else. For this, side-entry cages are the right pick; they come right- or left-handed, or ambidextrous, depending on the brand.
Beyond the classic top- or side-load cage designs, there are also magnetic and mechanical systems – like Fidlock. Instead of cage arms, these rely on custom bottles that lock into place via a twist and click. When you don't have a bottle on, they look very sleek and are increasingly popular, especially where space is tight. The downside is that they do tie you to a specific bottle system.
Adjustability in mounting and bottle capacity
Not every bike is designed with bottle cage convenience in mind, and not all bottle cages fit your bike. Maybe you ride a small frame, or your front triangle is already crammed with a frame bag or suspension – either way, standard mounting positions don’t always cut it. That’s where a bit of adjustability can go a long way.
If you run a small frame or have a frame bag on, you'll need to maybe consider having your bottle cage lower than usual. There are adjustable cages or ones with sliding mounts which help reposition bottles for better access or clearance, which is important to consider if you want to run big, tall bottles. Wolf Tooth Morse Cage and similar designs have multiple mounting points, allowing you to alter the placement of the cage – or you can look for an adapter to shift whatever cage you have lower.
The cage size is something to consider, too. Most cycling bottle cages are made for the standard bidon size – 73 mm in circumference – and if you’re carrying non-cycling-specific bottles, like wide-mouth or insulated bottles, a flexible cage or oversized option can be your only option.
There are quite a few flexible cage options for carrying those, for example, Arundel has the Looney Bin, which tightens your bottle with a ratchet dial, and is adjustable for almost all bottles from the "normal" bidon size to a bigger Nalgene or the like.
Staff and member picks
Now, let's dive into our favourite picks. You'll need to be an Escape member to access this part of the story. We're funded only by membership revenue and do not get any commission from sales on any of the products mentioned. This isn't a comprehensive buyer's guide of all the options on the market, but these are the options that we – and you – have tested, used, and recommend, free of any hidden agendas or relationships with any of the companies mentioned.
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