Cycling water bottles

The cap matters more than the bottle

All bottles hold water; they don't dispense it in the same way. It's the cap design that determines how easy it really is to use: how quickly you can drink, whether you need to open it with one hand, and the risk of spilling half of it over the frame.

• Self-sealing valve : bite or squeeze, the drink flows, and the valve closes on its own. Nothing to open or close, and no leaks when the bottle is lying on its side in a bag. It's the standard for performance bottles.
• Classic push-pull cap : pull the spout out with your teeth, then push it back in. Simple, robust and very cheap, but it takes an extra step and leaks if it isn't closed properly.
• Wide-mouth cap : easier to fill, clean and load with ice cubes or powder. It's the choice for long rides and thick energy drinks.

Squeezable or rigid

A bottle soft can be squeezed by hand: the flow is stronger and more immediate, which matters when drinking out of the saddle or on a trail. A bottle hard keeps its shape, is easier to clean and slides into the bottle cage more positively. After repeated washing, squeezable bottles eventually deform slightly — that's the accepted trade-off with this type.

Insulated bottles

The double-walled insulation keeps a drink cool for much longer, and that makes all the difference in summer, when a lukewarm drink puts you off drinking. The trade-off is straightforward: for the same space in the bottle cage, the usable capacity is lower, because the insulation takes up space. An insulated bottle rated at 620 ml takes up as much room as a standard 750 ml bottle. There are also versions with steel walls, which provide more insulation and weigh more — better suited to gravel riding and bikepacking than racing.

What capacity

• 500 to 550 ml : for small frames, short rides and bikes that can't accommodate two full-size bottles.
• 620 to 650 ml : the standard size, which fits all bottle cages and covers one to two hours of riding.
• 750 to 800 ml : for long distances and hot weather. Check the available height in the frame triangle before ordering — this size won't fit everywhere.

Materials, care and compatibility

Modern bottles are made from polypropylene BPA-free, and some use a bio-based made from sugar cane, with the same performance. Check whether it's marked dishwasher-safe: not all bottles can withstand it, and it's hard to remove the lingering taste of a sugary drink. Finally, the good news is that the diameter is standardised : any bottle in this range fits any standard bottle cage. The only exception is the magnetic system, which uses its own bottle.

To find out more: How to choose your cycling water bottle

See also: Bike bottle cages · Fidlock magnetic bottles · Drinks