10 Best Water Bottles for Cycling in 2022
How difficult can it be to choose a simple bottle?
It seems that this can be quite difficult when there are literally hundreds of models on the market from dozens of manufacturers.
That’s why we are here to help you with our great selection of models.
We’ve spent more than 20 hours researching around 30 bottles suitable for cycling to find the very best cycling water bottle.
Our recommendation for most people is CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25oz – an affordable large bottle with great double-walled insulation and one of the best self-sealing valves on the market.
Top 5 in a Glance
Image | Bottle | Our Rating | Price |
---|---|---|---|
Best Overall | CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25oz
| 9.9 | View at AmazonDetails |
Runner Up |
| 9.2 | View at AmazonDetails |
Runner Up 2 |
| 8.7 | View at AmazonDetails |
Best for Long Rides |
| 8.4 | View at AmazonDetails |
Cageless Design |
| 7.9 | View at AmazonDetails |
Best Overall: CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25oz
+ Materials feel sturdy
+ Comfortable semi-soft rubbery nozzle
+ Double-wall insulation keeps liquids cool for 3-4 hours
+ Self-sealing Jet Valve is handy
– A bit noisy when you squeeze it
Delivering an impressive 25 ounces of water, a CamelBak Podium Big Chill Water Bottle selection will require you to make big color decisions likely based on your budget.
This fact aside, fans count on this popular product to stay hydrated for all of the right reasons.
The self-sealing Jet Valve lockout cap delivers high water flow minus the spills and splatters that can ruin a fun ride.
Crafted of BPA-free and BPS-free polypropylene with Hydro Guard that lets you “taste your drink, not your bottle,” the double-walled construction engineered into the Big Chill keeps cold drinks fresh in summer and libations warm when weather is cold.
Love your Big Chill or call in your “CamelBak Got Your Bak Guarantee” that lasts a lifetime. Now, it’s time to consider your color options, thirsty cyclist!
Runner Up: Polar Bottle Sport Insulated
+ 100% BPA-free
+ Dishwasher safe
+ Lightweight and leakproof
+ Very easy to squeeze
– Barely keeps water cold after more than 3 hours
– Too tall to fit on some bikes
Polar Bottle Sport Insulated is probably one of the best cycling water bottles you can find on the market right now. Did you know that Polar was the first company to make insulated, BPA- and phthalate-free, FDA food-grade plastic water bottles? You do now.
At 24 ounces and offering thermal benefits – this bottle’s double-wall “creates a thermal barrier of air” designed to keep heat out and cold in.
“Foil layers reflect solar rays for additional thermal protection,” says product designers at Polar. The wide mouth welcomes chunky ice cubes; the bottle is easy to clean and dishwasher safe.
A removable carrying strap and the company’s environmental mission to save the planet give you additional reasons to choose this bottle over the competition.
Runner Up 2: Elite Super Corsa
+ Dishwasher safe and BPA-free
+ Made of biodegradable materials
+ Triple-function cap works great
– Below average plastic quality
– Print is coming off easily
This clear Super Corsa water bottle also holds a hefty 25 ounces of water and sports a blow-off feature that “reduces the chance of a dropped bottle,” so if let slip too many water bottles in the past, this Elite water bottle gets two thumbs up.
Cyclists with an eye on green products like knowing that this bottle is biodegradable (not just the cap) and sustainably made of corn, not oil, so it won’t contribute to landfill pollution.
The Super Corsa’s triple-function cap features a soft rubber push-pull nozzle for fast fluid delivery, and users insist that it’s easy on the mouth, a remark that’s not to be discounted on long rides.
While dishwasher safe and devoid of BPA plastic, what may impress you most is the ergonomically shaped bottle that’s easy to grip.
Best for Very Long Rides: Zefal 165 Arctica
+ 65mm wide opening
+ 25 oz capacity
+ Keeps cold or warm for a few hours
+ Affordable price tag
– A bit hard to squeeze
This attractive water bottle is available in white or blue, and it’s comparably priced compared with other water bottles on our list.
Even the name “Arctica” portends icy drinks kept cold during arduous rides when temperatures rise, but what may impress you most is this product’s wide mouth (65mm), especially if you like adding ice cubes to your cool your drink or you regularly mix drinking powders into the water when you ride.
Made of polyethylene and featuring double insulated walls to maintain 25 ounces of hot or cold liquids at proper temperatures for more than 2.5 hours, this water bottle will stay safe and secure courtesy of the screw-top cap that won’t budget.
The manufacturer recommends throwing this bottle into the dishwasher when it’s time to clean it.
Best Cageless Bottle: Fabric Cageless 750ml
+ Cageless water bottle system
+ Fast flow valve
+ BPA free bottle
– Low quality plastic
This Fabric Cageless 25-ounce water bottle stands apart from other products on this list because it comes in 6 color choices, and it mounts directly to your bike, giving you quick access to its contents when you most need a refreshing swallow.
This bottle’s weight is comparable to others in this review, the vessel is crafted of BPA-free plastic and features a fast flow valve.
Suitable for all types of cycling situations, the patented design is unique among competitors because it is the only one that mounts directly to your frame.
Accomplish this easily by using the two sets of studs that are included with this product. A few install twists and this comparably-priced water bottle remains nearby throughout your ride.
Best Value: Via Velo Bicycle Reflective Insulated Water Bottle & Cage
+ Free cage is included
+ Reflective cap
+ Sturdy and insulated bottle
+ 100% BPA Free
– Low-quality cage ( bottle rattles sometimes )
This is one of the best-looking bicycle bottles on our list made by Via Velo. The capacity is 26 oz, and the bottle is insulated, which means that your water will stay cooler for longer.
With this bottle cage, you get some extra stuff like a free bottle cage and reflective cape.
The smartly designed reflective cape somehow gives you an additional safety feature as a bonus. As usual, you won’t find any harmful materials in the Via Velo bike bottle made of FDA-approved BPA-free plastic.
Budget Pick: Co-op Cycles Insulated Water Bottle – 23 fl. oz.
+ Great basic lightly insulated bottle
+ Fits into most bottle holders
+ Excellent MoFlo™ cap design
+ Weighs only 3.1 ounces
+ BPA- and phthalate-free
– Can’t compete with CamelBak Podium Big Chill
Co-op is a brand of REI – the beloved outdoors gear store that we like a lot. With the Co-op brand, they make some of the best budget bikes and cycling accessories.
In this case, the Co-op Cycles Insulated Water Bottle is a great 23 oz insulated bottle with best in class high-flow valve. It fits perfectly in any standard bike cages and cup holders as well.
We like the most in this bottle is the MoFlo™ cap design which delivers up to 50% greater flow than other bottles on the market. Another thing we love about this product is the awesome design.
You can get it in 7 different color options, which are all absolutely amazing.
PRO BIKE TOOL Insulated Bike Water Bottle
+ Frozen bottles will last 2-4 hours
+ Very easy to squeeze
+ Handles make it easy to pull the bottles out of the water cages
– A bit fragile
– Insulation is below average
This Pro Bike Tool insulated water bottle is another great option for riders who want a fresh drink in the middle of their ride. It’s a 24 oz ( 680 ml ) plastic water bottle with a simple design and thin insulation.
The plastic is very thin and soft, which makes the bottle very easy to squeeze. On top of that, you have very nice handles that make it easy to pull the bottles out of the water cages.
When we talk about insulation, keep in mind the Pro Bike Tool’s cycling bottle is not the best you can find on the market. If you want really great insulation, buy the CamelBak Podium Big Chill or Polar Bottle Sport Insulated.
Schwinn Bike Waterbottle Holder + Cage
+ Easy to use dust cap
+ Value for the money ( free cage )
+ Grippy and easy to squeeze
+ BPA-Free bottle
+ Viewing area to check what’s left
– Has a plastic-y smell
– Nozzle dust cover feels somewhat flimsy
If you love buying stuff on deals only, this awesome Schwinn bike water bottle will be just perfect for you. For around $11, you get a great combination of an aluminum cage and a plastic bottle.
This 23-oz bike bottle is made of BPA-free plastic, but some people still say it has a plastic-y smell. The bottle itself is straightforward to squeeze and hold. The dust cap is also made very cleverly so you can open it with just one hand.
Keep in mind that this bottle has no insulation and won’t keep your liquids cold. But if you need just a simple water bottle and a nice cag to mount on your bike, this Schwinn value-pack will be a great choice for you.
Polar Bottle Breakaway Wave
+ Removable nozzle
+ Great flow rate
+ Made in Colorado
+ Very lightweight
– No insulation
– Doesn’t fit some MTB cages
Polar Bottle Breakaway Wave is a lightweight, sturdy, and amazingly designed bottle for anyone who doesn’t need insulation.
Requires squeezing to extract water, but this prevents foreign particles enters the spout and into the water while riding.
The removable nozzle is a great feature for anyone who cares a lot about hygiene.
The bottle is made in Colorado, which is not very common these days, as most bottles are made in China.
How to Choose The Best Cycling Water Bottles ( Buying Guide )
KEY
POINTS
- Best cycling water bottles hold between 23-26 ounces of water.
- Double-wall insulation keeps liquids cool for 3-4 hours on a hot day.
- Expect to spend $10 – 20 for an insulated bottle and below $10 for one without insulation.
- Get a BPA-free, dishwasher-safe water bottle.
Size of the cycling bottle
All of the products in our review hold between 23 and 26 ounces of water, but the most important factor when choosing a product is getting a water bottle with a standardized circumference.
Sure, you can find bottles that hold nearly 34 ounces of liquid, but it’s essential to factor in whether you can handle the bottle on the fly and have the ability to stash your drink in a bottle cage when you need both hands on the handlebars.
Lid and noddle designs
Lids are manufactured separately from bottles. They’re designed on a digital screen and molded by machine using the bottle’s mouth parameters to ensure a good seal, say the folks at QualityLogoProducts, where sports bottles are produced.
Secure lid fit is essential for cyclists toting water bottles because nothing is more annoying or frustrating than losing valuable liquid due to a bad lid interface.
Noodles are cleverly designed water bottle closures that come with myriad benefits that include leak-proof seals. These lids offer cyclists the ability to enjoy one-handed drinking, so they don’t have to remove lids nor risk losing them on the road.
What are the best materials for bottles
Glass bottles are too heavy, precarious and it can be impossible to keep beverages at constant temperatures without the aid of refrigeration or heat. Metal water bottles are too rigid and unyielding to rely upon when taking cycling trips.
You need plastic. But not any plastic.
According to Washington Post reporter Helen Carefoot, “Most reusable plastic water bottles are manufactured from plastic polymers such as polypropylene and co-polyester.”
These materials produce a light, durable container free of the chemical bisphenol-A (BPA), a plastic once used to manufacture a variety of containers until the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) linked it to hormone disruptions in the human body.
Today’s plastic polymers are considered a safer alternative. Still, scientists warn that “even if it’s labeled as BPA-free,” it’s best to hand wash water bottles rather than putting them into dishwashers — even if the manufacturer markets the bottle as dishwasher safe.
The reasons?
Abrasives like dishwasher detergents in concert with high water temperatures can score the plastic and trigger the leaching process. Further, look for either of these markings on the water bottle you choose if you intend to recycle your water bottle down the road: PET (#1) and HDPE (#2).
Read more: Negative Effects of Cycling
Insulation and temperature retention
Temperature retention is a big deal, say cyclists crediting these design features with keeping beverages hot or cold.
Insulated water bottles work miracles from the get-go because hydrating is critical to maintaining your wellbeing on rides, say folks at DYLN.com who are also in the business of crafting insulated plastic water bottles.
Their marketing premise?
Buying water bottles with “double-wall insulation is a great investment,” not to mention the sensation of quenching one’s thirst during an arduous, long ride when some cyclists say that they can’t put a price on a cool drink.
Double wall insulation prevents heat transfer. Once the lid of an insulated water bottle is secured in place, contents are sealed in to prevent convection from impacting temperature.
Enough science? No worries. There won’t be a quiz on this topic next time you take a hydration break!
How much water should you drink on my ride?
Dehydration is a serious thing, and you can get in real trouble if you dehydrate while cycling. This is especially true if it’s very hot.
As a rule of thumb, we need to consume an average of 1 bottle of water per hour while cycling, and you should it seriously. All experts agree that hydration is equally as important as nutrition. ( SOURCE )
Let’s never forget that our bodies are composed of 60% water. The function of all the body fluids is digestion, absorption, circulation, creation of saliva, transportation of nutrients, and maintenance of body temperature.
How to clean a cycling water bottle?
The best way to clean your cycling water bottle is to use a conical brush to reach its bottom. I recommend using regular dish soap and water, nothing else.
If your bottle sits around with a small amount of water inside it, it will get many bad smells, not to mention the bacterias.
It can even get mold and mildew if you leave it with sports drinks.
The best thing you can do to have a good, clean cycling water bottle is to clean it more often and never leave it on your bike with a small amount of water when you don’t use it.
Check out this entertaining video from GCN on the topic:
Why some people call it a bidon
In cycling jargon, the word Bidon refers to the water bottle you dare not leave behind lest you wind up so dehydrated, you pass out.
It’s a simple plastic drink bottle made for cyclists.
You can thank the French for the name, says Road Bike Rider. Bidon has roots in the Old Norse term ‘Bida’, which translates as both belly or load of bull
I haven’t really been able to find any reliable, insulated bottles that will keep it cold until I saw your post. I think choosing the best water bottle as a cyclist is really important. Thank you for your help!
I bought a water bottle for my long trip on my bicycle. That’s Nalgene 3414-ATB BPA-Free Water Bottle, which is the best water bottle that I have owned for biking. It is a squeezable sports water bottle that perfectly molds into the shape of my bike’s bottle cage. 650ml capacity that is free from BPA, BPS, and phthalates. This Nalgene 22-oz is impact-resistant and very easy to clean.