I need a pair of bottle cages for by gravel bike. Need to be cheap, reliable, take standard bottles and look nice. Not fussed if traditional design or flashy plastic and I’m also not interested in saving a few grams of weight, would rather know they will last longer than be lighter.

Should be easy but the amount of choice is frazzling my brain. What do you recommend?

Elite Ciussi- they just work, even have one on my MTB.

Elite custom race – indestructible and in 1o years of using them i’ve never lost a bottle.

Elite Ciussi-

This. Check they match if buying more than one, as there have been various designs and colours. Fabulous devices and STILL the preferred cage for the pros when riding on the cobbles.

Specialized Cascade II. Cheap as chips, lightweight, last forever and do the job, unless side-loading is required/desirable then I’d go for the Bontrager one.

Bontrager elite… down to a fiver in all colours.

Boringly, they just work..

DrP

https://bbbcycling.com/uk_en/bbc-03-fueltank

The plastic nubbins mean the bootle is head snuggly and no rattling falling out. Bargain price.
Look a bit utilitarian

EDIT – just looking at that Elite Ciussi – the BBB might be a bit of a rip off of the elite cage

Elite Ciussi-

Correct answer.
Though PX do a cheaper copy, https://www.planetx.co.uk/i/q/BOPXABC/planet-x-alloy-logo-bottle-cage#BOPXABC-BLK

Lezyne flow

I think when I got these it was just because they were cheap, but they seem incredibly secure (at the expense of it needing quite a tug to get a bottle out)

I’ve been using Ciussi in various guises for 30+ years. Still have the matching pair of red ones from my team bike (circa 1997) though they are now pink. And the paint has rubbed off a bit.

Still not lost a bottle using them, on road, off road, gravel, TT, CX.

Zefal Spring. Dirt cheap, light, and they just work.

If you like traditional, I have the Blackburn stainless steel cages which are nice.

What do you recommend?

Cheap ones – they’re (nearly) all just bended wire anyway, and if they’re a bit loose just squeeze the end in a bit.

This kinda thing – there’s no reason to pay any more

https://www.chainreactioncycles.com/bbb-bbc01-ecotank-bottle-cage/rp-prod52909

OP, are you in Sheffield by any chance? I’ve got a couple of used Elite Cuissi alu ones you can have for free if so. One polished, one black. May not meet your ‘looks nice’ criteria as they look to have been used plenty, but they still work.

I got them on a second-hand bike and I prefer to always use plastic or carbon cages as they don’t scuff up my bottles as much.

Or if anyone else wants them just say. I doubt they’re worth posting.

Prime Doyenne has proven to be pretty secure for me.
https://www.wiggle.co.uk/prime-doyenne-bottle-cage