Recommend me a bottle cage that actually works…

Got a Tacx Deva on my CX/gravel bike, which seems a good fit on bottles – requires a decent shove to get one in/out – but lost my third bottle in the past few months today, and I like Camelbak bottles so they’re getting a bit expensive to keep replacing!

Is there any cage that won’t let my bottles escape, or should I resign myself to always using a backpack off road?

Tacx Tao. They’re great as they can be bent into a slightly less circular shape which will hold bottles more securely and avoid any rattling.

King Ti. Never lost a bottle from it. Silly price for a bottle cage though.

Sometimes simple is best.

These are great use them on my CX and MTB never lost a bottle.

Cx bike has Spesh alloy cage and it’s been fine so far , same cage as I use on mtb except for the enduro which has a Spesh z cage

I’ve always used Elite Custom Race cages with Camelbak bottles, not lost one yet!

Cheap: Elite ciussi gel (tested on the cobbles)
Expensive: Arundel Mandible

Never lost a bottle using either.

Salsa Nickless Cage…

I use the specialised zee ii cage on all the mtbs, not lost a bottle yet and they’re nicely handed for ease of use.

I would vote for King cage iris. Very pretty and very good.

Elite custom race, got them on a few bikes now – no bounce outs to date.

I’ve got the £2 one from On One on my bike, had a bottle in it every ride from May until now, approx 180km or so a week, never lost a bottle.

http://www.on-one.co.uk/i/q/BOPXABC/planet-x-alloy-bottle-cage

I use Elite Custom Race – never had a bottle come out in road, xc and cx. Used with camelbak bottles as well.

Lezyne Flow is super-solid, almost verging on too firm!

Been using elite cages for, um, 3 decades (?) lost a bottle in the 90’s once.

Just squish them down a bit for the MTB/CX bike or cobbled races and you’ll not have any issues.

TBH, the wholesale swap by the pro peleton to Elite Ciussi for the spring classics is a bit of hint. (Except they don’t anymore. Sponsors get annoyed.)

I use Elite Custom Race and also have never had an issue. But, when riding Paris-Roubaix the pro’s often switch to an Elite Ciussi (which the Planet-X one linked above is a copy of). For added security, add some skateboard grip tape to it and squeeze the metal a touch tighter. It’ll scratch your bottles but you won’t lose them.

See here:

Lost loads using Elite custom races (ended up looping an elastic band over the bottle).Now on Bontrager Bat cages which seem immovable!

Elite Custom Race here on all my road, CX and mtb bikes. Never ever lost a bottle or had a cage disintegrate, which can’t be said for other makes I’ve tried in the past.

Them classic made out of aluminium tubes ones have proved not up to it on mtbs for me, specially when rigid.

Another vote for specialized zee (I have the basic carbon filled nylon models). Side-entry is inherently going to work better in bumpy situations, and easier for holding big bottles when frame space is tight.

Use the same cages as Lunge. Never had a bottle bounce out until I got some Camelback bottles then had both bounce out.

Won’t be getting Camelback bottles again.

Elite custom race here – never lost a bottle.

Never had a bottle bounce out until I got some Camelback bottles then had both bounce out.

That is a fair point actually, not thought of it that way. Get some Elite bottles whilst you buy their cages and you’ll be fine.

I have never had any issues with these Blackburn ones carrying oversized bottles and battery packs.

King SS on my bikes. They’re all steel frames, so it seemed appropriate.

bendable, plenty of grip.

Used to use the basic allow cages, but after time they do have a habit of throwing bottles if you don’t keep on top of ‘re-squishing’ them.

Tried these:

but the rubbery bit always gives too much and while great when new, don’t hold bottles great after a few months.

I tend to prefer the ‘rib’ style cages (my original was a Genuine Innovations cage from the mid 90’s, but that got nicked with the bike)

so these are good:

The Bontrager version is decent too, slightly undersised and stiff enough to hold the bottle, though using grip tape is a great way to keep them put.

More recently I’ve used Cannondales bottle cages, great cages, never lost a bottle and squchable to adjust if you wish.

however, I am now using fabric cageless bottles, which are OK, and I can work with treaking the inserts now and then, but not great for a serial bottle thrower.

My Camelbak bottle lives (and stays) in a Zefal Pulse

but the rubbery bit always gives too much and while great when new, don’t hold bottles great after a few months.

Jesus what are you doing to them? I have one pair on their THIRD bike over the span of about 5 years and they’re still happy, even over cobbles.

Jesus what are you doing to them?

I guess I have a fairly variable girth.

on the range of waterbottles I use I mean…

The blackburn mtn cages for me .

Others have worked how ever not for prolonged lenghs of time.

Usually fail where they are welded. The blackburns are welded then sleved.

Never broken one yet,

Elite Ciussi Gel!!!

The pro’s use them in Paris-Roubaix which is quite an endorsement.
I’ve one on my Mtb for holding my bottle battery for my lights (all off road) and never had it come adrift. The same cage had been going strong for about six years. Mrs Flossie uses the same cages and has never had a bottle ‘ejection’

Another vote for lezyne flow, very firm grip.

I used these to ride Paris-Roubaix, they have a dial on that tightens the cage, and they worked really well.

https://www.athleteshop.co.uk/elite-bottle-cage-pria-pave?gclid=CNjDtPDA888CFWYo0wodDdcM2Q

Plenty for me to look at, thanks!

Never had a bottle bounce out until I got some Camelback bottles then had both bounce out.

Won’t be getting Camelback bottles again.

But Camelbak nozzles are so much better than the usual pull with your teeth type!