The Best Mountain Bike Water Bottle Cages (Review) in 2023 | Autance

First on our list of the best bike water bottle holders is this 2-Pack of UShake Water Bottle Cages. These bike bottle holders are crafted from durable and lightweight heat-treated aluminum alloy, which has anodic oxidation to protect the surface and prevent scratches to your bottles. Each one can hold a 26oz bottle of maximum 3” in diameter – although the cage arms can be bent inwards to hold a smaller bottle if necessary.

To affix these water bottle cages to your bike, you will need drilled, threaded holes. The good news is that most mountain bikes come with suitable pre-drilled holes, and if you have an existing water bottle holder, you should be fine. In the pack are 4 x screws, 4 x washers and a 4mm hex key, which is everything you need to easily install both water bottle cages. As there are two, you can choose whether to split them over two bikes or mount both to one, giving you twice the water carrying capabilities.

The second entrant on our list of the best bike water bottle holders is another pack of 2, by Ibera. These lightweight bottle cages are made from lightweight, heat-treated aluminum plate – a popular material as it’s more durable than plastic, but more affordable than carbon fiber. The cages fit most standard sized bottles of around 3” in diameter.

The oval design features a flared top opening which is intended to make it easier for the rider to remove the bottle whilst in motion. Included in the pack are the 4 screws you will need to install the holders on your bike (pre-drilled, threaded holes are required), although not included is the 4mm hex that you’ll need to tighten said screws.

If you’re looking to make a stylish as well as practical addition to your mountain bike, then you should consider this Pro Bike Tool Water Bottle Holder. Made from aluminum alloy, it features a powder-coated finish and high tumble polish to make it one seriously cool, high-shine design. Unlike our previous two options, this only includes one water bottle holder – but that holder is extremely versatile, and capable of holding most standard, insulated or oversized water bottles. It requires threaded holes for installation, and includes the 2 bolts you’ll need to get this done.

Hundreds of 5-star reviews praise this bottle holder’s solid construction, durability and vice-like grip, with many stating it’s the best water bottle cage they’ve used. Its appearance also gets its far share of praise, with many users appreciative of its shiny, polished finish. There are very few issues – one user mentioned that the paint began to chip off the top of his cage, but Pro Bike Tool replaced the faulty product with a perfect one. This lifetime manufacturer’s warranty is reason enough to choose this excellent example of a bicycle water bottle holder.

As far as value for money goes, you can’t go far wrong with this set from Schwinn, which includes not only a high-quality water bottle cage, but the water bottle to go in it. This could be a great option if you’re just starting out with mountain biking, or looking to further expand your kit. You can also be sure that the bottle will fit perfectly in the cage! The cage is made from lightweight aluminum, whilst the bottle is plastic with a rubber grip.

As with the other models featured so-far, you can mount the cage to your mountain bike using the included bolts in pre-drilled holes. However, this water bottle holder set also includes mounting brackets, which allow you to affix the holder to your bike with no holes. It seems quite rare for brackets to be included with a bike bottle holder, and it’s something that receives high praise from users, along with the quality and affordability of both the bottle and the holder. However, the bottle is not insulated and is said to have a plastic-y smell (well, it is made of plastic!) All in all, you’re getting a lot for your money with this water bottle and cage set.

Next up is this Shasta Insulated Bike Water Bottle Holder by Bushwhacker. This is the first water bottle holder on our list not made of aluminum – instead it’s made from a 600 dernier polyester fabric, which attaches to your bike via Velcro loops. The advantage of this is that it’s super quick and easy to attach and remove the holder, and requires no drilling, bolts or tools of any kind. There’s a layer of 1/2-inch thick foam for insulation, which is great if you want to keep your drink cool or hot for longer.

This Shasta holder also includes a plastic 20oz bottle, which fits snugly in the fabric case. Some users mention that the bottle has a strong plastic taste, and several seem to have replaced it with their own preferred bottle. It’s still worth purchasing this just for the holder though – there are lots of positive aspects, especially compared with cage designs. These include the easily-accessible position of the holder on the handlebars, the insulation, and the ease of installation.

This Wiel Bicycle Water Bottle Cage is something different again; it’s the first model on our list made from carbon fiber. Carbon fiber is super-lightweight, and this weighs in at only 1oz, making it perfect for those looking to add as little bulk to their bike as possible. It’s designed to fit most standard size bottles, and the carbon fiber construction means its unlikely to mark your bottles. It can be installed into the drilled holes on your bike’s frame, using the 2 included screws.

This carbon bottle cage is popuar with people, who particularly like its light weight, stylish black and red appearance and strong and non-deformable design. One user even stated that it’s survived a couple of crashes, without damage to the holder or the bottle. There are few issues – one is that the bottle may rattle relentlessly inside the holder, but this isn’t a common complaint, suggesting this might be related to the size of the bottle.

This Matte Black Bike Water Bottle Cage is the second offering from Pro Bike Tool on our list. This one is again made from heat-treated aluminum, and is finished with a powder coating to give it sleek, modern appearance. It fits most standard bike water bottles, and can be adjusted by +/- 0.2” if necessary (be careful not to over adjust it as this may cause cracking in the paint).

It’s lightweight, durable and easy to wipe clean, and reviews praise the ease of installation and the stylish black finish. One user, who is a mechanical designer, noted that the manufacturer appears to have removed all unnecessary material to maximize weight advantage, without compromising on strength. Problems are that the holder may scratch bottles, particularly metal ones, and it isn’t the most affordable option on the market.

Don’t fancy a boring black water bottle holder? This option from FiveBox is available in jazzy blue, silver and red – as well as black, for those who love a classic. It’s made from anti-rust aluminum alloy, and is installed using the provided screws and pre-drilled threaded holes in your bike. Note that the 4mm hex key needed for installation is not included, so you’ll need to make sure you have one. The slim, ergonomic design fits most standard bike bottles.

Reports about this bicycle water bottle holder are very encouraging, with many saying it’s easy to install (providing you have the required hex wrench), holds medium-sized bottles securely, and is very lightweight. There are a couple of reports of the finish rubbing off the holder, and of it scratching bottles, but these seem to be the exception rather than the norm.

This Anjoy Ultra Light Bicycle Water Bottle Cage is the second carbon fiber water bottle cage on our list, and weighs in at an impressive 1.05oz. The cage is non-deformable and corrosion-resistant, and it has stylish, matte black finish, with no designs or decals – something which pleases many riders. It includes the necessary bolts and washers to attach it to your bike’s pre-drilled holes.

Users like the clean look, how little it weighs and how tightly it grips bottles, even over uneven ground. There is the odd report of the bottle flying out when riding on particularly rough terrain, but this seems rare, and might be a result of the bottle size. There are also a couple of incidents of people receiving cages with minor cosmetic issues, such as rough edges. Overall though, this is an excellent quality and highly cost-effective carbon bottle cage.

Rounding off our list of the best bike water bottle holders is this Outpost Cargo Cage by Blackburn, which features a 6mm alloy tube construction and synthetic straps with a rubber backing for grip. Unlike the others we’ve featured, this cage is not limited to holding standard-sized bottles – the adjustable straps mean it can accommodate oversized bottles, and other gear such as stuff sacks, bags and clothes, so it’s perfect for longer bike rides.

This versatile holder mounts to standard bottle cage holes and has 3 sets of mounting holes to accommodate different frames. People praise the device for being able to securely hold a range of items, and many say that this was the only cage they found that was large enough for their oversized bottle. The only common complaint seems to be that the straps may loosen with use, so you might need to check and tighten them regularly.