Whether you're a casual cyclist or a professional one things for certain; you need to stay hydrated while riding. In this article, we explore some of the best water bottles around.
Helmet – check. Visible clothing – check. Bike tires pumped up – check. The best water bottle? If that’s still on your list to buy before you get out on that long cycling trek you had planned, you’re in the right place.
We’re about to highlight the essential features to look for in water bottles, along with giving you some suggestions on the best water bottles for cyclists on the market today.
Figuring out what you want from your cycling bottle is half the challenge. The other half is finding something that works. Fortunately, we’ve put in the leg work (or pedal work?) to make sure we bring you the best cycling water bottles around.
Here are our top picks for the best water bottles for cycling.
The 7 Best Bike Water Bottles
| Name | Capacity | Insulation |
|---|---|---|
| CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25 oz Insulated Water Bottle | 25oz | Double-walled |
| Polar Bottle Insulated 24oz. Water Bottle | 24oz | Double-walled |
| Contigo Vacuum-Insulated 24 oz. Water Bottle | 24oz | Double-walled |
| Travel Kuppe Vacuum-Insulated Cycling Water Bottle | 20oz | Double-walled |
| Gatorade Squeeze Sports Water Bottle | 28oz / 32oz | None |
| Schwinn Bike Water Bottle and Cage | 32oz | None |
| Zefal 164 33oz Cycling Water Bottle | 33oz | None |
1. CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25 oz Insulated Water Bottle
The CamelBak Podium Big Chill is one of the highest-rated cycling water bottles ever made, and in our opinion should be considered as one of the best water bottles for cycling.
Yet another insulated cycling bottle offering double-walled construction, this CamelBak Podium bottle lives up to the name Big Chill.
It comes with a Jet Valve cap, which promises to allow easy drinking while sealing when not in use. The jet valve cap eradicates any chance of spillage, especially when stored in a bottle cage while you are on the move.
Features of the CamelBak Podium Big Chill include:
- Double-walled thermal insulation
- Self-sealing jet valve cap means no leaks
- BPA free construction
- Lifetime Camelbak guarantee
The Big Chill design incorporates polypropylene that is free from BPA and BPS while also offering Hydro Guard. This means it’s super safe and avoids that plastic taste you might experience with cheaper bottles. As a final touch, you also get the lifetime Got Your Bak guarantee. Any problems, you can return it and get a replacement.
2. Polar Bottle Insulated 24oz. Water Bottle
This eye-catching design makes the Polar bottle one of our favorites water bottles for cycling. It’s made with BPA-free technology, offering a generous 24 ounces of liquid kept cool with the insulated layer inside. It comes with a grab handle forming part of the design, while you can easily take a drink from the pop-top.
Features of the Polar Bottle Insulated Water Bottle include:
- Double-wall insulated bottle creates a thermal barrier
- 100% BPA-free bottle
- Eye-catching design
- Wide opening accommodates ice cubes
Many reviewers have noted that the insulated nature of this water bottle removes most of the ‘sweating’ you would see on the outside of a bottle due to condensation. This makes the Polar Bottle an ideal choice for carrying in bags too if you want a multipurpose bottle to have handy.
3. Contigo Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel 24 oz. Water Bottle
This insulated bottle has excellent reviews and is reasonably priced too. It features a THERMALOCK double-walled vacuum design, offering up to 28 hours of insulation to keep drinks cold.
The bottle is designed for single-handed use, enabling you to reach down and grab a drink on the go. The AUTOSEAL button can then be used to put the lid safely back into position so that you won’t get any bugs or dirt inside between drinks. Easy.
Features of the Contigo Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle include:
- Double-walled vacuum insulated water bottle
- Easy to operate AUTOSEAL button to seal lid between sips
- Integrated carrying handle for easy transport
- Dishwasher safe lid
This amazing cycling water bottle has proven itself to be smart, safe, and easy to clean too. The lid is fine to pop in the dishwasher, with the main bottle portion easy to handwash. It’s hands-down one of the best insulated water bottles for cyclists that money can buy.
4. Travel Kuppe Vacuum-Insulated Stainless Steel Cycling Water Bottle
The Travel Kuppe brings the technology you would usually associate with flasks to the world of bicycle water bottles. Capable of keeping drinks warm or cold for nine hours, this bottle is perfect for all-day journeys and explorations.
The insulated water bottle is also designed to carry on looking good for far longer, thanks to its hammertone coating. Created as a scratch-resistant coating, it also feels good to hold and has a curved design that fits nicely in your hand.
Features of the Travel Kuppe Vacuum Insulated Water Bottle include:
- Designed to fit perfectly in bicycle bottle cages
- Full hammertone coating for scratch resistance
- Premium grade stainless steel and BPA free construction
- Double-wall vacuum insulated water bottle
The food-grade stainless steel construction of this cycling water bottle ensures great looks and practical use, with BPA-free plastic for relevant parts including the lid.
5. Gatorade Squeeze Sports Water Bottle
Available in 28oz and 32oz bottles, this Gatorade sports water bottle isn’t one you’ll misplace in a hurry. The striking classic design is one of our favorites and gives you the familiar green and orange combo with the famous G on it.
This is the ideal water bottle if you don’t tend to go out in extreme weather, and therefore do not require a double-walled design.
Features of the Gatorade Squeeze Sports Water Bottle include:
- Classic Gatorade sports design
- Clear indicator of current water level
- BPA Free construction
- Totally leak-free lid design
It’s super affordable; you could easily purchase two (or more) for a long journey for the same price as a premium insulated cycling water bottle, especially if you have two cages on your bike. This is a smart and affordable choice with an eye-catching design that we think deserves a spot on any list of the best cycling water bottles.
6. Schwinn Bike Water Bottle and Cage
This great little bundle contains a classic 32oz Schwinn cycling water bottle along with a cage holder for your bike. The water bottle itself is BPA free and has an indicator that shows your current fill level, which we were pleasantly surprised by since it isn’t shown in the product description.
As with most water bottles made for cyclists, the lid has a wonderful leak-free design that avoids spills during drinks and during transport too.
Features of the Schwinn Bike Water Bottle and Cage include:
- Wonderful sturdy construction and leak-free bottle lid
- Entirely dishwasher safe (the whole bottle!)
- Can hold carbonated drinks with ease
- Bonus specially-made cage provides snug storage
We rate this as one of the best budget water bottles for cycling since the bottle and cage combo is something that gets you that little bit more for your money. The bottle works wonderfully well and is a pleasure to drink from. Top marks from us!
7. Zefal 164 33oz Cycling Water Bottle
The Zefal cycle water bottle features a soft squeezy design that makes taking a quick drink an effortless task. The screw-top design is robust and shows no signs of leaking even under heavy use.
A soft bite valve allows for one-hand operation and makes drinking from the bottle feel incredibly natural and easy.
Features of the Zefal 164 33oz Cycling Water Bottle include:
- Easy squeezy design
- Leak-free soft bite valve for unsealing with the mouth
- Holds a lot of water for its external size compared to insulated bottles
- BPA free plastic construction
It isn’t insulated, but this has its benefits; this Zefal bottle holds 9oz more water than the Polar insulated water bottle despite having the same external size. If water quantity and ease of drinking while riding are most important to you, then this is a fantastic choice.
Choosing A Suitable Bike Water Bottle
Cycling involves plenty of essentials – a bike helmet being the most important of all besides the bicycle itself. Yet if the helmet ranks in the first place, the humble water bottle is surely up there with the most important accessories.
Cycling is strenuous and demanding, working most of the muscles in your body. Many cyclists face great heat and wouldn’t be able to manage without water intake. Even on a cooler day, you’re going to use fluids and you’ll need to replace them. Enter the water bottle, which suddenly looks far more vital than you may have thought.
not just any water bottle will do, there are a few things you should consider before buying a water bottle for cycling. Firstly, it should be ideal for the job. Not all bottles are going to fit inside a cage designed for either mountain bike or road bike use. That means you need to stick with cycling water bottles.
Aside from that, we’ve listed some other elements to consider.
Bottle Capacity Size matters
Water bottles are usually measured in ounces. If you regularly go out on long rides, you’re better off opting for a larger bottle. Honestly, we’d opt for something bigger anyway. Far better to return home with water leftover than to run out if you suddenly decide to cycle further than you intended.
Since most bottles fit into a standard cage, the larger bottles tend to be taller rather than wider. Another point for sticking with cycling drinking bottles as opposed to anything generic.
I’d highly recommend buying a bike trunk bag with a water bottle holder if you’re planning on taking your bottle on your commute.
Should you buy an insulated bike water bottle?
It is worth remembering insulation can keep hot drinks hot and cold drinks cold, so they work both ways. Ideal if you cycle a lot in hot weather and you don’t want a warm water ‘treat’ whenever you drink. Also good for the winter if you fancy taking some tea or another warm drink out with you.
User-friendly design features
There are several things to note here:
- Designed to be easy to hold – you want to be able to grab the bottle, have a drink, and replace it, ideally without stopping if it is safe to do so. A contoured design is ideal for allowing you to do this.
- An easy to use nozzle – drinking should be easy, shouldn’t it? Look for good reviews on this point, as you won’t be able to try it until you’ve bought it.
BPA-free plastic – some cheaper bottles include BPA (bisphenol A), which could potentially be harmful to health. Although the jury is out on that one, it’s best to look for BPA-free products to be safe. - Squeezable – have you tried sucking water out of a bottle you couldn’t squeeze properly because the plastic it was made of was too tough? It’s not a nice experience, and less so when you are cycling and want to keep your eyes on the road or track ahead.
- Easy to take apart and wash – if you cycle a lot, you’re going to use your water bottle a lot. Make sure you can easily dismantle it and wash it thoroughly to maintain good hygiene. (Bottle brushes help, so you might want to look for some of those too.)
- Cageless – most bikes have studs where the bottle cage should be attached. Some water bottles do away with the need for a cage by being designed to fit directly onto the studs. This might appeal if you want a more minimalist look.
Now you know what to look for when shopping for the ideal water bottle for cyclists, you can narrow the huge array of bottles to find the ones you want. Selecting something that is built to last and ticks the boxes we’ve highlighted above is perfect.
Conclusion
It’s great to see so many cycling bottles on the market that are breaking the mold when it comes to quality. From standard reliable bottles for affordable prices to the more expensive ones with a lifetime guarantee, you can see there is plenty to consider before making your purchase. Be sure your next cycling trip is memorable in the best way by packing one or two of your favorite water bottles onto your bike for the journey.