The Best Bike Water Bottle On the Market [Guide and Review]

Do you love to cycle? We’ve researched and scoured the Internet for the best bike water bottles on the market right now.

Our favorite result is the CamelBak Podium Big Chill Bottle. At 25 ounces, it’s the ideal capacity for a bike ride while also being lightweight, which doesn’t add any extra weight to your bike frame. In addition, its double-wall construction allows liquids to remain colder for longer.

The Best Cycling Water Bottles 2020 Has to Offer 

We’ve rounded up a list of the top seven water bottles you can buy. We’ve based this bike water bottle review on the materials used, size, design, and ease of use. 

1. CamelBak Podium Big Chill 25oz Insulated Water Bottle — Best Overall

CamelBak Podium Big Chill

The CamelBak is the best bike water bottle for several reasons. To keep your water cooler for longer, the bottle has a double-wall construction, which allows it to keep water cold for twice as long as some other sport bottles. It’s designed with polypropylene with HydroGuard to ensure your water won’t taste of plastic, so you can keep water inside it for longer.

The innovative, self-sealing lid prevents leaks when cycling, while the removable nozzle is easy for cleaning. With a weight of 3.2 ounces, this Camelbak cycling water bottle is lightweight and prevents any strain on your bike rides. Also, the easy-squeeze lid means you can quench your thirst easily. 

Our favorite feature is the wide-mouth opening which makes it easy to fill the bottle with ice and water and also to clean the bottle.

2. ELITE Super Corsa Bicycle Water Bottle — Best Runner-Up

Elite Super Corsa

Elite designed this water bottle with a blow-off feature which reduces the chances of dropping the bottle, which improves its durability and allows you to enjoy fast rides. The entire bottle is biodegradable, from the cap to the exterior, which has a positive impact on the environment and makes for a sustainable purchase.

To ensure the bottle is comfortable on the mouth, its cap features a triple-function cap which delivers fluid quickly, so there’s less time spent holding the bottle and more time spent riding. In addition, its ergonomic shape and grip allow you to grip the bottle easily and safely.

3. Polar Bottle Sport Insulated Water Bottle — Best on a Budget

Polar Bottle Insulated

This insulated bike water bottle uses double-wall construction which keeps heat out and cold in. The foil layers reflect solar arrays to provide thermal protection, so this bottle can be used for both warm and cold drinks, which makes it highly versatile.

This high-quality water bottle is 100 percent BPA-free and phthalate-free. Designed with a durable yet lightweight material which is FDA approved, this bottle gives you peace of mind. 

The removable carrying strap allows you to transport this water bottle with ease and convenience. It features a leak-proof design, which allows helps with its transport. Also, it’s easy to clean. Simply twist and pull the cap and valve to access the bottle for cleaning.

4. Schwinn Bike Water Bottle Holder, Cage, with Water Bottle — Great for First-Timers

Schwinn Bike Water Bottle with Holder

If this is your first time purchasing a water bottle for your bike, this one is an excellent choice, as it comes with a cage. It’s a must-have if you plan on cycling a lot, particularly when exposed to high heats or vigorous conditions. 

Its ergonomic design allows you to comfortably and conveniently hold the bottle when riding with a minimal chance of dropping it. It features a leak-proof design, so you don’t need to worry about wasting or spilling water on yourself while cycling and you can even turn the bottle upside down without it leaking.

The bottle’s plastic is more flexible than some others on this list, which makes it feel smoother in your hand and can be easily slotted into the cage when full of water. We love its convenient pop-up cap which allows you to take a sip without any spillage.

5. Castelli Water Bottle — Best for Convenience

Castelli Water Bottle

If you aren’t looking for a large water bottle, this is one of the top water bottles for cyclists as it has an 18-ounce capacity, meaning that it takes up less room than some others on this list. Using this bottle is easy and convenient, thanks to its wide-mouth opening which enables easier filling and cleaning. 

The soft rubber nozzle is easy on the mouth and allows water to be poured out smoothly. Its design is smooth to hold, and although it lacks any indentations or an ergonomic shape, it’s a budget-friendly, simple bottle which is the perfect purchase for bike rides.

This water bottle seals securely, which helps eliminate any accidental spillages, so you can focus on your ride without worrying about your bottle.

6. Insulated Bike Water Bottle — Best for Insulation

Insulated Bike Water Bottle

This bike water bottle has double-wall insulation with a foam insulation liner which keeps water cold for longer than plastic bottles. This feature works by hindering external air from entering. It’s lightweight and easy to squeeze with a flexible high elastic technology which delivers a lot of water with a light squeeze. 

It has a soft silicone mouthpiece which feels comfortable as you take a drink. With a BPA-free material, it’s safe to drink from and ensures that water tastes fresh, rather than having a plastic aftertaste. 

With a fast-flow valve, you can stay hydrated for longer on your rides. At 24 ounces, it’s an ideal size for long bike rides and fits neatly into most bike cages.

7. Zefal 164 Water Bottle — Best for Large Drinks

Zefal 164 Water Bottle

With a volume of 33 ounces, the Zefal Water Bottle is the largest bike water bottle on this list. It’s made from a soft low-density plastic material which is easy to squeeze with minimal effort. It’s also BPA-free, which ensures that it’s safe to use without any unwanted plastic taste in the water.

With a large mouth, the Zefal Bottle is easy to clean and provides plenty of room for adding ice inside with ease. It comes with a screw top design which is leakproof and won’t allow any water to spill from the bottle while you’re riding. 

The soft bite valve feels comfortable against your mouth. Another great benefit of this bottle is that it can keep ice frozen for a maximum of three hours, even in a warm environment. 

Buying Guide: What to Look For in Insulated Water Bottles for Cycling

Material

You’ll notice that most of the bike water bottles listed above are made of plastic. This is the most lightweight material which is used, and it makes bottles as portable as possible. These plastics include high-density polyethylene, polyethylene, copolyester, and polypropylene. 

Polyethylene is the most flexible type of material and this is used for squeezy bottles, helping them to be squeezed into small bike cages. However, if you want a harder and more rigid plastic, choose polypropylene or copolyester, which are both more durable, meaning your bottle will retain its natural shape without any indentation. 

Regardless of the type of plastic you choose for your bike bottle, you should make sure that it’s BPA-free. BPA has raised many health concerns and leads to a disturbing plastic taste in the water once you open up the bottle. Invest in your health and spend a few extra cents on a BPA-free bottle. 

Alternatively, a stainless-steel cycling water bottle is also lightweight, which makes it a perfect material for bike rides. Stainless steel is eco-friendly and can easily be recycled into new products when the time comes to dispose of it.

Stainless-steel is an ideal material for bike water bottles if you intend to switch between cold and warm drinks. Water can remain cool in these bottles for up to 24 hours while warm drinks remain at a perfect temperature for almost six hours. They are also durable and versatile, making the bottles a prime choice for athletes who are tired of updating their bottles regularly.

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Size

Next, you should have an idea of the capacity you’re looking for, as there are many options available. How much liquid do you intend to carry? Consider if this amount is a suitable weight, as you don’t want to carry too much water on one bike ride, because it will weigh you down and might not fit into the bike’s cage.

Most cyclists choose a 25-ounce bottle as this is a popular size from manufacturers and the perfect size for a long-distance journey. Although if you don’t plan to ride your bike far, opt for a 16-ounce bottle or smaller in order to reduce excess weight on your bike and make the bottle more convenient to hold.

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Neck Size

Bottles with a narrow neck are fine for drinking water, but if you intend to add ice cubes or protein powder to your drink, you’ll need a bottle with a wider neck. Bottles with a wider neck are also easier to clean, as you can reach more areas with a cloth compared to a narrow bottle.

Temperature Retention

It’s important for a bike water bottle to retain the ideal temperature you require, whether it’s a cold or hot drink. For an insulated bottle, you should consider that it’ll be a thicker size, which can make it difficult to store in a small cage. This larger insulated size can also make the bottle’s capacity smaller, meaning there is less fluid space. 

Lid

Lids add a protective layer to your bike water bottle and catch any leaks while also keeping dust and dirt away from the spout when cycling in dirty conditions. This is an ideal feature if you typically ride in muddy environments. 

If you drink little and often, the lid’s design doesn’t matter that much as most of them are thin. However, if you prefer drinking larger gulps, you’ll need a larger design, which is more convenient to drink from. A push-pull and squeeze nozzle is leakproof, which allows you to ride your bike with the bottle in its cage without any issues.

Bear in mind that most bottles which are easier to drink from are more difficult to clean, so this should be an important consideration during when purchasing.

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How Much Water Should You Drink on a Bike Ride?

Staying hydrated is very important on a bike ride. Generally speaking, you should drink 12—16 ounces of water each hour you cycle. However, when the weather is hotter, you should consider increasing your fluid intake to the higher range of 16 ounces per hour.

It’s important that you drink enough water, as not consuming enough fluids for your body’s needs has been proven to decrease your performance. Just a two-percent drop in body weight from sweating can result in a four-percent decrease in your muscles actively working and makes heat exhaustion more likely.

Don’t wait until you’re too thirsty before taking a drink, as this means that dehydration will already have started to kick in. You should aim to drink three gulps every 10-15 minutes and finish your bike ride with a large recovery drink in order to replenish your fluids. You should also opt for a drink filled with electrolytes to help your body better recover. 

Don’t just focus on consuming enough water during your bike rides, do so throughout the day too. Avoid sugary soft drinks, alcohol, tea, and coffee, which are proven to decrease your hydration levels and therefore decrease your performance.

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How to Clean a Cycling Water Bottle

You should properly maintain your bottle’s hygiene to prevent it becoming filled with bacteria or dirt which can form around the rim. Start by rinsing the bike water bottle with warm water and soap in order to remove any traces of mold and mildew.

For a more thorough clean, use a thin brush with a long handle to get deep inside the bottle and reach into narrow spaces. Depending on your bottle’s cleanliness, you may need to scrub hard to remove any sticky residue. This will do a better job than simply rinsing alone. 

It can be tempting to throw your bottles into the dishwasher, but the high temperature from the water can deform certain types of plastic, meaning your bottles won’t last as long.

Avoid using harsh cleaners on your bottle. In particular, bleach is a harsh chemical which is unsafe to consume and using it to clean your bottle can put your health at serious risk. 

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When to Wash Your Bottle

You should wash your bottle after every use. Even if you can’t see any traces of dirt or mold on the bottle, you’re likely to leave sweat particles on the lid when you take a drink. Washing your bottle only occasionally will result in more dirt building up.

The Runners Up

Now that you’ve read this in-depth review of the best bike water bottles, you might be looking for a larger variety rather than just the winning product. 

The ELITE Super Corsa Bicycle Water Bottle is an excellent runner-up. It’s biodegradable, which makes it a great option for those on the lookout for an environmentally-friendly bottle. The ELITE Bottle is perfect for those who want to take large gulps, while the bottle remains comfortable and is ergonomic to grip.

Another excellent runner-up is the Castelli Water Bottle. With its 18-ounce capacity, it’s not the largest option, but it’s ideal for shorter bike rides. It features a soft nozzle which is comfortable against the mouth and it’s also a budget-friendly purchase.