When it comes to upgrading elements of your bike setup, a bottle cage might not be the first thing that springs to mind, yet while it won’t give you a huge performance boost, having easily accessible hydration is an important part of riding.
Although the purpose of a bottle cage is relatively simple, there are a number of different elements to consider when choosing one for your bike. Is it easy to install? Do you have a smaller frame or use frame bags and need a cage with different access angles? Do you ride on rough terrain and need a strong bottle hold?
Many bottle cages claim to have similar properties – lightweight, sturdy, easy-to-use – and it can be hard to know which will work best for you based on description alone, so we’ve tested a wide range of different bottle cages to help you choose the right one for you.
What makes a good bottle cage?
We all use our bikes in different ways and this will reflect on the key factors you should consider when choosing a bottle cage.
If you’re a speed enthusiast and keeping your bike as light as possible is a priority, a carbon or lightweight polymer cage will help you shave off those extra grams.
Riders who tackle a lot of off-road or uneven terrain, meanwhile should focus more on cages with a more secure bottle grip to prevent flying bidons. Those who struggle with hand numbness or dexterity issues may wish for a looser grip to allow for easy bottle retrieval.
With the rise of bike-packing and gravel riding, more of us are using frame bags on our bikes. Cages with side-entry or lowering features are designed to help pack everything into the reduced frame space and these cages will also work well on smaller bikes with tighter spaces.
Lastly, value for money is always important. While some cages’ high quality and materials are reflected in a higher price, there are many excellent entry-level cages out there that are just as functional.
Are bottle cages a standard size?
The standard bottle cage measures is up to 73mm in diameter. While most cycling water bottles are roughly the same diameter, this will differ slightly from bottle to bottle. As a result, the majority of bottle cages feature a degree of flexibility to accommodate these variations.
Some manufacturers aim to fill a specific brief for bottles that fall outside of this range, offering specific over-sized cages.
Where the bottle cage sits on the bike is also important. Most modern bottle cages have machined eyelets to attach them to the frame via mounting bolts included with the bike, though the degree of height adjustability is different for each.
The standard bolt spacing is around 64mm apart. Brands typically use elongated eyelets for frame height adaptability and compatibility, while some will use a series of smaller eyelets to achieve the same effect.
Why trust us?
We’re cyclists as well as writers and when we aren’t riding bikes for work, we’re riding bikes in our free time too. We are as mad about everything bike-related as you are – maybe even more – and are here to give you our honest opinions and technical input.
Our experienced team of reviewers is overseen by tech editor Sam Challis and website editor Matthew Loveridge, and anything that is on this guide has been tested by a member of the team – yes, you can test bottle cages – and rated truthfully.
Read on for the best bottle cages with our top scorers first.
Best bottle cages
Elite Custom Race Plus bottle cage: ?14
Silca Sicuro bottle cage: ?75
Tacx Deva bottle cage: ?13
King Cage Bottle Lowering cage: ?23.99
Arundel stainless steel bottle cage: ?25
Bontrager Side Load Recycled bottle cage: ?15.99
Enve bottle cage: ?70
Topeak Modula Java cage: ?12.99
Wolf Tooth Morse Cage titanium: ?107
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Elite Custom Race Plus bottle cage
Price: ?14
Excellent bottle grip
Great value-for-money option
Elite bottle cages are a popular choice among many pro teams and there’s a reason for that: they are very good cages. The Custom Race Plus is no exception.
The cage uses a rubber insert that self-adjusts to allow for easy bottle retrieval while providing excellent grip on bottles.
It is available in a variety of colours – with iridescent options – and is made from fibreglass reinforced polymer.
Elegant in its simplicity, the Custom Race Plus is a well-executed, practical cage that would complement both racers and commuting bikes alike.
Silca Sicuro titanium bottle cage
Price: ?75
Top-quality finish
Easy bottle access
Silca is known for its quality pumps and accessories and the Sicuro bottle cage lives up to the legacy. The cage is finished to a very high quality, with smooth welds and a neatly etched logo.
The titanium allows for a lighter product than steel alternatives, coming in at just 32g on our scales, and the design is well thought out with elongated mounting eyelets for lots of height adjustability on the frame.
The premium nature of the materials reflects in the premium pricetag, but the Sicuro cage does deliver on all fronts and would suit those looking for a minimalist lightweight cage where money isn’t an issue.
Tacx Deva bottle cage
Price: ?13
Firm bottle hold
Wide variety of colours
The Deva is Tacx’s entry level bottle cage but its certainly not entry level quality.
The Deva’s main design highlight is the open front end, which allows the cage to flex with the bottle. It’s made from polymer reinforced with carbon and fibreglass, supporting the arms and creating a robust structure.
This cage is available in an impressive number of colours, with bold, bright options alongside more traditional muted tones.
In a world of bland bottle cages, the Deva stands out for its vibrancy and would bring a great splash of colour to any bike.
King Cage Bottle Lowering cage
Photo: Charlotte Head
Price: ?23.99
Bottle lowering design
Lightweight
Different riders require different things from their bottle cages and King Cage saw a gap in the market and ran with it. Its Bottle Lowering cage does exactly what it says on the tin, seating the bottle 28mm lower on the frame than the brand’s standard design.
This is great for those using frame bags, as it helps to fit bottles underneath it, or those with smaller bikes with less room inside the frame triangle to play with.
The King Cage Bottle Lowering cage is tastefully finished, with smooth welds and a simple design, and dominates its growing corner of the market.
Arundel stainless steel bottle cage
Price: ?25
Visually appealing design
High quality finish
The Arundel stainless steel bottle cage may be one of the prettiest cages we’ve ever seen.
The logo is stamped into the spine which gives it a traditional erring on vintage feel and the steel is highly polished. The tubing also uses a clever sleeve to join it together at the bottom.
It has a slightly higher loading point than other cages, so would be best suited to those with larger frames or using smaller bottles who want to add some retro panache to their bike.
Bontrager Side Load Recycled bottle cage
Price: ?15.99
Made from recycled materials
Good for small bikes or with frame bags
Another way of fitting bottles cage alongside frame bags or on smaller bikes is using a side-load design. The Bontrager Side Load cage is a great example. The bottle mounts horizontally into the cage which reduces the usable space needed above the cage.
The Bontrager Side Load cage is easy to use and flexes well around the bottle, providing a secure grip.
Bontrager says that the Side Load cage is made from 100% recycled plastic, and is also available in several colours.
If you’re after a more sustainably sourced bottle cage, this could be the one for you.
Enve bottle cage
Price: ?70
Very lightweight
Sleek design
As a disciple at the church of minimalism, Enve only makes one bottle cage – the Enve bottle cage. But what it lacks in name originality it makes up for in build quality. The cage is fully carbon, with discreet Enve decals, and has well-rounded edges and a smooth finish.
It’s also very light – only 20g which is dainty even for a carbon cage.
It is Enve, so the price is steep, but it could be a match made in heaven for the weight weenies among you or those truly devoted to the brand.
Topeak Modula Java cage
Price: ?12.99
Great for speaks, flasks and other bulky items
Very secure
Not your average bottle cage, the Topeak Modula Java is designed to hold everything from speakers to flasks and has an adjustable height and depth courtesy of its nifty sliding spine and base.
A rubber strap fits across the front of the cage for added security, and replacement parts for the strap and adjusters are available to purchase separately.
The Modula Java is an adventure-ready cage and is perfect for bike-packing, gravel riding or just as a quirky addition to your bike.
Wolf Tooth Morse Cage Titanium bottle cage
Price: ?107
Clever frame mounting pattern
Beautiful colours
The Wolf Tooth Morse Cage Titanium Limited Edition bottle cage in Northern Lights Blue is not only a mouthful but also a luxury item. This is not a cage you buy on a whim or for the sake of practicality.
That being said, the sheer quality of the cage balances out the price enough to warrant a 4-star review – though we are aware it’s entirely decadent.
The Morse cage shown here features a blue and gold shimmer Cerakote finish and has gold-accented logos etched into the spine.
The cage name references the dot-dash-dot-dash frame mounting pattern. The dashes allow for a variety of height placements on the frame while the dots help prevent the cage from slipping.
It’s expensive, it’s extravagant, and it’s more art than bottle cage but it is still a very functional and well-made product.
See the rest of our bottle cage reviews
Is your new bottle cage going to outshine your tired bike? See our guide to the best road bikes.
Photos (except where mentioned): Honor Elliot
