It's not always obvious what difference it might make to invest in one of the best bottle cages, but there's more to them than meets the eye. Sure, we'll admit they're all pretty similar in terms of how they function, but we've rounded up 22 solid options you should consider, ranging from plastic and carbon to metal options. We've also included some more specialist ones that work best for small bike frames, odd-shaped bottles, and high-capacity units when you're hitting the road for several days.
So if you need some new bottle cages, whether it's fitting out a new bike or looking for a cheap and simple upgrade, we've gone through the best of the bunch and listed all our favourites.
The choice doesn't have to be overwhelming. If you're on a tight budget, go for plastic. If you're trying to shave as many grams as possible (or just like to show off a bit), then it's carbon. For those who love a bit of classic styling or just really care about product longevity, we'd suggest one of the metal options. And while you're at it, it’s always worth pairing your cage with one of the best water bottles for cycling.
Best Bottle Cages
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Plastic
Plastic bottle cages can rival the low weight of carbon, but come in at a much lower price on the whole. They are usually easier to make colourful, so if you want to jazz things up, then they are likely the material of choice. Don't be fooled into thinking they're flimsy, as many are reinforced with glass fibres to add strength, and are used by pros just as much as carbon bottle cages are.
➕ Chosen by pro riders
➕ Inexpensive
➖ Retention may be too strong
This is the bottle cage we're used to seeing on pro bikes, because it's not too expensive but looks the business, is light in weight, and comes with a tenacious grip. It also helps that there are plenty of colour choices as well, so you can match it to your frame and kit. The only downside is that the grip is a bit too strong, so it requires a bit of effort to retrieve your bottle. A plus if you're racing and don't want to lose your drink, but more of a task for us mere mortals.
➕ Many colours available
➕ Classic shape in plastic form
➖ High RRP for a plastic cage
Best known for its classic-looking stainless cages (also listed below), Arundel's Grypto is a plastic version of its flagship product, and while this one is black, you can choose from a variety of extremely lovely colours. The bottle retention feels secure, but requires less brute force than the Elite Custom Race Plus, thanks to the lack of a rubber gripper.
➕ Adjustable retention
➖ Looks a bit odd
An interesting approach to bottle retention, the Elite Pria Pavè has a dial, so you can fine-tune the grip for the terrain you're riding, and tighten it on the go if you're about to hit some rough ground, much like you'd adjust a BOA dial on your shoes before sprinting. It's super handy on cobbles, or probably more likely if you're riding over mixed terrain. Just don't try to over-tighten the dial, as it can jam.
➕ Neat tool storage
➕ Airtag compatible
➖ Multi-tool is limited
Everyone loves a multi-purpose product. The Topeak Ninja not only has storage space underneath for stowing a multi-tool, but it can even house an Apple AirTag to keep track of your bike if it ever gets stolen. While the multi-tool isn't the best, it is tiny, so it's perfect for achieving the most streamlined setup possible, if that's your priority.
➕ You can tell your pals you have Enve bottle cages
➕ Pretty light
➖ More expensive than many plastic cages
The name's more associated with lightweight carbon wheels, bars and bikes, but Enve also has its own line of accessories, including the CIM cage. It's similar to the Arundel Grypto, but Enve's is a little lighter and slightly easier to use on the go. A great way to add the Enve name to your lineup when you can't quite stretch to £2k carbon wheels.
Carbon
Carbon fibre is the holy grail for many cyclists. Light, stiff, strong... and often expensive. If you're chasing grams or want to have the flashest bottle cages at the cafe stop on a Sunday morning, then this is the section for you - just bear in mind you'll need to fork out a little more for the privilege.
➕ Understated looks
➕ Multiple finish options
➖ Vice-like grip
Similar to the Elite Custom Race Plus, we found the Arundel Mandible was so grippy it was almost detrimental, but if you crave a rattle-free experience, then it's a great choice. Its classic shape and understated aesthetic especially suits it to classic bikes, and it comes in several finishes, gloss and matte, unidirectional or woven, and plenty of colour flashes too.
➕ Drops weight from Custom Race Plus
➕ Firm hold
➖ Tends to look grubby
Elite's Vico cage shares the same design as the Custom Race Plus, only this is carbon and saves 15g of weight. No wonder it's a go-to choice for the pros. It has a dropped central section that makes retrieving and reinserting the bottle a breeze, and retention is really good. However, the finish does have a tendency to attract dirt and scratches.
➕ Great for small frames
➕ Classy finish
➖ It doesn't look like carbon
If you're partial to showing off your fancy carbon bottle cages, then maybe skip the Rocko Carbon. It looks like a plastic cage, despite being much lighter on the scales. We found it easy to use, and because of its shape, it almost functions like a side loader. Just a little tug upwards and a sideways pivot means it works great for smaller bike frames.
➕ Left and right options
➕ Multiple finishes
➖ High RRP
If you run a frame bag, or have a small bike frame, a side-loading design would be best for a carbon cage option. The DTR (down tube right) or STR (seat tube right) are a confusing way to say there are right and left entry options. You can still choose between finishes, as with the standard Mandible, but no colour flash options. The hold is grippy, but slightly less secure as well.
➕ Crazy light
➕ Still cheaper than some
➖ Worryingly skeletal
If you're aiming for lightweight, then the Feza cage is worth a punt. Since there's barely anything to it, it's no surprise that the G12 was the lightest on test. You'll need a torque wrench for installation, along with the included bolts. It might be a measly 2g heavier than the R10S, but with a secure grip and more solid construction, it's worth it. Let's be real though, it looks extremely cool.
Metal
Unless I'm aiming to hit a particularly low weight for a build, then metal cages are always my preferred option, but I also ride a great many steel bikes, so they fit aesthetically in that context perhaps better than on a carbon machine. In any case, they will last far longer than any other option, and if you get titanium rather than stainless steel, they can be competitively light. An added benefit is that, as metal is malleable, you can bend the cages inwards slightly to increase the retention - just don't do it too often or you'll fatigue and snap them!
➕ Beautiful
➕ Works well on small frames
➖ Perfect, no notes
This is Will's top choice of bottle cage (and he's got a stack to choose from). Not only are they beautiful, but they grip like a vice and they're built to last. While titanium will be lighter (and there is a Ti version), the beauty of the Iris cage, with its curves, can't be topped. Plus, the shape works really well on small frames, so you don't even need a side loader. Like the Elite Rocko Carbon, pull up a bit and tilt and you're golden.
➕ Classic aesthetic
➕ Comes in black too
➖ A little hefty
If you're a fan of classic curve drop bars, you're likely familiar with the Elite Ciussi cage, sometimes called the 3C at some outlets. It shares the familiar form of so many metal cages, while adding a couple of anti-slip buttons to improve bottle retention. Its timeless look would suit any classic bike well, and it costs a lot less than King Cage options.
➕ Lowering option great for smaller frames
➕ Beautifully made
➖ A little basic looking
The 'standard' cages from King Cage come in stainless or titanium, depending on your budget and penchant for gram-shaving. There are also 'lowering' and 'flat top' versions, which sling the bottle lower in the frame and remove the tab to accommodate non-standard bottles, respectively. Well-made and extremely durable, but they resemble many other cheaper alternatives, so you'll have to be happy knowing you have a more premium product.
➕ Great on vintage builds
➕ Super easy to use
➖ Heaviest of the metal cages
Arundel's Stainless cage has an aesthetic that suits vintage or vintage-inspired builds. In terms of bottle action, it's among the easiest in this list to use, so if you're slinging this under a downtube, we'd advise adding a strap to secure your third bottle. That said, it's very easy to get your water in and out. So if you like the look, you just have to tolerate the weight, only bested by the high-capacity options and the more specialist Lucky Cat below.
➕ Dual-sided
➕ Can mount other things to it
➖ Looks a bit odd
Unlike most side-loading cages, King Cage takes the normal shape of a metal bottle cage and, through the use of enlarged backing plates and multiple holes, turns the whole thing on its side. It might look a bit odd, but it does mean you can also use the free holes to mount other accessories, like a mini pump, or simply use the central holes and mount it like a normal cage when you don't need side entry.
➕ Cute!
➕ Sideloading
➖ Heavy
Okay, so the plate aluminium construction may make the Lucky Cat version of PDW's Animal Cage the heaviest metal one we tested, but who cares. It's fun, it's frivolous, and it looks great when it's empty. Since it's a side-loading cage, it'll also work well with small frames, and if you're not a cat person, don't worry, there are dog, owl, sparrow, snake, and even otter options to choose from.
High Capacity
Maybe you don't want to carry a standard water bottle. Maybe you want to carry a Nalgene ( a popular type of water bottle), a Kleen Kanteen, a big thermos of coffee, a baguette, a bottle of delicious Malbec, a portable speaker, a dry bag, a bundle of sticks... If any of these sound like familiar or desirable scenarios to you, then you're in luck; I've tested a slew of high-capacity and cargo cages to cover you for more or less any eventuality.
➕ Adjustable height and depth
➖ Hard to use on the fly
➖ Heavy
The Topeak Modular Java is designed to carry all sorts of random and vaguely cylindrical objects. The base plate slides in and out, so it can hold various diameters, while the upper support strap adjusts vertically as well. The only drawback is that you have to cinch the support strap down manually, which means accessing your bottle/speaker/merlot on the fly isn't the easiest. It's also the heaviest on test.
➕ Fits a Nalgene or Klean Kanteen
➕ Comes in Black
➖ Looks a bit odd empty
The Velo Orange Mojave is made up of two overlapping halves, and it can hold a Nalgene, a Klean Kanteen, or anything of a similar thickness. You can adjust the retention by bending the sides, and the fact that it has no upper tab makes it even better for Nalgenes, which lack the small indent of regular bottles. It's a reliable option that lasts for years, though it does look odd when it's empty, and it works best with three bosses, though two will still work.
➕ Fits basically any bottle
➕ Adjustable tension
➖ A little ugly
Similar to the Elite Pria Pavé, the Arundel Looney Bin has a dial to adjust bottle retention. However, it differs in the amount of finetuning on offer. The Looney Bin can hold a standard bottle, but also opens up to take a big supermarket 2L water bottle, or a bottle of wine, while still leaving room for tension adjustment. Since it lacks an upper tab, remember to clamp a standard bottle down a little to keep it secure.
➕ Can hold anything
➕ Straps can be included
➖ Can't use on the fly
Similar to the Tailfin below, the Many Thing Titanium cage from King Cage can accommodate almost anything, thanks to the open design. Whether it's a jar of peanut butter or a bundle of sticks, you can slot them on and cinch them with some Voilé straps (that can be included at purchase for cheaper than standalone). The design is simple, and the straps are excellent, though you can't access your cargo on the move, so it's better suited for fork mounts than for use as a bottle cage, really.
➕ Removable baseplate
➕ Works with Tailfin system
➖ More fiddly than the King Cage option
The Tailfin Cargo Cages are designed for use with the Tailfin bikepacking ecosystem, where they blend seamlessly with the brand's racks and bags, but they also work well as standalone cargo cages. They do what the Many Thing Cage does, but their removable baseplate (that doubles as a bottle opener) lets you carry longer items lower. The strap slits are excellent, though more fiddly, but there's less room for slippage.
➕ Takes a Nalgene perfectly
➕ Looks like a normal cage
➖ Not as adjustable as the Mojave
The Widefoot Litercage should be a go-to cage for carrying a Nalgene, as it's a little easier to get the bottle in and out of than the Mojave, and it looks like a normal cage at a glance. That said, it's less adjustable to take slightly larger or narrower bottles, so it's not as versatile. It is also best used with triple bosses, as with the Mojave, but can be used with two, and it allows you to mount in multiple positions. We'd advise against it on a carbon frame though.
How to choose the best bottle cages for you
In much the same way as choosing a pair of socks, bottle cages, on the whole, all perform more or less the same function. There are differences, but like with the best bar tape, swapping bottle cages is, in the grand scheme of cycling, a pretty low-cost upgrade. You can easily shave a few grams, add a pop of colour, or just change the look to something more you without the risk of anything catastrophic happening.
That being said, as ever, there are always some questions that need answering, so having tried a ton of cages out, I'll try my best to answer them below.
What bottle cage do pros use?
In my experience, having compiled a fair few pro bike galleries in my time, the Elite Custom Race Plus seems to be the most common, though pro riders' choices are often determined by sponsorship rather than by free will.
We rarely see the pros using superlight cages, as often their bikes are under the UCI weight limit as standard anyway, and so adding slightly heavier cages is no big deal and helps them make the legal limit.
What's more, bottle retention, particularly in rougher races like Paris-Roubaix, is going to be a greater determining factor than weight.
Are carbon bottle cages worth it?
If you want the lightest setup possible, then sure, they're an easy way to shave off some precious grams for a relatively low price. More than that, they're also an easy way to add a bit of bling.
Functionally, they're no different to plastic or metal cages, and are a little more fragile too, so weigh up what's really important to you before pressing 'buy now'.
What are the lightest bottle cages?
It's hard to beat the Topeak Feza, in either the 10g road or 12g gravel version. Despite being crazy light and looking rather flimsy, I've found the G12 model to be dependable and grip more tightly than far more expensive models. There are lighter ones on the market, just, but you're going to be shopping with boutique brands and spending big dollars to save around four grams.
Do bottle cages fit all bottles?
More or less, yes. All cycling bottles (or 'bidons' if you're... French) are a more or less identical diameter, and have a little notch at the same height from the base, which helps them clip into the bottle cages. Manufacturing tolerances vary though, and so some combinations of bottles and cages may be tighter or looser than others, but on the whole, if they look like they're going to fit, they will.
How tight should a bottle cage be?
Tight enough that you can get it out with a bit of resistance. You don't want it so tight that you'll never actually get to drink any water, and you don't want it so loose that your bottle will bounce out if you go over a bump. All the cages in this guide fall into what I think is an acceptable range of tightness, and some are adjustable by design with dials, or by bending, in the case of the majority of the metal cages in this list.
