Best cycling water bottles: how to find the perfect bidon for you
Highly rated by our experts, here are six of the best cycling water bottles to keep your fluid intake up, as well as guiding you through how to pick your ideal hydration station
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Water bottles (or bidons) are an essential bike accessory yet often overlooked. Every cyclist needs one, whether you're a mountain biker, bike packer, or casual fair-weather rider. After all, your body is 60% water, so you may as well put some thought into the bottle that keeps you going.
So, what constitutes the best cycling water bottles?
Widely regarded as the best cycling bottle, because it is. It does everything you need it to and more. The Camelback Podium continues to just work and work well.
A favourite amongst our team, the fluid flow rate of the Elite Jet bottle is one of the easiest we have tested. The biodegradable design is a plus as well.
If you want the lightest model out there, the Elite Fly is the best option. Weighing just 54g, it comes in a variety of colours, we found it easy to use and cleans easily as well.
An Inexpensive, high-quality insulated bottle from a trusted brand with excellent thermal properties and brilliantly versatile, thanks to the dual caps.
Coming in at a slightly lower price point than others on this list, the Science in Sport bottle still performs and has a wide neck for simple additions of powders and supplements.
Made from 100% recyclable plastic, the Rapha Bidon looks great, comes in a lot of colours, and will match your other Rapha kit beautifully. It was easy to use as well.
The Podium is aptly named, being one of the best cycling water bottle available
Our expert review:
It's difficult to go wrong with the Camelbak Podium. The brand has a long history of delivering superb water bottles and hydration accessories.
Features on even the most basic and smallest version include easy squeeze for quick bottle-to-mouth transfer on the move and a plastic-free taste thanks to what CamelBak call Trutaste, which prevents odours and nasty tastes to keep your drink fresh.
In testing, what really stood out to me was the anti-leak lids. From preventing sticky, damp kit and bags to boots on cars, or even just preventing energy drinks from cascading over your white cycling shoes when descending, the twist-lock cap does the best job we've come across.
The entire range is BPA, BPS, and BPF-free, with a range of colours and sizes to choose from, including insulated options for warm or extra-cold drinks, and dust caps for off-road rides. There's even an aftermarket lid available to buy, which is a handy option as I found these valves can be tricky to clean. CamelBak has also redesigned it so it can be fully disassembled, so finding that you're drinking through a layer of mould should be a thing of the past.
Elite bottle are used extensively in the pro peloton
Our expert review:
The Elite Jet is a favourite amongst a few of the Cycling Weekly Team. This is largely because managing the fluid flow rate in the bottle is one of the easiest we've ever tested. The fact that it's biodegradable wins big points with us, too. Elite claims there's a compost breakdown of up to 5 years, compared to several hundred for a regular plastic bottle.
The Elite Jet is available in four sizes in the range, and on test we've found the 19oz/550ml the perfect size for an average-sized bike frame with two bottle cages. The largest option is great for hot rides with limited or no refill options, but if you have a small bike frame, you may struggle to get it to fit.
All in all, it's a solid cycling water bottle with great eco-credentials.
The lightweight Elite Fly is race-ready
Our expert review:
At just 54g, the 160z / 550ml is essential for bike packing enthusiasts looking to save every ounce of weight where they can. Elite even claim it's the 'lightest cycling bottle in the world'...
How? Elite says this weight saving is achieved by using a changing-density plastic body, which also makes the bottle very malleable, so it's easy to control the flow rate on the move.
The softer-than-average body, along with the design, also helps to keep this great cycling water bottle secure in both the cage and the rider's hand, meaning less chance for it to get dropped (although it might be a tricky one to hand up in a feedzone).
The compact design of all three sizes also makes it easy to fit smaller-sized bike frames, great news for rides with limited refill opportunities.
The soft push-pull nozzle is easy to use and does come apart for cleaning, but it can be prone to leaking when on its side after significant use.
There is a huge choice of colours to choose from in the range, making it easy to match with any colour scheme, and there are team-issue versions too. But if in doubt, go with transparent for ensuring that you've thoroughly cleaned it.
Our expert review:
I love a good coffee stop, what cyclist doesn't? I am blessed with some excellent options here in the Cotswolds, but the truth is, anywhere that relies heavily on tourism: in the winter, many shut up early or altogether in the winter or early Spring. Ever resourceful, I’ve resorted to what promises to be the next best thing, a good old-fashioned flask and my trusty Nespresso machine for this winter. I also purchased the Elite Deboyo in the hope it would be useful in the summer as well. Much to my surprise, the Deboyo has brought a new twist to my winter riding, turning any Cotswolds bench into a Cafe stop. Not having to plan my routes around stops has meant much more freedom in where I ride. Silly, really, it's taken me all this time to realise this.
Unfortunately, the double-walled stainless finish quickly picks up scratches, just like plastic ones. However, thanks to the AISI 304 (18/8) food-safe standard stainless steel interior, it never picks up aftertaste and should never corrode. So, while the external may age, the internals should last a long time if carried for. One thing to note about the capacity is that it is 550ml, which is bigger than a standard plastic one. Actually, it's not far from the size of a 700/750ml bottle, just something to think about.
For coffee, I default to the touring cap; somehow, sucking coffee from a nozzle didn't feel right. The first time I filled it, it felt alarmingly warm on the outside, and I shortly realised this wouldn't cause any issues. So, much so, even after 4 plus hours in below 5°C my coffee was still to hot to drink. It also passed a 12-hour test, which I conducted at home, and the boiling water was still warm, which was very impressive.
My Nespresso machine is no La Marzocco, but coffee snobbery aside, the Elite is all around a very good, versatile bottle.
Read our full Elite Deboyo Race Stainless Steel Bidon review
SiS's 600 ml bottle features a wide neck and easy to clean lid
It's highly likely that you've seen or owned one of these Science in Sport (SiS) water bottle at some point, often coming free with energy or electrolyte drink bundles.
In testing, we liked the the wide neck which made it easy to add energy powders or supplements without making a mess over your counter tops. The simple pull-push nozzle is effective, although the firmer rubber has been known to pinch a lip on closing if not careful. We noticed it have a tendency to leak if shaken vigorously or on its side, but this is a budget water bottle after all.
There's three sizes to choose from. The 600ml / 20 oz version we tested fits into most bottle cages. That said, the firmer plastic does mean it's not as easy for the cage or rider to grip, so can be easy to drop, as well as making the flow rate a bit harder to control.
The Rapha bidon combies a Specialized bottle with the company's iconic logo
Our expert review:
Made by Specialized, the Rapha Bidon features the well-known Purist technology, which protects the inside of the bottle from external taste, mould or staining.
Having previously used the Camelbak Podium bottle, there was a slight outcry when Rapha moved to using Specialized and its unlockable nozzle system, but from experience, the wide and soft nozzle is easy to use on the move and open and close with just your mouth, if not quite as leak-proof.
The malleable bottle is easy to squeeze and regulate the flow, and it also helps you or your bottle cage keep a secure hold.
There are two sizes to choose from and a handful of colours to match Rapha's classic kit colourways, but it doesn't come cheap, although it's probably the most affordable piece of Rapha kit you'll own.
At Cycling Weekly we have a dedicated testing team made up of regular riders which allows us to thoroughly test gear properly. With huge experience, they're really well placed to compare products, identify their strengths and weaknesses and bring you an honest, unbiased assessment of how they perform.
Specifically for bottles, we test them by using them on rides because this allows us to see how they perform where they are supposed to. This hands-on approach gives us insight into how the bottle feels, how easy it is to use and drink from, how easily it fits into bottle cages, and how easy it is to clean, among other things. We also look to try different liquids in the bottle, as well as supplements and gels, to see how they mix. We then look to pass this feedback onto you in the form of honest buying advice.
For more on how our experts put the latest and greatest gear to the test, visit our How We Test page.
There is no such thing as the ultimate cycling water bottle. In fact it's highly likely that you'll have a few favourites depending on the ride, terrain, weather, bike. So it's worth thinking about the kind of riding you do and buying for your needs. For example, if you like the occasional off road adventure, look for easy to grip bottles with a cap to keep out dirt; if you're planning a long day in the saddle, a large volume bottle means fewer re-fill stops.
On a cold day on the bike, your drink can soon become a Slush Puppy or may even freeze completely, as the wind chill will make the cycling temperature much colder. A few sips of this icy liquid will reduce your core temperature, making you feel even colder.
On a hot day in the saddle, when all you crave is a nice cool drink, taking a swig of tepid liquid can make you feel even thirstier.
While an insulated bottle won't offer endless hours of hot or cold fluid, the best insulated cycling water bottle will keep it closer to the original temperature for longer. This will certainly provide a more appealing drink, and the likelihood of keeping hydrated on even the coldest days on the bike, and reduce the chances of cycling and cramp.
The double wall body and insulation will impact the malleability (squeezability) of the bottle though, which in turn can reduce grip for both rider and bottle cage, as well as the control over the flow rate. Insulated bottles also are often limited to larger sizes too, due to the insulation, although actual volume is usually only around 500ml, so make sure you can fit one on your bike.
It can be worth carrying one insulated and one non-insulated bottle, so that your drinks later in the ride stay warmer/colder, but you have more fluid available to drink earlier in your ride. Slosh can quickly cause the contents of a half-full bottle to cool down, whereas a full bottle will stay at temperature for longer, so it's worth keeping from starting your insulated bottle until well into your ride.
Absolutely. It's a little frustrating that there is no standard size, as this would make mixing your energy or hydration drink a lot easier, so make sure you take account and amend the dose accordingly.
The most common cycling water bottle is around the 20oz/ 550ml size. Even small frames should be able to accommodate two bottles of this volume at the same time.
While it can be tempting to go for the biggest volume, remember that unless you have a large frame, or very low bottle cage mounts, you might struggle to accommodate one, or remove and drink safely from it on the move.
An alternative is to mix and match and have the larger bottle mounted in the seat tube bottle cage, and a smaller bottle in the downtube one. There should be enough space for this double act on most bikes, allowing you to decant from the larger bottle to refill the smaller one.
Even if you have a large enough frame to fit two 34oz/ 1ltr bottles on, don't underestimate the weight this will be when trying to drink from it while riding one handed, let alone the extra haul on your bike.
Like any drinking bottle, dedicated cycling water bottles need to be cleaned after every use.
Almost all reusable cycling water bottles are now made from BPA-free plastic and all will use food-grade materials. Some of the water bottles will use a system to reduce odour and mould build up. These are often a coating, but again will be a food-safe standard.
While it's tempting to select the best cycling water bottle colour to match your bike or kit, it can be tricky to tell if all residue has been removed and that no mould has built up on the darker and more opaque bottles, so if you have questionable washing up skills/ time then go with transparent, it's also easier to see how much liquid you have left at a glance.
The biggest area to keep an eye on is the lid and nozzle. Most will pull apart (check manufacturer's instructions) but the more complicated the drinking mechanism, the trickier it will be to ensure it's thoroughly clean. Ideally give everything an overnight soak in a sterilisation solution or put in a dishwasher (ensuring it's dishwasher safe) on a hot wash to sanitise.
Bisphenol A (BPA) is found in many plastic products including some water bottles. It has weak estrogenic effects that can be harmful to human health. To eliminate the use of BPAs, structurally related replacements were created, most notably bisphenol S (BPS) and bisphenol F (BPF), however recent testing has shown that BPS is just as bad as BPA so looking for water bottles that are BPA, BPS and BPA free is the best bet.