Cycling is one of the most historic and popular sports in the world. There are numerous cycling events held every year. (Refer to NATIONAL SERIES & CALENDARS OVERVIEW to know more news.) Cycling is also one of the most universal and greenest forms of transportation. Amateurs cycle to travel just for the fun of it. Whether it is in a professional and fierce race or on a breezy sunshine journey, cycling plays an irreplaceable role. In order to provide a better experience, many derivatives are designed and produced, and gradually become a necessity in a ride, like cycling water bottles, the ones that can’t be ignored. They will help you stay hydrated, which is critical when exercising.
However, it becomes puzzling to decide which one to buy when too many bottles flood the market. You may have encountered some of these situations: when you are focused on the road ahead, sweaty and exhausted, you feel thirsty and pick up a water bottle to drink, only to find that the bottle is too smooth to hold; the valve leaks; the mouth is hard to open and too wide to splash on your face; the water inside is full of gross plastic smell. All these overshadow and add to your good ride. Choosing a good cycling water bottle is vital for a good ride.
Fluid capacity, valve type, insulation, and more are all things you need to consider when choosing a cycling water bottle. And often people choose to use more than one type while riding. This varies based on conditions and the necessary capacity. You might not need to carry multiple bottles on your bike when filling up along the route is possible. If you decide to take on a challenging ride in extreme weather, an insulated water bottle is a must. Valve type is another important choice. From one-way squirt valves to push-pull to flip-top, there are options for every preference and condition.
Shape & Capacity
Pay attention to the size of your bike’s bottle cage when choosing a cycling water bottle. The shape of the water bottle shouldn’t be too wide or irregular. It needs to fit snugly in the bike’s bottle cage without rattling. Generally, a 21-26 ounces water bottle will work for your daily use. Most athletic-oriented cycling water bottles fall into this range and are easy to fit into standard water bottle cages. Ultimately, though, it depends on how long you'll be riding. You can carry multiple bottles for longer rides. And for short commutes, that's certainly enough.
Non-Slip Surface and Wide Mouth
For drinking on the bike, a water bottle with a non-slip surface will be easier to grip with sweaty or wet hands. Choose a water bottle with a textured exterior or a grippy coating for a stable grip. The wider the bottle mouth, the better. This allows more room for adding energy powders or ice cubes, plus it’s easier to negotiate taps and fountains when filling. The wide mouth also makes it easier to clean. Insulated water bottles perform better than plastic water bottles here as they are anti-bacterial and easy to clean.
Valve Type & Flow Rate
Most cycling water bottles have either a one-way squirt valve or a push-pull valve. A one-way squirt valve can be used by squeezing the water bottle and forcing the water out of the valve. A push-pull valve is a soft rubber valve that can be opened and closed with your teeth by pulling up on the valve to open, and pushing it back down to close. You can control the flow rate by squeezing the bottle, easy to operate but tend to leak.
Nowadays, a flip lid on an insulated water bottle becomes popular. You can easily use your thumb to flip the bottle lid open or closed without any leak even when you’re on your bike. The flow rate is stable and you don’t need to squeeze the bottle.
Insulation & Squeezability
Insulation is the icing on the cake and doesn’t go hand in hand with squeezability. If you don’t need insulation and want to control the flow rate by squeezing the bottle, a soft plastic single-wall bottle will do the trick. And often it is lighter. However, if you need to cycle in extreme conditions, double-wall insulated water bottles are better. They can keep your water cold for up to 48 hours on hot days, and keep water from freezing during cold rides. It is easy to have a cool gulp or a warm sip in bad weather. In addition, they are greener for our planet.
Guarantee
When it comes to different brands and products, the guarantee years are different. You should know whether your water bottle has a guarantee, and if so, how long does it last?
Here I would like to recommend Buzio 22oz Insulated Water Bottle or Buzio 32oz Cup-Holder Friendly Insulated Water Bottle. Buzio provides a Lifetime Warranty for their bottles, these two absolutely included. They can keep beverages cold for up to 48 hours and hot for 24 hours. The flip-straw lids make them easy to drink on the bike and 2.2 inches - wide mouths provide handy ice filling. The powder coatings are non-slip and stylish.
Furthermore, the 22 oz. Insulated Water Bottle fits in most standard bike water bottle cages while the 32 oz. Cup-Holder Friendly Insulated Water Bottle fits in 3.3 inches bottle cages. They both fit into most standard cup holders. So you can use it in your car as well as carry it on your bike. What a versatile water bottle!
