Best cycling water bottles for staying hydrated

A good cycling water bottle is a must, whether you’re competing in a triathlon or just going on a casual bike ride. To perform at your best, you’ll need a practical bottle you can access and use easily.

We’ve gathered together the best triathlon water bottles we can find to help you upgrade your cycling experience.

Finding the best cycling water bottle for you

Here are the factors you should consider when choosing your triathlon water bottle:

• Ease of use: There’s a wide range of bottle designs, with everything from screw-cap options, all the way up to ones with pop-up straws and even hydration bladders with drinks tubes. Some people also prefer bottles you can squeeze easily, rather than rigid styles.
• Insulation: These days, a huge number of cycling water bottles are designed to keep drinks hot or cold for hours. If this factor is important to you, it’s worth investing in an insulated option.
• Clear or opaque: If you want an insulated cycling water bottle, you’ll probably need to buy an opaque option, but it’s easier to check your fluid level and spot dirt with clear ones.
• Sustainability: We all know plastic is bad for the environment, particularly when in the form of disposable products. Other materials, like steel, can be a more eco-friendly and durable choice, but otherwise we like to see the use of recycled materials.

Best cycling water bottles on the market

Elite Nano Fly Thermal Cycling Water Bottle – 500ml

• £24.99

According to Elite, the NanoFly Thermal is the lightest insulated bottle on the market. It weighs just 109g, yet has the technology to keep drinks cool for up to four hours. Impressively, its Nanogel construction is said to be just five-percent solid material, while the rest is air.

The team behind the bottle has also added many other convenient features. There’s a ‘push-pull’ rubber valve, a squeezable body and groves for extra grip. Plus, the clear lid protector should stop any mud splashes touching the mouthpiece.

CamelBak Podium Chill Insulated Bottle

• £12.00

Camelbak sells a wide range of cycling water bottles, but this 710ml one is designed with insulation to keep drinks cold for a long time. It also claims to be easily squeezable and completely free from BPA, BPS and BPF.

The Podium Chill is designed with convenience in mind, as it fits into various bottle cages. Also, the cap is self-sealing with the aim to avoid leaks, but can be taken apart for easy cleaning at the end of the day.

The added bonus? There’s lots of choice when it comes to colour, as this bottle comes in black, white and teal, to name just three of the options on offer.

Elite Jet Biodegradable Water Bottle

• £5.00

If you’re after a lightweight, plastic cycling water bottle but want to limit your impact on the environment, Elite’s Jet 750ml could be the solution. It’s made from BPA-free, biodegradable plastic, which is treated to accelerate the speed at which it breaks down once composted.

It’s designed with a squeezable body and a push-pull cap for easy drinking on the go, and thanks to its 7.4cm diameter, it’ll fit into standard bottle cages.

Giant Pour Fast Dual Flow Water Bottle

• £4.99

If you get frustrated trying to get water out of a standard cycling bottle, this option from Giant is for you. It’s designed with a dual flow valve, which should make it easy to access drinks quickly.

This bottle is also designed to be highly durable, as it’s constructed from dual-thickness plastic. Plus, it’s 100% BPA free, and there’s a large lid, so preparing your drinks and cleaning the flask should be simple.

At 600ml in size, this bottle isn’t the biggest option on our list, but there’s also a 750ml version available.

Nukeproof Water Bottle

• £6.00

As the name implies, Nukeproof cycling water bottles are designed to withstand the toughest conditions, so they’re perfect for demanding rides.

Nukeproof aims to keep the walls of its bottles as thin and lightweight as possible while making sure they’re still strong. The BPA-free plastic can handle changes in air pressure and aims to quickly take up its original shape after you compress it.

The opening at the top of this 750ml bottle is large enough to accommodate a scoop, so adding protein or energy powder should be hassle-free. And the clear lid aims to help keep dirt and grit away from the drinking nozzle while stowed in a drinks holder.

Alternative options for easy storage:

Camelbak 17oz Quick Stow Flask

• £20

Instead of slotting into a drinks holder, this quick-stow flask is designed to be stashed away easily, wherever you have space. You can slip it into your vest, jersey pocket or bag, and flatten it when it’s empty.

It’s a highly convenient option with plenty of cleverly designed features, such as its ‘Big Bite Valve’, which aims to automatically seal after every sip to avoid leaks. This cycling water bottle is also free from BPA, BPS and BFA, and comes with antimicrobial technology to prevent bacteria from growing inside.

Plus, cleaning the flask should be easy, thanks to its large lid opening and loop hole at the bottom, which you can hang it from to dry.

24Bottles Sport Bottle, Tempo Grey

• £18.90

24Bottles is an Italian-born brand passionate about creating sustainable alternatives to disposable plastic bottles. All its products are made from long-lasting steel and have the added bonus of being designed to keep drinks hot for 12 hours and cold for 24.

The brand’s 500ml Sport bottle features a handy pop-up straw and grippy, stone-like texture, designed for convenient refreshment on rides. It can be opened with one hand, so it should be super easy to have a drink while on the move.

It also has ‘-0.08’ printed on the front – the amount of C02 released into the atmosphere every time we produce a disposable plastic bottle. So, you’ll be reminded of the positive decision you’ve made every time you go for a sip.

Hydrapak Shape-Shift 3L Reservoir

• $38.00

If you normally ride with some sort of pack and are after a truly seamless experience, try a hydration bladder with a drinking hose. This BPA- and PVC-free one from Hydrapak can hold three litres of your chosen beverage and Hydrapak says it can even be frozen if you want access to an ice-cold drink.

The pack is 44cm by 16.5cm but has a slim profile, so it should be easily be stashed away. And there should be no need to worry about leaks; Hydrapak has included a self-sealing bite valve and has fused the seams with electromagnetic energy using RF welding.

Once you’re done for the day, you can turn the bladder inside out for thorough cleaning.

How do you clean a cycling water bottle?

You may not give much thought to the process of cleaning your cycling water bottle, but there are a few things you can do to prolong its life:

• Skip the dishwasher. The high temperatures and harsh cleaning processes involved in dishwasher cleaning can damage plastic bottles, so be sure to hand wash them with mild detergent.
• Use a bottle brush. Most bottles have hard-to-reach areas, particularly if the opening at the top is small, so invest in a bottle brush to make sure you can clean every inch. We’d recommend this silicone brush from Kitchiny which is a 12.5 inches long so will reach the bottom of most triathlon water bottles, with a soft and flexible material that will handle difficult areas without causing any scratches.
• Clean as soon as you get home. The longer you leave your bottle, the harder it’ll be to get rid of dirt and residue, so make sure you give it a rinse after every ride.
• Allow it to air dry. Although it’s tempting to stick the lid back on after cleaning, storing your bottle and its cap separately should allow them to dry completely, reducing the risk of attracting mould.