General Cycling Discussion - Non-leaking water bottle

Hi!

I have a water bottle from REI/Novara for $3.50 and am ready to upgrade. My problem is that the water/gatorade/... leaks all over my clothes, gloves, helmet, and whatever else I threw in the bag. I don't care so much about insulation since I don't need my water ice cold, I just would like a bottle that A) doesn't leak because I'm too unorganized to somehow keep the bottle upright, and B) that fits a bottle cage - something like 3" diameter or less at the bottom of the bottle. Can be squeezable or Lexan, if it has a small enough opening or a splash guard. Money isn't so much an issue :)

Any suggestions?

Valerie

Poland spring sports water bottle? That's what I use.

I use a performance brand water bottle. I think it leaks a little bit but I don't really notice because I usually just point the bottle at my face and squeeze. All the water that goes into my mouth gets swallowed, the rest cools me off.

All sport water bottles leak.

Well I spent a few extra $$ and got a couple of Polars. They don't leak, the mouth piece comes out for thorough cleaning, and they do keep the drinks reasonably cool.

If you can, go to an outdoor sporting goods store, get a Sigg bike bottle.
It's got a pretty sophisticated valve design that doesn't leak, you can lock the valve if you store it in your bag, and the bottle's aluminium, you don't squeeze it, the mouthpiece has a 1way valve, you just suck and the pressure equalizes, water comes out.
They are, however, $20 each.

I have always had really good luck with Specialized water bottles. They're fairly rugged, don't seem to leak. I throw them around a lot and they've gone through plenty of crashes when on my MTB yet they still refuse to leak. I did have one that after ten years developed a crack in the lid though but that's still a lot of life out of a $4 water bottle. I like the large 20oz or 24oz clear ones so I can see how much water I have left and what's inside. To be honest though, I normally get them for free from my LBS who throw them in whenever I make a big enough purchase (I think they regard it as free advertisement since they have their logo imprinted on them) but regardless, they're fairly inexpensive.

Hi!

I have a water bottle from REI/Novara for $3.50 and am ready to upgrade. My problem is that the water/gatorade/... leaks all over my clothes, gloves, helmet, and whatever else I threw in the bag. I don't care so much about insulation since I don't need my water ice cold, I just would like a bottle that A) doesn't leak because I'm too unorganized to somehow keep the bottle upright, and B) that fits a bottle cage - something like 3" diameter or less at the bottom of the bottle. Can be squeezable or Lexan, if it has a small enough opening or a splash guard. Money isn't so much an issue :)

Any suggestions?

Valerie

Buy a 20 ounce bottle of something anywhere, keep the bottle, use that. Can't beat the screw cap assuming have sufficient dexterity to open it while riding.

gatorade bottles that have that sport bottle like cap. Or get a similar cap from a bottle of water and keep trying to use that top as much as possible on all new botles of water.

i have a really old specialized waterbottle which is actually broke so the mouth piece thing cant seal shut but it never leaks...ive been meaning to get a second bottle but have been lazy/forgetful and im just using a Gatorade bottle...no leaks with that either...

All sport water bottles leak.

OK..OK.. some don't leak...

I grabbed the cheapest generic water bottle off the shelf at my LBS cost $.99 USD and I swear it never leaks. Sometimes I fill it with diet coke to sip on when I get to the park and still no leaks. Why do I put the diet coke in my water bottle? The can of soda in the water bottle holder always draws the stink-eye from other bikers.

I have always had really good luck with Specialized water bottles. They're fairly rugged, don't seem to leak. I throw them around a lot and they've gone through plenty of crashes when on my MTB yet they still refuse to leak. I did have one that after ten years developed a crack in the lid though but that's still a lot of life out of a $4 water bottle. I like the large 20oz or 24oz clear ones so I can see how much water I have left and what's inside. To be honest though, I normally get them for free from my LBS who throw them in whenever I make a big enough purchase (I think they regard it as free advertisement since they have their logo imprinted on them) but regardless, they're fairly inexpensive.Specialized does make the best bottles. Heck other companies have bottles made for them by Specialized. In fact I've got a pair of Continental bottles sporting a Special Zed trademark on the bottom.

Most of the water bottles at the LBSs here have the LBS's logo on them, but they're most definitely Specialized bottles. I've never had one leak just from being tipped, but since the tops are not threaded on (like, e.g., a Polar Bottle), I wouldn't trust one inside a bag not to catch and flip open.

but since the tops are not threaded on (like, e.g., a Polar Bottle), I wouldn't trust one inside a bag not to catch and flip open.

that sucks. my old specialzed bottle is threaded. I dont think I would ever buy a no threaded top because im prone to flipping those things off. I guess im not going to be getting another specialized bottle as my second bottle. thats too bad because it would have matched my other bottle, helmet and shoes :(

that sucks. my old specialzed bottle is threaded. I dont think I would ever buy a no threaded top because im prone to flipping those things off. I guess im not going to be getting another specialized bottle as my second bottle. thats too bad because it would have matched my other bottle, helmet and shoes :(

You really have to put a bit of force on the Specialized "nipples" of my bottles in order for them to open up. They're rubber and not plastic. This can actually be kind of annoying (although not terribly so) when you're trying to take a quick drink on the bike but I've never had the top just pop-open. It's not like one of those cheap bottles of water you get at the grocery store. It requires quite a tug.

You really have to put a bit of force on the Specialized "nipples" of my bottles in order for them to open up. They're rubber and not plastic. This can actually be kind of annoying (although not terribly so) when you're trying to take a quick drink on the bike but I've never had the top just pop-open. It's not like one of those cheap bottles of water you get at the grocery store. It requires quite a tug.Hmm mine move fairly easily

Hmm mine move fairly easily

I find that mine are "two-stage". When pushed down fully, they hold pretty snug and take a bit of effort to open. If you just push them down lightly until you just hit initial resistance, they'll still be easy to move but they still seal. I can see them snagging and popping open if they're not pushed down fully though.

I've never had a problem with Tacx watter bottles leaking. Unless you step on it, the top should stay on just fine.

I began buying my water bottles for $1.39 and they come already filled with 24oz. of Gatorade. Mine are purchased at convenience stores in the cold drinks section. After I drink the contents, I reuse and refill the bottles at home with sports drink or water. The quick seal cap that the Gatorade product uses, I've found to much better at not leaking than the conventional water bottles that you find in most cycle shops. After 6 months to a year of use I throw 'em away and pick up a couple new ones.

Wasn't there some studies/articles/stories about the dangers of reusing pre-filled sports drink and water bottles?

Wasn't there some studies/articles/stories about the dangers of reusing pre-filled sports drink and water bottles?

Thanks all for your recommendations :) I'm not too excited about re-using Gatorade bottles because I can't throw them in the dishwasher at all. And even if it's not really "dangerous", I find it a bit gross using the same bottle over and over again with sunscreen on my lips, sweat, bits & pieces of energy bars etc., and the valves don't really disassemble to clean properly. Maybe that's because I'm a girl or something - I just like to be able to clean the bottle occasionally :D

Valerie

Maybe that's because I'm a girl or something - I just like to be able to clean the bottle occasionally :D

I caught a bad case of some-kind-of-poisoning on a cyclotour once because I was drinking out of an unwashed bottle (it started the tour unwashed for several months). That was not a fun experience. Ever since then, I've been pretty conscious about cleaning my water bottles.

Thanks all for your recommendations :) I'm not too excited about re-using Gatorade bottles because I can't throw them in the dishwasher at all. And even if it's not really "dangerous", I find it a bit gross using the same bottle over and over again with sunscreen on my lips, sweat, bits & pieces of energy bars etc., and the valves don't really disassemble to clean properly. Maybe that's because I'm a girl or something - I just like to be able to clean the bottle occasionally :D

Valerie

1. That must get expensive. Thowing away a water bottle that costs $3.00 or more after you use it once?
2. Another tip: We even thought of washing the bottles after each use. It works! In the dishwasher or in the sink.
3. None of the water bottles that I've ever seen for cycling have valves that come apart for cleaning.

Since you are in memphis, i have two water bottles from bikes plus, they are half liter and the tops are screw on, and i must say they only time it leaked on me was when i cross treaded it, and they were not expensive

Wasn't there some studies/articles/stories about the dangers of reusing pre-filled sports drink and water bottles?

that's only for the nasty people. like the one of you below. ;)

I thought I posted this already...oh well. Specialized still makes bottles with THREADED tops. The only bottle I buy. It an adventure trying to find then sometimes but its a good excuse to check the local shops..

I thought I posted this already...oh well. Specialized still makes bottles with THREADED tops. The only bottle I buy. It an adventure trying to find then sometimes but its a good excuse to check the local shops..

You mean they make them without threaded tops? Every Specialized bottle I've ever seen had threaded tops. Or am I misunderstanding?

maybe specialized now has different lines of bottles?

I dunno, I jsut got a ncie threaded bottle from work, some jobby with a rubberized one step valve and a rubber grip ring on it...of course has a company logo. I paid about $4 for it. I wouldnt trust it with carbonated drink, but it seems to do the job on water and juice jsut fine.

maybe specialized now has different lines of bottles?

.Nope same line as always - only the graphics change http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqSection.jsp?sid=04EquipWaterbottles

Nope same line as always - only the graphics change http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqSection.jsp?sid=04EquipWaterbottles

The ones I've been always using were the Big Mouths (http://www.specialized.com/SBCEqProduct.jsp?spid=5665&JServSessionIdroot=wely2amlew.j27006).

Do you mean leak as in condensation forming outside the bottle, or it literally leaks?

I've never had a bottle that leaks. I just buy a bottle of water from a petrol station, drink it and refill + reuse the bottle for about a week until I lose it, then buy another one and start again :p

Would be interesting to see that article about it being dangerous if anyone has a link, I haven't heard about that before.

Would be interesting to see that article about it being dangerous if anyone has a link, I haven't heard about that before.

Do a Google search for "reusing water bottles"...

Here's a pretty good article.

http://www.irc.nl/content/view/full/2590

No supporters of Nalgene bottles?

The lexan ones can be shot with a rifle without breaking, and they have really tough threaded lids that basically won't come off, period.
They hold 32oz, though, and might not fit in a water bottle holder.
Usually the 32oz lexan nalgenes are about $7, but I have one made of a softer plastic, that has a domed lid that deflects mud and etc, and you just flick the lid up with a thumb, pull the spout out with your teeth, drink, flip the lid shut and it closes the spout. Mine was about $7, too.

I bought a couple of cheap Zefal bottles and cages at Wal Mart last year. They've never leaked and the flip up clear covers help keep the gunk thrown up from the front tire off the drinking spout.

1. That must get expensive. Thowing away a water bottle that costs $3.00 or more after you use it once?

No, no! ... I was talking about the ones that come filled with Gatorade or something... $0.99 with beverage included, something in that price range - you're essentially paying for what's in it, not so much for the bottle.



Do you mean leak as in condensation forming outside the bottle, or it literally leaks?

I'm pretty sure the bottle is leaking. I don't know if the water comes out of the valve or from between the lid and the bottle - the lid doesn't screw on very tight. It's basically plastic on plastic with no rubber in between, and when I twist the lid too tight (which doesn't require much force) it jumps back one thread and is pretty loose again. Am I making any sense?

I haven't had a chance to get another bottle, but will hopefully this week.

Valerie

I'm pretty sure the bottle is leaking. I don't know if the water comes out of the valve or from between the lid and the bottle - the lid doesn't screw on very tight. It's basically plastic on plastic with no rubber in between, and when I twist the lid too tight (which doesn't require much force) it jumps back one thread and is pretty loose again. Am I making any sense?


Sense made.

I had a bottle that did this, then realized that the lid was incorrect for the bottle and that they must have gotten switched in the shop (lots of different lids and bottles floating around there). Now, every time I buy a bottle, I check the lid fit first.

Nothing wrong w/ REI bottles per se...I own 5

Heh turns out my company branded one is a specialized.

Just washed it tonight and saw the s logo on the bottom.

I still dont trust the screwcap though...I jsut have a weird feeling about it that makes me want to only put it in my bottle holder, and not in my bags.