How functional are stainless steel and aluminum water bottles?
 

They look great but:

How much heavier are they than plastic bottles?

Do they clank?

Do they heat up more quickly?

Thanks

1) Depends, which bottles are you comparing?

2)Depends, what kind of cages are you using?

3)Depends, insulated or not?

John, you are always so very helpful.

Answers:

1) Don't know. There are many on the market.

2) See above.

3) No

1. Yes
2. Yes
3. Probably not significant.

They are great and I use them for "trips" and touring. I am also a recreational roadie, meaning I got light weight and hammer out short distance rides. When I am gasping for breath and trying to gulp down water and I can't be desperately sucking at a metal bottle for water. I need to be able to squeeze out a large amount and slam the bottle back in the cage and gulp down the mouthful. That is the biggest disadvantage of the metal bottle, so I use both.

One of each (alum and plastic, both uninsulated) within hand's reach... I'm not grabbing the scale though. ;) The weight is quite comparable, nothing which would sway me one way or another. They're both the same size.

My aluminum bottle does not clank or jingle in my carrier, but it would really depend on the carrier and if the bottle's full, half full or empty.

Temperature differences between the two are minimal once they hit ambient. The alum tends to see the contents at ambient temp a lot quicker, but I can't say my water gets heated any more or less from one to the other (they're both light in color and that'll make a difference too). Insulated bottles will be a different matter naturally.

G'night,
Gentlemen

I think the water tastes better without the "plastic" taste...

I want the ones that won't make the beer foam out.

Grolsch Swingtop bottles ;)


http://www.bikeforums.net/attachment...1&d=1240411331

Worth a try, maybe we can get a photo op from this weekend's ride.
Wish me luck. hiccup...

Or, if you prefer German beer: :thumb:

http://image2.onlineauction.com/auct...d-992148-1.jpg

The Old Monster

:roflmao2: just don't toss it before the sprint!

Someone's gotta make one with a Schrader valve to help prevent the beer going flat as well.


Redtires, your sig kills me!

I much prefer stainless bottles to plastic, no funny taste to the water.

a wet sock on the outside of the stainless bottle prevents warming and clinking... aluminum bottle dentvery easily

i dont think my medium sized sig bottle weigh any more than the plastic crappy ones I have. They dont keep the liquid at temperature for as long though. Mine so make noise as well, but some leather wrapped around the cages should fix that.

http://www.brian-payne.com/gallery/m...serialNumber=1

i agree they look cool, but I'm having a hard time finding the practicality in them. Maybe if I had some with a quick release top they might be more useful.

Bob, you and I both know there is nothing I could possibly say that you would put credence in.

If you truly want answers to questions, ask a question that can actually be answered.:thumb:

John,

Just read the posts above. Others seemed to understand the questions.

And have given different answers to each of your questions.:crash:

I like plastic bottles that I can open with my teeth and squeeze the water out quickly. The old style metal bottles look cool but I bet if you ask Eddie what he likes he'd tell you go plastic.

But if you're just cruising along and have that old vintage English or French touring bike theme going, you gotta have metal bottles. Handlebar mounted. With corks.

+1 I've got one, and love the looks. But you have to invert the bottle fully to get a spurt of water, then repeat x n. Plastic bottles are a much more efficient system and less dangerous while riding. Also, the plastic spout available for the one I purchased from VO is hard plastic, not at all conducive to opening with teeth. I have found that the cap, if grasped in a certain way, will open the valve, however.

They're great for stop-and-smell-the-flowers style riding.

Another caveat: don't drop the bottle when full of water! Big dent.

I'll +1 the no funny taste advantage, though.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y21...e_complete.jpg

Is that Eddie Mertz, Fred's brother?

i like stainless bottles. but i'm old, and i stop and drink. no issues. no plastic taste. they look cool. make sure they fit your cage. and sure, wrap the cage in leather or tape. do they weigh more? i could care less.

I had the stainless bottles and did not like them one bit. Too hard to drink from, too noisy in the cage and I lost one after hitting a bump. It flew out of the cage and was crushed by a passing car.

SOMA makes plastic bottles that are squeezable, easier to open with your teeth and give the water no funny taste. They don't look as stylish but they are a far better bottle IMHO. Oh and I got mine on ebay for $6 each vs. $15 or so for the metal ones.

When the temps are 100*+, you don't notice the plastic taste.

I carry plastic, but I like to ride, and ride fast. You can't squeeze metal, and if you drop it, it will dent, which pretty much ruins the poseur thing right there.

Eddie Merckxx