Contigo vs. Klean Kanteen?
 

This seems to be the place where beverage containers are being discussed the most. My wife and I have decided to purge the storage tote full of bike/sport bottles that we never use in exchange for a couple nicer, insulated, stainless bottles for either hot or cold drinks. Our existing bottles either don't fit a bike cage, aren't insulated, or put a plastic flavor into the liquid. We have both a Contigo and Klean Kanteen and we are trying to decide which brand to "standardize" to:

Klean Kanteen
Pros:
- different cap designs (switch it up depending on what you are doing)
- fits in existing bottle cages easily
Cons:
- the "Sport Cap" design is like any other bike bottle where you will have to bite-n-pull to open the spout. Since the spout is exposed to grit and grime, and considering the bottle is rigid (so can't squirt into your mouth) you will have to put your mouth on the spout and get some "roughage" in your diet. Usually not a big deal on pavement but I intend to be on a lot of gravel.

Contigo Chill AutoSeal
Pros:
- water opening has a flip cover to keep it clean
- one handed operation is pretty easy
Cons
- fit in existing cages in very tight
- I do not see different cap styles available for a given model of bottle, only the replacement cap to what you have.

So I'm just curious if anyone has input on what seems to work better if you've tried both.

Thanks!

Will you be using these bottles for commuting, touring, bikepacking? Also, do you primarily use them for water, coffee, etc? I own both but trying to get an idea so I can give my two cents.

I think not fitting easily into cages is a dealbreaker.

Have you tried bending the cage back some to improve the fit?

I hope you enjoy a soundtrack of rattling metal on your rides. . .

A King Cage Iris holds my Klean Kanteen quietly. I'm not familiar with the other one. I wish the sport bottle had a wide mouth.

I use a Kleen Kanteen bottle on and off the bike. I love it, though I admit I have to eat some grit and who knows what else. I was thinking there ought to be a snap-on lid for it. Maybe some third party could make it. Or can someone think of something clever with materials we have lying around?

So far, I haven't gotten sick from the grit.

I use a 24oz HydroFlask that fits most bottle holders. The sports tip is the bite-n-pull, but it also opens up a small ventilation hole so that suction is not an issue. I was worried that the bite-n-pull would be too hard with a rigid bottle, but it has been surprisingly easy thanks to that vent.

The more irritating part was the metal on metal contact. I solved that by putting a protective rubber skin on my Hydroflask (they sell them at many malls and stores and even my LBS!) and then slightly flexing my bottle holder to accommodate the girth of the extra material.

Door #3, I like the Aluminum , lined, Zefal bottles.

They fit in regular cages, (Nylon ones best for metal bottles)

and the air flow into the bottle from the (Wide Mouth) cap when you drink from it , is excellent.




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