seeming your bike makes me wish I would have gotten a steel bike. I had a 1993 Ritchey Logic and sold it when I thought I was done with riding..that looks so good.

+1 these have been fine for me too. I can’t remember if mine are the plus version or standard, but they are secure and easy to use.

I like the slotted holes that lets you adjust the position. Useful if you have a frame bag.

I just got a King Cage that has higher holes for a lower mounting position.

I didn't like the composite cages I tried years ago. Like you, I found it not too easy to place the bottle without looking.
I use generic stainless steel cages, like these. "44 grams", about $16

9 years on my current bike, they look like new. I can reliably slam the bottle back in without looking. They grip the bottles securely, and don't leave black marks like cheap aluminum cages do.

The King cage costs a little more. 48 grams $26.
I see they also have a version with the mounting holes up higher, to move the cage lower by about an inch.

I hear ya. Have a Blackburn stainless, must be 25 YO, and it's flawless. My old aluminum cages are all worn and bent into weird shapes--it's the Clark Kent of cages.

Ordered two

My Kings go back top about 2000. Every cage I've bought since then. 2 per bike and the fleet has grown. I still have 2 TAs going. The cage that King and many others copied (but made better) because they worked so well. Yes, welds eventually broke and the earlier ones shed the plastic before that happened but they were the easy stuff and didn't shed bottles. The story I heard several times was that TA kept making them years after they disappeared over here because the lessor known pro riders insisted they keep making them. (The no-name riders who do their hard work first half of the race, then have to drag themselves along the rest of the course and over the mountains to finish inside the time limit and start again tomorrow. Their team car is far up the road. If they lose a bottle on the rough descent, dehydration might lead to sickness, dropping out and perhaps not a contract next year. Lugging a couple extra ounces up that mountain with the peloton far up the road? Who cares.)

And, they're usually pretty light being usually made of hollow tubes. I love my inexpensive generic SS bottle cage. Easy to use, non-marking, durable, pretty "stealth" because the tubes are so narrow/small. Can't even remember where I got it, either as a generic EBay item or maybe a semi-generic Performance Bike back in the day.

Which ones? I've already indicated that the 1st ones were scratching my bottles. For the Supacaz I just ordered, I don't know yet, but at 70$ per item, I would hope they do a better job than my current 10$ ones.

Thanks for the tip about the lowering version - getting one for my handlebar location.

These are the only cages I'll run on my gravel bike, since they grip a bottle like grim death. And my oldest pair, at almost twenty years and about 60k miles, has never -- NEVER -- needed to be reshaped. The design prevents it from ever bending or otherwise loosening up. BUT: they are tight enough that the OP might have to look down to re-insert the bottle. In that case, the standard King Cage, in SS or ti, is a great alternative.

That looks like the Delta brand cages sold at Dick's for $7.99 which is what I use. Holds the bottle nice and tight and since I don't drink while in motion it meets all my bottle mounting and unmounting needs. Plus I'm a cheap bastard who likes a cheap cage.

Yeah, someone might need to look down to insert a bottle. I have found that the iris design sorta guides a bottle into place based on how the tubing is shaped.
But yeah, each of us is different on comfort and also reach to the bottles so what is ideal for one may be hell for another.

Bought the first one and they are feather weight and are exactly what I was looking for (modern to match the bike, light and not uber expensive). Super recommendation. Thanks.

I have, on different bikes:
- King Ti. Look the part, but my bottles sometimes go in at an angle and I have to reach down again to adjust
- Elite Race. Similar to most Elite plastic/fiberglass cages. Holds the bottle fine, but will scrape the bottle, and they’ll get stained eventually
- Elite Ciussi. The coins are great for centering bottles and easy withdrawal, but this is the one set that I’ve lost a bottle from. In their defense, they’re 20 yrs old. The brass on the buttons requires a periodic polishing
- Amazon carbon fiber. Light, cheap, bottle scrapey

I think my next set of cages will likely be King Iris or Elite Ciussi Inox (stainless steel). Better bottle action with the Ciussi, and the steel can be bent for more/less clamping. The Iris looks nice, and probably solves the standard King cage’s centering issue.

Anyone looking for matchy-matchy King cages: https://www.agavefinishworks.com/sho...gory=King+Cage

I wish you'd never posted that link! My willpower is fading fast!

If you’re looking for cages that hold bottles securely, the Iris is pretty much perfect. It’s also gorgeous and uber-reliable.

Isn’t that the point of a specialty forum? Spending money on things you never knew you wanted or ‘needed’. 😃

It's also a lot easier to spend other people's money! : 😜

Come on, 43 g, while reasonable, is hardly "feather weight."

Merry Christmas!

I like PDW cages shaped like animals. They are durable, light, and easy enough to use with a little practice. And they are hands-down the most stylish way to carry water on a bike.

Those Enve carbon cages got the kung-fu grip! :lol: I needed some side-entry cages with a strong grip and saw that the Enve cages got really good reviews. They are ridiculously expensive :eek:, but they're great cages. I expect they will serve me well for years to come. In the long run, they might prove to be a good value.

just picked up from aliexpress for about $15 for 2. Full 3k carbon 19 grams
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...13a9677551.jpg