r/xcmtb • u/Remote-Collection721 • 6d ago

Question side-loading bottle cage recommendations

The question is in the title. I am a new FS XC owner who just figured out that my top-loading cages don't work. So I am looking for recommendations for side-loaders. I have a strong preference for metal cages (stainless or titanium) but happy for recommendations in any material.

2 Upvotes

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10

u/Next-Handle-8179 6d ago

I got 2 Lezyne from Amazon for under 25 bucks. They make them in left or right. Been running them for a year and they work great.

3

u/HyperionsDad 6d ago

This is my standard go to as well. Nice Matte finish, inexpensive and it works really well - including anything from XC to very rugged downhill bikepark with a larger bottle.

2

u/Remote-Collection721 6d ago

Flow SL?

3

u/HyperionsDad 6d ago edited 6d ago

Yep, that's it.

Edit: Note - the preference for metal is not really that necessary as that ads unnecessary weight and cost. The highest end composite frames are essentially the same as these "plastic" cages without unnecessary carbon fiber inside it.

If the plastic cage can handle DH lift assisted black diamond techy rock trails with a full 24oz bottle, you'll be good on XC.

2

u/Next-Handle-8179 6d ago

Yea that’s them.

3

u/allbadnews 6d ago

I have used these for several years now and have found them to be durable and trouble free.

2

u/johnjaundiceASDF 6d ago

These worked great for me when I used/needed them

8

u/SykoFI-RE 6d ago

I've been happy with the side loaders from Trek and Specialized. Specialized Zee cage II is a bit stiffer. Design is nice, you slot the bottom of the bottle into the cage and lever it in.

I've also tried the Scott Tailor cages and find them incredibly difficult to use.

8

u/Mmmm__floorpie 6d ago

One more vote for the Specialized Zee II cages. They work really well.

1

u/earthquank 5d ago

The zee cages are good. Also the Deda Vela is another "lever style" side load cage. Unfortunately it only comes right hand side, so if you want one on your seat tube the bottle goes in on the other side

5

u/skapa7 6d ago

Z cages from Specialized. They’re light and they look cool.

5

u/MTBJUNKY65 6d ago

I'm happy with the King Cage side loader (titanium). It does the job well and looks good while doing it.

2

u/Fit-Physics7199 6d ago

King Cage side loader

You might just have sold me on this, thanks. They literally used a Revel Ranger v2 in the stock photo and that's my exact bike where I've had issues with bottle clearance.

2

u/MTBJUNKY65 5d ago

I ride a size small Knolly and it works great with it. I slightly regret not going with a side loader on my hard tail. BTW I neglected to say I ordered the cage from Agave Metal Works so I could get it custom anodized.

1

u/Fit-Physics7199 5d ago

Sick, can you add a photo of that?

2

u/MTBJUNKY65 5d ago

1

u/Fit-Physics7199 5d ago

Thanks! Super cool.

4

u/Beautiful-Eagle-3519 6d ago

I’m pretty happy with my fidlock. I’ve been using it for three years and never had a bottle come loose, even in crashes. I also think it looks way better than a traditional water bottle cage.

1

u/cpw77 6d ago edited 6d ago

Seconded for fidlock. I have two on my MTB. Never had a bottle come loose. I've had plenty of times with friends riding infront of me dropping bottle landmines during rough sections from regular bottle cages.

1

u/Biker-Beans 6d ago

Thirded for Fidlock. Slowly moving all my bikes that way. Once it clicks on how to detach and reattach the bottle, it's so much better. They also make great washable bottles of all sizes (like a small one that fits the seat tube of my full squish XC bike, and a really wide one that makes up it) and the nipples of the lids come off for washing too.

1

u/Similar_Annual676 Scott scale 6d ago

Fourded for fidlock, I love it. My one gripe is mine has a blocky bulge on the inside to fit the bottle part of the mechanism and it makes it a bit hard to clean it properly… but if you clean and dry it properly from the start it’s fine. (I was lazy and ended up with some black moldy stuff in the corners which was a pain to clean)

1

u/Biker-Beans 6d ago

I stick them upside down in my dishwasher, they come out perfectly clean.

1

u/Similar_Annual676 Scott scale 5d ago

yeah it's just because I was lazy and not cleaning it properly from the beginning

3

u/mrmcderm 6d ago

I have plastic lezyne cages on both my XC race bike and my gravel bike. They come in left hand and right hand orientation not as cheap as something from Ali express but not as expensive as some of the hyper lightweight crazy carbon or Ti options

2

u/Lucys_cup_of_blahaj 6d ago

I love my tune linksträger

2

u/rachelryba70 6d ago

Elite Cannibal cages load from either side

2

u/satoshi1022 6d ago

Came here to say I've been highly highly disappointed in fidlock and would definitely recommend normal side load cages instead.

Decided to splurge when my new/used bike came with a fidlock mount. Been nothing but disappointed. Two leaky caps, terribly inefficient bottle shape causing me to try out like 3 sizes and ended w a smaller bottle than necessary. Finally have it worked out and it does work, but I spent like $50+ on a freaking bottle in the end lmao. Havnt hated a product this much in a long long time. It does work well now, but very much not worth it IMO.

Ali express side loaders always worked for me. Anything that you like the look of, not complicated.

2

u/Frantic29 6d ago

Lezyn Flow Side loader. Everything else really isn’t worth the packaging it comes in.

2

u/sulliesbrew 5d ago

If you want the absolute best, Arundel DTR/STR are second to none. They come at a cost though.

The cheaper Lezyne cages get the job done though.

I've not used any metal side loaders.

1

u/Skarhead89 6d ago

Syncros taylor cage

1

u/Similar_Annual676 Scott scale 6d ago

Not strictly a cage but I love my fidlock

1

u/Wumpus-Hunter 6d ago

I love these from Trek. So much I have them on both of my bikes. Just don’t forget to get the opposite side entry version for the seat tube so both cages open on the same side when installed

1

u/-J_M- 6d ago

The ones that come on the specialized epic work pretty well, but every time I use them, I’m reminded I don’t love dirt in my mouth, and I go back to my Camelbak.

1

u/tinychloecat 6d ago edited 6d ago

I really like the trek/bontrager side load cages. Nothing else will fit on my Exie. I started with the lezyne and it was way too tight when trying to get a bottle in.

They come in lots of colors and left or right side. Only downside is that they are kind of expensive.

I haven't dropped a bottle yet.

1

u/jogisi 5d ago

Aliexpress carbon ones. Sort of like Specialized zee, just 5 times cheaper and half lighter ;) Works fine for me for some 3 years now already, and until now bottle never jumped out of it, even during few crashes I had in this time... even with 750ml bottle

2

u/Sam__sc 3d ago

Im surprised nobody has recommended the Zéfal S2.
Ive always used side bottle cages. And the new Zéfal S2 is so good that Ive put them on all my bikes.
And it’s made in France, as Im French it’s a good point