Dirt Farmer

Are there any water bottles out there guaranteed not to leak while on the bike in a cage?

I've got a couple of Polar bottles that seem very leak proof when I fill them. I can flip them upside down and squeeze them hard, or throw them around like a football and they don't leak. But inevitably, on a long bike ride, at some point I'll look down and see that my downtube has some sticky residue (I'm a fan of powdered electrolyte drinks) from bottle leakage. Is it most likely coming from the Zipstream sport cap? Am I just filling them too full?

I am looking for the most leak proof bottles you may know of. Keeping the liquid cold for long periods is not as important to me.

Thanks

Koyote

Best bottles I've used are the Specialized Purist models... They have a couple different cap/valve versions. You can buy 'em at their website, and they also make them for many other shops and other sellers.

Wanderer

I use polar bottles too, just with water, and no problems. Leave a little headspace and you will be fine.

Dirt Farmer

I'm thinking this might be it.... needing a little headspace.

John_V 

Try the CamelBack insulated bottles. They have a valve on them where you can close it and it won't leak even if you squeeze the bottle. In the open position, the only way they will leak is if you squeeze the bottle. They also seem to hold the contents of the bottle colder for a longer period than Polar bottles do.

Dirt Farmer

That's the exact same system as the Polar bottles, but, alas, they still leak a bit.

fietsbob

Sigg;s sports bottles , offer a locking cap, they're a specially lined aluminum, no metal taste,

so wont shatter when squeezed, as I have found some., Plastics, that poorly age to be brittle..

good Swiss cap design, when unlocked, lets air in and water out.. some cheap stainless bottles are needing the cap
un screwed a bit to let air in..

Darth_Firebolt

There's a little bit of liquid left on the outside of the cap every time you take a drink. When you hit a bump, it gets on your bike. Try it with a colored drink and you'll see what I'm talking about.

Steamer

I have never had problems with my Camelbaks leaking. They seem perfect to me. Even the ones that are old.

Dirt Farmer

That's not it, either. I usually notice it about an hour into a ride, when I reach down to take my first drink. I think perhaps I am just filling it up too much, and the road bumps, railroad crossings, etc. are causing it to leak out the cap where it screws into the bottle (rather than the top of the cap). Either that, or road bumps cause the Zipstream mouthpiece to slowly pop up.

Marcus_Ti

Ditto. Even filling them high, my insulated Polars don't leak...although if you leave the valve open they can bounce water out a bit.

John_V 

The Polar still uses a pull up/push down system, even on their newest valve system. CamelBak uses a twist type with a one-way vale that does not leak even when turned upside down or shaken and the valve is in the open position. I used Polar bottles but switched to CamelBak because the Polar bottles always seemed to leak. Never had a leak problem with a CamelBak.

one4smoke

Just bought a couple of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...0?ie=UTF8&th=1

After using CameBak, Polar, Specialized, and various others, FINALLY... this is the bottle I've been looking for.

SquidPuppet

I've been using a Camelbak for years and mine never leaks. Even on my klunker bashing up and down curbs and doing wheelies. Never leaked once. Worth a try IMO.

Cyclist0108

Camelbaks leak when your spouse insists upon baking them in the dishwasher until they deform.

Dirt Farmer

OK, I went ahead and bought a Camelbak Podium Big Chill online. I'll report back how it compares to the Polar in a few weeks.

GuessWhoCycling

When I fill my camel back bottles, I squeeze them a couple of times with the valve open, pointed straight up. Sometimes it shoots a bit of water, sometimes not, just air. Kind of like bleeding the brakes lines.

I do this and have never had a leak. I hate liquid dripping on my bike so this is my normal practice to make sure it doesn't happen. ;-)

shuyo

I've never had problems with Hydroflask metal bottles, but only with the handle cap. The straw caps aren't 100% leakproof.

pdlamb

I'm surprised the Polar bottle leaks, unless you're not getting the valve closed.

I've relegated my Camelbacks to water only. I've rattled over too many (allegedly paved) roads with full Camelbacks and watched the drink spurt out of that superior valve. No, I'm not interested in making drinking from a bottle a two handed operation.

Milton Keynes

I've just got a couple of cheap insulated water bottles and I've never noticed them leaking. At least I've never had to clean any Gatorade off my bike.

veganbikes

My 6 or so Camelbak bottles don't leak, most are Chill and two or three are Ice bottles typically I use the mudguard caps but sadly they stopped making them and redid them and I haven't tried the new ones yet.

caloso

Same.

Wanderer

The liquid expands as it warms up, and has to go somewhere, if you don't leave room for expansion. I try to remember to take a drink out of each, early in the ride, and then there is lots of room. Once I started doing this, I have no more runovers!

Dirt Farmer

Oops, I forgot to report back, as promised.

The results are in; the Camelbak Podium Big Chill (yes, I got the 25 ounce Big Chill) is head and shoulders above the Polar as far as being leak-proof!

I love this thing so far.

Lucillle

I use plain inexpensive Nalgene bottles, they don't leak and they are dishwasher safe.
https://www.nalgene.com/bottles/