The Best Side Load Water Bottle Cages for 2023

This article is about ten of the best side load water bottle cage that every biker can use during the ride. Due to the difference in structure, not all bikes can be mounted with the standard water bottle cage. For example, full-suspension bikes need a cage that will not affect the movement of the biker’s leg when pedaling.

With that said, our team tested several side entry water bottle cage in an actual biking environment. From there, we gathered various data and recommended ten of the top side load water bottle cage, which we feel are beneficial to all bikers.

Best Side Load Water Bottle Cage Reviews

1. Zefal Wiiz Bottle Side Cages

A side load water bottle cage presents a unique way to easily access your water bottle even during the ride. It is designed not to disturb the biker but make him comfortable with his hydration. One of those products with this feature is this water bottle cage from Zefal.

What is unique about this side loading water bottle cage is its innovative design that allows you to mount this product quickly, even with limited space. There are bikes with compact frames, making it difficult to access long bottles in a standard bottle cage.

But installing this product can solve this problem easily. This bike accessory can also be mounted to the right or left to make the biker more comfortable retrieving the water bottle, depending on side preference.

Unlike other side mounts, which can only be mounted on one side, this product is very unique. The ability to mount on either side gives the biker the much-needed flexibility to mount two water bottle cages on his bike.

This side entry bottle cage is also very light. Thanks to its thermoplastic resin materials, which provide lightness but still maintain durability, it needs to last longer. The lightness of this cage makes it perfect for recreational bikers looking for a reliable water bottle cage.

Installation is also very easy as long as your bike comes with those pre-drilled mounting holes on your frame. If it does not, this bike accessory is not for your bike. It also does not come with mounting screws, so you need to look for screws that fit the product.

Fortunately, the height of the cage can be adjusted with the screws during the installation. This feature will allow you to put the product in the highest setting while still accessing taller bottles. The higher the cages are mounted, the less the biker will bend when retrieving the bottle.

2. LEZYNE Side Load Flow Bottle Cages

This side load bike bottle cage from Lezyne takes pride in its premium quality. This water bottle holder is built and designed with innovation in mind using the best materials available. It is also made to meet the needs of bikers to make them comfortable while on the road.

One of the outstanding features of this side load water bottle cage is its superb construction process. It uses a fiber-reinforced composite Matrix material which provides strength and toughness to the water bottle cage.

I also like the bottle retention capability of this bike accessory. It provides excellent grip and is built with dual upper bottle catches to ensure that all water bottles stay in place and not fall out throughout the ride.
This side load bicycle bottle cage is also built with a large opening that allows easy access to the water bottle. Meanwhile, the side-load shape provides easy access even on the most challenging roads or trails.

It also comes with oval mounting holes, which allow you to fine-tune the position of the cage in relation to the bike frame. Meanwhile, installing this product is very easy as long as your bike comes with a pre-drilled mount on the frame.

But make sure to check because these cages are both available in the right or left version. The direction of the cage will be dependent on where it is mounted. Mounting it on the downtube will make a right-hand cage release right. The left-hand version will release the left when you are seated on the bike.

Meanwhile, if you install it on the seat tube, the functionality will be reversed. The right-hand version will release the left, and the left-hand version will release the right. The functionalities are opposite because the bosses face in the opposite direction.

3. Chooee Aluminum Water Bottle Cages

Quick access and security of the water battle are essential in choosing a side water bottle cage. However, if you will get two water bottle cages at a single price, that is more than enough to make you interested. This water bottle holder from Chooee is offering this two-cage package along with the other functionalities that this product will bring to the bike.

One of the upsides in using this bike accessory is its durability and high resiliency. This product is built with alloy material known for being highly resilient and light. The durability of this side load water bottle cage makes it perfect for navigating challenging bike trails.

Upon my observation, the material is thinner than I expected, but that makes this product perfect for the bike. The lightness will not add unnecessary weight and its ability to bend to the shape of the water bottle makes it more secure.

The bottle retention power of this water bottle cage is also amazing. It will hold tight, provide the much-needed security and hold to ensure that the water bottle will stay firmly in place when biking fast or dealing with bumpy roads.

This side mount water bottle cage is built to provide easy usage to the biker. Most of the standard water bottle cage will scratch on the bottle’s surface, but this product is entirely different. Its ability to bend will prevent it from scratching the bottle.

This product comes with all the hardware needed for easy mounting during the installation process. You will get four screws for the two water bottle cages. These screws will provide a firm hold and secure the cage once attached to the bike.

The only drawback I see in using these products is the opening. This product will be a great seat of cages if the opening comes on both sides. Unfortunately, both of them only have an opening to the right, which is not ideal if you want to use it on a single bike.

4. SAVADECK Bike Bottle Holder

The side load water bottle cage will give you easy access to your bottle without disturbing anything that you do on the road. This benefit is what this bottle holder from Savadeck provides, as it will give you the chance to get the water bottle quickly and easily during the bike ride.

The primary purpose of this product is to provide a side load water bottle cage that can accommodate various sizes of water bottles. It comes with a unique design that includes a side open and double pull features, which allows the cage to expand when you need the bottle.

This feature will also make this bottle holder from accommodating various sizes of containers. The bottle cage can fit different water bottles of standard sizes. Its bent, open or close, will allow flexibility in accommodating small or large water bottles.

Another purpose of this side entry bottle cage is its excellent durability. This product is built with high-quality materials, particularly heat-treated aluminum alloy, to provide strength, durability, and extreme lightness.

This material is really strong and lightweight, while the construction is top-notch. It will also give you the chance to bend the cage to make it smaller or bigger to accommodate the type of water bottle you are using.

I am also impressed with this product’s bottle retention system. This bike accessory is designed to ensure that the bottle stays firmly on the cage throughout the ride. Whether you are biking fast or navigating on bumpy roads, your water bottle will be safer than ever.

Meanwhile, installing this water bottle cage is relatively easy as the screws are already included. Just make sure that your bike comes with the pre-drilled hose on the frame to mount this bottle cage successfully.

5. N+1 Lightweight Side Load Water Bottle Cages

This side load water bottle cage from N+1 provides the lightness you need in a bike bottle holder. If you do not like those heavier aluminum cages, then this product will be an excellent option for your bike ride.

This bike accessory takes pride in having one of the lightest weights in all bike bottle holders. It actually gives you easy access to your water bottle without giving additional weight to your bike. This water bottle cage only weighs around 35 grams which is very light.

This product also comes with a very impressive but minimalistic reversible sleek design. It’s a one-piece design featuring a unique L-shaped adapter that gives you the freedom to choose which side you want to access your water bottle.

For other standard water bottle cages, it is normal to have a fixed position when choosing the side of the opening. It’s either the right or left side of the bike. This cage is different since it allows you to adjust and customize which side you want to access the bottle.

I am also impressed by the durability of this water bottle cage. It’s the most suitable side entry water bottle cage for resiliency and durability. Thanks to the engineering-grade plastic to ensure its resiliency and lightness when used on challenging road conditions.

This product also comes with an excellent bottle retention system. It is built to secure the water bottle throughout the ride. Because of the engineering-grade plastic materials, it will not likely scratch the surface of your water bottle.

Meanwhile, mounting this water bottle cage is relatively easy. It already comes with two hex screws that will be used to mount it on the bike frame. Just make sure that your bike comes with the pre-drilled mounting holes on the bike frame.

6. Blackburn Wayside Side-Entry Bike Bottle Cages

The Wayside Side-entry bottle cage from Blackburn is all about flexibility. It is designed to give the biker the choice of which side he wants to retrieve the bottle on the ride. Its ability to customize the fit and the positioning makes it perfect for bikers looking for versatility in a bottle cage.

One of the outstanding features of this side-entry bottle cage is its unique design. It’s a 2-piece system that provides the bike owner with two choices during the installation. One is to let the water bottle exit on the left side, and the other on the right side.

Most of the standard water bottle cage only comes with fixed positioning. It’s either you can retrieve the bottle to the right or the left. It is very rare to find a product that has a reversible design.

I am also impressed with its bottle retention power. It has been a perennial problem for bikers to lose their water bottles because of the unreliability of the bottle cages. But this product was thoroughly tested during the manufacturing process to ensure maximum grip so that the bottle would be held thoroughly throughout the ride.

Also, if you hate wearing a pack during the ride, it is essential to have a reliable water bottle cage. This product will not drop a bottle even when biking on difficult trails and bumpy roads.

Another feature that I like is the ovalized mounting holes of the bottle cage. This feature will allow the biker to have small adjustments up and down during the installation process. It will give the biker to reposition the cage to his liking or preference.

Lastly, this side load water bottle cage can be installed easily on the bike frame. It does not need any hardware during the installation process.

7. Planet Bike Sideload Water Bottle Cages

Not all bikes come with a similar structure and design, so not all water bottle cages will fit in every bike. With that said, this side load water bottle cage from Planet Bike is what you need if your bike has compact and smaller frames.

What is unique about this product compared to others is its unique design. This bike accessory is built for smaller bike frames and compact frame geometries. If you have a bike with limited space on the frame, this product is also a perfect choice as a bottle cage.

Impressive is also the best word to describe the quality of its construction. This side load water bottle cage is built with single body aluminum construction. This material is known for being durable and light.

In terms of lightness, mounting this bike accessory to your bike frame will not add additional weight to your bike. As it weighs only 41 grams, you will not feel the weight of this water bottle cage once mounted on the bike.

In terms of fitting, this bike accessory is built to fit those compact and tight frames and allows you to remove the bottle from the side for quick access. It will hold the bottle securely when biking on difficult and bumpy roads.

Also, being aluminum will allow you to bend the cage a little bit to accommodate larger water bottles. It also allows you to adjust the tension by carefully bending it to ensure the bottle is kept in place.

Installation is super easy and can be done in minutes. The water bottle cage comes with bolt-on mounting holes for easy attachment. Just make sure that your bike frame comes with those pre-drilled mounting holes.

8. KABON Alloy Aluminum Side Load Bottle Cages

The Kabon bike water bottle holder is all about lightness. Since weight is an essential factor for a bottle cage, the lightness of this bike accessory does not add to the overall weight of the bike once mounted on the bike frame.

This product only weighs 23 grams which is probably one of the lightest bottle cages you can add to a bike. I also like that it’s bendable to adjust its opening and accommodate those large-sized water bottles.

Impressive is the design of this side load water bottle cage which allows for quick and easy access to the bottle on the right. Its side-open double-pull design will fit various sizes of water bottles, making it perfect for different types of bikes.

Another feature that stands out is the cage’s excellent bottle retention power. This product will secure and hold the water bottle in place throughout the ride. This feature will stay the same even if you ride very fast or navigate on bumpy roads and difficult terrain.

This side load water bottle cage has enough flex to hold the water bottles tightly. The ability of this bottle cage to wrap around more of the circumference of the bottle makes it ideal in securing the water bottle more.

Meanwhile, installing this side load water bottle cage is quick and easy. It already comes with two screws and an Allen wrench to make it easy for you. You should be able to mount it on the bike in less than a minute.

Just make sure that the bike comes with pre-threaded mounting holes to attach the cage easily. If it does not have one, I am afraid that this cage is not the one for your bike.

9. Corki Bike Water Bottle Holder

The Corki Bike Water Bottle Holder takes pride in being simple yet effective in securing water bottles during the bike ride. This product also comes with an excellent design that allows it to add a visual appeal to your bicycle. But more than that, it offers many other functionalities that enhance comfort, particularly with your hydration.

One of the upsides of using this bike accessory is its excellent resiliency and durability. This product is built with polycarbonate material and glass fiber, providing durability and resiliency in navigating challenging road conditions.

At first impression, it looks like this product is made of cheap plastic. But this situation is not the case as the plastic feels great and comes with excellent durability. Looking at it, it’s not something that will easily crack.

Its bottle retention is also superb as it has the ability to hold tight even on bumpy roads. This side entry water bottle holder comes with a secure and sturdy hold as it stays firmly in place even if you are biking fast or navigating on bumpy trails.

It also helps that it can accommodate various sizes of water bottles to give so many options to the biker. It actually comes with an arm that provides a vast opening but still wraps around the water bottle. This feature enables the biker to use water bottles of different sizes.

Meanwhile, installing this side entry bottle cage MTB is relatively quick and simple. Included in the product package are the two screws which will attach this water bottle cage to the bike. It will give a superb hold of the cage so that it is firmly attached to the bike.

There are some drawbacks I have with this bike accessory. Firstly, it does not have an Allen wrench which is needed in the installation process. You will need this tool during the installation. In addition, if your bike does not have those pre-drilled holes on the frame, this water bottle cage cannot be mounted on your bike.

10. SKS-Germany 11231 Top Cage Bottle Holder

This “anywhere” bottle cage from SKS will provide you the functionality that most of the standard water bottle cages cannot do, mount anywhere on the bike. This product is designed so that you can install it anywhere in the bike frame, which is very unique.

The primary purpose of this water bottle cage is to provide every biker with a cage that can be mounted everywhere. This product is designed to allow you to install anywhere on the bike frame giving you the flexibility needed, especially when conserving space on the bike.

Moreover, not all bicycles come with pre-drilled mounting holes, which are needed to install most standard water bottle cages. This product actually solves the issue, and it will allow you to mount this water bottle cage anywhere without the need to use screws and other hardware.

Another purpose of this side load water bottle cage is to provide a product that can be installed easily anywhere on the bike frame. This bike accessory is built with double-sided hook and loop straps that provide excellent strength to secure it to the bike frame throughout the bike ride.

The Velcro straps included can also be used not only to secure the cage but also to secure other items as well. You can also use it to ensure bike tools, chocolate bars, jackets, bananas, and a whole lot more. The flexibility of usage will help make your life easier during the ride.

I am also impressed by the availability of the Velcro straps since it gives more flexibility in mounting the water bottle cages. So, if the other spaces are already occupied with other items, then you can easily adjust and find the right space on your bike.

Installation is also very easy since it only uses the Velcro straps to tighten it to the bike frame. Just make sure to tighten it thoroughly to make it very stable. The upside in having this cage is that it will not scratch the bike’s surface because it is mostly made of plastics.

What to Look For When Buying a Side Load Water Bottle Cage

There are many side load water bottle cages you can find and install on your bike. However, not all of them are of excellent quality and fit your bike easily. To give you a guide, we are listing several factors to consider in choosing the right side load water bottle cage for your bike.

Type of Materials Used

I feel that it is one of the most important factors to consider when looking for a side load water bottle cage. The type of materials being used in the construction determines the quality and the physical aspect of the water bottle cage.

Some of the materials used are plastic, aluminum, metal, and carbon fiber. Each of these materials comes with advantages and disadvantages but also differs in pricing. Aluminum alloy and plastics are by far the most popular among bikers for a number of reasons, but they are also the most affordable.

Compatibility to the Bike

You will also need to consider the compatibility factor when choosing a side load water bottle cage. Make sure that it fits your bike and its frame. Some of the water bottle cages can only be installed if your bike has pre-drilled mounting holes. If there is none, it cannot be used on your bike.

Compatibility is also about the appearance of the bottle cage in relation to the appearance of your bike. Their physical appearance and colors should exactly match the appeal of your bike. Most water bottle cages come in multiple colors, so you need to choose wisely for the one with an excellent match.

Size and Fittings

This factor is all about the capability of the water bottle cages to hold different sizes of water bottles. If you already have a water bottle, just make sure that it will fit into the water bottle cage. Please take note that there are some water bottle cages made of metal that can be bent or adjusted to give way to the size of the bottle.

Bottle Retention and Grip

The ability of the water bottle cage to hold the bottle throughout the ride is crucial when determining a cage’s reliability. This feature is called bottle retention capability, which is essential to avoid the bottle from falling off, especially when biking on bumpy roads.

You must ensure that the water bottle cage you choose provides enough grip and retention power to secure the bottle throughout the ride. The product should be structured to allow for a firm grasp of the water bottle.

Quick and Easy Installation

Overall, installing a side load water bottle cage is relatively easy. If it comes with screws, make sure that your bike has pre-drilled mounting holes to install the bottle cage. Most of the products already come with screws and other hardware but make sure to check their quality so as not to compromise your bike. Do not go for products that are very complicated to mount to your bike because they will only negatively affect your bicycle.

Conclusion

When looking for the best side load water bottle cage, it is essential to consider what it brings to you as a biker. Most of these water bottle cages will make you more comfortable with your hydration by letting you get the bottle easily and put it again quickly. It helps make you safer and more comfortable by making you hydrated all the time during the duration of the ride.