Plastic or stainless steel: which bottle should you choose for your bike rides?
Choosing a bottle may seem simple, but it changes how you drink on a ride. Soft plastic is light and quick to use; insulated stainless steel keeps water cool for longer. The best choice mainly depends on how you ride.
Plastic: lightweight and easy to squeeze
The soft plastic bottle is a cycling classic. You can squeeze it one-handed to drink quickly, then slide it back into the bottle cage. It’s well suited to sporty rides and to cyclists who want to keep their gear weight down.
A non-insulated model, however, will let the water warm up on a hot ride. If keeping it cool matters to you, there are also insulated plastic bottles that remain squeezable.
Stainless steel: to keep water cool
A stainless steel bottle with insulated double wall keeps your drink cool for longer. That’s pleasant on a long ride or a summer day. Its rigid body is durable, but you can’t squeeze it: you have to tilt it to drink.
It’s also heavier. For example, a 710 ml plastic CamelBak Podium weighs 77 g when empty, versus 354 g for an insulated 650 ml Podium Steel. The capacities differ slightly, but the comparison clearly shows the trade-off between weight and insulation.
Before buying one, check that it fits securely in your bottle cage and that you have enough space to pull it out of the frame.
And what about BPA?
Not all plastic bottles contain BPA. Health Canada mainly associates this substance with certain polycarbonate containers and recommends checking the material of older bottles. If this is a concern for you, consult the specifications for the bottle you’re considering. A bottle with a stainless steel body may also have plastic parts in its cap.
So, which one should you choose?
Choose plastic if you want a light, soft bottle that’s easy to use for quick sips while riding. Choose insulated stainless steel if your priority is a cold drink for several hours. You can even use both: a soft bottle for easy drinking and an insulated bottle as a reserve of cold water.
Whatever the material, clean the bottle and its cap regularly, especially after using a sugary drink. Follow the manufacturer’s dishwasher instructions.
