No matter what we do, the water bottles are on our bikes always look beat up after a few weeks of use. Our main gripe though, is the water never tastes quite right when drinking from a plastic bottle. Hydroflask and Kleen Kanteen Stainless steel bottles used to be our gotos, but they’re not suitable for cycling. Instead, my goto stainless steel water bottle for the bike is the Speedfil Speedflask.
A vacuum insulated stainless steel water bottle designed specifically for cycling, like the mainstream brands, The Speedfil Stainless steel bottle features a double wall construction to keep fluid cold. Most importantly, it not only was designed to fits a standard size water bottle cage, and is easy to drink out of.
Features
- Designed for cycling / One hand operation
- Vacuum insulated / Keeps fluids cold
- Double walled, eliminates condensation
- 18/8 pro grade stainless steel / BPA free
- Easy to clean / No residual flavors
- Wide mouth screw cap makes it easy to add ice
- 21 oz capacity
- Available in black and silver
- List price: $39.95
On the bike
I’ve been looking for a stainless steel water bottle I could use for cycling for some time, and the Speedfil Speedflask fits the bill. At $40, the sticker price was a bit hard to swallow, but there aren’t a lot of suitable options that pair well with water bottle cages. Then there’s the issue with flow rate. Most “sports caps” kind of stuck with a slow flow rate, or a sippy straw style lid that’s just silly.
The fluid flow rate is of the Speedflask as all you could ask for – press the recessed button to pop the lid, and drink. In the Amazon product reviews, I noted a few complaints with the recessed button, but in use I found that to be a feature; if you toss this bottle in a gym bag, the last thing you want is to find something popped the lid open, soaking all your gear. That said, the treads on the bottles are compatible with Specialized Purist bottles should you want to use that lid. I’m not a fan of having to suck water out, but I could see some situations where having the more secure closure being beneficial – say if I was stowing the bottle in a bag next to a laptop.
Let’s also get the weight out of the way – the bottle weighs a lot more than a standard cycling water bottle. Being stainless, it’s not going to take it well if it hits the ground and bounces around. The bottle is available in a black color, but I chose the silver. Paired with a plastic cages on the bike, it still looks good, even after after a few months of use. I even stick it in the dishwater – which probably isn’t recommended, but I can’t see why it would be an issue with the bare finish.
I don’t plan to use it for the majority of my trail rides, but I do enjoy it on XC rides on mellow terrain, around town, and commuting. It’s easy to clean with a wide opening, and the insulated construction with ice cubes makes for a fantastic drinking experience. The lid again is a nice benefit as it keeps the dirt out.
I’m using the Speedfil bottle every day now as my goto water bottle regardless of activity; the D-ring makes it easy to tote along to the gym or clip it to a bag. It also fits car cup holders easily. Though the sticker price of $39.95 (shipped) felt on the high side, assuming I don’t lose it, I feel like I’m getting my money’s worth, and recommend it.
Learn more at Speedfil.com or get yours and support the site at Amazon.com
