Stainless steel water bottles have become our go-to for carrying drinks, whether it’s driving, flying, or cycling. Although they’re heavier than plastic bottles, they’re easy to clean. Most importantly, water just tastes better. The folks at Tiibo sent over the 17 oz iteration of their insulated water bottles, and after a few rides, it’s proven to be a solid option for hydrating on rides.
Features
- Double-wall vacuum insulation
- High flow rate sports nozzle
- 304 stainless steel and food-grade material
- Top-rack dishwasher safe
- Fits universal bottle cages/cup holders
- Listed dry weight of 250g
- Not recommended for hot drinks
On the bike
Although Tiibo offers a range of dishwasher-safe color options (they are listed as top-rack only, which is interesting as our top rack isn’t tall enough to fit a bottle for cleaning), after testing a few different bottles, my preference is on the brushed stainless. Since the goal is to use and reuse a stainless bottle for hopefully years, avoiding the anodised option means it should look better after miles of being beat up and bounced around. I’ve accumulated a few models of stainless bottles, and the brushed models can still pass as new with a good cleaning.
I can’t speak to lab-tested insulation stats, but regarding the effectiveness of the insulated bottle, I regularly end rides with still ice in the bottle. Cold water stays cold all day, and I can’t ask for more.
You obviously can’t squeeze a rigid steel bottle to get more water from it, so liquid flow is a major design consideration for stainless bottles. Some models use nozzles with an interior straw; I find those to be challenging to clean, especially if you forget to rinse out your sports drink post-ride. The Tiibo nozzle is well considered, and the flow rate is high enough that you can easily drain the bottle quickly when you’re thirsty, which could be a good or bad thing (haha).
There is a bit of room for improvement, though; the top nozzle can be difficult to grip when trying to unthread it. Its low profile is a bit too low; a few additional millimeters of height would potentially allieveate that. I try to be careful not to thread it on so tightly I need to grab a towel or even pliers to remove it. I also find I like the twist-style closures a bit more than the pull and push closure. I would be cautious traveling with the bottle, as if it’s not fully closed, it would quickly drain fluid all over your stuff. That said, I have plenty of stainless bottles I use just for travel; as a bike-specific item, I have no complaints and expect the Tiibo bottle to be in regular rotation for some time.
Tiibo also makes a higher volume 23 oz bottle; I find the 17 oz to fit most of my bikes, making it a more versatile option. The biggest challenge is what I’m going to do with all my plastic bottles? (I’ll save them for technical mountain biking)
The Tiibo insulated bottle in the 17-oz sells for $34. Check it out at Tiibo.com or order one at Amazon.com.