[Closed] Bottle cages:Anything better than Specialized zee?

I prefer Elite plastic ones to the zee, as zee only really like the shape of spesh bottles.

The Zee works so well that I've never considered any alternatives.

I have three Zees. They fit all my random bottles including the 750ml SIS ones. My frames are all small so I need a side opening cage.

Well after many different cages I’ve ended up with Spesh Zee IIs

I really like them.

I use the small Camelback Podium bottles but I’ve not had a problem with any others fitting.

If you’re getting 2 make sure you get a left & right hand one so you have them both facing the same way.

Liking my Spesh Roll Cage ...alloy cage thats adjustable to any angle of bottle entry

Is the Zee the one with the multitool on it? That’s what came on my Levo, it holds the bottles really well and it’s a handy place to have a tool.

@Tiger6791 are you using the newer Podium's? I had one and found it rattled quite a bit as their very narrow toward the top. I lost it out of the Zee cage coming down a rocky Lake District descent.

On topic, I've only ever had bottles come out twice actually riding from a Zee cage, once the above and once Sunday just gone, though mines quite worn from grit! I've also had them come out when crashing 🙂

Elite have a new side entry cage called the Prizm that looks like a pretty good competitor with the zee.

Stainless steel King Cage. last for ever, bendable for more grip. might not look right on a carbon frame, but great for everything with round metal tubes.

Zees on all our bikes, never lost a bottle, it has a hole in the bottom to attach the Specialized SWAT tool if needed

I’m a total convert to Fidlock. Seeing as you mention Fabric, if you want similar but that actually works, they would be worth a look.

I've got a 750mL Fabric bottle in a Zee cage. Fits like a glove.

Fabric bottle has worked really well for me, I think it's dependant on the bottle boss bolts being the 'right' distance apart. I know a couple of very good riders that ride Dunkleld most days, and they swear by them, and Dunkeld ain't exactly smooth.

Better than a Zee?! No.

Stainless steel King Cage. last for ever, bendable for more grip.

Was starting to think I was the only one who likes steel bottle cages. Just fitted a Blackburn MTB bottle cage. Looks good to survive the coming armageddon.

Also have a Blackburn Outpost cage but can't decide which bike to fit it on or what I'll use it for. Hoping it will come in useful for commutes when I don't need to take much with me.. Or on really hot days when I need to take lots to drink.

does anyone else's camelbak podium bottle sit off centre in the zee? mines is off to the left which does my ocd no good, but wondering if its actually in properly as such as surely it should sit totally flush???

Fabric bottle has worked really well for me

I thought this until my once secure bottle started getting ejected and eventually lost. Fidlock are much better, but not cheap. Worth a look if you want cageless and/or side release.

Better than a Zee?! No.

I never said it was better, it's a bloody bottle holder, it holds the bottle, that's its job. On my set up, its as good

OW - it's podium bottles I use, and the Zee doesn't sit well with them. Mibbe the Zee II works better.

never lost a bottle, it has a hole in the bottom to attach the Specialized SWAT tool if needed

As above Zee are great, especially in tighter fits such as full suspension frames.

Elite Cannibals on the gnarmac bike, though.

Looks like I will be going zee then, my fabric was great until it disappeared.

Both of my bikes have Specialised bottle cages, a Zee on the MTB and a couple of S-works Ribs on the roadie.  Spesh do this sort of stuff so well.

Lezyne Flow were cheap when I was putting them on my road bike and they're definitely super secure, but not that easy to get in and out.

Nobeerinthefridge
Member

Better than a Zee?! No.
I never said it was better, it’s a bloody bottle holder, it holds the bottle, that’s its job. On my set up, its as good
OW – it’s podium bottles I use, and the Zee doesn’t sit well with them. Mibbe the Zee II works better.

ah so non cambelbak bottles sit ok? assume the spesh own branded ones will

im not sure if mines a zee2 I only got a month or so ago so assume its the latest one

ah so non cambelbak bottles sit ok?

No, I've 3 or 4 brands of other bottles that don't sit in there, a genesis one, a FDJ and a couple of others. The one bottle I do have that sits well is a merida kids bottle form my daughters bike, so it's on there now.

I like podium bottles, especially the MTB one with the rubber cap, hence why I use an elite cage. The fabric doesn't fit in my Bronson, so I use it on the commuter.

ill check out the elite cage then cheers if that sits flush with any, the off centre of it looks wrong when I look down - I like the camelback bottles too, the bite valve etc and they seem leak proof too so would prefer to swap the cage than the bottles tbh

does anyone else’s camelbak podium bottle sit off centre in the zee?

Just checked my camelback bottle, and straight as a die. Dunno if mines the Zee2 though, so that might make a difference?

I never said it was better

I was replying to the OP.

I was replying to the OP.

Aye, I realised that afterwards! 🙂

Another Lezyne user here. Used on my winter/commuter bike which gets used on rough tracks too. If I forget I'm on it I can sometimes unbalance myself as I try and gently pull a bottle out when it needs a swift tug. I wouldn't use one if I was Road racing because of this and doubt they'd fall out on rough downhill trails.

nickc
Subscriber
does anyone else’s camelbak podium bottle sit off centre in the zee?

Just checked my camelback bottle, and straight as a die. Dunno if mines the Zee2 though, so that might make a difference?

strange mines definitely doesnt - weird ive ordered a elite one now so will give that a try

Just put a Zee 2 on - 3 different bottles all being kicked off to the right slightly on a RH side load. Bad design?

Another vote for Lezyne - using a Power Cage on the hardtail. Super secure.