Carbon bottle cages from AliExpress

[cgolvin]

Looking for direct experience having bought these, in particular interested in the knockoffs of the Lightweight and Alptitude ones. Do they hold bottles in place well enough? Are they durable?

If you have positive experience with other options from Ali happy to hear about them. I want simple to no branding, black.

tx

[glepore]

I pretty much use the ali Lightweight cages exclusively. Never had a bottle ejected, although I tend to use the 550's and not the 750's.
On 4 bikes, the only issue I had was the lower retention tab on one cracked but didn't break all the way thru-fixed with crazy glue.

[CAAD]

These have been excellent so far.


https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKUchzc

[deluz]

Originally Posted by CAAD

These have been excellent so far.


https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKUchzc

That looks a knockoff of Arundel Mandible.
There is enough material there that would make me less worried about it breaking. I didn’t like the Mandible, thought it was too tight. If these are less tight could be even better.

[CAAD]

Originally Posted by deluz

That looks a knockoff of Arundel Mandible.
There is enough material there that would make me less worried about it breaking. I didn’t like the Mandible, thought it was too tight. If these are less tight could be even better.

I have a pair of legit mandibles on my gravel bike, they hold so tight they crush my bottles. These ali ones have just the right amount of resistance when using specialized bottles. While still feeling sturdy, no issues yet.

[buckfifty]

Originally Posted by CAAD

I have a pair of legit mandibles on my gravel bike, they hold so tight they crush my bottles. These ali ones have just the right amount of resistance when using specialized bottles. While still feeling sturdy, no issues yet.

Same, the legit mandibles will be a very tight fit and mar up your bottles. The replicas are not as tight but tight enough

[cgolvin]

I took the plunge and bought two of the Lightweight knockoffs. For some reason each of the vendors limited me to only 1, so I bought 1 each from 2 different vendors.

The first one is very nice, stable, subtle graphics, and came with low profile bolts. The second one feels like plastic, wobbles with a bottle in it, and didn't come with any bolts (not that I care about the bolts). Now trying to decide whether it's worth sending the second one back or just replace it with one of the first ones when it inevitably falls apart.

[nmrt]

This makes one wonder, doesnt it. Some knockoff company made the knockoff and did a decent job of it. The knockoff took off and was a success. Then someone made a knockoff of a knockoff to get in on the cash grab and did a terrible job at the knockoff of a knockoff.

Originally Posted by cgolvin

I took the plunge and bought two of the Lightweight knockoffs. For some reason each of the vendors limited me to only 1, so I bought 1 each from 2 different vendors.

The first one is very nice, stable, subtle graphics, and came with low profile bolts. The second one feels like plastic, wobbles with a bottle in it, and didn't come with any bolts (not that I care about the bolts). Now trying to decide whether it's worth sending the second one back or just replace it with one of the first ones when it inevitably falls apart.

[benb]

Bontrager has a 20g model ($90) and a 29g model ($65).

Neither has much branding on them currently.. they would make it much harder for me to get the Arundel ones for $80. You can either save $15 to have a 1g heavier bottle or spend $10 more to save another 8g, which actually seems like a lot once you're looking at cages this ridiculous.

I have an earlier version of the 29g model that is a little louder on the branding. They have been 100% satisfactory and I've had them 8 years now. Never had a bottle come out. They do chew the bottles up, I use the Specialized Purist bottles.

[BRad704]

Originally Posted by CAAD

These have been excellent so far.


https://a.aliexpress.com/_mKUchzc

I use what seems to be the same version of these, but purchased through ebay, and they've be rock solid for several years now.

[chromopromo]

I order a pair of the KOCEVLO Full Carbon Fiber Bicycle Ultra lig Water Bottle Cages from the Pegasus Bike Accessories Store. They were not worth the $16. My water bottles bounced out on the first hard bump. I believe some of these work fine but it is a crap shoot.

[cgolvin]

Thanks @glepore & @CAAD. Clean told me that he thought these held bottles more firmly than the Lightweight knockoffs, any experience there?

[glepore]

Originally Posted by cgolvin

Thanks @glepore & @CAAD. Clean told me that he thought these held bottles more firmly than the Lightweight knockoffs, any experience there?

No experience. They are Carbonworks knockoffs. Somehow I feel more guilty about them. They are really nice cages though.

[RWL2222]

Here’s my Ali knockoffs, bought after they were recommended elsewhere here. This is after a couple rides—the bottom broke, leaving the bottle to rest on the frame. At least the bottle didn’t fall into the road.

[cgolvin]

Originally Posted by RWL2222

Here’s my Ali knockoffs, bought after they were recommended elsewhere here. This is after a couple rides—the bottom broke, leaving the bottle to rest on the frame. At least the bottle didn’t fall into the road.

Yikes. Makes you understand why @glepore sticks with the smaller bottles.
OK, convinced to try a pair of these, thanks.