When it comes to accessories, pro riders understand that quality craftsmanship is not an afterthought. Every detail matters; any extra effort that reduces friction and boosts performance will yield an in-person product referral. And when it comes to the right water bottle or cage, those recommendations will likely point you in the same direction as the bottomless online comments and reviews: at Elite.
This small company, rooted in Northern Italy, has made an outsized impact on the sport with its relentless pursuit of crafting a handful of specialty cycling products, honing the production of rugged carriers, cages, and bottles for over four decades. Developed through direct collaboration with stacked pro teams, Elite drills down on the extreme performance of a few focused items to deliver excellence that larger do-everything brands have trouble matching.
And the engineering isn’t just for Elite’s suite of high-end smart trainers (like its flagship Justo 2). You’ll be hard-pressed to find a manufacturer who takes water bottle needs as seriously. Beyond the R&D, Elite actively reduces its carbon footprint with sustainability certifications, practices, and packaging, plus solar energy use as well as plant-based bioplastics in its bottles, where possible.
“Cycling extends beyond the finish line.” That’s how the forward-looking Benefit Corporation frames two-wheeled pursuits as a larger experience, one “that shapes our character and allows us to discover the world through the journey, pedal stroke by pedal stroke.”
When you’re ready to take your cycling seriously, here are two picks for Elite products you should no longer overlook.
Elite Fly Tex Water Bottle
There’s a reason Elite’s iconic Fly Tex water bottle line is the UCI WorldTour’s most used. Yes, it’s incredibly lightweight. And that record weight — 1.8 ounces (51 g) for the smallest 18-ounce (550 ml) model — means less plastic material and more ease when it comes to exhausted squeezing for abundant water flow.
- Flow To Go: The ergonomic cap creates a leak-free seal with a 20% wider, flat nozzle (push-pull open) that ensures a high-volume, yet controlled fluid stream per gentle squeeze. The wide-mouth opening is easy to fill (and wash).
- Competitive Design: New texture improves grip in hand, and smooth release from the cage, while reducing “bottle creep” on unpaved, gravel, and singletrack rides.
- Eco Innovation: New manufacturing processes use over 30% less plastic than the industry average. The odorless, soft (BPA-Free), and durable plastics (still fridge- and dishwasher-safe) are the result of a 3-year study conducted at multiple universities.
- Options Galore: Pick a color to match your bike, cage, or team. Larger sizes available at 25 and 32 ounces (750 ml, 57 g; 950 ml, 68 g, respectively). Add protective caps, included in the Fly Tex MTB series, to block the nozzle from mud and dirt.
Elite Leggero Carbon Bottle Cage
At less than a half-ounce (13 grams) Elite’s lightest bottle cage ever is a classic standby refreshed to blend clean lines with extreme lightness that still provides maximum strength on any route. Leggero’s registered design trims non-essential elements from the composite structure while reinforcing high-load areas with carbon fiber.
- Design Elegance: Quality that matches its made-in-Italy cred makes this feather-weight cage a go-to WorldTour favorite that’s easy to spot at the globe’s biggest cycling events.
- Stability Standards: Carbon reinforcement keeps bottles fixed even on technical terrain. Ride confidently off-road with this most popular addition to Elite’s range of ultra-light bottle cages designed for both leisure rides and cutthroat races.
- Light and Versatile: Wide entry lets you insert/remove at many angles. The cage is compatible with all bottles with a standard diameter of 74 mm.
This article is sponsored by Elite.
