I've used plastic bottles all my life. I never noticed the plastic flavor, so I didn't really buy into the whole 'no plastic flavor' marketing scheme.
But, I was intrigued by the metal construction for eco friendliness and I got it on sale.
The flow is amazing. It's much more natural and satisfying than squeezing the plastic bottle.
The downside? Depending on the temp diff, the condensation is annoying. It gets slippery, and the painted one seems fragile. It's better once I put on some quality stickers for grip.
I'm a bit worried about dropping the bottle, or it falling out of the cage, but it will be what it is.
Ever seen a water bottle on the gravel road or dirt trail? The bottle owner was not using this cage.
I participate in endurance MTB and gravel events. While on downhills your precious water can get ejected. You don't even notice until you are at the bottom or later, which could be miles away. There is no chance of going back riding against traffic to look for something that could be anywhere. Then, your life-saving hydration is gone.
These bottle cages prevent that problem. They are expensive, but the next time you try riding 1-2 hours without water you will wish you paid the price to prevent the problem.
