Stainless steel water bottles are growing in number and popularity, and for good reason. Not only are they durable, but they’re also easy to clean, don’t retain funk and flavors, and are theoretically healthier and more environmentally friendly than plastic. Plus, the insulated ones will keep your beverages colder for longer in hot weather.
Plastic insulated bottles are still more numerous, less expensive, and lighter weight, but stainless steel has its advantages. There’s no shortage of stainless steel bottles to choose from these days, with brands like Bivo and Camelbak leading the charge. The upstart brand, tiibo, recently came out with its first stainless steel insulated bottles, and I got my hands on one to see how it performs.
I’ve been using the 17-ounce tiibo vacuum-insulated stainless steel cycling bottle for the past couple of weeks. It’s a water bottle, so there really isn’t all that much to it, but I’ve been impressed by its ability to keep my water cold in hot temperatures, the lack of flavor/funk retention, and classy looks — I’m a big fan of brushed metal finishes. It has some very minor drawbacks, but it shares those with similar products, and it beats most of those slightly on price.
- MSRP: $35 (17 oz.) to $40 (23 oz.)
- Sizes: 17 oz and 23 oz.
- Weight: 250 grams (17 oz)
- Materials: Food-grade 304 stainless steel bottle, BPA-free polypropylene (food-grade plastic) cap, food-grade silicon nozzle and tube.
- Dishwasher safe?: Yes, top rack
- Colors: Brushed, black, blue, gray, aqua
Pros
- Keeps beverage colder for longer
- Brushed finish looks classy
- No funky taste
- No squeeze hi-flow nozzle works well
- Fits well in most bottle cages
- Priced competitively with other insulated stainless bottles
Cons
- Heavier weight than plastic
- Larger size for volume
- Cap can be stubborn to unscrew if/when overtightened
- Can dent or scratch finish if mishandled
Cycling water bottles are a dime a dozen. If, like me, you do a few races and events every year, you’ve probably got more water bottles than you could possibly ever use in a lifetime. It makes sense. They are some of the most affordable swag to slap your brand or event name on. But at this point, they have essentially become disposable, which is unfortunate given that most of them are made of plastic.
But beyond having too many of them in my cabinet, I don’t often give water bottles that much thought. I put water in them, drink it, wash them, and that’s about it. Still, I can’t deny that my on-bike fluid consumption experience could be better. On hot days, my water is typically quite warm by the time I drink it, and it almost always tastes a little bit like old plastic or the electrolyte mix I used on the last ride.
tiibo Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle Details
The tiibo brand is relatively new, and its product line consists of just two sizes of the Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle. They come in 17 and 23-ounce sizes, with both made specifically for cycling and shaped to fit into bottle cages. Regardless of the size/volume, tiibo’s insulated bottles are made with “food-grade 304 stainless steel” with a double-wall vacuum-insulated design.
The lid is made from BPA polypropylene (food-grade plastic), and the nozzle and air-exchange tube are made from food-grade silicon. Given that it’s an insulated stainless steel bottle, you can’t squeeze it, so the nozzle has an air-vent system, and the “high flow rate offers a steady flow without leaks or fuss.” The opening of the bottle is relatively large, making it easy to fill with ice cubes or reach inside with a sponge or bottle brush. The brand also says it is top-rack dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
My 17-ounce bottle measures 9.6 inches tall and 2.9 inches in diameter (24.3 cm x 7.4 cm). On my scale, it weighs 250 grams, which is exactly what the brand claims. I don’t have the 23-ounce size to measure and weigh, but tiibo says it is 11 inches tall, 2.9 inches in diameter, and weighs 320 grams.
Using the tiibo Insulated Water Bottle
Reviewing a product as simple as a bottle is, honestly, almost more difficult than complete bikes or components that are far more complex. There just isn’t all that much to say about something that does exactly what it claims to do. But, I’ll do my best to say more than — it works.
The tiibo bottle is easy to fill. With the lid removed, the opening is quite large, and you can stuff this thing to the top with ice cubes and top it off with water quickly and easily. Just thread the lid back on and you’re good to go — just don’t crank it as tight as possible (more on that below). In my experience, the lid does not leak, nor does the nozzle, assuming it is closed. With the nozzle open, the air-vent design allows for water to flow freely, and the flow is adequately fast. You can’t squeeze the bottle, obviously, so you just tip it back and let it flow. It works well and is super easy to drink from.
The tiibo bottles are designed for cycling and have a shape intended to work with most standard bottle cages. I use Specialized Z cages almost exclusively, and I was happy to discover that it fit perfectly in all of the cages on my bikes. I’ve also got one random Lezyne Flow Cage SL, and it also settles nicely into that one, too. In all of those cages, it has been very stable and secure, doesn’t rattle, and hasn’t ejected unexpectedly yet.
The brand claims that the bottles will keep drinks ice cold for 12+ hours. That certainly sounds impressive and is on par with Bivo’s claimed 12+ hour ice retention. It’s nice to know that they are designed to keep water cold for that long, but realistically, I don’t think I would really ever need to keep my water ice cold for more than 4 hours or so.
To test this, I filled my bottle with ice, topped it off with water, then left it in my truck on a hot day. I live in the high desert in northern Nevada, and I have a black pickup truck. It gets really hot in there. Three hours in the truck, and the bottle was still holding ice, and the water was icy cold. Three hours later, and I was still sipping ice-cold water with chunks of ice still in the bottle. That’s more than good enough for me, and for most other people, I suspect.
I have to assume that this bottle could also do the same for warm drinks. The brand strongly warns against using the nozzle with HOT liquids, as I’m sure that’s a lawsuit waiting to happen, but I could definitely see it keeping your water warm on frigid winter rides.
The bottle itself is super easy to clean, but I was initially a little wary that the lid/nozzle/air vent system would be more challenging. Turns out, it’s pretty easy, as the air vent tube just pops off, and the nozzle can also be removed from the plastic lid. Should you ever damage or lose your lid, the brand sells replacements for $12.95.
What’s Not to Like?
After my first use of the bottle, I discovered its only real quirk. I really cranked down on the lid to get it tight and make sure it didn’t leak. When I went to remove the lid, it was not only a bit stubborn to unscrew, but the thin edge of the lid doesn’t offer the largest area to grip when trying to loosen it. I’ve since learned that you don’t need to get the lid as tight as possible. It still doesn’t leak, and it has been much easier to remove.
My only other complaints aren’t unique to the tiibo — they are shared by any insulated stainless steel bottle — but they are notable nonetheless. First, the double-walled insulated design reduces water storage volume, so the bottles carry less water than their size may suggest. This bottle is noticeably larger than a 22-ounce plastic bottle, and it holds 5 ounces less water. The tradeoff is that it also keeps your water cold, so that’s the price you have to pay. My primary concern is that the increased size of the bottles may limit fitment on some bikes. Most road, gravel, and touring bikes will be fine, but it could be tougher to fit on some full suspension mountain bike frames.
Second, at 250 grams, this bottle is kind of heavy. In fact, its over three times the weight of a 22-ounce plastic bottle and more than double that of a plastic insulated bottle. Again, that’s not unique to the Tiibo; that’s just what stainless steel insulated bottles weigh. Weight-conscious riders will obviously want to look elsewhere, and it’s certainly not my recommendation for race day — unless cold water is more important than weight savings.
Price
Stainless steel insulated bottles are pricier than those made of plastic — that’s to be expected. Still, the tiibo bottles are priced competitively against similar options from Bivo and Camelbak. At $35 for the 17-ounce size, tiibo undercuts the price of Bivo’s 17-ounce insulated bottle by $9 and Camelbak’s Podium Steel 18-ounce by $4 (in most color options). I haven’t used either of those bottles, so I can’t say if they’re worth a bit more, but the tiibo strikes me as a solid value, regardless.
And while the tiibo and similar stainless steel bottles may cost more than plastic options, they should also be much more durable. In theory, they should last for years, and in doing so, save you money over time and reduce plastic waste.
tiibo Stainless Steel Insulated Water Bottle: My Takeaway
Until recently, I basically just accepted the fact that my water would be warm or hot by the time I drank it. I didn’t really think that keeping my water ice cold for hours on a hot bike ride was really possible, and, therefore, I didn’t really care. Given my overabundance of water bottles and other hydration systems, I have also been very reluctant to purchase any bottles to try them out (does anyone need plastic water bottles? I’m giving them away…).
But here I am, writing probably 2,000 words about a stainless steel insulated water bottle. This thing works, and it works well. It looks great, fits my bottle cages, is easy to drink from, and keeps my water cold for longer than I actually need. Sure, it’s comparatively heavy, but unless I’m racing, that doesn’t really matter. I appreciate that it’s more sustainable and more durable than plastic, and it’s a bit more affordable than its direct competitors, too.
Currently, tiibo only sells its bottles directly to the consumer through its website. You can learn more at the link below.
