Elite

The craftsmanship and finish are top-notch ' the carbon weave and Elite branding give it a premium look that complements any high-end bike setup. I've used it with both Elite and non-Elite bottles, and compatibility has been perfect so far.

What stands out most is how it blends performance and practicality: ultra-light without feeling fragile, aerodynamic without being overdesigned. After multiple rides and a few rough descents, there's no rattle or flex, which says a lot about its build quality.

Perfect water bottle. Cheap, easy to fill, and easy to squeeze water out

I tend to have frames/colors that look best when paired with either fringy specific color cages or something chrome-y silver, and prefer stainless which tend to outlast the bike :-). I've previously used Arundel most of the time, which are outstanding quality, design, and while definitely pricier than plastic cages, comparably priced to carbon and a bit less expensive than titanium. The Elite Moreo compares nicely to the Arundel so comes down to personal taste in the design.

I've had no issues with how securely the cage grips bottles though. I am a roadie so I haven't encountered anything other than some rough bumps. One advantage of steel/titanium over carbon or plastic is that the arm is bendable, so I can loosen/tighten based on small differences in bottle size.

If you're really into details, note that most other stainless or titanium cages tend to be completely chrome-y finish, all the way down to the bolts. The Moreo is all stainless, stainless bolts, though there's a glossy black plastic plate/liner between the cage and the bolt heads. That was a factor I wanted, nicely complementing my bike's black frame.

I've used various Elite products for years, always happy with the purchase, though they do tend to be pricier than competitors. I bought these to pair with a speedy Italian bike that I wanted to trim with Italian bling.

Based on about 25 hours of road riding, this holds various bottles of standard diameter well and even hitting some hard bumps I'm confident I won't be losing bottles. If anything, the weight-saving design with the thin, angled arm may work too well, catching on any indented bands on some bottles.

One general concern with carbon cages over plastic or metal is the flexibility versus fragility. There's enough flex in this to accommodate slightly different sizes/styles of bottles, and other than the potential catching on indented bands, I find it is reasonably forgiving when trying to return the bottle when riding by feel, imperfectly aligned.