7 min read
Your fresh coffee is too hot to handle, and your hands are warming your cool soda whilst cycling? Sounds like you need one of the best bike cup holders, and you’ve come to the right place.
Don’t panic! After reading my review of the best bike cup holders, you’ll no longer struggle to carry your coffee cup or drinks can whilst commuting to work or cruising along the beach.
Unlike other websites, I’ve had hands-on experience with the best bicycle cup holders and have thoroughly tested every coffee cup holder I recommend below.
Below I’ve compiled the pros & cons for each of the best bike handlebar cup holders. Reading this review will save you time, money and from the disappointment of a bad bike drink holder.
Before I begin, I wanted to quickly mention sustainability as it’s something everyone should consider when making a purchase.
Throughout this comparative review, I’ve included images of “disposable coffee cups”, the cups I used were 100% recyclable and were recycled after use.
If you regularly get take-out coffee and haven’t already, get yourself a reusable coffee cup. They’re cheap to purchase and will prevent un-recyclable cups from entering landfills!
All of the best cup holders featured in this review are compatible with reusable coffee cups.
Sneak Peak - Top 3 Bike Cup Holders
Last update on 2023-09-29 at 06:00 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What to Look for In a Bike Cup Holder?
Holding a cup or bottle whilst riding greatly reduces your ability to control your bicycle. If you’re carrying a hot drink, you also run the risk of spills and could burn your skin.
All of the bicycle handlebar cup holders featured in this review work differently. Some offer systems designed to prevent spills when cycling, whilst others keep it nice and simple.
The criteria I considered when testing these coffee cup holder was:
- Practicality – How easy is the holder to use? Does it work with all bikes? Does the cup holder support a range of cup/can sizes?
- Quality – Does the bike drink holder use good quality materials? Does the quality of the holder reflect its price?
- Design – How does the holder look? Is it designed for a specific type of bike? Are there multiple colours or models available?
- Price – Ultimately, a cup holder is a cup holder, we don’t want to spend a fortune on one, but it needs to do the job well and withstand frequent use.
A bike cup holder that spills your drink everywhere whilst you cycle is no use to anyone. So let’s cut to the chase and discover the 4 best bicycle cup holders.
HandleStash – The Original Shock-Absorbing Bike Cup Holder
Today’s Best Deals:
Straight off the bat, of all the bike cup holders featured in this review, the HandleStash came out top for the majority of my criteria.
The team behind the HandleStash have evidently worked hard to produce a universal cup, can and bottle holder that works for every cyclist in every situation. This is clear when comparing the HandleStas to some of the other holders in the review.
I chose the Red Hot Diamond HandleStash, which I love the look of and the “Diamond” material it uses is slightly thicker and sturdier than that of the non “diamond” versions. If red’s not your vibe, check out the other 9 colors here.
What’s more is that the HandleStash uses a clever anti-spill suspension system that prevents drinks from spilling, even when travelling over large bumps and potholes in the road.
Cup, bottle, or can, the HandleStash is fully adjustable and features a handy removable spacer that enables it to carry drinkware of all shapes and sizes (even small, thin cans).
A strengthened plastic clamp with a grippy rubber pad allows the HandleStash to attach to almost any position of your bike, handy for those who don’t have space on their handlebars!
This bike coffee cup holder also comes with a hex bolt that prevents unauthorised removal. Virtually every drink-carrying scenario has been considered with the HandleStash, making it the best bike handlebar cup holder on the market.
If you’d like to read a more comprehensive review of the HandleStash, you should read my detailed individual HandleStash review.
Whilst a HandleStash is the perfect bike beer holder, I don’t advise drinking alcohol whilst riding your bike! Keep the two separate.
But again, if you need to take a cold beer to the beach with you, the HandleStash is the most effective bike beer holder I’ve found.
Considering how many features this awesome cup holder packs in compared to the others, I think the price is reasonable. You can check the most up-to-date price here.
To top it off, you’ll also receive a year-long warranty.
If you’re happy to sacrifice on quality and want a budget cup holder, the Delta cup holder below is the best cheap option.
If you want to learn more about the HandleStash, you can read my in-depth review of it here.
HandleStash Technical Details:
Today’s Best Deals:
- Fits drinks from 1″ (2.54cm) to 3.25″ (8.26cm) diameter
- Clamps to bars, seat tubes, or anything up to 1.5″ (3.81cm)
- Made in the USA
- 360-degree rotation for flat bars, curved bars, or vertical mounting
- Best bike beer holder
- Weight: 4.6oz (131g)
- Warranty: 1 Year Warranty
Qualy Bird Bike Cup Holder – Anti-Spill Gravity Cup Holder
Qualy teamed up with Dots to bring their creative spin on a bike coffee cup holder to the market.
Just like the HandleStash, the Qualy Bird Cup Holder implements measures to prevent your drink from spilling whilst you’re cycling. A handy feature that worked well whilst I was cycling around with a coffee, although it’s not quite as effective as the HandleStash.
Whilst your cup is inserted into the Qualy Bike Cup Holder, the mounting system can move and rotate freely on the x and y-axis, a clever system that keeps your cup upright and minimises spills.
A nut and screw which remain hidden attach the strengthened plastic mount to your bike. This hidden mounting system gives the Qualy a clean, minimalist finish, similar to the aluminium holder.
I enjoy the look of the Qualy Cup Holder. Whilst cycling with this on my bike, I found myself smiling at the little birdy perched on my handlebars. This cute bird accompanied by a fresh cup of coffee is a good way to start the day for sure!
A rubber pad is provided to ensure this bike cup holder stays in place, and whilst riding my bike with the Qualy attached, it held my cup well throughout and remained where I attached it.
The two downsides of the Qualy compared to some of the other bike coffee cup holders are that it doesn’t have the ability to hold bottles or cans.
Instead, this bike drink holder is designed for traditional take out coffee cups or re-useable coffee cups, which are wide at the top and thin at the bottom.
Also, the mounting system the Qualy uses works with handlebars up to an inch thick (2.45cm), so make sure you measure the thickness of your handlebars before making your mind up.
Yes, this cup holder doesn’t incorporate the same level of tech or the same super practical features as the HandleStash, but its simplistic design works well, and it offers a refreshing aesthetic with a no-hassle approach.
Definitely one of my favourite and one of the best bike cup holders out there. You can view the most up to date price for the Qualy Bird Bike Cup Holder here (for US residents) and here [Amazon] for (UK & Europe).
Qualy Bird Cup Holder Technical Details:
Today’s Best Deals:
- Fits cups and drinks from 3.25″ (8.25cm) diameter
- Clamps to handlebars bars, or frames up to 1″ (2.45cm) thick
- Hidden screw for a clean finish
- Lightweight
- Weight: 2.6oz (73g)
- Warranty: None
Delta Bike Bevrage Holder - Affordable & Versatile
Today’s Best Deals:
After testing it for the first time, I knew the Delta Beverage Holder was a great all-rounder. Out of all of the cup holders featured, the Delta is the most affordable, easily one of the best to use and comes with a lifetime warranty!
The mounting system the Delta cup holder uses is adjustable to different size handlebars and uses two grippy rubber pads to ensure your drink of choice is held firmly in place whilst cycling.
If you like a coffee on your Monday bike ride, water on Tuesday and a can of soda on a hot Wednesday afternoon, the Delta will serve you well.
This cup holder is capable of holding virtually any drinks container and its two inner rubber pads will ensure that your drink stays where you left it.
Unlike the HandleStash, the Delta is made from plastic, but it’s well designed and the high-strength plastic allows it to flex to fit both large and small cups, cans and bottles.
If I had to choose between this cup holder and the stroller cup holder (below), I’d go for the Delta. It’s less clunky to use, more affordable, a lot less bulky and its mounting system is more secure.
Due to its very affordable price, this cup holder is particularly popular so it’s often out of stock, but you can view the most up to date price and stock here [Amazon].
Delta Beverage Holder Technical Details:
Today’s Best Deals:
- Fits drinks containers up to 8cm
- Mounts to handlebars, frame tubes, or anything up to 1.2″ (3cm) thick
- Easy use mounting system
- Weight: 2oz (57g)
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime Warranty
Universal Adjustable Bike Cup Holder – For Bike, Buggy & Mobility Scooter
This bike cup holder is actually designed to be used with a baby stroller (pushchair), but after stumbling across it online, I couldn’t resist testing it out since it’s very affordably priced.
As I thought it might, this universal cup holder works well and will attach to almost any handlebar thanks to its large clamp system.
This holder’s mounting system has a rubber lining that allows the holder to carry heavier drinks without spilling. The mount is also fully rotatable, which makes it suitable for most handlebar types.
However, due to the style of the mount this uses, it’s not quite as secure as the other holders in this review and did move slightly when travelling over bumpier terrain. Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend this holder for off-road riding. Instead, the Handlestash will be a better option, or the Delta if you’re looking for something cheaper!
Similarly to the HandleStash, this universal cup holder can also hold drink cans of all sizes alongside coffee cups and plastic bottles.
Three plastic prongs prevent your cup from falling out whilst riding, and the matte finish of this cup holder is stylish and visually appealing.
Compared to the HandleStash, this mount is substantially cheaper but is unlikely to last as long. In contrast, the HandleStash is handmade in the USA using high-quality, durable materials.
In the USA they produce a slightly different version of this holder, a cup & mobile phone holder. I haven’t tested this version, but its received great feedback online.
You can view the most up to date price here (US residents) and here (UK & Europe) [Amazon].
If you’re after a cheap bike cup holder, this is a good option, but if you’d like something less bulky, check out the holder below.
Adjustable Bike Cup Holder Technical Details:
Today’s Best Deals:
- Fits drinks from 1″(2.54cm) to 3.1″ (7.87cm) diameter
- Mounts to handlebars, seat tubes, or anything up to 1.3″ (3.3cm) thick
- Rotatable mounting system for fast & convenient mounting
- Weight: 6oz (172g)
- Warranty: 1 Year Warranty
Adjustable Aluminium Bike Coffee Cup Holder
This Aluminium bike cup holder really surprised me. The holder is cheap, generic and can be found online for sale under many different names, so naturally, I wasn’t expecting a lot from it.
However, I really don’t think you’ll find a better option for the price this metal coffee cup holder sells at.
With its clean appearance, this cup holder would look the part on most bikes. Its polished surface looked great when attached to my chrome handlebars, but a few other colours are available if silver isn’t your preference.
Apart from that, there’s not much else to this bike cup holder. It’s very affordable and does the basics well.
It doesn’t absorb shock from bumps like the HandleStash or rotate like the Qualy Cup Holder, but it works well with takeout coffee cups and reusable coffee cups and will last a long time thanks to its solid aluminium construction.
Similarly to the Qualy mount, this cup holder doesn’t use a highly adjustable mounting system, limiting it to thinner handlebars (up to 1″/2.54cm). It’s also worth noting that, unlike the HandleStash or stroller mount, this holder only works with cups that are wider at the top, meaning it won’t be suitable for many cans or bottles.
And all for the price of a bag of chips! You’d be hard pushed to find a better deal, but if you want the ability to carry cans and bottles, this won’t work. Instead, check out the Delta or the HandleStash.
Otherwise, you can view the best price for this holder here (US residents) and here (UK & Europe) [Amazon].
Aluminium Bike Cup Holder Technical Details:
Today’s Best Deals:
- Fits drink cups with a 3″ (7.62cm) diameter
- Clamps to handlebars up to 1″ (2.54cm)
- 360-degree rotation for flat bars, curved bars, or vertical mounting
- Weight: 2.6oz (75g)
- Warranty: None
Summary - The Best Bike Cup Holder
I hope you’ve found this review helpful. If you’ve decided one of these drinks holders is suitable for your bike, great. I’m glad this review helped you find what you’ve been looking for!
If you decided on a completely different bike cup holder, I’d be interested to hear which one you chose? Leave a comment below, and it’ll help other people who’re looking for a reliable cup holder.
I completely understand that the HanldeStash, my first choice of cup holder, is less affordable than many other options. So, I’ve written together a comprehensive HandleStash review
Otherwise, when you’re out and about on your bicycle, don’t forget to take a good quality bike lock with you. I’ve reviewed a range of different locks, from the best bike locks on the market to the best lightweight bike locks, have a read!
Otherwise, lock it or lose it.
Ciao for now!
