[JTeezy]

I just bought a Anthem X2 and need a water bottle cage for XC/24 Hour races...

1. I want it to actually work...it needs to hold bottles...I don't want dropped bottles.

2. I want it to be as lite as possible...titanium or carbon i assume.

Please tell me what brand/model to buy...thanks.

 

[Circlip]

The no-brainer answer is here is the King Ti cage. Other than being somewhat pricey (I paid $45 - PM me if you want source), it fits your criteria perfectly and will probably outlast just about any other cage. Add up a few years of replacing bent cages and you might even be saving money.

If you want to go the budget route this is a remarkable product, which breaks the usual theory of cheap/light/strong - pick 2 (in fact this cage is a rare product that is all 3);

http://www.treefortbikes.com/136_333222338485__BC-100-Nylon-Bottle-Cage.html

Not quite a secure as the King Ti, and will scuff bottles unlike the Ti, but otherwise is just about as light as the Ti or carbon, almost indestructible, and actually quite a nice hold on the bottles with them actually being a bit easier to remove than the Ti cage. I use a small washer under each bolt head so that I can tighten them down a bit more with this cage.

 

[Pulse-]

Elite patao carbon - mine weighs 22 grams. Holds bottle very strong!
I have used it in 7 marathons/xc races and bottle never dropped. I was
afraid at first because it's quite easy and smooth to get the bottle from the
cage. I can't imagine dropping bottle with this cage I tried extreme
and fast trails which shaked whole bike but bottle was still firmly
placed in cage!

I got it from eBay from Asian localisation for about $40
ebay search:
http://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trksid=m38.l1313&_nkw=elite+patao&_sacat=See-All-Categories

 

[sprocketjockey9]

I agree with the King Ti Cages, while I received them as a gift, they are super awesome and never have issues

 

[strader]

I've always been happy with the cheap $5 aluminum cages. I have a Planet Bike one that I got from the LBS which I'm happy with. I have one of the King steel cages, but it doesn't seem to hold it's shape as well as the aluminum cages.

 

[rroadie]

Planetbike also make a 22g carbon cage that holds bottles really well over rough terrain. Not abad deal at MEC too.