Hand-bent 304 stainless steel tubing forms the foundation of King Cage's standard bottle cage, which has remained essentially unchanged since entering production in 1996. Each cage is shaped individually in King Cage's Durango, Colorado shop using USA-sourced materials, then finished with laser-welded joints that create minimal, consistent connections without adding bulk. The hollow tubing construction keeps weight at 48 grams while the stainless steel material resists corrosion and won't leave the black scuff marks on bottles that aluminum cages typically create over time.

The cage grips standard cycling bottles securely without requiring excessive force to insert or remove them during rides. Stainless steel flexes slightly under load, which allows the cage to accommodate minor variations in bottle diameter while maintaining consistent retention. If the cage gets bent in a crash or loosens after extended use, you can reform it by hand rather than replacing it. The material won't fatigue or crack from repeated adjustments the way aluminum does.

King Cage launched in 1991 with titanium bottle cages and expanded to stainless steel as a more accessible option that maintains the same manufacturing standards. The company hand-makes every cage in small batches rather than outsourcing to overseas facilities, which supports the local Colorado cycling community while giving them direct control over quality. The standard cage design uses traditional mounting hole spacing and works with any frame that accepts bottle cages. Stainless steel develops a subtle patina over years of use rather than corroding, which gives older cages a worn-in appearance that matches well with steel or titanium frames.