HandleStash Review – A Cup Holder Designed To Prevent Spills

One accessory I always like to add to my bike is a handlebar cup holder. These aren’t the typical water bottle cup holders that many people stick to the frame of their bikes but rather are cupholders that mount to your bike’s handlebars. Since I’m primarily riding my bike for transportation, rather than recreation, I’m not necessarily looking to hold sporty water bottles. For me, it makes more sense to have something to hold coffee cups, fountain drinks, bottles/cans, and similar items.

The HandleStash is a neat handlebar cup holder that I recently added to my bike. It’s different from many other cup holders because of its design. The biggest issue I’ve always faced when riding with a drink is dealing with spills when hitting bumps or uneven terrain. The HandleStash shock-absorbing cup holder has a design that works to address this issue.

In this HandleStash review, we’ll look at what the HandleStash is, how it works, and what makes it different. We’ll also discuss the things I like about the HandleStash, as well as a few things you should think about if you’re looking to get this cup holder. 

What Is The HandleStash Shock Absorbing Bike Cup Holder? 

The HandleStash is a shock-absorbing cup holder that mounts to your bike’s handlebars. It comes in a variety of different colors and patterns. I opted for the “Flying Dutchman” pattern, which features a guy falling off a penny-farthing bike. You can go with one of these decorative patterns or opt for a solid color or simple pattern, so whatever you’re looking for, you can probably find it.

The package includes the HandleStash, along with a foam insert you can put into the bottom of the HandleStash if you need to hold smaller drinks. The HandleStash itself is made of stretchable elastic and has a mounting bracket that can be rotated to whatever position you need. 

Mounting the HandleStash to your bike is easy. The package includes a rubber mounting strip that you wrap around your handlebars. You then mount the HandleStash around your handlebars, then tighten it by twisting the tightening nut. This is awesome because, unlike other cup holders that require you to fiddle with Allen Keys, this one is easily removable, allowing you to switch it between bikes without using tools. If you want extra security, you can replace the quick-release nut with a hex nut, which will then require you to use tools to remove the HandleStash. 

In terms of what it can hold, the HandleStash is impressive. It’s made of built-in elastic which stretches when you put a drink in it. Smaller items sit higher up in the elastic while heavier items stretch it out, allowing you to hold different size drinks. When nothing is in it, the elastic is compressed, so it doesn’t get in your way. The top of the elastic also has a stretchy pull cord, so you can tighten it as needed to secure your drink.

How The HandleStash Works

The main differentiator of the HandleStash compared to other cup holders is that it’s designed to prevent spills. To do this, the HandleStash uses elastic, with the idea that it can provide a bit of suspension for your drink. When you hit bumps, the elastic bounces, helping to stabilize your drink.

Below is an example of my HandleStash in action. As you can see, the elastic allows the cupholder to absorb more of the bumps, helping to avoid spills.

It seems counterintuitive, but adding more movement to the cup holder does indeed help stabilize it more compared to a fixed cup holder. I often ride with fountain drinks and while they are covered, stuff does inevitably spill, especially if the drink is full. With the HandleStash, I noticed far less spillage with my drink.

Why I Like The HandleStash 

In short, I like the HandleStash. Here are some of the main things I like about it: 

Easy Mounting System. My favorite part of the HandleStash has to be the easy mounting. I have a lot of bikes, so being able to easily switch the HandleStash between different bikes makes it much more useful to me. The other cup holders I have are much more difficult to remove since they require me to use tools. Because of this, I never switch them around and they essentially become a fixed part of my bike. But with the HandleStash, I’m easily able to move it around as needed. 

It Can Hold Many Different Size Drinks. The elastic opening of the HandleStash makes it far more versatile compared to other cup holders. Most of my other cup holders only come in one size, which means small or large drinks sometimes can’t fit in them. But the HandleStash can hold all sizes of drinks – from small cans up to huge fountain drinks and large water bottles.

You Can Use It To Hold Other Small Items. One unintentional benefit of the HandleStash is that it can be used to hold other small items. Since it has a solid bottom and a large opening, you can stick your keys, wallet, or phone in it. And because the elastic stays compressed, your items aren’t buried deep inside it, allowing you to grab them easily. It actually works really well as a phone holder, allowing you to see your phone screen as you ride. I think the fact that it doubles as additional storage for things I might otherwise have to put in my pocket is a huge benefit. 

Things To Think About If You Get The HandleStash 

I like the HandleStash, but there are a few considerations to think about if you are planning to buy this cup holder. Here are two things I’d think about.

It’s More Expensive Than Other Cup Holders. The HandleStash is more expensive than other cup holders. The standard, solid color options are going to run you $38, while the patterned options come in at $45. Meanwhile, you can get other cup holders for much cheaper than that. I personally think that the price isn’t that bad, especially given the features that I like about it (mainly the easy mounting system and the ability to hold many different-sized drinks).

That being said, if all you’re looking for is something basic to hold a drink when you’re riding, you’re going to find much cheaper options on Amazon.

It’s Not Going To Protect Against All Spills. While the HandleStash does a good job of reducing spills with its design, the fact is, it still can’t fight the laws of physics. If you hit bumps, your drink will bounce up and down and liquids in your drink will move around.

In particular, if you’re looking for a magic device that can let you ride with a full cup of coffee and not spill anything, this isn’t it. You can’t ride with a full cup of coffee and expect to not spill it. In my testing, when I rode with a full cup of coffee, it spilled about as much as any other cup holder.

Coffee is the most difficult drink you’ll likely carry on a bike, but unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to avoid spilling coffee besides riding slowly and holding the coffee in your hand. 

Final Thoughts

Overall, the HandleStash is an excellent cup holder. The design reduces spills, making it a great option for commuters and anyone else that likes to carry drinks.

It also fits on any bike and the easy mounting system makes it great for people with multiple bikes that might want to move the cup holder around.

Finally, I love that it can hold a wide variety of drinks and also double as a holder for small items when I’m not holding a drink. When you’re commuting via bike, it’s easy to end up with a lot of stuff in your pockets. Being able to put these little things in the HandleStash (things like my keys or wallet), is great.

I hope this review was helpful to you. If you have any questions about the HandleStash, feel free to leave them in the comments below. Happy to share whatever I can with anyone thinking about getting this cup holder. If you’re interested in the HandleStash, you can check out their website.