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From panniers to frame bags, here’s how we’re carrying our gear by bike this year. Bike Frame Storage Bag
From commuting by bike to renting a bike while traveling to traveling by bike, having a bag option that doesn’t involve wearing a heavy backpack can be a total blessing. If you’re riding your bike, why not make the bike do the work? That’s where bike bags come in — and you can snag one in a whole range of styles, attachment systems, and capacities.
From large-capacity panniers to small accessory packs, there’s a bike bag that will work for your needs, and many of these bags have more than one use. When shopping, look for waterproof or water-resistant materials, and if you plan to travel with or rent a bike, make sure the attachments are versatile for different racks and frame sizes and easy to attach. Several of my top picks can double as carry-on bags or around-town bags during travel, and I have personally tested all of them for in-town use as well as bikepacking trips.
These are perfect for everything from bike touring trips to grocery runs thanks to its large capacity, versatile attachment system, and waterproof construction.
Another interior pocket or two would make organizing gear easier.
“Bike bags” are such a wide-ranging category that it can be hard to narrow it down to one best option, but I maintain that these durable, high-capacity, easy-to-attach bags will work for all but the most streamlined setups. Plus, with such an emphasis on multi-use gear and travel convenience, these are great as a carry-on bag for bike trips that involve air travel. If you’re renting a bike, these panniers fit racks up to 16 millimeters in diameter, with adapters for narrower rails. Just make sure your rental bike has a rear rack.
I use these panniers for overnights where most of my riding is on pavement or smooth dirt roads, and the 40-liter combined volume is more than enough for all of my gear. I love panniers for their large capacity and easy-to-pack style, plus these unclip from the rack easily for setting up camp without trying to unload gear directly from the bike. And for grocery hauls, just unclip the pannier, throw the attachment strap over my shoulder, and use it as a shopping bag.
The Details: 16.5 x 12.6 x 6.7 inches | 4 pounds 3 ounces | PVC-coated polyester | Clip and velcro | Waterproof
Revelate Design’s Spinelock system makes this bag easy to remove and install with just one pin.
Cyclists with 29-inch tires and a shorter seatpost might end up with this hitting the rear tire.
To those uninitiated to the streamlined world of backcountry bikepacking, seat bags look like an unwieldy addition to a streamlined bike, sticking out from under the seat and over the rear tire. In reality, these bags are often the highest volume and most useful out of an entire frame bag setup, especially if they have a quick-release system like Revelate Design’s Spinelock. I used this 16-liter model on my 1,600-mile ride on the Great Divide, and kept all of my camping gear stowed inside, including sleeping bag, sleeping pad, tent, and base layers. At the end of each day, I just pulled the pin from the spinelock system, unstrapped the Velcro from the seatpost, and carried the bag over to the camp site.
Easy removal also makes packing easier (I put it on the ground and use my body weight to compress everything), and the bag is waterproof with a roll-top closure. The attachment pin is very secure, but I did have to tighten the screws a few times on the seat attachment after a particularly bumpy section. After a full month of use, this bag showed almost no signs of wear and tear, and the reliable design, quick-release attachment system, and low weight make it a go-to for bikepacking.
The Details: 16 x 7 x 6.5 inches | 1 pound 8 ounces | Nylon and aluminum | Spinelock and velcro | Waterproof
The half-size is perfect for long day rides and allows a water bottle to fit in the front triangle of most medium-to-large bikes.
Non-custom frame bags can be hard to fit perfectly on different bike shapes and geometries.
Osprey’s new line of bikepacking bags have both on-body and on-bike options, from backpacks to a frame system similar to the bikepacking bags popularized by Tour Divide riders. This half-frame bag is a handy 3.5-liters, which leaves space for a water bottle on the inner triangle. I ride a small bike, so I still can’t fit a water bottle in my frame, but anyone with a medium or large frame should be able to. The bag comes in three sizes to fit a range of frames, and the Velcro straps are generously long to make up for any inconsistencies in geometry.
It was easy to put on my bike and the straps tightened on all sides, and it hasn’t wiggled or come loose during my season of testing. It’s lightweight and waterproof, and I appreciate the dual pockets with two-way zippers that I can access while riding (at least on smooth surfaces). The left side is basically a slot for small items, and the right side is the full width where I keep snacks, a repair kit, and a light wind layer for day rides.
The Details: 5.5 x 17.7 x 3. 5 inches | 8.3 ounces | 210D nylon | Velcro | Waterproof
This bag has more than one liter of capacity, but doesn’t shift or wiggle once secured.
Some people might want a fully waterproof top tube bag.
Often ignored in the face of large-capacity bike bags like panniers and frame bags, the top-tube bag is a total necessity. I’m not ashamed to admit I have one on all five of my bikes. I use this top tube bag for snacks, sunscreen, lip balm, and headphones during long bikepacking trips, and I have smaller ones on my electric bike, commuter bike, and mountain bike for necessities like my phone, wallet, snacks, and a repair kit.
I can use the zipper on this bag one-handed (essential for accessing items while riding), and the capacity is surprisingly large for a bag that stays in place so well. It has just over a liter of capacity, but the full-length zipper makes it easy to find small items, and you can stay organized with the interior pocket as well. It attaches with secure Velcro straps around the top tube, then has a shock-cord bungee you can tighten around the stem and it really doesn’t shift around at all, even on terrible washboards.
The Details: 8.2 x 4 x 2.5 inches | 5.9 ounces | Nylon | Velcro and bungee | Water-resistant
This smart combination of backpack and pannier is comfortable to carry and fastens securely on your bike.
Loose straps from the buckle attachment can get caught in your spokes.
A good bike commuting bag is a tricky combination: it needs to attach securely to your bike or bike rack, but you should be able to carry it comfortably off your bike. Plus it should be waterproof, abrasion-resistant, and ideally have multiple pockets and a laptop sleeve. This Two Wheel pannier/backpack nails every category, built specifically for bike commuters looking for a compact, easy-to-pack bike bag that doubles as a perfectly normal looking backpack. With a padded laptop sleeve that fits up to 15-inch laptops and multiple secured interior pockets, this would be a fantastic commuter backpack on its own, and is made even better with the versatile clip system that works on racks between 6-16 millimeters in diameter.
I can confidently recommend this 22-liter pack for overnight bike trips, travel, and daily use. For bike commuting, simply unclip the bag from your bike rack, release the padded shoulder straps, and you’re on your way. This also makes it a great travel option, with versatile clips and a multi-use design for bike travel as well as wandering around your new favorite city.
The Details: 18 x 12.5 x 3 inches | 2 pounds 12 ounces | Coated 600D polyester | Clips and buckle | Waterproof
Removable buckles and straps pull double duty as an on-body bag as well as a handlebar bag.
Earlier models have Velcro straps, which are harder to install and remove, so be sure to get the latest design.
Now in its second iteration (with some updates to previous closure issues), Thousand’s creative crossbody bag is built as a handlebar bag as well as a streamlined purse. With two buckle closures along the top line that clip to your handlebar and a third buckle that secures around your stem, this bag isn’t going anywhere once it’s installed. To wear it, the removable strap clips into side webbing. The bike attachment straps are easy to remove and put back on, but I usually leave mine on to save a step when I’m getting on and off the bike a lot.
This is a perfect travel bag for trips that involve biking, since it doesn’t have diameter-dependent clips and is a great personal item for flying as well as the only wearable bag you’ll need during off-bike days. It has a separate exterior zippered pocket and multiple internal pockets for organizing, and has a full two-liter capacity. I stash my phone, wallet, and small necessities in here so I don’t have to wear a bag while riding, then just unclip it from my bike, attach the shoulder strap and walk around.
The Details: 9.4 x 5 x 3 inches | 9 ounces | Nylon and polyester | Buckles | Water-resistant
Like an on-person bag, bike bags come in a huge range of capacities and styles, from less than one liter on your top tube, all the way to large-capacity panniers. If you’re planning an extended backcountry bike tour, I’d recommend going for a frame bag setup, which includes a seatpost bag, handlebar roll, and frame bag, with a few smaller bags for little items. If you’re planning a front-country tour, you’ll love the ease of packing a set of panniers. Commuters will do better with panniers or a convertible pack/pannier system, and you can never go wrong with a small handlebar bag or removable top tube bag for small items, regardless of riding style.
Most bike bags can conceivably be used for rental bikes or swapped between bikes, but you may still want to prioritize easy installation. Most panniers and pannier-style bags have adjustable clips and buckles or Velcro for extra security, and smaller bags have Velcro or buckles that can easily be removed and attached to other bikes or rentals. Be sure you know the diameter of the rack for the rental bike, or bring extra clips just in case.
To get the best advice for weight distribution and choosing the correct capacity and style, I talked to Brian Wood at the Gear Wizard. He recommends going a little larger than you think you’ll need. Most bags are compressible and feature roll-top closures, and going bigger “allows for potential larger loads for long food carries on bikepacking trips, or extra errands around town.” If you’re traveling and plan to use one of your bags as a carry-on, make sure your pannier fits the dimensions for your airline. Wood recommends 15-20 liters for rear panniers, and 10-16 liters for seatpost bags and handlebar rolls.
Your frame bag shouldn’t be much wider than your bike frame — my widest frame bag is still less than 4.5 inches. You don’t want to hit the frame bag with your knees while you’re pedaling, or have it impede your range of motion if you have to hop off the bike quickly. This means that a frame bag has less capacity than it seems, and they can be tricky to pack since you can’t put anything bulky in there. That said, frame bags are a great way to use up that empty space in your bike frame, and they’re so low profile they don’t throw you off balance.
You can put anything in a bike bag you’d put in a backpack. If you’re commuting, bring a spare set of clothes and maybe an extra layer for biking home as well as your laptop and any work accessories, your phone, wallet, and lunch. If you’re on a short ride and only have a top tube bag, you’ll keep your phone and wallet in there. A full pannier set for doing an overnight on your bike means you’ll have camping gear, food, bikepacking equipment, a repair kit, and extra layers.
“Be sure to balance the weight either with frame bags or with panniers,” Wood says. “And emphasize the weight in your frame bag and handlebar bag instead of seatpost bag.” Keeping your weight by the front of your bike (where you control the steering) helps with balance, as opposed to a heavy rear section, which can slide around on loose terrain.
Yes, you can check a bike when traveling by plane, but it’s a bit of a process. You’ll need a special bike box (check your local bike shop) or a dedicated case. Most often, you’ll have to remove the pedals, handlebars, and wheels, and deflate the tires slightly to fit within the box dimensions, and be sure all of the components are wrapped in bubble wrap or other protective materials. You can also have a local bike shop pack your bike this way. Be sure to check the airline’s specific regulations and fees for transporting bikes, and always label the bag with your contact information and destination. When you check in, take the bike to the oversized luggage area.
Maggie Slepian has cycled thousands of miles on bikepacking trips as well as running errands on her bike in town. She has more than a dozen different bike bags for multiple setups depending on her circumstance and packing needs. For the Great Divide last summer, she ran an ultralight frame bag system, and she also has a hefty set of panniers for her e-bike for grocery runs and commuting. For mountain biking and general town riding, she sticks with a small front pack and top tube bag, perfect for wallet, phone, and even a wind layer. To curate this list, she spoke with Brian Wood, owner of the Gear Wizard bike shop in Montana.
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