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In our ongoing Decade in Evaluate sequence, we take an intensive look into the positioning’s 10-year archive and establish the gear we’ve tried alongside the best way, selecting our all-time prime picks in a wide range of classes. For this installment, we share what we think about one of the best bike handlebar baggage for touring and bikepacking. Discover the total listing of our editors’ favorites right here…
Not way back, we celebrated a reasonably large milestone: BIKEPACKING.com’s 10-year anniversary. The official decade date was October seventeenth, 2022. To commemorate the event, we began a brand new sequence to showcase one of the best gear we’ve examined all through our 10 years of reviewing bikepacking gear. The Decade in Evaluate sequence asks our editors and a rotating solid of skilled bikepackers to mirror and share their all-time favourite gear from the a whole bunch of choices they’ve examined over numerous kilometers on dust roads and rugged singletrack. Following up on our different “better of” roundups, together with our favourite handlebars, saddles, and pedals, we’re delving into one other vary of merchandise that we’re requested about ceaselessly: one of the best bike handlebar baggage for touring and bikepacking.
There are fairly a number of sorts of handlebar baggage as of late: handlebar rolls, harnesses, top-loader baggage, cradle racks, rando baggage, and plenty of different permutations. With all these choices, it was stunning to see simply two camps type in our listing of 9 editors and contributors. Learn the way it shook out beneath in our time-tested listing of what we think about one of the best bike handlebar baggage in the marketplace. Every consists of particulars on the place the bag is made, pricing, ideas on what makes it stand out, and some images. Be aware that many of those handlebar baggage can be found at your native bike store, and we encourage you to purchase them there should you can. For those who don’t have entry to a neighborhood store, we’ve included hyperlinks the place they’re obtainable on-line.
Revelate Pronghorn
Logan Watts hyperlink
Made in USA / 165 grams / $150 at Campfire
It’s a troublesome ask for me to establish what I’d think about one of the best handlebar bag. I’ve examined dozens of actually nice baggage through the years, and I usually swap varieties relying on the style of motorbike I’m using. As an illustration, I normally attain for a top-loader if I’m using a drop-bar bike or a inflexible mountain bike—particularly, the Luggage By Chicken Goldback or Teardrop.
Nevertheless, my most popular two-wheeled format is a short-travel hardtail mountain bike. To me, they make the last word go-anywhere, do-all-terrain bike. In the mean time, there’s no higher and extra versatile kind of handlebar bag that jives with a 120-130mm suspension fork higher than a handlebar harness system. They permit you to pack a slender roll bag to maintain the vertical house to a minimal and never intrude along with your entrance tire. Plus you possibly can pack them lengthy and increase the load by strapping different gadgets in or onto the harness. Briefly, they maintain extra and are simple to unpack and pack off the bike.
My go-to handlebar harness system is the Revelate Pronghorn. It’s tremendous easy, light-weight, and has confirmed extremely sturdy on many large journeys. I’ve been utilizing this one recurrently since 2018. I additionally love the truth that I can pack it off the bike and use the bag as a seat round camp and a bear bag at evening. It ticks a number of bins. The Stratex bag can also be 100% waterproof, and it’s lengthy, so it may simply match my tent and whole sleeping system with out points. Utilizing a harness additionally gives the flexibility to strap further gadgets to the surface. Lastly, I’m a giant fan of the single-side opening as you possibly can higher pack gadgets tightly with loads of leverage.
Swift Zeitgeist and BXB Goldback
Virginia Krabill hyperlink
Made in USA / 587 grams / $208 at REI
On brief adventures, a harness system is a superb possibility, however for longer, multi-day excursions, a prime loading saddlebag is a should. They provide unparalleled ease-of-access to gear, and they’re typically a lot simpler to pack. With a roll or harness system, I invariably have to drag out the whole lot I’ve packed earlier than I can find what it’s I’m searching for, and, if it’s raining, that usually means getting my quilt moist. With a saddlebag, I can normally discover what I would like rapidly. I additionally really feel that the top-loader provides me extra freedom to re-arrange all of my gear as wanted. That’s significantly helpful on prolonged journeys when what I’m carrying (particularly meals) tends to range fairly a bit from everyday.
My favourite baggage at current are the BXB Goldback and Swift Zeitgeist. They’re so forgiving. After I’m actually conscientious about my packlist, the whole lot matches inside completely and cinches right down to a tidy little package deal, and after I haven’t taken the time to actually nail down my gear choice, or I’ve acquired a surplus of consumables, these baggage nonetheless accommodate and safe the whole lot with the extendable flap and drawstring internal liner.
Street Runner Jumbo Jammer, and so on.
Cass Gilbert hyperlink
Made in USA / Tribulus ($215) Goldback ($240) Fab’s Chest ($270)
All my favorite handlebar baggage are top-loaders, together with Roadrunner’s Jumbo Jammer, Tribulus’ Endover, BXB’s Goldback, and the Fabio’s Chest by Ron’s Bikes. That is largely as a result of I discover this fashion of entrance bag very sensible, being simple to pack and straightforward to entry, irrespective of the form or density of your cargo.
Equally, top-loaders additionally double up effectively for day-to-day using and commuting duties (they’re nice for grocery runs), which isn’t at all times the case with specialist bikepacking gear. Proper now, my go-to bag is the BXB Goldback M. I really like its traditional strains, trendy detailing and materials, nice color methods, and basic sturdiness. My different bike is working a Tribulus Endover, which is tremendous light-weight (on par with the lighter roll baggage in the marketplace) but extremely expandable and really steady. A draw back to those baggage is that they’re not 100% waterproof, so I pack an additional dry bag if rain is within the forecast.
Outer Shell Handlebar Harness
Emily Bei Cheng instagram
Made in USA / 295 grams / $60 at Outer Shell
My favourite bikepacking handlebar setup is the Outer Shell Handlebar Harness paired with the Outer Shell Drawcord Handlebar Bar Bag. Its cheap, minimalist design makes use of two Voile Straps, and everyone knows Voile Straps are mainly bombproof. I just like the optionality of pairing the harness with a wide range of stuff sack sizes. On my gravel bike with drop bars, I take advantage of a generic 10L dry bag, which holds my sleeping bag. On my mountain bike, I can match bigger volumes.
A drawcord handlebar bag could be threaded onto the Voile Straps of the harness to turn out to be a handy entry level whereas bikepacking. A drawcord looped over the bike stem secures the lid closed, making it simple to open with a single hand whereas using. None of that fussing with zippers or clips on bumpy trails. I prefer to stash snacks within the handlebar bag together with a puffy jacket, which I throw on to retain heat each time I cease for a snack break or a photograph op. Due to the modularity of this arrange, I can use the identical handlebar bag standalone on my day rides too.
Atwater Marauder
Lucas Winzenburg hyperlink
Made in Montreal, Quebec / 725 grams / ~$190 at Atwater Atelier
After a few years of cramming issues into handlebar rolls and harnesses, I’ve come to understand the liberty and packing ease of top-opening handlebar baggage. They’re easier to make use of and lend themselves higher to non-bikepacking actions equivalent to grocery runs and making espresso exterior, regardless of their downfalls of requiring just a little extra actual property and sometimes not being waterproof. I additionally admire that many of those baggage could be run behind the saddle, making them extra versatile than entrance rolls for folk who largely trip on much less technical terrain and don’t have to run a dropper.
Among the many handful of top-opening handlebar baggage in my assortment, my hands-down favourite is the Montreal-made Marauder from Atwater Atelier, which is obtainable in three sizes to suit a broad vary of setups and makes organizing and accessing gear a breeze. It has a cavernous inside pocket that appears to soak up my entire bikepacking equipment, and the 2 expandable facet pockets are nice for storing quick-access gadgets like snacks and instruments. Its HDPE lining helps it maintain its form irrespective of how full it’s packed, the whole lot snugs down tightly into place with the included straps, and there are a whopping 20 modular attachment factors the place you possibly can affix pouches, lights, and different equipment. With it’s easy Cordura development and number of energetic shade choices, it’s acquired a superb laid-back vibe, too, which counts for one thing in my e-book.
Rockgeist BarJam
Jess Daddio hyperlink
Made in North Carolina, USA / 409 grams / $185 at Rockgeist
I spent 40 days on the Nice Divide Mountain Bike Route faffing about with a handlebar bag cradle I loathed. It makes me cringe fascinated with what number of hours I wasted repacking, restrapping, and dreaming of punting that handlebar cradle right into a trash can. The handlebar-bag-that-will-not-be-named needed to be completely packed and centered (which I might by no means do), the straps usually got here unfastened and triggered the bag to hit the entrance tire, and, finally, the cradle simply flat-out broke. So the truth that I by no means have to consider the Rockgeist BarJam Harness system whereas I’m on a bikepacking journey is exactly why it’s my favourite.
Loading up is so simple as stuffing my sleep system (quilt, pad, pillow, dry garments) right into a RockGeist Extremely PE Drybag, strapping it into the harness, cinching all the load down with Voile Straps, and rolling out. It doesn’t jiggle or wiggle. I don’t should be conservative on rowdy descents (though I in all probability ought to for my sake, not the bag’s). And design-wise, it’s the whole lot I would like and nothing extra.
Revelate Harness system
Joe Cruz hyperlink
Made in USA / 416 grams / $95 at REI
I’ve been utilizing the Revelate Harness system since 2010. It’s sturdy and versatile, and it’s simply the correct dimension for the house I’ve between bar and wheel. It’s the workhorse of my carry format.
On large journeys, a number of my gear is within the absolutely prolonged Saltyroll, with meals within the body bag and the tent/inclement climate shells within the saddle bag. I prepare issues so I can take the roll with me into the tent and have the whole lot I would like. It’s good. The opposite cool factor is that the harness can be utilized to hold all method of issues, equivalent to a packraft or an armload of wooden.
Outer Shell Handlebar Harness
Miles Arbour hyperlink
Made in USA / 295 grams / $60 at Outer Shell
When tough and rowdy singletrack is on the menu, I’ve laborious time selecting something however the Outer Shell Handlebar Harness. Redesigned in 2021, the harness relies round a sturdy semi-rigid plastic sheet (much like a skinny plastic reducing board) with varied slots that permit for easy adjustment relying in your setup. Two beefy 32″ XL Voile Straps maintain the system in place, wrapping round each the dry bag and the handlebars, leading to a slip-free setup that doesn’t require tightening all through the day. It’s easy but extremely efficient.
When some further packing house is required, you possibly can simply add on their Drawcord Handlebar Bag to the setup. It options an easy-access lid that secures through a shock wire loop across the stem, three small exterior pockets, a zippered inside pocket for small gadgets, and a one-handed drawcord that cinches right down to maintain the climate out and contents safe. For point-and-shoot cameras and mirrorless setups, Outer Shell provides an non-obligatory Digicam Padding Insert ($8 USD) constructed from high-density foam to offer some further safety from the bumps and vibrations of the path. At simply $60, the Outer Shell Handlebar Harness is a steal, too!
For much less technical using and gravel, I actually just like the Luggage by Chicken Piccolo and discover myself switching between the small and enormous model usually, relying on my wants. High-opening baggage are a pleasure to make use of, simple to entry on the go, and BXB has undoubtedly raised the bar in the case of total high quality and craftsmanship.
Rogue Panda Canelo Harness
Neil Beltchenko hyperlink
Made in Arizona, USA / 226 grams / $125 at Rogue Panda
Over the previous few years, I’ve used a number of harnesses from Revelate Designs, Oveja Negra, Bike Bag Dude, Alpamayo, Outershell, Salsa, Miss Grape, and Wildcat Gear, however I maintain discovering myself reaching for the Rogue Panda Canelo Handlebar Harness. At simply six ounces, it makes use of an ultralight carbon fiber bar that’s secured via two precision-cut spacers. This makes a light-weight and ultra-stable system and gives further clearance for cables and levers in entrance of the handlebars. The harness is connected to the bars utilizing the identical grippy straps Rogue Panda makes use of with their different baggage, and it has three compression straps that loop across the carbon bar to safe a dry bag in place.
One other good differentiator on the Rogue Panda Canelo Handlebar Harness is the GlidePlate, a headtube-mounting system designed to stabilize all the load and defend your bike’s paint and headbadge. This small, semi-rigid part is constructed from a layer of light-weight HDPE plastic stitched to a layer of grippy rubberized cloth. Rogue Panda not too long ago launched a brand new model, serving to remedy a number of of the issues I felt might use enchancment, equivalent to fixing the carbon bar in place relative to the harness, utilizing a lighter weight foam as an alternative of the rubber spacers, and refining these spacers to assist higher match bikes with shorter headtubes, guaranteeing correct tire clearance.
Though I’m an enormous fan of the Glideplate, it’s now bought individually, which implies the bottom worth is now $25 USD cheaper. I’ve additionally been testing their Gila Dry Bag with this method, and I actually benefit from the small 12-liter model. It comes with taped seams, so it does a superb job of conserving water out and has confirmed sturdy. Plus, it acts nice as a rear rack bag. General, it’s an distinctive, dependable, and light-weight system that has constantly carried out effectively for me.
What’s your favourite handlebar bag? What do you assume makes one of the best handlebar bag for bikepacking and bike touring? Tell us by becoming a member of the dialog beneath.
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