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What matters when buying bikepacking bags
How much luggage do I need?
Probably the most important factor when choosing bikepacking bags is the amount of luggage. Do you need a large saddle bag or will a small one do? Do you need a handlebar roller or is there enough space in the frame and saddle bag? Do you need additional storage space, for example in the form of fork or down tube bags?
People who want to sleep on campsites generally need more luggage than people who are travelling to hotels and guesthouses. Another point that has a decisive influence on luggage volume is how you eat. Do you need a cooker, bowl and cup? Then you will need more packing volume. And, of course, the amount of change of clothes also plays a role in the amount of luggage for a bikepacking tour.
How small or large is the bike?
Why does the size of the bike play a role when buying bikepacking bags? Quite simply, not all bags fit on small bikes. There may be too little space between the saddle bag and the rear wheel. Then the bag will drag on the tyre. Similarly, if the handlebar bag is attached to the front wheel, the bag may touch the tyre. And of course, not every frame bag fits into a small frame triangle, let alone together with two large water bottles.
Tips for small bikes at the bottom under FAQ.
What mounting points does the wheel have?
Not all bags can be used on all bikes. Fork bags, for example, usually require attachment points on the fork. Increasingly, there are also mounting points on the top tube for a bottle cage or a top tube bag. Manufacturers are responding to this; many top tube bags offer several mounting options. Either the attachment points are used or straps are placed around the frame. There are also bags that can only do one or the other.
Before buying a bag, the conditions on the bike should therefore be assessed and checked for compatibility with the bags of choice.
Which bikepacking bags are available?
Before looking at the individual manufacturers and bag sets, we will first outline the different types of bikepacking bags.
Saddlebag, also affectionately known as the arse rocket
The Saddlebag is attached to the bike at three points: the seat post and the two seat stays. The bag is either attached directly or a harness is fitted, into which a suitable pannier can be inserted.
Frame bag
Frame bags come in all shapes and sizes - especially custom bags. Bags that fill the upper third of the frame triangle or full frame bags that fill the entire frame triangle are common.
Top tube bag
The content of a Top tube bag You can also access them quickly while travelling. Most bags can be opened with a zip, but there are also some with magnetic fasteners that make access easier
Handlebar bags
Handlebar bags are attached to the handlebars and head tube at three points. As with saddlebags, there are harness systems in which one construction remains on the handlebars while the luggage packed in a pannier can be quickly removed. Other handlebar bags have to be completely dismantled in order to take them into the hotel room or similar. Both have advantages and disadvantages. For example, the pannier can slip out of the harness. With the other option, the bag always has to be reattached to the cockpit. The castor wheels are usually locked on one or both sides.
Other handlebar bags are specially designed bags that are mounted under aerobar extensions. These are available, for example, from Cyclite or Restrap.
There are also smaller handlebar bags with zip fasteners, like here from Cycology. Ideal for people travelling with less luggage and for the most important items of equipment that you need to get to quickly.
Snack Bag
Snack bags are mounted next to the stem. They are often equipped with an assortment of snacks. However, they are also ideal for carrying an additional water bottle or for putting an action cam inside, ready to hand. Many of these bags can be closed to some extent with a drawstring. However, this is not waterproof. Other bags do not have a fastener and thus save a few grams.
Miscellaneous: Fork pockets, panniers, ...
Of course, that's by no means all the bikepacking bags on the market. If you want or need to transport larger amounts of luggage, there are other options such as small fork bags or bags that are attached to the down tube. If that's still not enough, a pannier rack with panniers similar to the classic panniers can also be fitted. Here it becomes clear that a clear distinction between bikepacking and cycle touring is very individual.
Standard product vs. customised product
A lot has happened on the bikepacking market in recent years, not only have new events been added, but new bag manufacturers have also emerged. Existing manufacturers have optimised and expanded their range. And there are bikepacking bags made to measure and in custom colours. Individual requirements can be taken into account and special shapes realised.
Who are customised bikepacking bags suitable for?
- For all those who have been riding the same bike for many years
- For all those who want to customise the bags
- For all those who want a perfectly fitting frame bag (especially for very small and very large frames)
Bikepacking bags from A to Z - overview
Apidura bikepacking bags
Apidura has been around since 2013, when Tori Fahey and Pierre Coeffe founded the company based in the UK and France out of necessity, as there were hardly any technical products in this area at the time. The aim is to give people all over the world access to bikepacking through affordable and durable products. The bikepacking bags are sewn in the Philippines and China.
Apidura Expedition
Apidura Race
The Race series is designed for unsupported bikepacking races and events. It offers significantly less storage space than the bags in the Expedition or Back Country series.
Birzman Packman Travel
Birzman is probably better known from the bicycle workshop than from the bag business. And yet the Taiwanese company has an extensive range of tools as well as bikepacking bags and other products in its programme. We tested a bag set.
Cyclite
The company founders of Cyclite not only share a passion for bikepacking, they are also both very familiar with everything to do with bags and rucksacks. The result is lightweight bags that are very well thought out in many details.
Deuter Cabezon bikepacking bags
Deuter is a well-known manufacturer of outdoor rucksacks. It goes without saying that the company is not letting the bikepacking trend pass it by. The Cabezon series consists of a saddle bag, handlebar bag and frame bag.
Evoc Bike Packing
The special feature or even a unique selling point to date: BOA fasteners for mounting the handlebar roller and saddle bag.
Fara Cycling
The bike brand from Oslo has also developed a set of bikepacking bags to go with its adventure bikes - together with Roswheel. We tested the gravel bike and bag set.
fO.Goods - sustainable custom bags from Stuttgart
With fO.Goods, a few people from Stuttgart have set themselves the goal of producing sustainable bike bags. The unconventional bags are sewn by Anne, Fabian, Ella and Florian. fO.Goods-Bags offers a front roll for the handlebars, a popo roll for the seat post and customised frame bags.
Gramm Tourpacking - Custom bags from Berlin
Kristin started with Gramm Tourpacking in 2013. The team now consists of four people: Suse, Kristin, Luisa & Lena. The bags are sewn in Berlin-Lichtenberg. In addition, some new bag models have been handmade in Portugal since 2022.
Jack Wolfskin bikepacking bags
Jack Wolfskin entered the bikepacking bag market in 2022. In 2022, the collection consisted of a saddle bag, frame bag, top tube bag and handlebar bag - the latter can also be used as a hip bag. The Bikepacking bag collection 2023 is completely different from the first bag set. The saddle bag and handlebar bag are based on a harness construction, which means that a holding system for a suitable drybag is mounted on the bike. The drybags can be quickly removed and put back into the harness. The fork bags, which offer extra storage space, are a completely new addition.
Collection 2023
Collection 2022
Lezyne Caddy
Like Birzman, Lezyne is also better known in the workshop sector. However, the manufacturer also has bikepacking bags in its range.
Miss Grape Bikepacking
Miss Grape are bikepacking bags made in Italy. The manufacturer has an Adventure, a Road and a Commuter series and, most recently, customised bags.
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Ortlieb Bikepacking
Hartmut Ortlieb founded ORTLIEB Sportartikel GmbH in Nuremberg in 1982. And to this day the Bags, rucksacks and more made in Germany. The bikepacking range is growing and is aimed at the adventurous.
Restrap Carry Everything
The story of Restrap began in 2010, when Restrap founder Nathan started sewing pedal straps in his spare room with his sewing machine - first for himself, then for friends. But it didn't stop there. It came Bikepacking bags and now there are other exciting accessories such as a harness for hike-a-bike passages - i.e. sections where you have to carry the bike - or a coffee dripper that is used with V60 coffee filters.
Reisefix - Custom bags from Halle (Saale)
The person behind Reisefix is Sven Schirmeister. Like many others, the company Reisefix was founded by chance. Once he got a taste for long bike tours, he wanted to sew his own bikepacking bags that he also liked the look of. No sooner said than done: fabric ordered, the old sewing machine dusted off and the first set of bags sewn. Of course, friends and acquaintances also wanted bags like this after the tour. So one thing led to another.
Relevate Designs - bikepacking pioneer from the USA
Relevate Designs is definitely a pioneer when it comes to bikepacking bags. In 2007, Eric Parsons quit his job and launched the blog-based website Epic Designs. This is where the first bags were made. The clientele consisted mainly of local people who needed frame bags for ultra races in winter. Step by step, more bags were created. Epic Designs became Relevate Designs in February 2010 and the brand established itself internationally.
Specialised & Fjäll Räven
Specialized and Fyäll Räven have joined forces to create an all-round package for adventures big and small. Bikepacking bags have also been created in the process. In comparison, the bags are rather heavy, they are designed for adventure tours and not for races. The focus is clearly on experiencing and discovering nature.
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Tailfin with a new approach to bikepacking bags
Tailfin is breaking new ground. A lightweight pannier rack design and a roll-top bag for quick access and easy packing are products that are likely to cause a stir and scepticism. But then again, the now classic bikepacking saddle bag used to have that too.
Topeak bikepacking bags
How many households have the JoeBlow bicycle pump? Certainly in a few. In addition to the extensive workshop range for at home and on the road, Topeak has even more to offer. For example, bikepacking bags.
Wit Slingers - Custom bags from Leipzig
Tijmen Kervers started out with bikepacking bags for friends. In 2021, the company Wit Slingers was founded. All bags are handmade in the studio in Leipzig. And because it's a one-person business, but Tijmen doesn't like endless waiting times, the online shop always opens on the first of each month and closes again as soon as all the capacity for the month has been used up.
FAQ Bikepacking bags
Which bags are suitable for small frames?
Saddlebags for small bikes
The bags should not be too high so that there is enough space between the tyre and the bag. Many manufacturers specify a minimum distance that should be between the saddle frame and the tyre.
Frame bags for small bikes
The frame bag is particularly difficult on small bikes. Firstly, many bags are too long and secondly, they get in the way of the water bottles. Some manufacturers offer smaller frame bags, but even these don't always work. Another option is a customised bag that makes the best possible use of the space above the water bottles. A two-part frame bag in combination with a hydration bladder is also a good option. For the author of this article, the 1.5 litre Apidura Hydration Bladder in combination with an Evoc drinking tube has proven to be a good choice.
Possible small frame bags are available from, among others:
- Ortlieb
- Cyclite
- Miss Grape
- Restrap
- Gramm Tourpacking, fo.Goods, Reisefix, Wit Slingers and more
Handlebar bags for narrow dropbar handlebars
Tip: A flared handlebar - a handlebar with a flare - leaves more space for a bag. In addition, the grip position on the wider handlebar ends offers more control on the gravel bike. This has a positive effect on rough descents.
Some harness systems do not work well with small bikes or narrow handlebars. The reason for this is that the bag is held in the harness with straps and the bag has to be packed narrowly to fit between the handlebar ends of narrow dropbar handlebars. It can then happen that the straps holding the bag or drybag are too far apart or slip outwards and the bag tumbles out in the centre.
How is the saddlebag packed?
Saddlebags must be well packed. Heavier items should be placed at the bottom near the seat post, lighter equipment further up. It is particularly important that everything is stuffed well into the bag so that everything sits firmly and nothing can move. Stuffing and compressing also prevents the bag from buckling or a pack sack from slipping out of the harness.
What do I do if the saddlebag swings?
If the saddlebag swings, check that the straps are tight. If this is not the case, tighten them. If this doesn't help, check whether the contents of the bag are compressed, if not, re-stuff it. If that doesn't help either, try packing the bag smaller and placing heavy equipment further down in the bag.
Sandra Schuberth
Editor
