Bring More Stuff on Your Next Ride With These Expert

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With ever-increasing interest in getting and staying outdoors, more people continue to gravitate toward bikepacking and bicycle touring as a sustainable, self-sufficient, and low-cost way to find adventure.

The good news is more brands are getting on board to fuel this trend. Manufacturers are delivering options that make using your bicycle as a means to get away more accessible. Whether it's credit-card touring (eating in restaurants, staying in motels), overnight camping, or even just heading out for a day trip, you’ll need the right bag or bags to carry your gear.

With so many types of bikepacking bags available, it can be challenging to figure out which bag best suits your needs. My recommendations cover every possible scenario. So go ahead and get out there, and best of all, enjoy the journey by bringing everything you’ll need no matter the adventure.

The Expert: As a professional gear tester for more than 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to see some amazing places. I’ve written for and contributed to various publications including Backpacker, Men's Health, Gear Junkie, 5280, and Elevation Outdoors. I’ve been bikepacking for more than a decade and still aspire to traverse some of the country's signature treks. My specialty is one-night missions from my home base in the National Forests surrounding my home in Colorado and other multi-day bikepacking trips around the West. I delight in providing the context and experience that will help you make great gear choices—and have more fun outdoors. Find me on Instagram @definitelywild.

The idea of a bikepacking bag is that it attaches to your bike—whether by fixed attachment points or straps with buckles or Velcro—thus eliminating the need to wear a heavy backpack, which can weigh on your back and shoulders and cause discomfort and fatigue over time.

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Bikepacking bags are designed to attach to just about every part of your bicycle—from your handlebar to frame to seat post—and each serves a unique purpose, whether it's to keep small necessities within reach or larger gear out of your way.

Handlebar packs sit front and center for easy access and security so you’re able to keep an eye on your valuables. Top tube packs fit the same bill but are generally smaller and more accessible mid-ride. Fork packs mount onto either side of your bike's fork legs within your line of sight but far enough out of the way to clear your pedals.

Frame packs offer the sleekest option, tucked into the space between your top and down tubes. In this category, you’ll find a couple types—half-frame bags leave room for water bottle cages and work with just about any frame. The other option is full-frame bags, which can be challenging to use on some bikes, as their triangular shape can be limiting in some frame configurations.

Seat packs hold the workhorse title since they’re able to carry the biggest loads without interrupting your range of motion, but these demand some extra attention to minimize tail waggle.

Short and sweet trips may come down to only one or two storage bags, maybe a hydration pack or fanny pack for good measure, in which case you’re free to pick preferred placements from the lineup of options. But extended backpacking adventures call for a solid packing strategy, combining multiple bags in a variety of placements to make room for it all and spread out the load.

Gone are the days of canvas panniers and unsightly plastic buckets that were common back in the day (yes, people literally bolted empty kitty litter buckets to their bike rack and forks!). Sturdy, weather- and waterproof fabrics are key for protecting your goods, especially items in close proximity to gears, pedals, and the rear wheel—which can kick up water, mud and grit from the road—while still remaining lightweight. Nylon and polyester are common materials, with polyurethane coatings for increased water resistance and ripstop weaves for added durability.

Once you’ve determined which type of trips, and therefore which bag or bags will best suit your needs, you often (depending on the brand) can then choose the size of the bag. Some, like the Topeak Backloader Seat Bag and Revelate Designs Ripio Bike Frame Bag, are available in a range of sizes, from small to extra large (indicated by capacity in liters). Other bag sizes are determined by their placement on the bicycle. Typically, you won't upsize a bag so much as just add bags in other places.

Based on my experience as a cyclist who has done a lot of single- and multi-day bike trips, I chose the best bikepacking bags for every type of cycling adventure, from fast-and-light day trips to overnight treks. When evaluating, I considered the value of each bag on its own, as well as when paired with other bags to create a larger storage and travel system. My recommendations prioritize organization, accessibility, durability, sleek design, and ease of use.

To make your shopping experience even more fulfilling, I chose bags from reputable brands in the bikepacking space and ones that are readily available through online retailers.

The Ortlieb Back Roller Classic Panniers are a staple for any bikepacking setup. Compatible with 8 to 16mm racks, these panniers are easy to mount and remove with a pull of a handle using Ortilieb's QL2.1 system. A hook at the bottom of these panniers also keeps them from bouncing around like other models.

The heavy-duty, rugged fabrics keep spray and dust away from your gear during long trips or bad weather. When day is done or you’ve picked up your necessaries, remove the bag and use the adjustable shoulder strap to carry your panniers inside or to your campsite.

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Back Roller Classic Panniers

$190.00

backcountry.com

This waterproof seat pack is an innovative addition to your gear closet. Complete with a BOA fit system that helps to keep the bag well-adjusted, secure, and snug to your seatpost, it also features a roll-top design. It thrives on long-haul shoulder season trips when you’re not sure what type of conditions to expect. Ready to ride? This bag fits most of your needs.

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Boa Seat Pack

$130.00

backcountry.com

The Topeak MTX stands out due to a heavy-duty build and ease of use. Once the Topeak rack system installed is on your bike, the bag slides on and off without a fuss.

Its robust build with molded panels and varied pocket system make this suitable for both short and long strips, providing enough carry space for everything you need for a day trip, and for the bulk of an overnighter including water, layers, and extra snacks.

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MTX Trunkbag DX

$83.06

amazon.com

This seat pack is perfect for storing light but bulky items like clothes and sleeping bags. The Saddle Bag extends far enough beyond your seat to double as a fender in dirty trail or gravel conditions (with reliable waterproof polyurethane coating to keep your gear dry).

Compression straps and roll closures pack down airy gear as tightly as possible to take up just as much space as you need—no more, no less.

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Seat-Pack Saddle Bag

$131.19

rei.com

The Ortlieb Fork Pack makes good use of otherwise dead space on either side of your wheels, front and back. The Quick-Lock mounting system makes on-and-off transitions effortless while still keeping a reliable grip on the bags during a bumpy ride.

Despite the close proximity to dangerously muddy territory on your wheels near the ground, supreme water resistance and superior fabrics ensure your gear stays safe from the elements. The whole setup, mount included, adds up to only 10.2 ounces, to keep from throwing off your center of gravity too much.

The Fork Packs are best for the bikepacker who has everything, and still needs more capacity, as well as for smaller frames. It's the only product like it in its segment.

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Fork Pack

$48.69

rei.com

Store quick access items in this pouch. The Blackburn Grid Handlebar Bag is a must-have addition for any bike setup with its low-profile and fuss-free access to your phone, snacks, tools, gloves, and more.

Internal mesh pockets keep the contents organized, and the bag's padded structure keeps all of your stuff safe. The bag's multiple attachment points also keep the bag secure on rough terrain, without making it cumbersome. Plus, its full-length zipper means there's no fumbling with a roll-top or cinch.

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Grid Handlebar Bag

$45.00

backcountry.com

Mountain bikes can be finicky for bikepacking since their shocks and frames create less free space for carrying items. This Topeak bag is lined with a waterproof interior barrier, keeping your gear safe from the inevitable mud and dirt that your tires will kick up.

This bag isn't easy to open on the go, but it keeps your extra layers, sleep kit, and food out of sight and out of mind while you hit the trail for a multi-day adventure.

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Backloader Seat Bag

$79.95

backcountry.com

This top tube bag takes great advantage of otherwise dead space on your frame. The Restrap is small and unobtrusive with durable Cordura fabric and a waterproof zipper. The size is ideal for stashing your phone, keys, multi-tool, and gloves for a day or overnight ride.

The small capacity is to your advantage—it keeps you from stuffing it tight so there's no need to sift through junk to get a hand on what you really need right in the moment. Put it this way: this bag is your home for all the small essentials that you’d prefer to keep within reach and eyesight the whole way.

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Top Tube Bag

$60.00

backcountry.com

This full-size Ripio frame bag for road and gravel bikes features three different zippered pockets, each with multiple dividers and straps to please even the most particular rider when it comes to organizing.

The various compartments will save you precious time and energy by eliminating all the pointless digging around for the one thing you need that always seems to sink to the very bottom of your bag.

There's a designated place for everything you can think of, from bike pumps and hydration tubes to keys, tech, and layers. The full frame design takes advantage of every inch between top and down tubes to maximize storage space.

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Ripio Bike Frame Bag

$185.00

rei.com

Small but mighty, the Evoc Multi-Frame pack lets every rider, no matter what bike they’re on, ditch their backpack for good. Built to sit inside your bike's frame, this pack is great for riders with XS bikes and full-suspension frames who otherwise can't fit much between their shocks and water bottle.

The easily adjustable (but sturdy) hook and loop straps mean that finding the perfect fit is easy. Opt for the medium size pack for a hardtail setup. Stick to size small for full suspension set-ups.

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Multi-Frame Pack

$45.00

backcountry.com

BI: What's the best bike for bikepacking?

AHB: Any bike you’re willing to pedal uphill fully laden. People use everything from road bikes to mountain bikes, but the most popular bikepacking bikes fall somewhere in between, such as a gravel bike with endurance geometry and 650B wheels.

BI: When do I need rack mounts?

AHB : Rack mounts are pretty common now on gravel bikes and bikes geared specifically toward bikepacking or adventure cycling. You don't necessarily "need" them to accomplish any bag fitting goal on a bike, but if you do have them, it can make outfitting easier and allow you to use certain bags that are made to work with rack mounts.

BI: What combination of bags do you prefer and why?

AHB: My preference is a small handlebar bag, a small hydration pack, a larger seat bag, and a low frame bag...this just seems to be a good combination/balance for bike handling and capacity.

BI: Any tips for how to pack a bag?

AHB: Yes! But this could be a whole article. You want your weight down low toward your center of gravity; lighter, quick access items can go on the handlebar. Don't carry any more food, water, or gear than you need before your next stop, and don't wear a heavy backpack. Ultralight backpacking gear packed in ultralight stuff sacks is the way to go!

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