Bikepacking bags

Load up your bike without bolting anything on

This is what sets bikepacking apart from traditional cycle touring: no pannier rack. The bags strap directly to the frame, saddle, handlebars and fork. You can therefore load up a road bike, gravel bike or modern MTB with no mounting eyelets — then remove everything in ten minutes to get your unladen bike back.

What goes where

Where you put things isn’t about space but aboutbalance. A bike loaded high up and behind the rear axle feels unstable as soon as you rise out of the saddle.

• Saddle bag, 6–18 L : the largest capacity. Use it for bulky, lightweight items — a sleeping bag and clothing. It moves around the most, so it’s not the place for heavy items.
• Frame bag, 0.8–4.5 L : the right place for heavy items, because it sits low and centrally. Small top-tube bags hold your phone and food, keeping them accessible while you ride.
• Handlebar bag, 1–10 L : bulky, lightweight items here too. Watch the handlebar width and cable routing.
• Fork bag, 4–6 L : it lowers the centre of gravity and frees up the rest of the bike. It mounts to the three fixing points on recent gravel forks, or attaches with straps.

Saddle-bag sway

It’s an inherent drawback of the format: the longer and more heavily loaded the bag, the more it sways from side to side when you pedal out of the saddle. There are three solutions in this category — models with a rigid harness with a removable waterproof bag, the stabilisers that brace against the saddle rails, and simply not putting the heaviest items in it. Also check the clearance above the tyre, especially if you have a dropper seatpost: when extended, it changes all the available clearance.

Waterproofing

Two levels that shouldn’t be confused. A water-repellent withstands a shower; a bag with welded seams and a roll-top closure withstands a full day of rain. Between the two, many models come with a waterproof inner bag removable: it’s often the best compromise, because you can take it off the bike in one piece at the end of the day.

Straps: the consumable essential for bikepacking

Sold separately in several lengths, they let you attach almost anything almost anywhere — a sleeping bag under the handlebars, a tent on the fork or a waterproof bag to a mount. The cargo cages turn a bottle-cage mount into a place to carry gear. Always take one more pair than you think you’ll need.

To find out more: How to plan your cycling route

See also: Saddle bags · Frame bags · Handlebar bags · Fork bags · Panniers