Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
Wizard Works Forres Frame Bag Review: Full Frame Function
With so many great full-frame bag options on the market, the Wizard Works Forres had its work cut out to distinguish itself from the crowd. However, after several overnighters, bikepacking through the Ozarks, and lengthy test periods on three different bikes, Nic feels that this universal frame bag may be the best in class for gravel bikes with ample inner triangle space. Read his Wizard Works Forres review here…
The small team at Wizard Works is based in central London and makes every bag by hand in their Greenwich facility, using naming conventions that center on the fantastical. The Wizard Works Forres frame bag is based on a real place in Scotland, however, albeit with some mystical tie-ins. Featuring a witches’ rock, Forres, Scotland, also serves as the meeting place for Macbeth and the witches in the titular play.
As for the bag itself, the Forres is a universal full-frame bag for bikes with a large inner triangle and limited top-tube slope. Whether they’re randonneuring-style bikes with level top tubes or modern gravel bikes with a slight slope to their design, the Forres frame bag will work best with bikes that maximize their inner triangle space. The large size I tested is a good, do-it-all offering, especially since there isn’t a ton of inner exposed head tube needed to make this bag size work.
Attachment-wise, the Forres frame bag uses both a lace-up and a strap-like attachment. With five double attachment points for the included straps and a full, lace-up system for the top tube, the Forres has several contact points on the bag, keeping the edges relatively tight for ease of use. The main compartment is a single area split into two smaller compartments accessible through two zippers, one upper and one lower. The inner area of the frame bag features a velcro-actuated divider that does a solid job of keeping the compartments separate if you need more organization. The upper level of the frame bag also has two netted pockets for holding small tools and objects that might otherwise get lost in the larger frame bag.
The smaller, lower compartment of the frame bag has a drainage hole at the very nadir of the bag and no extra dividers. Each main compartment zipper is oversized and hasn’t snagged once or caused any issues during my nearly year-long test period. The zippers also feature a small corded loop at the rear ends of the bag, which makes it easier to close if users hold the loop with one hand and the zipper with the other. Because the zippers run the length of the bag, zipping it back up can be a little tedious, given the bag’s lack of tension, particularly on the top zipper.
Though rival UK bag-maker Tailfin has largely addressed this issue by adding a carbon fiber rod to the length of its bag zippers, the corded loop system is a nice addition that helps with zipping the bag, as it allows users to keep tension on the zipper with one hand free. The less lengthy lower zipper doesn’t suffer from this issue as much due to the lack of length, but it should be noted that it’s nigh impossible to zip the longer upper zipper back up while riding.
The non-drive side of the bag has a slit for hydration bladders or anything else one might want to route through the main compartment and out. As for width, I tested the Forres frame bag on three bikes of different frame materials, and it worked well on designs that kept to the same general frame shape. From squashed aluminum alloy to tubular carbon fiber, the frame bag fit well on all the bikes I used it with and truly lived up to its “universal fit.” Though I’d venture to say the bag would benefit from having a strap attachment at the very front of the bag, where the exposed inner top tube area sits for the sake of eliminating what ends up being an annoying amount of space that opens up between the bag and the frame, the attachment system otherwise works well on a variety of frame sizes and shapes that generally adhere to a typical inner frame shape.
From a storage perspective, some are a little hesitant to don a full-frame bag because it takes away the ease of use and access to water bottle storage. While I can certainly understand that sentiment, it’s not actually something that posed a huge issue during my time using the Forres frame bag. For day rides and even bikepacking trips, the combination that served me best was fitting two small bottles in the lower compartment of the framebag and carrying a water filter in the upper storage area. With the large frame bag size, two small 21oz bottles fit fine in the lower compartment and are even accessible and usable while riding. For bikepacking, this gives a decent amount of water when coupled with a filter or something like a stem bag, while allowing users to reap the benefits of a full-frame bag for holding awkward items.
Though Wizard Works is on a quest to make all of their offerings fully waterproof, thanks to the acquisition of a seam sealer I covered on my shop visit, the existing or backlogged line of Wizard Works bags isn’t usable in wet-weather conditions, as Harry and Ve told me during my visit; waterproof means different things to different people. On my various trips and uses of the Forres frame bag, including a very wet time in the Ozarks, all the items inside stayed dry thanks to the 500D Cordura outer material, the end-zipper covers, and all seams being covered or double-stitched. The opening for the frame bladder never caused an issue either, as the slot features a doubled-over cover that requires some force to move the hose through and thus doesn’t sit open and exposed.
- Model Tested: Forres Frame Bag, Large
- Actual Weight: 410 grams (14.46 oz)
- Place of Manufacture: London, England
- Price: $240 USD at Wizard Works
Pros
- Fits a variety of different inner triangle sizes.
- Largely waterproof.
- Inner storage divider is useful and versatile.
- Large size provides ample room for bikepacking gear and necessities.
Cons
- Full-frame bags aren’t for everyone.
- Omni-strap placement can leave some aesthetically displeasing frame space.
- The longer top zipper can be tough to actuate while riding without proper tension.
Wrap Up
With a variety of solid frame bags on the market, the Wizard Works Forres frame bag simplifies selection for gravel bike owners by offering a solid, do-it-all option with versatile features. With extremely water-resistant Cordura construction, oversized, easy-to-use durable zippers, an internal divider system that allows flexibility of use, and enough inner frame bag space for a ton of storage, there aren’t many non-custom full frame bags with as many features for the same price. Rivaling the cost of US-made options, this full-frame bag could be an easy, go-to option for any bike with the frame shape capable of maximizing its potential.
Further Reading
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