Strapping a few bags to a bike is nothing new. But as bikepacking grows in popularity, bag makers are pushing the norm with new bags and innovations. Find reviews and insights in the posts below.
As a follow-up to his tutorial on making a simple rectangular stuff sack, Dave Helbig returns with this step-by-step guide to making your own cylindrical stuff sack—a shape that’s perfectly suited to cinching into a cargo cage, a handlebar harness, or underneath your saddle. Find detailed instructions here…
The Wizard Works Shazam! Saddle Bag is a modern take on a classic design, with a massive carrying capacity, roll top closure, and rugged construction. After several months of use, Miles shares his impressions, including the positives and negatives of relying on such an enormous bag for bikepacking as a saddle bag and handlebar bag—plus a closer look at the Carradice Bagman Support.
The updated 2020 Swift Zeitgeist saddlebag/handlebar bag was announced a couple months ago. Prior to its release, we had the chance to put a lot of hard miles on a prototype model, provide feedback, and ultimately help make improvements to the final design. Here’s the full review…
The Wizard Works Alakazam Basket Bag comes in two sizes, designed to fit Wald 137 and 139 baskets, and uses an expandable roll-top closure for an easily adjustable and versatile fit. It’s well suited for everything from running errands to dirt road touring, and is handmade in London, UK. Here’s our full review after a few months of daily use…
REI recently released two new bikepacking bags, each constructed with a unique tan, Bluesign approved ripstop nylon. Both have a few unique features. Learn more about the REI Link Seat Pack and Link Handlebar Bag in these two video reviews…
In our latest Make Your Own Bikepacking Gear (MYOBG) tutorial, David Helbig provides a step-by-step guide to making your first simple roll-top stuff sack. Learn what it takes to get started here…
In the latest video on our new YouTube channel, Neil reviews a custom Cedaero bolt-on frame bag after 1,500 miles of use and abuse, including tough winter ultras like the Arrowhead 135. Watch it here and see a gallery of photos of it on his Beargrease…
Revelate Designs just released the new Spinelock System, creating two incredibly stable, waterproof seat bags with a quick-release pin mounting plate that attaches to an innovative saddle rail clamp. We had the chance to put one through some rigorous testing over a month on Colombia’s ultra-bumpy dirt roads. Here’s the full review…
As bikepackers, we often seek ways of keeping our setups light, minimal, and rattle-free, whilst still increasing capacity when we need to. For those running a truss fork instead of suspension or a more conventional unicrown, Jones’ Truss Fork Pack is a clever way of making it all work, and one that will likely suit smaller riders too. Cass spent a few months testing a pair for this review…
In 2019 Joe pedaled in Bosnia, on dirt roads from Munich to Marseille, and on a folding bike in Portugal. Closer to home he rode along the Mexico/Arizona border and was part of the Arkansas scouting mission for the No Place Like Oz loop. Not to mention a 50th birthday party of three days of massive gravel rides in Vermont with a few dozen close friends. Along the way he put plenty of new things to the test. Find his favorites here…
Next up in our Editor’s Dozen gear lists, Miles shares his thoughts on some components, clothing, and events that stood out in 2019. After six months on the road, from the Pacific Northwest to the Southeast and back again, Miles has packed in his fair share of riding. Here are a dozen items that have continued to prove their usefulness, over and over again…
With a lot of good items left over from our awards roundups, we’re putting down some of our favorites in several end of the year Editor’s Dozen gear lists. Here’s a collaboration from Virginia and Logan with twelve of their prized bikepacking finds from 2019…
