Buckhorn Bags Top-Opening Handlebar Bag: The Bag That Never Got Made

At the beginning of 2024, Sam Lutz, the founder and original owner of Buckhorn Bags, got in touch to chat about some new designs he was working on. We were mutually excited, and the call ended with plans for Sam to send over his newest offering, a top-opening handlebar bag. I tested it thoroughly, and six months later, I had not one, but two redesigned versions in my hands and ready for further testing.

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Last summer, that journey came to an abrupt halt when Stefan and Cayti Blair took over ownership of Buckhorn Bags, and the handlebar bag project was gently set aside. Usually in this scenario, I’d either send the bag back to the brand or abandon the project, but Emily and I found ourselves reaching for it time and again. I always felt a little funny about “testing” a bag from a brand with no plans to produce it, but Emily and I agree it’s one of the best-performing top-openers in our varied bag collection. It’s about time I explain why.

Buckhorn Bags Prototype 003

Each handlebar bag I tested built on the previous iteration, but the overall concept remained the same. Sam set out to create a top-loading handlebar bag capable of performing well on chunky, technical terrain, and one that didn’t feel too big for singletrack.

The prototypes all featured an expandable flap-style closure, two webbing straps with G-hook buckles for the main closure, cinching side pockets, and a stretchy front sleeve for quick-access items. The handlebar attachment consisted of a webbing daisy chain and rigid stiffener, and there was a vertical daisy chain for a headtube strap. The bag’s main structure maintained its wide, U-shaped profile thanks to an internal plastic sheet.

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Compared to other handlebar bags I’ve used, the Buckhorn Bags prototype stands out because of its wide, shallow shape. It resembles a large handlebar roll rather than a deep, bottomless bar bag, and it’s the Buckhorn’s unique shape that has had us reaching for it more than others in the same category. I generally find top-opening bags too bulky for singletrack or extremely rough terrain, as they’re big and block my view of the trail ahead. Packed tightly, the Buckhorn Bags version sits tight to the bike. It doesn’t come close to hitting your front tire, even with suspension, but when it comes time to overpack it after a big resupply, you still have the versatility of a top-opening, expandable bag.

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I’ve tested three versions of the bag now. The first was made from a cotton-faced X-Pac fabric, but there were some issues with the durability of the upper attachment points, and I found the G-hook buckle on the inner compression strap for the main opening awkward. The second one I tested was made from a waxed canvas, so it was much heavier, but it addressed these issues with another layer of webbing across the upper attachment points and a simple side-release buckle for the center compression strap.

The final prototype Sam made was constructed with a timeless, natural-colored X10 X-Pac fabric. I shipped the two other prototypes back to him at some point during my testing, but I’m fairly sure the waxed canvas and X10 version were nearly identical. Emily and I have used it on a number of trips, including the Monumental Loop two winters ago, a handful of local overnighters, and most recently on a week-long scouting trip on Vancouver Island. The other versions accompanied me on the Kootenay Confluence scouting trip in the West Kootenays and our Madrean Rugged Ramble scouting trip in Arizona. I can’t think of another handlebar bag we’ve tested as thoroughly as this one.

What I Liked, and What I Didn’t

Naturally, I was inclined not to publish anything about this bag since Buckhorn doesn’t currently offer it for sale, but considering how much Emily and I have used it, I think it’s well worth sharing some thoughts on what I liked and what I didn’t. First up, the good.

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Things I Liked

Width and Height

The Buckhorn Bags prototype hit that sweet spot when I wasn’t ready to commit to a larger top-opening bag but still wanted to get a little shreddy. Its generous 15” (38cm) width meant I could fit short bikepacking tent pole segments inside, along with other awkward gear like a stove, sleeping pad, food, and extra layers.

Unlike other top-opening bags, it doesn’t require much clearance between the handlebars and the top of the front tire. There’s about 5.5” (14cm) between the upper attachment points and the bottom of the bag, making it easy to reach for when using a suspension fork. Emily has also had no issues with clearance on her medium Esker Japhy.

Structure and Shape

Most top-openers look somewhat similar, but the Buckhorn’s unique proportions make it feel different than the others I’ve used. It’s expandable, which is great for when you need it, but its smallest, most compressed form is why I continue to reach for it. With the roll-top closure rolled down tight, and the center compression strap cinched down, it’s not much bigger than a large handlebar roll, or about 8” deep, 7.5” tall, and 16” wide (20 x 19 x 41cm) with contents in the two outside pockets.

The interior stiffener has done an excellent job of holding the bag’s shape, and it hasn’t deformed at all over the years. The X10 X-Pac has some structure, which seems to help too. This is especially obvious on the two exterior side pockets, which have a solid, rigid feel that hold contents securely when cinched up. I normally stuff a fuel canister in one side and some sunscreen in the other, and I haven’t lost anything from them yet.

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The Fabric

The cotton-faced X-Pac X10 in the natural colorway is probably one of my favorite fabrics ever. Sure, it shows everything, but that’s part of the charm. It’s made of a 10oz natural cotton duck outer face, with black polyester X-Ply inner sandwiched by a 0.5 mil shiny polyester film backing. Because the bag is sewn together and not seam-taped, it’s highly water-resistant, rather than waterproof, yet it has kept contents dry throughout some fairly serious downpours.

A Few Things I Didn’t

Weight

The Buckhorn isn’t exactly lightweight at 947 grams (2.08 pounds), but it’s comparable to other burly top-openers like the Ron’s Bikes Fabio’s Chest and Bags by Bird Goldback. Similar to those bags, the expandable design adds a notable amount of fabric and weight to the setup. If the Buckhorn Bags handlebar bag is ever brought to life, I’d be okay if they ditched the second expandable flap. With the roll-top closure and adjustable buckles, it’s already easy to overfill.

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G-Hook Buckles

G-hook buckles are low-profile fasteners most commonly used as a connection point on bags and gear with webbing straps. The webbing wraps through the slots on one end, offering quick adjustments, and a G-shaped hook on the other end connects to a daisy chain or webbing loop. Bag makers like them because they lie flat and are generally quick to connect and disconnect, but I find them awkward and frustrating most of the time. I’d be happy to see the G-hooks replaced with standard side-release buckles. Jay at Bags by Bird makes some of the best top-opening bags in the biz, and he normally uses such buckles.

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A Tighter Daisy Chain

This also relates to the two main G-hook buckles and the webbing they attach to. The space between the daisy chain sections feels slightly too long, and I often wish for a place to hook the buckle that’s in the middle of two daisy chain sections.

Rolling X10 X-Pac

I mentioned earlier that the cotton-faced X-Pac X10 was something I liked, and I stand by that, but its structure and thickness make it less functional as a roll-top closure. I’m sure it would add complexity and increase the bag’s price, but I’d be curious to see what a hybrid construction would look like—where a slightly lighter fabric was used for the roll-top closure, protected by the burly X10 top flap.

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Further Reading

Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...