Buffalo Bags Big Buffalo Review: Built For Life

If there’s a bag maker that has perfected the art of unique, limited edition bag drops, it’s Thailand’s Buffalo Bags. They started with bags made from rare fabrics, including vintage military material. Then they introduced eco-printed and dyed bags, as well as a super interesting run of tie-dyed bags. Most recently, they created a line of bags made from fabric printed with cyanotype, one of the oldest photographic methods that uses a UV-sensitive solution to treat the fabric, with items placed on top before being exposed to sunlight. Each limited drop yields unique bags that honor Buffalo Bags’ commitment to high-quality, handmade gear. When they announced a small collection of Big Buffalo handlebar bags made from vintage military tarps a few years ago, I couldn’t resist picking one up for myself.

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Owned and operated by Chatchaphong Kamoolsakpitak, or “Be” for short, Buffalo Bags launched in 2020 and has been growing slowly to offer more, but not just for the sake of growth. Be prides himself on keeping the business small, which means he’s responding to the emails, making the bags, running social media, and doing pretty much everything else. Be moved into a larger workshop in Bangkok as orders increased, and he has two part-time sewers who come in to help tackle large orders and restocks. As Be explained, “I’m slow, but if it’s just a couple of bags, I can make them myself.”

For now, Be is happy keeping the operation small and flexible, which gives him more time to spend on his bike and collaborate on projects with other creative people. He told me more money would be nice, but he doesn’t consider himself a manager, at least right now.

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The Big Buffalo

The Big Buffalo is Buffalo Bags’ top-opening handlebar bag/saddle bag. It was their first production bag, and although it has received a few tweaks over the years, it hasn’t had a significant update. There are three versions available, all identical except for the exterior fabric. The Big Buffalo X-Pac is made from X-Pac, the Big Buffalo Cordura is made from Cordura, and the Big Buffalo Canvas is made, you guessed it, from a more traditional canvas material. Bag weights range from 500 to 1,000 grams, depending on the material and size. Each style is offered in three sizes: small (18L), medium (28L), and large (30L). Aside from capacity and weight, the only difference is that the small size lacks a top-flap zipper and interior pockets. You can check out Buffalo Bags’ sizing chart below for the exact dimensions.

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On the outside, there are two expandable side pockets with adjustable side-release buckles, with two additional buckles to secure the main flap closure. On the back of the bag, two fixed, oversized velcro straps serve as the primary attachment points, and there is also a length of daisy chain webbing to customize how it’s attached to your bike. Unlike most bags that use a wooden dowel or batten at the upper attachment points, Buffalo Bags uses multiple layers of heavy-duty webbing to create structure. A second vertical length of webbing down the bottom/middle of the bag serves as a headtube/fork crown attachment point. The main flap closure can be expanded for oversized loads and is held in place with two snap buttons on the underside of the flap.

Under the flap, there’s a roll-top closure and a webbing strap/buckle to keep the contents secure, doubling as a compression strap. A 210 PU-coated ripstop lining covers the interior of the bag, and two inside pockets provide some organization. The Big Buffalo isn’t waterproof due to its stitched construction, but I’ve found it to be highly weather-resistant. Buffalo Bags includes a waterproof rain cover with the canvas version, since it’s less weather-resistant than the X-Pac and Cordura versions.

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Compared to more technical top-opening bags we’ve seen and tested, the Big Buffalo takes a less-is-more approach with a classic aesthetic. You won’t find nifty integrated metal frames like the new Outer Shell Mega Bar Bag I tested or quick-release mounts like the Ortlieb Handlebar-Pack QR, but the Big Buffalo stands out with its no-frills, built-to-last approach. I think Buffalo Bags’ overall aesthetic and design is more comparable to Wizard Works in the UK, Road Runner Bags in California, or Tribulus in New Mexico.

Big Buffalo Goes Bikepacking

I found myself using the Big Buffalo for commuting, comparisons, and experiments more than anything else. Two years ago, I was working on the Beginner’s Guide to Waxing Bags, and the vintage military tarp fabric ended up being the perfect fabric to wax. It took a few coats, but the waxed finish only enhances the bag’s timeless, vintage aesthetic. The waxed finish has held up great, providing better resistance to weather and dust. This was put to the test during a week-long route-scouting trip on Vancouver Island this summer, and I found myself kicking myself for not using the Big Buffalo on an extended trip sooner.

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Despite being somewhat more utilitarian and less technical than other top-opening handlebar bags I’ve used, the Buffalo Bags Big Buffalo proved to be just as functional. The size large is massive, providing nearly limitless carrying capacity on long trips or when resupply points are few and far between. Between the cavernous main compartment and two massive side pockets, I think I’ve only unbuttoned the expandable flap once or twice while bikepacking, likely to carry some bulky food from a store to camp. I imagine the size medium might make a better all-purpose option, and it’s nice to see the size small for folks with limited tire-to-handlebar clearance.

Riding L/XL frames meant I didn’t have any front tire rub, but due to its size, I preferred using the bag with some additional support. In the case of our Alberni Bam Bam scouting trip, I opted for my well-loved Rawland Rando rack, which provided just enough support to keep things just a bit more stable, while also holding the bag off of the bike’s headtube. The bottom of the bag has a wide strip of webbing to protect from abrasion and several straps, so I ended up using an Austere strap to pull the bag downward onto the rack’s platform. I haven’t strapped down a bag like this before, but given its size, this tactic provided the most amount of stability, which is key when riding off-road.

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The largest version could probably benefit from additional internal stabilization or a stiffener rod/strut at the main handlebar attachment or near the base of the bag. The 30L capacity and heavy canvas construction were a bit much for the single webbing attachment points and thin 1.0mm HDPE sheet that loops under the bag from front to back. The lower wooden dowel on the Bags by Bird Piccolo I tested did a great job of preventing the bag from folding over the bike’s headtube. Seeing Buffalo Bags introduce something similar would be great.

I really liked the overall shape of the bag, which was wider and taller than most of the top-opening handlebar bags I’ve tried. The shallow profile meant my view of the front tire and the trail ahead was less restricted without sacrificing overall capacity. Although the interior roll-top closure was a touch slower to access than the cinch closure on other bags, it never really bothered me while riding. If anything, I preferred having the contents sealed from the outside, allowing me to dry a swimsuit or towel under the main flap without worries of my cargo getting wet. I found the main handlebar straps, at 2″ wide, a little awkward to use on certain handlebar configurations. They often landed right on the curve/rise of the bar, or ending up sitting too close to the brake levers. At 12″ wide (from the outside edge to outside edge) the primary attachment straps might not work on all handlebar setups, especially those running narrow bars.

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• Capacity: 30L
• Material (as tested): Vintage Military Tarp/Ripstop Liner
• Weight: 1,224 grams (waxed military tarp)
• Place of Manufacture: Bangkok, Thailand
• Price: $138-$210 USD
• Manufacturer’s Details: BuffaloBagTH.com

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Further Reading

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