Dispersed Handlebar Roll Review: Two in One

I can’t remember the last time I willingly reached for a one-piece handlebar roll over a harness or top-opening bag. The truth is that handlebar systems have evolved quickly since Revelate Designs introduced the first modern take on a handlebar harness more than a decade ago. Today’s reimaginations of the classic top-opening saddle/handlebar bag are more technical and better suited to off-road riding, harness systems are nearly weightless, and the influx of rigid bar-mounted cradles over the last few years is hard to ignore. Each system has its benefits, but I’ve grown to appreciate the simplicity and functionality of harness systems and top-opening bags. All-in-one handlebar rolls fell out of style. Or did they?

Last winter, Dispersed Bikepacking added a new handlebar roll to their growing lineup of bikepacking bags. At first glance, I assumed it was just another lightweight, all-in-one system, but there’s more to it than that. This is no surprise, considering Dispersed Bikepacking is owned and operated by Katie and Andrew Strempke, who have set several race records and impressive ultra-endurance finishes over the years. If a duo fully understands the unique needs of bikepackers, the wear and tear bags, and the importance of reliable gear, it’s them. Despite being relatively new to the bag-making scene, everything I’ve used from them has been solid and well-made, so I had high hopes for their slick new handlebar bag.

After living and working from their van for a few years, Katie and Andrew now design and make their bags in a small off-grid workshop in the La Sal Mountains of Utah. Their equipment runs on solar power, and the nearest post office is a 10-mile ride away when the snow clears. They have no running water, but there’s a spring nearby. The cabin is only 16 x 12 feet, so there’s little room for luxuries beyond a small loft bed and a wood stove. Andrew tells me they do their cooking outside. I had the pleasure of meeting him and Katie a couple of years ago outside of Phoenix for a ride and a swim, and they’re some of the most down-to-earth folks I’ve met.

The Dispersed Bikepacking Handlebar Roll uses a unique dual-bag system optimized for efficiency. It consists of an outer handlebar roll-style bag that stays attached to the bar and a secondary lightweight and waterproof dry bag that nests inside it. According to Dispersed, the result is a “robust and waterproof system that’s quick and easy to use,” which sounds exactly like something an ultra-endurance racer would design.

Andrew said a few specific situations helped inform the Handlebar Roll’s design. He and Katie used a heavy-duty dry bag alongside a harness system, but he didn’t like to hold it in place while fastening it, and the dry bag still developed holes over time. Still, he liked how solid the system was, with additional Voile straps wrapping around the entire system and over the handlebars. While racing the Colorado Trail a few years back, Andrew had an incident where he strapped a wet tarp to the top of his dry bag, kinking his front brake hose when his suspension bottomed out, and he eventually lost his front brake. Andrew says sliding the inner drybag inside the outer roll helps avoid pinching cables and hoses and gives a place for dry items (inside the dry bag) and wet items (inside the exterior) to live without dangling things on the outside.

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Design and Installation

The Handlebar Roll is more than just two dry bags. The exterior roll is made from Challenge Outdoor’s ULTRA 200x fabric, a mix of woven Ultra-PE and polyester, laminated to a polyester film. It is said to have about four times the abrasion resistance of other 400d U-PE fabrics and excellent overall durability. For quick-access storage, there’s an integrated front pouch with a drawstring cinch sewn directly to the roll, made from a lightweight and tear-resistant UltraStretch fabric. The inner bag is made from Challenge Outdoor’s TX ULTRA fabric (an ultralight laminated ripstop polyester with cross-ply reinforcement fibers), has taped seams for a waterproof construction, and features roll-top closures at both ends with standard plastic side-release buckles.

The roll attaches to the handlebar using Voile Nano Straps and foam spacers to provide clearance for cables. The bag is reinforced with some thick webbing and a strip of daisy chain where the straps attach, but otherwise, it doesn’t have any rigid reinforcement or dowel. There’s another thick section of webbing and a small vertical daisy chain toward the base for a headtube attachment paracord, and they throw in a piece of helicopter tape to protect your bike’s headtube. All the stitches on the exterior bag are seam-taped on the inside, but Dispersed can’t guarantee a fully waterproof construction due to the number of stitches. The exterior roll holds approximately 9 liters and is about 25″ wide unrolled but closer to 18″ wide with the recommended three rolls at each end. The inner drybag is the same width but slightly narrower to make sliding it inside easier.

Installing the exterior portion of the Handlebar Roll is as simple as it gets. The only tricky part is deciding where to route your cables and hoses because—unlike rigid cradles—the roll sits directly against the front of the bike. Its lack of a rigid dowel or strut at the attachment point makes the installation more awkward. Still, it also allows for some wiggle room when it comes time to figure out where to position your cables because it’s less of an issue for them to squish into the roll when fully loaded. The included headtube paracord has a small loop sewn into the end, which does a good job of ensuring the cord lock doesn’t accidentally pop out. The Voile Nano Straps are a simple yet effective way to attach everything to the handlebar.

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The beauty of the dual-bag system is that the inner drybag is quick to remove at camp and easier to pack off the bike than a standard all-in-one roll setup. The inner bag has a slippery laminate finish, making stuffing lightweight fabrics on sleeping bags, puffy jackets, and tents much easier. Plus, the exterior bag has the same slick laminate, so sliding the inner bag inside is quick and painless.

Both bags are sized just right, so a tightly packed inner bag perfectly fills the space inside the exterior roll, creating a tight setup. Once packed, two additional 25″ Voile Straps wrap around the entire system and over the handlebar, looping through two horizontal daisy chains above and below the front pocket. As long as you’ve packed the inner drybag tightly, the Voile Straps pull the entire setup snugly against the front of the bike, leaving practically no wiggle room or slop.

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Observations and Comparisons

The Dispersed Handlebar Roll has the potential to be surprisingly stable, considering how minimal the overall design is. It’s one of the most stable systems I’ve used, paired with the two larger Voile straps and a tight inner drybag. Of course, it’s not a big bag, which helps, and there’s nothing revolutionary about the design. Still, it works well and is different from anything currently available.

However, it falls short in some ways compared to other systems. Because the system relies on the inner dry bag to provide rigidity to strap against, it’s best suited for rides where the contents of the inner dry bag stay mostly the same day after day. Unlike a versatile top-opening bag or cradle, which is also ideal for commuting and day rides, the roll isn’t that useful for much beyond bikepacking trips. It also sits directly against the head tube of the bike, which is where rigid cradle systems shine, especially for bikes with awkward cable routing or limited tire-to-bar clearance. You’ll want to use the helicopter tape Dispersed provides and accommodate for handlebar rotation.

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All that said, despite its minimalist nature, it functions better than I initially expected. I might consider adding an additional foam block at the head tube attachment point to make extra room for cables and hoses. However, that might also call for a longer paracord, as the one Dispersed provides isn’t very long. I thought about replacing the paracord with a Voile strap for a more secure attachment, but the paracord slides nicely along the headset spacers and works well as a lower attachment point.

The front UltraStretch pocket might be my favorite element of the handlebar roll. I usually ditch optional front pockets as they bounce around on rough terrain, but I love how Dispersed integrated theirs directly into the exterior roll. It’s spacious enough to be useful but not so big that you’re likely to overfill it. Having the daisy chain above it is a nice touch, providing a spot to lash essential items for additional security. I found it useful for ride snacks, garbage, and my Garmin inReach Mini. Plus, I could even stuff a lightweight wind jacket into it with room to spare.

At 325 grams, the Dispersed Handlebar Roll is pleasantly light. It’s over 100 grams lighter than the 11L and 15L Revelate Designs Sweetroll but has a far less sophisticated design and attachment system. It’s just under 100 grams heavier than the more minimal Revelate Designs Pronghorn harness but has the benefit of an integrated front pocket and the two-bag system. The Dispersed Handlebar Roll is a little more expensive than other minimal rolls and harnesses, but again, most come with one storage option and no front pocket. The $175 price tag is justified, although still pricey, considering that Andrew and Katie handmake each bag in a solar-powered cabin.

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• Capacity: 9L
• Material: ULTRA 200x / UltraStretch / TX ULTRA
• Weight: 325 grams (11.5 ounces)
• Place of Manufacture: Utah, USA
• Price: $175 USD
• Manufacturer’s Details: Dispersed

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