Old Man Mountain FLiP Cage Bags Roundup: One Cage, Six Bags

Over the last year, I’ve spent a lot of time using the Old Man Mountain FLiP cages. Unlike other systems on the market, Old Man Mountain has made the attachment system available to other brands, allowing different bag makers to put their own spin on cargo carrying using the FLiP platform. My latest video runs through six different options currently using the FLiP system, with my general thoughts and observations on each bag. Check out the full video below, followed by a transcript of all my thoughts.

Last December, we announced that the FLiP cage won an award in our Gear of the Year list. For anyone unfamiliar, FLiP stands for Fast Lock in Place. The cage itself is made of injection-molded nylon that can be configured as a standard cargo carrier using the optional cargo foot, or paired with bags that use Old Man Mountain’s FLiP attachment system for a fast, secure, and rattle-free mount. At launch, Old Man Mountain made the FLiP system available to other bag makers looking to integrate it into their own bag lineups.

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As I covered in my fork bag breakdown video last year, the FLiP system is versatile enough to stand out from other quick-release fork bags or mini pannier systems. Sure, the cages are a little bulky and heavier than most cargo cages at 139 grams, but if you remove the bottom cargo foot, which the FLiP-equipped bags don’t actually rest on, the weight drops to 92 grams. It’s still heavier than similar offerings from Tailfin, Wolf Tooth, or Widefoot, but the dual-purpose design offers versatility unlike any other system. The fact that Old Man Mountain has allowed other, smaller brands to build around this design is something I love seeing in the small-cottage-bag world.

It’s worth noting that all of the bags on this list use the same Old Man Mountain mounting hardware on the back, and that each bag maker includes the cargo cage. There’s a hook on the bottom and a rotating lever on the top that turns 360 degrees in either direction. This connects to what appears to be a rigid internal skeleton that helps each bag maker integrate the hardware seamlessly with the FLiP cage. Let’s go through the FLiP-compatible bags, who makes them, what they’re made from, their weights, capacities, and pricing.

Old Man Mountain Hemlock Bags

304-344 grams / 5-7L capacity / $165-175 at Old Man Mountain

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Starting with the Old Man Mountain Hemlock Bags, these were designed specifically for use with the FLiP system. The company now offers two sizes: 5L and 7L. Because the bags are welded, they’re the only truly waterproof option in the lineup. That said, unless you’re submerging them or packrafting, all of these bags will keep water out reasonably well. They just can’t all claim to be fully waterproof. The Hemlock bags are about as simple as it gets: a roll-top closure with buckles and a clean rectangular shape when packed.

The 5L version measures 43cm tall when fully open, 17cm wide, and 11cm deep. The 7L bag measures 46cm tall, 19cm wide, and 13cm deep. Both are made from TPU fabric with Hypalon reinforcement in high-wear areas. The 5L weighs 304 grams and the 7L weighs 344 grams. Add the 92-gram cage, and you’re looking at a 438-gram total system per side, which is rather competitive for a quick-release fork setup.

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The mounting system makes it easy to throw the bag on and off a fork or rear rack, and the whole thing is refreshingly straightforward. I haven’t logged a ton of miles with the 5L yet, but it would probably be my pick, especially for fork use or supplemental rack storage. The bags are sold in pairs: the 5L at $165 and the 7L at $175. Both are made in Taiwan.

Arkel Forkpacker

245-270 grams / 5-7L capacity / $109-119 at Arkel

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Founded in Canada in 1988, Arkel has been building bike bags for decades, and their FLiP-compatible Forkpacker is made at their facility in Sherbrooke, just outside Montreal. Like Old Man Mountain, Arkel offers both a 5L and a 7L version. They use a roll-top closure with buckles sewn into each side of the opening. I tested the 7L, which has a tapered shape that widens toward the top; a small but smart design choice that makes packing easier. Compared to the more rectangular bags in the lineup, it’s wider with a lower overall profile. It measures 45cm long when open, 22cm wide at the bottom, and about 31cm wide at the top when laid flat. It’s available in various X-Pac or Ultra fabric colors and has a waterproof liner.

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The Forkpacker is a really well-made bag. The stitching and construction are exactly what you’d expect from Arkel. It packs and rolls closed easily, and the tapered shape does a nice job of keeping the load from bulging outward when full. The reflective logo is a nice finishing touch, too. One thing I noticed that sets this bag apart from the rest is that the hardware is mounted higher on the bag, meaning more of the weight sits lower, which makes a lot of sense for weight distribution. I wish some of the larger bags in this roundup offered the same thing. The 5L is $109, and the 7L retails for $119. Unlike some of the other bags on this list, the Forkpacker is sold individually and is made in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

Jack’s Sacks Fork Sack

477 grams / 3L capacity / $95 at Jack’s Sacks

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Next is a bag from of the newer names in the bikepacking bag world, the Fork Sack from Jack’s Sacks. Wes went all out here, creating two distinct versions for the FLiP system. These are among the more complex bags in the lineup. They’re based on Jack’s original Fork Sack, which usually pairs with a King Cage Manything Cage, but Wes redesigned it to work with the FLiP system. The bags are fully structured with stiffeners on all sides and feature mesh side pockets and a Fidlock-style magnetic buckle to secure the roll-top closure.

The bag’s capacity sits around 3L when closed, but if you open it and expand the straps, you can probably squeeze closer to 4L. Size-wise, it measures about 46cm long when fully open and 27cm when closed, 17cm wide, and 9.5cm deep, which is compact, and I like that. The two versions I have look quite different, and Jack’s Sacks offers a wide range of colorways and custom options. The waxed canvas version weighs around 632 grams, while the orange leopard X-Pac version weighs 477 grams.

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These are the most rigid bags in the FLiP lineup, making them easy to handle and grab items from, even when nearly empty. I didn’t end up using the side pockets much, and the Fidlock buckle is a touch heavy and finicky, but overall it’s a really nice bag. Like the Forkpacker, these are sold individually for $95 and are made in Richmond, Virginia.

Nuke Sunrise Stitchworks FLiP Panniers

355 grams / 5L capacity / $100 at Nuke Sunrise

Dave Wilson of Nuke Sunrise Stitchworks is always tinkering with ways to improve bikepacking systems. As a pannier guy, Dave immediately saw the appeal of building a FLiP-compatible pannier around the Old Man Mountain system. His bags stand out from the rest. It uses a fully rigid back panel that extends beyond the mounting hardware, giving it a more structured feel. The bag holds up to 5L and measures about 31cm tall, 22cm wide, and 8cm deep.

The biggest differentiator of the Nuke Sunrise bags is the zipper closure rather than a roll-top. That reduces some fabric weight, with the bag weighing 355 grams. Two zipper pulls run along the X-Pac fabric right up to the closure, creating a tight, weather-resistant seal. Otherwise, it’s a clean, simple bag with one main compartment and no frills, and it’s held up well over the past few months of use.

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One feature I really wish more bags had is a tail-light daisy chain on the side. It’s such a simple addition, but I’ve found myself reaching for this bag more on night rides because of it. Plus, if you’re in orange, you’re visible. Great for hunting season. These bags are sold individually for $100, feature a variety of colors, and are made in Moab, Utah.

Pizza Box Designs Super 6er

388 grams / 5.7L capacity / $300 (pair) at Pizza Box Designs

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Who doesn’t like pizza? At our house, it’s basically a weekly tradition. Pizza Box Designs is a great name, but I didn’t realize until I started testing the Super 6er Micro Pannier that Jon Rizzo was practically a neighbor. He runs Pizza Box Designs just over in Grand Junction, Colorado, sewing up bags for like-minded riders. The Super 6er is a rectangular bag measuring 28cm long, 12cm deep, and 20cm wide. A top flap gives you entry to the main compartment, which is secured down with a bungee cord and a magnetic buckle. Foam padding on the sides and bottom helps it hold its shape and protect whatever’s inside.

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When fully open, you can fit about 5.7 liters of gear inside the bag. Once you pack your belongings, a bungee and cord lock secure everything in place, followed by a buckle and strap that pulls the load back toward the bike. There’s also a small carry handle on the outside, handy for running into a store or hauling it into camp. The bag weighs 388 grams and is made from a distressed waxed canvas sourced from recycled materials. The one downside is that it doesn’t hold its shape particularly well when empty, but it does offer loads of room. The Super 6er is sold in pairs for $300 and made in Grand Junction, Colorado.

San Util Designs Micro Pannier

296 grams / 4L capacity / $105 at San Util Designs

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Rounding out the list is the San Util Micro Pannier, which stands out as the lightest bag in the lineup at 296 grams. It’s based on San Util’s original mini pannier but is slightly scaled down and redesigned for the FLiP system. When open, it measures 44cm tall, 15cm wide, and 10cm deep, with a capacity of about 4 liters. Roll it down, and you’re looking at closer to 2.5 liters, with the height dropping to around 27cm. There’s more going on here than in most of the other bags. The roll-top closure uses a piece of webbing and a buckle at the top. On the outside, there’s a large external pocket, and attached to that pocket is a strap system with a cam buckle and a metal hook that threads through webbing on the back of the bag, letting you cinch the load depending on how full it is.

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Inside, the mounting brackets are exposed, and the interior is lined with high-contrast orange fabric to make finding things easier. I like the overall design and look of the bag, though it takes a bit more fiddling to get dialed compared to some of the simpler options. Once it’s set up, though, it works really well. Like the Nuke Sunrise, it has daisy chains for attaching a rear light, always a welcome feature. Available in a variety of colors with custom options at an added cost. These are sewn in Winter Park, Colorado, and start at $105 each.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, I find the FLiP system is one of the more thoughtful platforms in the small cargo bag space. What makes it interesting isn’t any single bag, it’s the fact that Old Man Mountain opened it up for others to design around. You’ve got welded waterproof bags from Old Man Mountain, bomber structured options from Jack’s Sacks, clean and simple panniers from Nuke Sunrise and San Util, a locally made waxed canvas option from Pizza Box, and decades of bag-making experience behind the Arkel. There’s something here for most riding styles and budgets, which is rare.

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If you’re trying to decide which bag is right for you, it really comes down to how you ride and what you value: weight, structure, waterproofing, or aesthetics. But whichever bag you land on, the mounting system underneath it is the same, and that’s a pretty good foundation to build from. I hope we see more brands adopt this format, because it’s great to see a quick-release system actually being used across so many different brands.

So, do you have a favorite from the bunch? Let us know in the Conversation below…

Further Reading

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