Tailfin Bar Cage Review: Axis of Ingenuity

I’ve long been drawn to the idea of a simple handlebar-mounted mini-rack, an alternative to the ubiquitous soft bar bag. In my view, this style of carrier—a fixed, rigid structure that stabilizes a removable roll-top bag while keeping it clear of cables and controls—strikes a smart balance between minimalist simplicity and functional usability. It offers just enough structure to keep gear stable and secure without the heft, mounting requirements, or complexity of a full rack. It’s a concept many of us on the team have rooted for over the years, and frankly, one we wish was more common.

Still, over the past decade, options have been surprisingly limited. I tested the original Salsa Anything Cradle shortly after it launched in 2016, but found it discouraging due to the difficulty of keeping cargo secure on rougher trails. To be fair, I probably should have revisited it with a fresh perspective—and a couple of Voilé straps, which seem to solve nearly every strap-related issue bikepackers face. I know a few folks who’ve had good experiences with it. Fast-forward nine years and a lot of wishing, and we finally have a more refined crop of options to choose from, each offering a unique spin on this practical gear-hauling concept. The latest is the Tailfin Bar Cage, which might just be the best yet. Read on for the full review, and don’t miss Neil’s video breakdown at the end of the post.

• 
• 

Handlebar cradles—or bar cages, as Tailfin calls them—generally fall into one of two categories: those that clamp to the steerer (like the Good Day Curiosity Spacer Cradle and Rat King Cradle), and those that attach directly to the handlebars. Most handlebar-mounted options only pivot on a single axis, allowing the rack to tilt up and out or down and closer to the headtube. This can be problematic on bikes with shorter head tubes and limited vertical tire clearance, where the rack must be positioned higher and thus farther outward than ideal. And as most riders know, bikes handle better when additional gear weight is placed toward the center, meaning the lower and closer to the headtube, the better when it comes to handlebar-mounted gear.

Axis of Adjustment

What sets the Tailfin Bar Cage apart from other cradles is its double-rotation adjustment system, which has two pivot points: one at the handlebar and a second at the cage itself. This design offers more flexibility, making it easy to dial in the load position exactly where you want it, a feature often missing from other cradles. Compared to models like the Rogue Panda Blue Ridge, Salsa Anything Cradle, and Miss Grape Ilcoso—which lack fine-tune adjustability or require tedious bolt repositioning—the Bar Cage delivers a much more versatile fit. Imagine rotating the clamps upward at the handlebars while angling the rack downward to keep the load as tucked as possible, or vice versa: lowering the clamps and tilting the rack up.

• 
• 

The Tailfin Bar Cage

To achieve this dual-axis system, Tailfin designed the Bar Cage as a two-part assembly comprising the handlebar clamp brackets and the cage. The hinged clamps are machined from aluminum and measure approximately 50mm from the center of the handlebar clamp to the cage’s pivot point. This effectively extends the cage load about 50mm from the bars (based on 31.8mm clamp diameter handlebars). The brackets are compatible with both 31.8mm and 35mm handlebars, using pre-installed removable shims.

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

On the cage side, the smaller circular end of the bracket has a knurled, keyed contour that locks into matching slots on the cage, securing it firmly in place. Once the cage is torqued 4Nm to the barrel bolt pressed into the knurled end, the ridged fitting holds its angle securely. I had no issues with any movement or rotation on very rough singletrack. Based on my measurements, the cage can rotate approximately 135 degrees. Additionally, the cage’s slotted design allows for over 30mm of lateral adjustment, accommodating most stem widths and integrating easily with aerobars. Suffice it to say, this system currently sets the standard for adjustability and adaptability across a wide range of cockpit setups.

• 
• 

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

My only real gripe with the Bar Cage assembly is that it uses different bolt-head standards for each pivot: T25 Torx on the handlebar bracket and a 4mm Allen on the cage attachment. That’s a bit out of character for Tailfin, a brand known for obsessing over the details, and it’s especially annoying if you’re adjusting the cage out in the field. That said, most people probably won’t be switching it between three bikes over the course of a few weeks like I did.

• 
• 

Product Range Snapshot

The Tailfin Bar Cage isn’t just the aluminum cradle hardware. Tailfin built an entire ecosystem around it featuring four main components: the cage, the bags (which come in three sizes), TPU straps, and bolt-on accessories for a GoPro, lights, and a GPS head unit. Before I dig into the bags and how it all performs, here’s a rundown of everything with pricing:

• 
• 

• 
• 

And if you want the Bar Cage, all three Cage Packs, and both mounts, you can get the complete package for a 15 percent discount for £275 / $365 / €320. Note that I didn’t really use the mounts—as in, I didn’t use a GPS or lights on them—but they seem really well executed from my limited first-hand experience.

• 
• 

Packs and a Third Hand

The beauty of handlebar harnesses (and cradles) is that you can strap just about anything to them, whether it’s a tent, sleeping bag, dry bag, extras like tent poles or a fishing rod, or any combination thereof. That approach served me well when I was new to bikepacking, using gear I already owned, including a massive three-person tent with poles too long to fit in most bags. The Tailfin Bar Cage is no different: you can use it with whatever cylindrical items or dry bags you have on hand.

However, Tailfin took things a step further by developing a dedicated line of packs designed specifically for the Bar Cage, each with some clever, cage-specific features. All three packs feature a classic double roll-top closure for easy access and are made from Tailfin’s signature Hypalon and welded Ripstop Nylon. Additional TPU panels are strategically placed in high-wear areas to fend off tire buzz and extend durability.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

These fully waterproof bags include several smart features: an internal carbon strut that improves stability on rough trails, a reinforced area shaped to match the Bar Cage, an air bleed valve, and a slotted/MOLLE-style patch on the front for attaching lights or accessories. But the standout feature—hands down—is the Speed Hooks. These semi-flexible TPU clips (which I affectionately dubbed the third hand) latch onto the top of the Bar Cage and hold the bag in place, making it easier to strap down with both hands free. Simple but brilliant, they do exactly what they’re supposed to. Plus, I suppose, they help keep the bag from rotating during rough riding.

• 
• 

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

As shown in the product overview above, the Bar Cage Packs come in three sizes with diameters of 135mm, 160mm, and 180mm, and capacities of 8, 11, and 15 liters, respectively. In my view, these sizes cover three distinct use cases: the 8L is ideal for ultralight setups or bikes with limited front tire clearance, such as small bikes or long-travel suspension rigs. The 11L hits a sweet spot for standard mountain bikes, and the 15L is particularly useful for drop-bar bikes, where the limited lateral space between the hoods makes extra volume more valuable.

• 
• 

All told, the three sizes offer a nicely rounded range of options. The 8L is a bit small for my needs, while the 11L and 15L both feel well-proportioned for typical bikepacking setups. My only real complaint is the width of the 11L pack. Sometimes, I prefer a little more length on either side of a roll-style bag—a kind of extra-long burrito format. According to Tailfin, the maximum width of the 11L bag (with two rolls for waterproofing) is 540mm (21.3”). For comparison, I’ve always considered the Revelate Sweetroll a gold standard for wide handlebar bags. However, at 22” on paper, that’s a minor difference, but the Tailfin seemed a bit shorter to me. The 15L Bar Cage Pack maxes out at 560mm, right around 22”.

On the Trail (And Does it Rotate?)

I tested the Bar Cage and the two larger packs on three different bikes: a gravel bike, an all-purpose singlespeed hardtail, and the Cotic BFe I just reviewed. As usual, I loaded it with my sleep system (tent, sleeping pad, sleeping bag, pillow). That didn’t meet Tailfin’s 3-kilogram (6.6-pound) off-road weight limit—it was probably closer to 4 pounds—but I rode a lot of rough singletrack during my testing period. To answer the question many of you may have, I never had any issues with the bar clamps or cage rotating. That includes a nighttime rough and rugged descent on the rigid gravel bike down singletrack after a persistent bear kicked me out of camp, a story for an upcoming review.

• 
• 

• 
• 
• 

On carbon bars, Tailfin’s recommended 5Nm torque spec was sufficient to prevent rotation, and on alloy bars I went a hair over to 6Nm as I knew I’d be riding some chunky singletrack. The only issue I had was my bars rotating a little bit in the stem with the gravel bike, but the Bar Cage never budged. In use, it’s another dialed and well-executed product from Tailfin that clearly benefited from thoughtful design and real-world testing.

For the sake of comparison, here’s how the Tailfin Bar Cage stacks up to other cradles on the market:

• Model/Size Tested: Tailfin Bar Cage
• Actual Weight (cage/brackets only): 234 grams
• Place of Manufacture: Taiwan
• Price (cage only): $150
• Price (cage/bag/straps): $200(8L)/$215(11L)/$230(15L)
• Price (2 accessories): $35
• Manufacturer’s Details: Tailfin

Tailfin Bar Cage Review (video)

Neil’s also been testing the Tailfin Bar Cage over the past few weeks and shares his thoughts on the design, durability, purchasing options, and everything else you might want to know in video format. Watch it below…

Further Reading

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