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Most bikepacking bags are made from synthetic, petroleum-based fibers, but Decathlon challenged the status quo by creating a one-of-a-kind linen bike bag. The project led to a three-year exploration of the European flax supply chain, and they shot an interesting documentary that walks us through the entire process, from field to assembly. Learn about the new Decathlon Linen Half Frame Bag and watch the 20-minute video here…
Although there have been some advancements in the world of technical fabrics, including recycled fabrics and PFAS-free water-repellent coatings, most technical fabrics are made from synthetic, plastic-derived fibers that aren’t great for the environment. Decathlon set out to see if this could be done differently, and the result was a three-year exploration of the European flax supply chain.
It turns out 75 percent of the world’s flax production grows between Normandy and Amsterdam, so their team traced the entire process, from the fields, scutching (separating all the components of the flax), spinning the fibers onto a spool, weaving, and assembly. One interesting finding is that all production stages are accessible by train, so the team visited each stage by train or bicycle as part of the project.
The result is a Decathlon half-frame bag, made from European linen. The cultivation and scutching happen in France, the yarn is made in Poland, the weaving occurs in France, and the final bag is sewn in Czechia. The bag is designed to minimize waste fabric, and it reduces its carbon footprint by 34 percent compared to a similar synthetic bag. Watch the 20-minute documentary Decathlon put together below, which dives deeper into each step of the process. It’s in French, so you may need to turn on subtitles.
The 2.5L Linen Half Frame Bag has a drive-side and non-drive-side zippered pocket, one external mesh pocket, adjustable velcro mounting points, and it comes in one size that works best on medium to extra-large frames. It’s a non-waterproof, stitched textile bag, so you’ll need to store sensitive gear in waterproof bags or elsewhere on your bike if you ride in all conditions.
The Linen Half Frame Bag is available now from Decathlon.co.uk for £49.99.
Further Reading
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