The best bikepacking bags 2024: clever kit-carrying solutions for your pedal-powered adventures

Bikepacking is a brilliant way to explore tracks, trails and lost lanes, but how you stash and carry your gear makes all the difference between an incredible outdoor adventure and a calamitous ordeal – here we suss out the best bags for bikepacking, from frame, saddle and bar bags through to packs and panniers.

Keeping your kit tidy and your steed perfectly balanced is crucial to any successful overnight or multi-day cycling escapade, and you need to be careful about how and where you pack heavier essential items such as your sleeping bag, camping mat, lightweight tent or bivy bag, little cooking stove and camping food. To get it right you really need the best bikepacking bags you can get your hands on. Fortunately, the soaring popularity of the pursuit means there is now a much larger choice of bespoke, purpose-built bikepacking bags on the market, and the days of improvising with whatever you can find are long over.

Rationalizing your gear, packing smart and being as minimalist as you can comfortably get away with remains pretty important. And, of course, the kind of bike you are using will often determine the style of pack you can use, especially in regards to frame bags, with full-suspension mountain bikes often proving a lot more problematic to pack than less-cluttered gravel bikes. But whatever you’re riding and wherever you’re planning on pedalling to, using the best bikepacking bags will immeasurably improve the experience. 

Pat Kinsella

Author of Caving, Canyoning, Coasteering…, a recently released book about all kinds of outdoor adventures around Britain, Pat has spent 20 years pursuing stories involving boots, bikes, boats, beers and bruises. En route he’s canoed Canada’s Yukon River, climbed Mont Blanc and Kilimanjaro, skied and mountain biked through the Norwegian Alps, run an ultra across the roof of Mauritius, and set short-lived records for trail-running Australia’s highest peaks and New Zealand’s Great Walks. Follow Pat’s escapades on Strava here and instagram here.

The quick list

Here's our Quick List, starting with our top performers when it comes to quality bikepacking bags. For a more detailed look at these excellent holdalls, navigate further down this guide.

The best bikepacking bags we recommend in 2024

Best long frame bag for bikepacking

Available in three sizes, so you can select the right option for your bikepacking steed of choice, this excellent bag is mounted beneath the top tube and fastens to the frame very securely in three separate directions, for a rock solid, zero-wobble fit. 

All three sizes have a narrow profile, so your legs don’t brush against the bag while you’re pedalling, but this pack still offers excellent capacity (the large model boasts an impressive 5L volume). Centrally and securely located on the frame, it is the ideal place to stash non-bulky but heavy items ranging from tent pegs and poles to tools, pumps, stoves, fuel and food supplies. 

The material (which includes some recycled fabrics) is tough and weatherproof, and you can wipe it down – useful, since the positioning means it gets oil and filth thrown at it from the drivechain.  Access is easy (even while you’re riding) with a double-action zipper with pull-tabs to help when you have gloves on; although it does favor right-handed people, as the zip is only on the right side.   

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Best bikepacking frame bag for mountain bikes

Designed to fit snugly and securely in the triangle of your bike frame, and boasting an access zip on both sides (with oversize pull loops so you can operate them with gloves on), the Bilbie is ideal for carrying smaller items that you might want to access mid-ride without stopping, such as sunglasses, snacks and your smartphone. A protected front-facing cable port enables you to run wires out from a device that’s being kept safely inside. 

It’s half-sized, so it can be used on most full-suspension mountain bikes, but being extremely secure and centrally positioned, you can also use it to stash heavier items like tools and a pump, or perhaps tent pegs. You can even fit water bottles or other heavy fluids in it (it accommodates at least a couple of beers, according to our tester). 

Made primarily from lightweight but tough and tear-proof VX21 fabric (or wax cotton, for an extra tenner) with YKK Aquaguard zips, this is a reliably weatherproof bag that can take plenty of punishment. There are multiple loops on the front and top of the Bilbie, so you can choose where to employ the three Velcro straps (included), but since these are removable, care needs to be taken not to misplace them.   

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Best frame bag for bike-based daypacking and commuting

A stylish pack with two separate compartments, the Chrome Industries 4L Doubletrack can be fastened to your bike frame during cycling trips and then unattached and used as a crossover bag when you’re booting about town. 

Three straps fix the Doubletrack within the triangle of the frame, two looping over the top tube and one going around the upright, all of which can be tightened and fastened with a buckle. Access to the two compartments is via zips with chord pull-tabs, which can be operated with gloves on. 

Separating the inner into two compartments makes sense from an organization point of view, but it does severely limit the storage capacity of the pack and, despite its name, this bag is far better suited to commuting and day riding than serious bikepacking. 

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Best top tube-mounted bikepacking bag

Designed to sit on top of your top tube, with a single full-length zip that’s easy to open with its oversize pull loop, this handy little bag can accommodate all kinds of tempting treats, from bananas and trail mix to energy bars and gels. 

The two Velcro straps are secured to the bag, so they can’t get lost, and the front one fits around your handlebar stem while the rear one hugs the top tube. It’s robustly made, with waterproof material and a YKK AquaGuard zip, so you can keep a phone in the bag pretty safely, but there is a little bit more wobble in the Fuel Pod than in the Bilbie, so we don’t recommend stashing anything too heavy inside (a cradle is available, sold separately). 

This nifty bag – perfect on its own for day trips, or as part of a more extensive setup for multi-day escapades – fits on any kind of bike. 

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Best small-volume and versatile top tube pack for bikepacking

A really versatile little top tube bag with an aerodynamic design and multiple attachments points that can be securely positioned at the front of your frame, Velcro hooked around the handlebar stem, or at the back connected to the seat post. 

Waterproof in all but the most torrential rain, with excellent two-way double-zip access, this is the ideal storage place for everything from snacks and tools to smartphones, and a weatherproof portal allows you to run a cable out of the bag from a digital device. 

The zips have cord pull loops that can be operated with gloves on. There are mesh pockets on the inside of the bag, which help with organization if you want to keep certain small items somewhere you can quickly put your hand on them. 

Ideal for stand-alone day rides or as part of a more comprehensive bikepacking setup.

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Best big-volume saddlebag for bikepacking

This capacious saddlebag from creative British brand Alpkit can hold a huge amount of your most crucial and cumbersome kit (bivy bag, tarp, small sleeping bag, camping mat) without it getting in the way while you’re pedalling. 

Essentially it’s a 17L dry bag with a custom-made cradle to keep it securely in place while you ride over any sort of terrain. Stick your gear in, roll the top over at least three times, clip and secure it into the rack holster and you’re off. 

It’s possible to buy the bag on its own, but you can’t mount it on your bike without the rack, which is nice and easy to affix to your saddle and seat post, and keeps the whole ensemble from wobbling too much even on technical trails. At camp you can leave the cradle on your bike and take the bag off, which makes loading the bike up the next morning very quick and easy. 

The bag material is very robust and weatherproof, which it needs to be as it cops a lot of muck coming off the back wheel (and the fabric finish does get grubby over time, because it’s not overly easy to clean). 

The Big Papa is fiddly to use with some full-suspension mountain bikes because, unless you have a very rigid lock-out system at the back, and you’re happy to dispense with the travel, the bag can rub on the rear wheel.

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Best handlebar bikepacking bag for tracks and lanes

One of the hero products from the recent collaboration between American behemoth bicycle brand Specialized and Swedish outdoor apparel and pack specialists Fjällräven, this rather retro-looking handlebar bag is capable of holding a huge amount of kit. 

Rack mounted, with a very secure fit once everything is assembled correctly (which does require some degree of faff to begin with) you can stash all sorts of stuff inside this 9L space, from cooking stoves to clothing, but we would advise against packing anything particularly heavy in here if you’re riding technical tracks (the rack-supported bag can cope with weight no problem, but being bar-mounted it will affect the way your bike handles on tricky trails). 

Once the rack is installed on your bike, the bag can be removed and reattached easily, which makes packing hassle free. Easily accessible from the saddle while you’re riding, and simple to open with one hand, it’s ideal for holding maps, waterproof layers, cameras and food, and the mesh pockets on the top and side increase the carry capacity even more. 

The semi-rigid construction is protective and will keep all but the worst weather out, but the closure method (a popper) is a weak point (you can buy a fully waterproof cover if you want to spend yet another 25 notes).

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Best handlebar bikepacking bag for technical routes

A large bar bag, the Kuoka can accommodate bulky items that aren’t too heavy, such as puffer jackets and other layers of clothing, and/or a lightweight sleeping bag. A double-ended dry sack, you can close one end and then stuff it full before closing the second end and attaching it to your handlebars. 

One of the main advantages of this system is being able to get access to adjust weight distribution or locate a specific item from either end, without having to remove the bag from the bike or unpacking all the contents. 

The Kuoka straps to your handlebars ridiculously easily, and doesn’t require the use of a mount (which keeps weight and cost down), but although the rear has been reinforced to reduced movement, it can bounce around a little bit on rougher terrain and technical trails. (If you’d prefer rock-solid stability, you can use the frame from Alpkit’s Kanga or Joey bags with the Kuoka.) 

The X-Pac X11 fabric (made with 100% organic cotton and recycled polyester) is tough and hardwearing, and waterproof in all but the must biblical deluges. 

Although capacious in use, the Kuoka packs flat when empty, so it’s easy to transport. Other features include a Hypalon loop for attaching a front light, and webbing ladders to use if you’d like to add more straps, or change where the main straps sit. The Kuoka can be fitted on any bike, but it works best on a mountain bike with wide bars.

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Best handlebar bag for bike-based daypacking and commuting

This handsome bag from Chrome Industries might not be especially large or well-suited for long bikepacking escapades on rough, tough trails, but it can be useful for day trips and overnighters. 

It attaches to handlebars with two Velcro straps and a third strap with a buckle, which goes around the bar stem. The lid closes shut with a magnetized buckle, which is easy to open when you’re on the move. Internal mesh storage pockets make organization nice and easy, and you can carry various things in this pack, from snacks to smartphones and sunglasses, or perhaps gloves when the seasons are on the turn, or a lightweight waterproof jacket. There are two mesh pouches on the outside too, for additional carry capacity. 

Despite the three-point attachment system, this bag can wobble around if you overload it, and it’s not designed for anything too wild. When you’re in town, however, it can be removed from the bike and used as a crossover bag.

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Best pannier-style bag for bikepacking

Without wanting to be too reductive, the Cool Cave is basically a big plastic bucket that clips onto a pannier rack to sit beside your wheel. 

Nothing wrong with that; they’re very handy for carrying large and bulky items such as bigger tents, food and cooking equipment when you’re bikepacking with a group of friends or your family. But you need to combine the Cool Cave with additional products – either a general-use dry bag, or the bespoke Cool Cave Lid Pack, which is a truly cool piece of kit that doubles as a cross bag – to get any degree of weather protection for the contents. 

Whatever you carry in the Cave will also move around quite a lot if you’re riding rough trails (it won’t bounce right out, though, so long as you use the included cargo nets to prevent this happening). 

Although quite simplistic, these pannier buckets are great in certain circumstances – such as bikepacking adventures primarily on tracks and lanes – but they wouldn’t be our first choice for long trips on technical singletrack.

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Best snack pack for bikepacking

This little snack pack attaches to your bike’s bars via Velcro straps that fasten around the stem and handlebars. Once positioned it can be very easily accessed with one hand, via a cinch-and-release snowlock closure, which might keep snow out, but isn’t rainproof (it’s fine in drizzle, but water will get in during proper downpours, so although it’s tempting, we wouldn’t put a smartphone in this pack). 

The best thing to do is fill it with treats, gels, energy bars, trail mix and all sorts of other small edible items – which is, of course, exactly what it was designed for. You can also stick sunglasses, cash/credit card, keys and other items you might need to access quickly and easily in there. 

With a semi-rigid construction, it’s a nice looking piece of kit, but does seem a tad pricey for its limited functionality. 

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Best tool bag for bikepacking

Designed specifically as a tool-holding pack, this little saddlebag does its primary job brilliantly. The neat and compact bag unfurls to reveal three inner pouches for housing items such as a multitool, pair of tire levers, a cartridge of CO2 gas (if that’s how you roll) and a spare inner – plus, perhaps, a cheeky energy bar or gel. 

When it’s loaded, simply roll the bag back up and use the Velcro band to attach it to the saddle. Once it’s in position you can pretty much forget about it until you suffer a puncture or something else goes wrong. 

There’s no room for any extra kit, but it’s so compact that it won’t obscure rear lights and can be used for everyday cycling, commuting and daytrips, or in conjunction with other, larger saddlebags and frame packs during proper bikepacking expeditions. 

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The best bikepacking bags comparison table

What to look for when buying the best bikepacking bags

There’s a bewildering range and choice of brilliant bikepacking bags on the market, and the designs and degree of functionality of these packs varies enormously. Of course, the golden rules when you’re carrying kit while cycling all revolve around packing smartly: taking only what you really need and making sure the weight is evenly distributed on either side of the bike, with the heavier items on the frame, keeping your center of gravity as low as possible (try to avoid using a backpack, other than a hydration pack, at all costs). 

The best bikepacking bags enable you to do all this, while still offering enough carry capacity for a comfortable and enjoyable adventure. When purchasing a bikepacking bag, we recommend considering the following factors:

Pack volume

For most bikepacking expeditions you are going to need at least one big bag that can swallow the sizeable items required for a night spent out in the wilds, such as a sleeping bag, a lightweight tent or bivy bag, a little cooking stove and some camping food. Large saddlebags like Alpkit’s 17L Big Pappa bag (held in place with a harness) provide the perfect place to pack some of this stuff, but the larger Fjällräven Specialized frame bags are also excellent, as is the Fjällräven Specialized Cool Cave (with the caveats noted above). 

If you’re looking at a large-capacity handlebar bag, beware how much weight you load into it (puffer jackets and lightweight sleeping bags can work, but you don’t want too much hefty heavy stuff on your bars), especially when cycling off-road.

Compatibility and versatility

Some of the best bikepacking bags will work on virtually any steed, but plenty are only useable on specific bikes. Mountain bikes with dual suspension can typically only take a small top tube bag (if it’s designed to sit within the triangle of the frame), and the rear travel mechanism can also create a problem with larger saddlebags rubbing on the back wheel. Almost all bags fit on gravel bikes, but some are designed to work with a certain size frame. Check carefully before making a purchase.

Ease of use

The more time you spend setting your bike up, the less time you have out on the trails, so the best bikepacking bags are those that can be securely attached to your steed quickly, and which can be loaded and unloaded easily. Bags that work with frames, such as Alpkit’s Big Pappa and the Fjällräven Specialized Handlebar Bag, are time-consuming to set up initially, while you fit the rack to your bike, but once that’s done it’s really easy to take the bag off, pack it, and then reattach it ready to go.

Toughness & ease of cleaning

Riding rough tracks and trails can be hard on your gear, and this kit is not cheap to buy or replace, so the best backpacking bags need to be made from really hardwearing materials that can cope with getting knocked around. Bikepacking can also be a filthy, muddy and dusty pursuit, so it’s helpful if the bags can be cleaned relatively easily.

Features

You will see dozens of features included on the best bikepacking bags, but some that we especially recommend you look out for include the following: internal compartments for keeping kit organized, external mesh pockets for extra storage, handily placed weatherproof zips so you can access packs even when riding, pull cords on the zips so you use them easily with gloves on, and hooks or loops for attaching lights to.

How we tested the best bikepacking bags

How we test the best bikepacking bags

Our reviewers test all packs and bags by filling them up with kit and taking them out on the trails for genuine adventures, and bikepacking bags are no different. We have loaded each of the packs featured here with gear, secured them to the frames and bars of our gravel bikes and mountain bikes, and gone on overnight and multi-day escapades. Specific features (including capacity, build quality, ease of use and the security of the systems used to fasten the packs to the bikes) are tested against claims made by the brand, and we assess factors such as durability, environmental impact and value for money.