Front Bike Bags - What you Need to Know 

I have a Paloma and I LOVE it. Swift’s use of the adapter is so functional - it’s easy to bring supplies for a long ride, do a beer/coffee run, or pop it off and leave it at home. It can’t hold a ton of weight, but I’d rather use a saddlebag or rear rack for that weight anyways. I scored one of the Tamarack waxed canvas Paloma bags and have happily logged a bunch of miles with it this year.

Been cycling now for over 40 years and have at last realised taking less is now adding more enjoyment to the rides.I have found choosing bags to fit this minimalist critea almost impossible ,and discovered paradoxically that only by ordering the wrong bags that encouraged over packing did i finally get to what i actually need, LESS ! So with that in mind i have just ordered the S.I Catalyst pack and a Jr. Ranger Pannier Set , its a leap of faith to be honest as i live in UK and have not seen these bags in the raw . They do seem to combine modern materials with more traditional styling and that appeals to me in a retro kind of way . I will update once they arrive and i have had chance to try them out , great channel and a new subscriber .

Nice video! I have the Outershell bag and it's fabulous - great size, very functional and easy to move from bike to bike. It's my go-to bag for shorter rides and going around town.

answering all the questions I didn't know how to ask. your channel is so good

I actually received my Swift Paloma bag in the mail today and quickly installed it before my ride to work tonight. So far so good, I really like the look of it as well. I will say the size is smaller in person.

Great video! Def check out the rando bag from restrap. Classic big box style with super bright orange interior and very cool fidlock attachment to front rack

Great info and review. Thanks. Been looking at a handlebar bag option recently.

I really liked the way Rhode Gear used to do their mounts before they went out of business. They had a bracket that went around the stem, with a retention bungee that slipped under the head tube and a V shaped QR on the bag that clipped into it. (Makes a lot more sense once you see a photo of one) The whole thing moved easily between bikes with no permanently mounted hardware, and was pretty stable. Maybe they had a patent on it and nobody acquired that patent when they went out of business.

I've been using a Carradice bikepacking handlebar bag for a couple of months and it's been working great. Enough room for my headlight battery, tools/tube, phone, and a couple snacks. But still small enough that it's not in the way. If you need a good medium sized bag, it's worth looking into.

I've used Ortlieb hbags for a long time, and find they still have some advantages--true waterproofness, light weight compared to many bags of similar volume, the best waterproof map case out there is you still make use of paper maps or notes. Downsides are still the slightly particular mounting system that isn't super easily transfered from one bike to another (must not overtighten bolts for the Ortlieb specific cable), the inherent design of not having numerous external easily accessible pockets, and belt attachment systems probably better overall for lots of riding on really rough terrain.

Love the very subtle reference to Crazy People.

Using a Swift Sugarloaf with the obligatory 137&rack combo. Modified an old Blackburn rack for front use and minimalism.

I found the Outershell Adventure bag so useful I got another for my other bikes, perfect for day rides and commuting. It’s worth the extra 10 bucks to get the waterproof version.

My favorite handlebar bag is my Lone Peak Alta Handlebar Pack, (model: H100) which I have been using in the past 8 years....I have it set like a rando bag with a fwd small rack and decalleur to hold it....I love this bag....it is cheaper than all of the other rando bags but behaves like one, it's about a 10 liter bag, it has a clear map/cue sheet holder on top, inside a strip in the fwd section of the main bags to put in bars, paper, pen,wallet, small light, any smaller items separate from the bigger items in the main bag and uses zippers to close the top and fwd bags which I like more than the traditional rando bags elastic straps....it does have two weakness: it is not made from cotton so when it rains heavily your items will get wet....I use plastic bags and a rain cover to deal with this and no rear two pockets but the fwd storage part of the bag is plenty big and it's side nets can hold a lot so they make up for that...and lastly it has a nylon support inside which helps to make this bag rigid and solid.

The wife is looking into a small bag for the front. Perfect timing!!

Another rad feature of the outershell bag is the sweet Patreon discount code. Cheers

Great band name, "Flaccid Sausage""

Really helpful, Russ. Thanks.

I’m currently on a short (500km) tour and running a generic canvas molle bag, imitation WW2 vintage. It needs a rack as it is a flaccid sausage when empty but it was 68rmb (~$10 US maybe?) and it lives permanently on the bike, which is locked outside overnight so I won’t cry if someone half-inches it. Contents live in a 5 litre drybag inside for convenient removal. It’s honestly as good as anything else I’ve used (Carradice, Topeak, and cheap imitation Ortlieb).

I want to mount a defense of the flacid sausage! I use the ToPeak front loader, and while its true that you have to stuff the bag, it is also the case that that bag detaches, meaning its easy to mount and detach. And you have lots of webbing options to attach additional bags/stuff onto it. So I have all my camp gear (sleeping bag and mat, pillow, towels etc.) inside the bag and when its in the holder on top of it I can attach my Big Agnes Fly creek tent. All my camp set up in one place on the bike. Its not particularly handy for one day rides or on the fly use - but then I have other options for those requirements (a toptube "fuel tank" type bag from Appidura).

I run with the North Street duffel bag on my front handlebars. A lot of swaying so I use zip ties from the bag to the handlebars to prevent that

My Outer She'll perfectly fits my Sony a7 III and Sigma 24-70!

currently using a fabios chest, lovin it

Definitely on the smaller side, but I've been really happy with my Fab's Fanny. It can be used as both a handlebar bag and as a hip pack. Super versatile. I generally use it as a hip pack for short MTB rides, but I can fit a pump, tube, tools, phone, and a water bottle, plus snax in it with no issues. I really don't notice it when using it as a hip pack.

Sausage lover here. (Secretly also in love with the carradice bags)

Road Runner Burrito Supreme. Love the bag. Looks small, holds a lot. It dos'nt come up over the handle bars.

Great info. Thanks

Hey Russ - love your content! What size is that Goldman? I want to run 2 of them, and a frame bag for a week long trip. I run a specialized seqoia elite. What's your thoughts on a bxb setup vs say panniers? I pack a light hammock setup with down quilts

I love my Swift Ozette.

Nice review of the various functionality aspects of each bag, but especially on flat bars a major function aspect I find missing is the challenge of actually fitting to the bars - gear and brake cables are often in the way (put the bar under or over the cables?), and overcrowded bars. Some bag makers give adjustable straps (e.g., on a webbing strap). Most of the bar bag reviews seem to miss this - showing how the bag fits on the bars, and which are more adaptable.

I have a vintage Cannondale handlebar bag (had the matching rear panniers back in the day) with the handlebar quick release on and off (not the one with the metal arms that was version1.0 back in the 80’s) the next successor in this line in my opinion is the Ortleib E-Glow. Topeak has some interesting options but I have my heart set on getting an Ortleib. It has a built in light and USB charging ! I was going to settle in the 6L but now that I see the option to have a light and USB, Its the only one I’ll consider to replace my beloved Cannondale bag. Please review.

If you get a chance, try Dill Pickle's handlebar bag. The best I've used, and requires no rack.

I need a "Flaccid Sausage" patch to put on my Revelate Sweet Roll.

I would like to see a comparison between the classic style of bags (Carradice, Swift, Gilles Berthoud, et al) and the "modern" ones that use waterproof fabrics like Ortlieb or Vaude. Too bad I can't send you a sample of each...

Tip: On the outershell bag's elastic cord that hooks around the steer tube, I tie a prusik knot with some paracord to make it super easy to access, especially with gloves. Great vid!

Hey Russ could you do a video of the worst handlebar bags

some these look good and all but want pannier style

BxB every time!

Have you ever experimented with aero bars?

Hi Peter from South Africa,have you review restrap,it could be cool

Russ do you know a resource for xtra elastic cords with the adjustable clips?

I noticed you didn’t mention ocean air cycles. What’s your opinion on their Rando style bag?

Paloma is pricey but the best

hi there. how does front bag weight affect bike handling? does more front weight make it more twitchy at high speed or more steady?

Any suggestions to deal with a messy cables to attach a bar bag ? I have problems with my bike. Wire here and there . External route

Because I sometimes ride at night, either the front bag must be low enough for a light mounted on the handlebar to be higher than the bag, or the bag must have a headlight mount on the underside, as in my old Topeak handlebar bag. Do any of these bags have a light mount?

What size Goldback bag (BxB) did you show us, Russ? Small or medium?

I don't want something to hang on my handlebars. I have a front rack and there is a big shortage and choice for bags that fit onto the rack. I have a handlebar bag that I converted to fit on my rack, but it's not perfect.

What watch are you wearing?

I currently use an Ortlieb bag but I find it makes the front flop around when I am trying to park the bike - is this just a trade off or do they all do that?

Update, I'm now on two new bikes, a Falcon Adventurer and an old Dawes galaxy Tourer so the latter bags are on order as is a rack for the front low loader panniers. I shall be Buying British - Carradice, from Nelson, Lancashire, UK. (i am also looking at other brands, Rockbros?

"Like a Volvo" -- 😂

Wald bags!

Nice review, thanks Russ. As someone that uses a small frame it can be challenging to find bags that work well. I will add another to your list - Sturdy Bag Designs (sturdybagdesigns.com/handlebar-bags). A good day bag. They conveniently sell spacers to keep your bar top hand position and you can move the bar straps laterally to the best attachment place. The bag maintains shape when empty or full. The zipper works with one hand and the bag won't touch your front wheel when loaded on a 48-50 cm frame. The bag maker "Joe" is apparently a one person operation.

It would better if you attached each bag to a bike so we could see how it works on a bike

Is that a marathon watch? Me too.

Big boxy and good like a Volvo 🫡😎

What size is your BXB bag?? S? M?? L???

Four words: Road Runner Jumbo Jammer. All you need to know 😎

Hey Russ, you asked for suggestions about future video's , and If you could do a video on crank length and how it effects your riding. Most bikes come with cranks that are usually 172.5 mm, but this is not the length for everybody. If you look into the whole "science" behind crank length, you will see what I mean, and it is not talked about a lot, but it can have great effect on how you fit and feel on a bike. I would greatly appreciate if you could look into it and give us your opinion. As always, many thanks for the great vid's ! #partypace

I have 2 of the Outershell, and exactly as yours is shown, BOTH top flaps are curling at the edges, which definitely compromises waterproofing. Not what I was expecting for a $90 bag. I will be contacting them for advice.

This is like a month or two late. I got the cheap one, but know I need to upgrade now. The frame support versions are better and easier to remove and place back. If it's raining the clear pocket becomes useless. I like the roll versions a bit like a dry bag/sack style with support. Snugpak

Russ, I reckon you love bags more than Kim Kardashian!

PTAP is out of Baltimore MD

Also it's pronounced "Bare-tood" (Berthoud) ;)

No Fabio?

watch check, white SAR marathon? just looking at the watch the whole video