No longer the preserve of fashionable gravelleurs, the humble bar bag has in many ways usurped the best saddle bags in recent years. You can fit more in them, they’re easier to access and are a better way to add a splash of colour to your bike. They come in many guises nowadays, but the barrel shape is usually the most popular. Depending on the size you can usually fit in all your spares like a multi-tool, mini pump, tyre levers, plus an extra layer and some snacks. There’s a slight aero penalty over a saddlebag, but in my eyes, the added utility is worth it.
In this guide, I’ve kept it to the smaller day-ride style options, rather than the giant ones you’d find in our guide to the best bikepacking bags guide. While there is a huge array of options on the market, the differences between a really good option and an average one aren’t enormous, a bit like with the best cycling socks, so you can very easily just pick an option that suits your style. The key factors to consider for me are the construction, the mounting, capacity, and aesthetics.
The best bar bags you can buy today
1. Wizard Works Lil Presto (3.4L)
+ Extremely well made
+ Voilé strap attachment
– Side pockets not elasticated
Simple, effective, extremely well made, and coming in two sizes. The Lil’ Presto from London-based Wizard Works is my pick of the bunch. There’s an array of colours to choose from, the zip is great, and it’s stood up to a load of abuse (the one photographed is a fresh one, for reference). What makes it stand out is the details; the stiffener is really sturdy so it holds its shape when empty, the lining is a bright, high visibility yellow so you can find small things inside more easily, and the attachment system uses the brilliant Voilé nano straps, which trump anything else for security and longevity. With foam spacers and two attachment points on the bag, you can mount it easily to avoid your cables. My only gripe is the side pockets, into which I tend to secrete empty wrappers, which aren’t elasticated. On the flip side, there’s no elastic to wear out.
2. Restrap Canister Bag (1.5L)
+ Smaller form
+ Decent straps
– No stiffener
While the Lil’ Presto comes in a smaller offering, if you’re after a smaller barrel bag then the Resrap Canister is my pick. Its 1.5-litre capacity is perfect for all the basics, a light snack and a windbreaker or a pair of gloves. It doesn’t have a stiffener, so when it’s empty it can look a little…
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