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4 hours ago
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How many ways have you tried to carry things on a bike? If hooking bags on the handlebars is your go-to, or you’ve attempted to fashion some sort of bungee-cord contraption, it may be time to rethink your strategy.
I once cycled five miles with a vacuum cleaner in a pannier during a house move – so I’m as guilty as anyone for improvising. But as someone who’s been writing about cycling for more than a decade, and pedalling around London and farther afield in all weathers for even longer, I really should – and now do – know better.
Rucksacks work for light loads and short trips, but your body will thank you for investing in something that attaches to your bike if you’re carrying more for longer.
Ideally, bike bags should be waterproof, although external or internal dry bags are also an option. Reflective detailing is handy, and good looks needn’t be scoffed at. And it goes without saying that you want something hard-wearing and easy to use.
Whatever you’re considering for your two-wheeled steed, remember that your local bike shop has a wealth of advice, mechanical services and spares, and often a community, too – use (or lose) it.
Here are a few of my favourite bike bags. You’ll never need to precariously dangle a shopping bag from the handlebars again.
The best bags that attach to the front
A roomy, waterproof bag
Ultimate handlebar bag
£82 at Ortlieb
£81.60 at Cyclestore
Not having a front rack opens up the options for a handlebar bag. My Ortlieb Ultimate bar bag is roomy, hard-wearing and waterproof, with a zippable pocket and optional map case. The separate handlebar mount is both quick-release and lockable, and there’s a shoulder strap for off-bike carrying. A downside: you can’t easily open the lid while cycling.
Bag for a Brompton
Borough waterproof bag
£190 at Brompton
£190 at John Lewis
One for Brompton bike owners, this Borough waterproof bag clips on to the front. My Brompton aficionado friend says: “It can fit so much in, and is totally waterproof.” Since 2021, Bromptons have come with the front bag attachment pre-fitted.
A Dutch-style crate
Seido Stage pannier rack
Basil crate basket, 29.5L
Fastrider crate basket, 34L
Dutch friends of mine swear by a plastic crate for something sturdier than a wicker basket. It also means you don’t need a bike-specific bag – just throw in whatever you’re carrying that day. Fit your crate atop the rear pannier rack, or do it the Dutch way and buy a front rack (for compatible flat handlebar bikes). If in doubt, ask your local bike shop about your options – some bikes and components are incompatible.
Almost universal rack
Jack the bike rack
£79.99 at WholeGrain Cycles
From £76 at Sigma Sports
For something a bit different, or if your bike doesn’t have the necessary bolts for a front rack, this is an innovative bit of hardware that attaches easily to (almost) any bike. Your stuff can then be strapped on as needed.
The best panniers
Pannier bags just need a rack fitted to the rear (or sometimes front) of the frame. Avoid loose fittings that encourage passing thieves, and vicious speed bumps that could lift the bag off – a friend has one such bag and it regularly jumps off, including into my path as we’re riding along. Some rack clips can feel fiddly at first, and any fittings need to withstand heavy bags and repeated removal and refitting.
A great all-rounder
Back-Roller bike bag
Ortlieb’s all-time classic Back-Roller is a firm and longstanding favourite. It’s waterproof, hard-wearing and has replaceable parts to extend its life further. If my longsuffering bags are anything to go by, they’ll easily take more than a decade of hard abuse, probably two.
Pannier rack
From £140 at Tailfin Cycling
Ultra durable pannier bag
Tailfin Cycling’s approach has been likened to that of Apple. Buying one of its great-quality panniers is a case of buy one, buy all, as they’re not compatible with other panniers. The upsides: there are no rattling parts, they attach to any bike, and the bags are top notch.
A canvas shopper
Super C shopper
£50 at Mastercraft Cycles
£79.95 at Carradice
Beloved by generations of touring cyclists, Carradice sells traditional, waterproof cotton duck bags with sturdy leather or vegan fixings and plenty of pockets. The Super C Shopper is a capacious 32L, with a handle, shoulder strap and quick-clip pannier hooks for ease of use.
A recycled folding bag
Bikezac 2.0 pannier bag for life
£13.99 at Bike Boom
From £20.26 at Amazon
For unplanned shopping, friends enjoy Cobags’ pannier bag for life. This is a foldable shopping bag, made from post-consumption rice sacks, which clips to your pannier rack. Not for heavy loads – think a pint of milk, bread and a few groceries, rather than your weekly shop.
The best backpack-pannier combinations
Pannier bags can be awkward off the bike. In backpack-pannier transformers, look for bags with fittings that don’t dig into your back. They should also be easy to switch on a rainy pavement and, ideally, waterproof.
Biking in cold weather? Don’t miss our winter cycling essentials
Sturdy and stylish
Vario bike bag
£192.50 for 26L at Ortlieb
£151.30 for 20L at Cyclestore
This bag features a neat flap that unhooks and covers the straps or rack fasteners in seconds. It’s also waterproof, looks good and comes in 20L or 26L sizes. True to Ortlieb, the fixings are sturdy and well designed. My 25kg ebike fell on the bag, and the laptop inside survived unscathed.
Double pannier rack backpack
Decathlon’s double pannier rack reflective backpack is popular on London’s bike lanes. Its split design evens out the load, potentially reducing knee strain if you carry a lot. It’s also comfy and easy to transform, and I didn’t mind having to pull on the waterproof cover in a drizzle. I once even lashed my portable standing desk behind the shoulder straps. I’m told it fits with a child seat, unlike some pannier bags.
Practical, with plenty of pockets
Convertible pannier backpack
£147 for 22L at Two Wheel Gear
From £164 for 30L at Two Wheel Gear
Alan Evans, the Guardian’s deputy environment editor, is an experienced commuter cyclist and editor of the Bike Blog. He uses this Two Wheel Gear’s Pannier Backpack Convertible 2.0 Plus. He loves its comfort, secure mounting system, easily replaceable parts and well thought-out and plentiful pockets. It comes in 22L and 30L sizes in recycled ripstop fabric, with a detachable waterproof cover.
Doubles as a cool (or hot) bag
Neon pink rolltop backpack-pannier bag
£90 at Goodordering
£85 at Amazon
East London-based Goodordering offers fun, funky and versatile rolltop bags in recycled fabrics of various bright colours. The bike clips take some practice while holding the bag and they’re not 100% waterproof, but the pockets-for-everything setup and good looks are divine. Their padding means they also double as cool bags for summer picnics, or warm bags for a takeaway.
The best bags that perch on a rack
Rack-top bags are particularly good for folding bikes, where capacity on the sides is limited and raising the bike’s centre of gravity won’t matter too much.
Expandable and water resistant
Vincita Big Nash bag
Some of my X followers swear by the Vincita Big Nash carrier bag. It’s 20L and is tall enough to fit a laptop; it features expandable side panels and its “easy release” attachment has an integrated anti-theft latch. It’s also water resistant, with an additional rain cover, and laptop sleeve inside.
A vintage-look bag
Carradura rack bag
Carradice’s Carradura rack bag has a 10L capacity, plenty of pockets and straps, and side pockets that extend like mini panniers. It has a vintage-tourer charm, with plenty of zips and side pockets in black, grey and splashes of red. It’s made from PVC-backed polyester, attaches to the rack with clips and comes with a hi-vis rain cover.
The best bags that attach to the bike frame
Bike packing bags are smaller and less bulky than panniers, attaching to various parts of the frame rather than to pannier racks. The idea is these streamlined bags make off-road and longer adventures easier. They’re fiddlier to get on and off, but if you’re in the country, or on trips where the bike stays by your side, that shouldn’t be a problem. Beware: smaller bike frames won’t fit as much on board.
Bespoke chic
Mr Heckles STP rolltop bar bag
£73.80 at CamelChops
£82 at Etsy
CamelChops’ fun, durable bags are handmade in Scotland from recycled, hard-wearing materials. The Mr Heckles is made to order, with a choice of eight colours across five panel areas.
One for adventurers
Bar pack
£119.99 at Restrap
£119.95 at WildBounds
Handmade in the UK, Restrap’s bike packing bags are for long-distance adventurers and daytrippers – rather than for those who want to take bags on and off a lot. Its waterproof 10L Bar pack, in handsome orange, khaki or black, features pockets and a mini D-lock holster. I lazily fudged fitting mine outside the pub one rainy night and lost a foam spacer, which Restrap kindly replaced.
A bike-packing classic
Saddle bag
From £114.99 at Restrap
£107.99 for 14L at Merlin Cycles
Restrap’s Saddle bag is popular with bike packers for its sturdiness and lack of wobble. My medium frame (I’m 5’6) just about fits the 14L between the saddle and rear tyre. The clips and holster need the included dry bag to be partly full to stay in place – think of a down jacket, repair kit and snacks at least (smaller sizes will need less to fill them) – but then it’s easy to use and hard-wearing.
Two top bags
Topeak BackLoader
£56.24 at Tweeks Cycles
£56.84 at Amazon
I’ve long used the 10L Topeak BackLoader. It’s sturdy and big enough for my one-person tent, and the semi-rigid casing and compression straps stop it from sagging. External elastic bands accommodate random objects – in my case, once, a baguette – while the dry bag can handily be removed at the journey’s end.
Topeak TopLoader
£28.99 at Tredz
From £20.99 at Amazon
I also have an old, smaller Topeak TopLoader bag, which snugly fits my phone, snacks, suncream and chamois cream with only a bit of wobble to it.
A rigid bag for heavy loads
Evoc top tube pack
£34.19 at Leisure Lakes Bikes
From £35.76 at Amazon
The Evoc top tube pack has a 0.8L capacity, with a waterproof zip and an internal mesh pocket. Its rigid build can withstand heavier items without flopping about too much – though larger phones may not fit.
Perfect for expedition kit
Expedition frame pack
From £93 at Apidura
From £93 at Condor Cycles
Apidura’s Expedition pack sits in the middle of the frame and is designed for a day’s ride or longer. It comes in sizes from 3L compact to 6.5L tall, so there’s one to fit most frame sizes and needs. It’s also waterproof and tearproof.
A handy pouch
Toptube frame-pack
From £110 at Ortlieb
From £95 at Tredz
Finally, my Ortlieb Toptube frame-pack is sturdy and waterproof, similarly stretching along the frame. It’s big enough for sarnies, a mini washbag and a change of clothes. The zip takes some oomph to undo, but they’ve thankfully changed the Velcro attachment so it no longer scratches your legs.
Laura Laker has been writing about cycling for more than a decade. Her book, Potholes and Pavements: A Bumpy Ride on Britain’s National Cycle Network, explores the state of cycling in the country
