Best Top Tube Bike Bag

TOP TUBE BIKE BAGS COMPARISON

BEST TOP TUBE BIKE BAG REVIEWS

Revelate Designs Mag Tank

Very Easy Access Top Tube Bag

PROS: – Magnet catch is easy to use while riding and shuts quickly and securely – Can open and close with both hands even on rocky downhills – Holds plenty of food and other items – Doesn’t sway or wiggle – Doesn’t hit knees – Really well made

CONS: – One user said that the buckle flies open sometimes – Hit knees when you stand to climb

Revelate Designs Mag-Tank 2000

Best Large Mountain Bike Top Tube Bag

PROS: – Well secured and stable – Well made – Lots of storage room – Knees brushes the edges when out of the saddle – The adjustable strap clasp stays in place even with tension on the bungee – Water-resistant – Easy to access while on the move – Stays put

CONS: – One user said that the bag unclasps at high speeds, rarely stays centered on the bar, and the stem strap often unclasps and needs to be re-tightened

Revelate Designs Gas Tank

Best Top Tube Bag for Bikepacking

PROS: – Lots of room – Doesn’t get in the way of my legs – Water-resistant – Very secure – Fit nicely – One-hand super easy zipping and unzipping – Very sturdy

CONS: – Brushes against knees when riding out of the saddle

Blackburn Local Plus

Best Smartphone Top Tube Bike Bag

PROS: – Well made – Perfect for small/medium size smartphones – Affordable – Bottom straps can be moved forwards and backward – Very sturdy

CONS: – Little knees touches when out of the saddle

REI Co-op Junction

Best Zipp Top Tube Bike Bag

PROS: – Doesn’t get in the way of pedaling either seated or standing – Really well made – Side pocket is great for stashing your phone – Zippers work great – Good for the price – Very useful inside mesh pocket – Held on the bike with no problem at all

CONS: – One user said that it tends to lean to one side – Another user said that the bungee hook keeps coming undone

Two Wheel Gear Commute

Best Waterproof Top Tube Bike Bag

PROS: – Well made – Fits perfectly – Roomy enough – Holds to the bike with little to no movement – Large enough velcro straps to fit around a wider tube

CONS: – No cons yet

Topeak TriBag

Best Affordable Bike Top Tube Bag

PROS: – Quality material – Easy to open on the fly

CONS: -Slides left/right because the front strap is on the bottom of the bag – Lid velcro closure not secure – Top flap does not fully protect against rain due to the gaps on both ends

TOP TUBE BIKE BAG BUYING GUIDE

MOUNTING SYSTEM

There are two types of top tube bike bag mounting systems, straps or bolts, and the first type is the most used.

• Straps:

In general, the bike top tube bike bags have two straps in the bottom that secures them to the bike top tube and another one in the front that secures it to the head tube.

These straps can be Velcro, strap with a buckle, or a hook & loop.

• Straps:

Bolt-on mounting system is found on high-end gravel bikes, touring bikes, or some custom-built bikes.

this mounting system is simple and secures the bag very securely, with a super clean look.

CAPACITY

What size of a top tube bike bag is the second most important question you should ask yourself.

Since the top tube bike bags are made to keep things in reach while riding more than to be a big storage space, 1 or 1.5 liter is enough.

I recommend you to avoid a big bag just for the sake of having something big because it will interfere with your cycling.

EASE OF ACCESS

Now that you have determined your bag mounting system and its size, you should look at how easily it opens up on the road.

If a top tube bike bag is hard to open with one hand while riding, then it’s almost useless.

When you are shopping, imagine if you can take one hand off the bar to use the opening system, if it’s easy for you, then this bag is right for you.

WATERPROOF VS WATER RESISTANT VS WEATHER PROOF

What you will carry inside your top tube bike bag is what determines the level of its waterproofness, if it’s electronics then a fully waterproof bag is mandatory and if it’s just something sealed like energy bars then a water-resistant bag is enough to do the job.

There are some bags that are 100% waterproof and some that have a waterproof fabric but only water-resistant seams. More water resistance means more expensive the bag will be.

A higher denier of fabrics, polyester fabric, a PU coating, or a silicone sealant on the zipper is what is used to resist water.

If you want to test the waterproofness of a bag you own, put a dry toilet paper roll in it and completely soak the bag multiple times, if the toilet paper roll gets wet then it’s not 100% waterproof.

MATERIALS

The materials used to make the bag are also important because they will tell you how durable the bag is, how sturdy it is and how will protect what is inside from the elements.

EVA, PVC, TPU, or laminated ripstop fabric are all premium materials that you can count on. For example, EVA or Ethylene-Vinyl Acetate is known to be a highly abrasion-proof material.

EASE OF INSTALLATION

I prefer toolless installation bags, which means the Velcro straps mounting system is what I recommend because it’s easy and lets you add additional straps for added stability.

STORAGE COMPARTMENTS

Since the majority of us use the smartphone for multiple different reasons while riding, I recommend you to get a bag that has a compartment that allows you to have easy access to your smartphone.

If you will carry things that are smaller like memory cards or keys, it’s ideal for you to have many small compartments to keep your belongings organized.

ADDITIONAL ACCESSORIES AND FEATURES

Additional top tube bike accessories and features can be :

• Smartphone dedicated compartment that let you use and touch the screen while biking.
• Earphone hole that let you connect and use your eaphones with your smartphone to listen to podcast for example.
• Rain cover. This accessory protect the bag from rain and mud.

FAQ

WHAT IS A TOP TUBE BIKE BAG?

Top tube bike bag or a bento box is small pouch that occupies the space just behind the head tube and is secured to the bike using straps or bolts.

A top tube bike bag keep your small biking essentials like phone, sunglass, or energy bars within an arms reach.

DID THEY TOUCH MY KNEES WHILE PEDALING?

Thats depends on how you paddle and the width of the bag. Most of top tube bike bags touch your knees only when pedaling out off the saddle.

CAN I FIT MY SMARTPHONE IN A TOP TUBE BIKE BAG?

Yes with the majority of the top tube bags, but you should consider the dimensions of both your smartphone and the bag before buying.

SADDLE BAGS COMPARED TO TOP TUBE BIKE BAG

The difference between the two is that the saddle bagdoes not have the same easy to reach ability compared to a top tube bag.

DID A TOP TUBE BIKE BAG MOVE AROUND WHILINE BIKING?

This is the problem number one with the majority of top tube bike bags in the market, and this is due to the strap that attaches to the top tube and your carrying weight.

Updated on March 16, 2022 by Ben