A bike handlebar bag is your bike’s equivalent to a fanny pack, but designed specifically for cycling. It’s crafted to meet the unique demands of riders, ensuring easy access while you’re pedaling and secure storage for essentials like subway cards or keys. While it might not revolutionize your life, a quality handlebar bag can significantly enhance your ride, preventing a sweaty back from carrying a backpack across town whether you’re heading to the office, a social gathering, or any event in between. And arriving fresher might just make a difference in your day.
After extensive research, including over 30 hours of interviews with cycling professionals and hands-on testing of 20 different handlebar bags, we’ve confidently selected the Ornot Handlebar Bag as the premier choice for anyone seeking to elevate their cycling experience.
Our Top Recommended Bike Handlebar Bags
Top Pick
Ornot Handlebar Bag
Our Favorite Handlebar Bag
The Ornot Handlebar Bag stands out with its blend of simplicity and practical features. Constructed from durable nylon, this bike handlebar bag offers ample space for your daily necessities, featuring intelligently placed pockets for optimal organization and accessibility while you’re on the move. However, its design is primarily bike-focused, which makes it somewhat less convenient to carry when you’re off your bike.
Buying Options:
$86 from Ornot
The Ornot Handlebar Bag is designed as a straightforward, tube-shaped bike handlebar bag, utilizing recycled nylon to ensure your gear is always within easy reach. This 3.1-liter bag provides enough room for items ranging from bike tools and a phone to a light jacket, wallet, and keys – it can even accommodate three substantial burritos.
It improves upon our previous top pick, the Road Runner Bags California Burrito (now our runner-up), by incorporating four easily accessible and secure exterior stretch-mesh pockets, along with an internal zippered pocket for secure storage of valuables like wallets and keys. Two of these external pockets are positioned at the rear of the bag, facing the rider for convenient access while cycling. A third pocket is located on the right side and includes an elastic cord to hold a smartphone securely. The final pocket spans the front of the bag, ideal for stashing a light jacket for quick adjustments to changing weather conditions, even at a stoplight.
The main compartment’s zipper extends across the top and down the side, making access significantly easier compared to our runner-up. This design is particularly beneficial when the bag is fully packed, effectively increasing the perceived capacity. One minor downside is that Ornot does not include or sell a separate shoulder strap, requiring users to improvise if they wish to carry it off the bike. Additionally, color options are limited to three, and the stretch mesh pockets might be susceptible to wear and tear if sharp objects are frequently carried in them.
Runner-up
Road Runner Bags California Burrito
Nearly As Good
The Road Runner Bags California Burrito offers generous space without overwhelming your handlebars. Crafted from durable Cordura nylon, this bike handlebar bag is simple, user-friendly, and capable of carrying all your essential items. However, it comes at a higher price point than our top pick and includes fewer external pockets.
Buying Options:
$110 from Road Runner Bags
The Road Runner Bags California Burrito is celebrated for its effective, elegant, and robust design. This tube-shaped, 3.3-liter bike handlebar bag, roughly the size of a six-pack, matches the capacity of our top pick but lacks the external pockets found on the Ornot bag.
It features a single, easily accessible zipper for on-the-go adjustments and side pockets for quick-access items, although the zipper does not wrap around the bag like the Ornot model. Constructed from tough Cordura nylon, it is available in eight vibrant colors, offering more customization than our top pick, allowing you to better match your bike’s aesthetic. The California Burrito can also be converted into a shoulder bag using Road Runner’s universal shoulder strap (sold separately for $17), adding to its versatility.
Budget Pick
Chrome Helix Handlebar Bag
A Cheaper Option
The Chrome Helix Handlebar Bag is designed with a sleek, low-profile aesthetic, making it a versatile choice for all-day use. This bike handlebar bag made from polyurethane-coated polyester offers just the right amount of space for essentials. However, its handlebar mounting system could be improved for better stability.
Buying Options:
$65 from Amazon
The Chrome Helix Handlebar Bag boasts a sleek design suitable for any destination. During testing, we noted that its Velcro harness attachment system was less effective on bikes compared to the buckle systems of our top picks and runner-up. While some may find a $65 bag not to be a budget option, our research indicated that the $50 to $60 range is the minimum investment for a handlebar bag that is sufficiently robust and stable on handlebars, minimizing bounce.
This rectangular, 3-liter bike handlebar bag is comparable in size to two takeout containers. Accessing contents while riding is straightforward, as the lid opens towards the rider—a convenient feature not universally found in handlebar bags. The Helix lacks external pockets but includes two internal mesh pockets for organization. Constructed from a durable and highly water-resistant polyurethane-coated polyester, the material is rigid enough to maintain its shape even when empty. Additionally, the stowable sling belt enhances its portability off the bike.
Upgrade Pick
Swift Industries Catalyst Pack
Almost a Messenger Bag
Constructed from recycled laminate nylon sailcloth, the Swift Industries Catalyst Pack is a high-capacity, robust bike handlebar bag that functions equally well on and off the bike. While it represents a significant investment, its versatility and durability justify the price for serious cyclists.
Buying Options:
$155 from Swift Industries
Buy from REI (May be out of stock)
The Swift Industries Catalyst Pack is unique in its messenger bag aesthetic combined with handlebar functionality. Its rectangular shape features a top flap that secures over the front, along with an internal cinch closure, similar to a traditional shoulder bag. Although it is a premium-priced bike handlebar bag, it is unparalleled in its thoughtful design for bike commuting. It’s crafted from sturdy and waterproof Ecopak EPLX400 fabric, a recycled nylon material originally engineered for sailcloths, ensuring exceptional durability and weather resistance.
With a 7.5-liter capacity, this bike handlebar bag is spacious enough to carry a small dog breed or, more practically, a 3-liter box of wine alongside a warm jacket, snacks, tools, and a book. Despite its generous size, the Catalyst remains compact enough to fit on almost any handlebars and is remarkably lightweight. The expandable lid is especially useful for quickly stowing a jacket while riding.
Also Great
Ortlieb Ultimate Urban
A Fully Waterproof Bag
The Ortlieb Ultimate Urban is a high-tech, quick-release mounted bike handlebar bag constructed from fully waterproof, polyurethane-coated Cordura nylon. It provides easy access while cycling and is ideal for riders who prioritize keeping their belongings dry in any weather. Note that the handlebar mount is sold separately.
Buying Options:
$2 from REI
The Ortlieb Ultimate Urban bike handlebar bag resembles a stylish lunch box, yet it is highly functional for cycling, offering a 5-liter capacity capable of holding a substantial amount. It can easily accommodate a six-pack of cans with room for sandwiches, making it perfect for picnics or longer rides.
The lid features a magnetic closure and opens away from the rider, ensuring it doesn’t obstruct access to the bag’s opening, which faces the rider. This design allows for easy, one-handed operation while cycling. It also includes a clear, touchscreen-compatible pocket on the lid, ideal for viewing a smartphone for navigation. It’s important to note that the mounting system for this bike handlebar bag must be purchased separately (starting at $30), but it offers versatile mounting options suitable for various bikes, including e-bikes, catering to different rider needs.
Also Great
Rapha Bar Bag
A Tiny Bag
The Rapha Bar Bag is a compact yet robust bike handlebar bag crafted from polyurethane-coated polyester. It’s designed for cyclists who prefer to travel light while still carrying essential items securely.
Buying Options:
$35 from Rapha (May be out of stock)
The Rapha Bar Bag is a smaller capacity bike handlebar bag that stands out for its exceptional build quality. The craftsmanship is evident in every detail, from the interior lining to the strap attachments. The rigid polyurethane-coated nylon material prevents sagging on handlebars, a common issue with smaller handlebar bags, maintaining its shape and stability throughout your ride.
The main compartment is particularly accessible while mounted on a bike, featuring zippers that are the easiest to use among all tested bags. It includes two interior mesh pockets for small items and a separate zippered exterior pocket for items you need to keep separate during your ride. The Rapha Bar Bag is ideally sized for carrying just the essentials—such as a light jacket, multitool, tube, and energy bars—making it best suited for recreational cycling or commuting in good weather where minimal gear is needed.
