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Best Bike Frame Bags of 2023

JUMP TO: PORCELAIN ROCKET 52HZ / BLACKBURN OUTPOST ELITE / REVELATE DESIGNS FULL SUSPENSION / APIDURA EXPEDITION FRAME PACK / TOPEAK MIDLOADER / ORTLIEB FRAME-PACK TOPTUBE / ROGUE PANDA DESIGNS / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Tristan Ridley

The Short Version

The Long Version

Designed to sit inside your frame’s triangle, a bicycle frame bag is an incredibly effective way to carry some extra gear on your rides.

Because it’s positioned at the center of the bike, a frame bag has no negative effect on handling and can even help to lower the bike’s center of gravity, increasing stability.

The design means it has virtually no effect on aerodynamics (unless battling a strong crosswind), and because the triangle gives it so many mounting points, a frame bag is also supremely stable.

Frame bags tend to be easy to access and are usually the best places to store heavier items such as electronics, food, or a water bladder.

 

The bike frame bag is just one of many options for carrying your kit when bikepacking; handlebar bags and saddle bags are also popular. Photo credit: Tristan Ridley.

 

Depending on your bicycle and intended application, various styles of frame bags are available.

Some people will prefer larger frame bags designed to complement a full bikepacking setup for multi-day adventures, whilst others will appreciate smaller bags designed to carry whatever they might need for day rides.

Volumes can vary from around 3-liters for smaller frame bags to over 10-liters for those with larger frames. A good frame bag is an incredibly useful and versatile piece of equipment.

Whereas handlebar bags and saddle bags are generally designed to fit on most bikes, frame bags inherently require greater customization and consideration, as sizes and shapes of bicycle triangles can vary so much; a frame bag which fits your gravel bike perfectly probably won’t work at all on your full-suspension mountain bike.

The good news is that no matter what you’re riding, there will certainly be a frame bag out there that’ll fit. Just be sure to match the frame bag to your specific bike geometry, and always check the sizing to make sure it’ll work.

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Need To Know What To Look Out For?

Frame compatibility is a critical consideration when purchasing a new frame bag. But it’s not the only one… there are others!

So be sure to check out our buying advice at the bottom of the page — it contains some key considerations when shopping for your bike frame bag.

 

A frame bag is positioned at the center of the bike, meaning it has no negative effect on handling and can even help to lower the bike’s center of gravity, thereby improving stability. Photo credit: Tristan Ridley.

 

Best For Bikepacking: PORCELAIN ROCKET 52HZ

PROS: Roll-top closure for capacity, durability, and waterproofing.

CONS: Expensive, often out of stock. Overkill for day rides.

For those heading out on serious multi-day expeditions, we think the Porcelain Rocket 52Hz is comfortably one of the best frame bags money can buy.

Unlike other bags in this review, the 52Hz foregoes a zipper in favor of a roll-top closure which is cinched down with the attached Voilé straps. With no zippers to fail, the 52Hz should be much more durable in the long term, and it also gains 100% waterproofing.

Although we did find zippered frame bags quicker to access, the roll-top opening on the 52Hz meant that we were able to pack it quite a bit fuller, as we didn’t have to worry about getting the zip closed, and when heavily loaded it was easier to manage.

The 52Hz is extremely well made and comes in different styles and sizes to suit a variety of bike types. For those heading out on day rides, this might not be the bag we’d choose, but for bikepackers looking for a frame bag that should last for years to come, the 52Hz would be our pick.

Best For Mountain Biking: BLACKBURN OUTPOST ELITE FRAME BAG

PROS: Tough and stable. Convenient to use.

CONS: Not fully waterproof.

A full-frame bag can be a fantastic way to store gear for mountain bikers. It lowers the bike’s center of gravity (increasing stability), has virtually no effect on handling, and makes full use of the available space in your frame triangle.

The Outpost Elite Frame Bag from Blackburn Designs is very well made, fits securely, and comes in four different sizes to fit the majority of hardtail and rigid mountain bikes.

With two horizontal zippers for access to the main compartment as well as an extra external pocket on the opposite side (which is handy for quick access to things like maps), this is an extremely convenient frame bag. It even has a hose port for routing a hydration bladder.

The materials are tough and sturdy, so it should stand up well to the rigors of single-track riding. The only real downside we found was that this bag isn’t fully waterproof, just water-resistant, so you might want to be careful what you store inside.

Best For Full Suspension: REVELATE DESIGNS FULL SUSPENSION FRAME BAG

PROS: Fits well. Very durable.

CONS: Not waterproof.

Because a rear shock dramatically changes the shape of a bicycle triangle, most frame bags will simply not be compatible with a full-suspension mountain bike.

The Full Suspension Frame Bag from Revelate Designs provides a great solution to this; the clever design squeezing a surprising amount of storage capacity into the relatively limited available space.

The material is water-resistant rather than waterproof, but this bag from Revelate Designs is tough enough to survive the battering of single-track, without affecting handling or the quality of your ride.

Coming in three sizes, the Full Suspension Frame Bag is a great way to get the weight off your back and onto the bike.

Best for Road/Gravel Cycling: APIDURA EXPEDITION FRAME PACK

PROS: Lightweight, many sizes available. Waterproof. Highly convenient.

CONS: Can bulge out slightly.

Coming in five different sizes, the Expedition Frame Pack from Apidura is a fantastic option for road or gravel cyclists.

Because it only takes up the top half of the triangle, you should still be able to fit in bottle cages when using this bag, although this will depend on the size of your frame.

It’s extremely lightweight, at only 7.4 ounces for the largest (6.5-liter) size available. It’s very stable, fully waterproof, and super convenient to use with its zippered opening. We found it incredibly useful on day rides; it happily carried a tube, a multitool, a rain jacket, a pump, and a few sandwiches, while adding next to no penalty in weight or aerodynamics.

If we had to find a criticism, it would be that when stuffed to the limit, the Expedition Frame Pack does bulge out a little, which can mean a bit of leg rub against the sides. But this is easily solved by more careful packing, following which we never had an issue.

We found the Apidura Expedition Frame Pack to be easily one of the best all-round frame bags on the market.

Best On A Budget: TOPEAK MIDLOADER

PROS: Great value, convenient.

CONS: Not waterproof, heavy.

With a simple yet highly effective design, the Topeak MidLoader is a fantastic budget frame bag that punches far above its price point.

Available in three different sizes and with a simple, half-frame design, the MidLoader should fit well with most bicycles. Like the more expensive Apidura Expedition Frame Pack, the MidLoader takes up the top half of the frame and should allow access to water bottle cages.

It’s burly and durable, so it should stand up to long-term abuse well, and the simple design makes it very convenient to use. The material is water-resistant rather than waterproof, so we’d suggest being careful about what you store inside this bag or using something like a ziplock bag or dry sack to keep valuables dry.

The MidLoader is heavier than comparatively sized bags, although the thicker material might also last longer. All in all, this is an excellent frame bag that should work just as well on a road bike as a hardtail, making it an outstanding and highly versatile product.

Best Waterproof Frame Bag: ORTLIEB FRAME-PACK TOPTUBE

PROS: 100% waterproof. Tough and convenient.

CONS: Only comes in one size. Expensive.

Ortlieb has been the biggest name in bicycle luggage for many years, and the German company is still making some of the best equipment on the market.

The Ortlieb Frame-Pack Toptube uses a half-frame design, currently available only in a 4-liter size. Although Ortlieb do also make a full frame bag, which might be a better fit for mountain bikes.

Those with larger frames should be able to squeeze in a couple of bottle cages underneath the Frame-Pack Toptube, making it a highly convenient option.

It’s also 100% waterproof; the burly material and waterproof zippers making it a great choice for those that want to be absolutely certain their contents will remain dry through even the most adverse conditions.

Best Custom Frame Bag: ROGUE PANDA DESIGNS

PROS: Full customization, fantastic quality, perfect fit.

CONS: Expensive, long lead time.

Although these days there are plenty of great off-the-shelf options, a custom frame bag remains one of the best investments you can make.

Some bikes can be difficult to fit a frame bag to, but with a custom frame bag, you can always be sure you’re getting a perfect fit.

Rogue Panda Designs are a small cottage company based in Arizona, making some incredible custom frame bags in a wide variety of styles. Whether you want half-frame, full-frame, or full-suspension, a custom bag can accommodate. For those looking to accessorize their bikes, Rogue Panda Designs also offer some incredibly striking graphic designs, making them a great choice if you want to make your bike stand out.

The build quality of their bags is excellent, and although they are expensive, the price is still very reasonable considering the end-product. For those looking to take their frame bag game to the next level, we’d definitely recommend giving a custom bag some thought!

BUYING ADVICE FOR FRAME BAGS

Frame compatibility

Because bike frames can vary so much, it’s very important to make sure that whichever frame bag you choose will fit properly in your triangle.

Manufacturers provide dimensions for their bags and guidelines on sizing, so it’s not too difficult to ensure a good match. But we’d suggest taking your time when measuring your frame, paying special attention to any slope in your top tube.

If you’re having trouble finding a bag that will fit (usually only an issue on smaller frames), a custom frame bag like those from Rogue Panda Designs could be worth considering.

Full-frame or half-frame

Frame bags generally come in two main styles. Full-frame bags take up the whole triangle, maximizing volume. Half-frame bags usually take up just the top half of the available space, slotting in just under the top tube.

Half-frame bags can be more convenient in that they can still enable you to use water bottle cages in conjunction, although with smaller frames this may not be possible. On the other hand, they afford less storage capacity, so you might prefer a full-frame bag to take full advantage of all the available space.

Just bear in mind that with a full-frame bag you’ll need to find somewhere else to store your water, having lost your bottle cages; a water bladder inside the frame bag is a popular solution for this.

Access

Most frame bags come with zippered closures. Zips are the most convenient option, making for quick and easy access to your gear. The main downside to this is durability – zips will eventually fail, especially when regularly exposed to dust and the pressure of an overstuffed frame bag.

An alternative option, gaining popularity particularly in bikepacking circles, are frame bags with roll-top closures. Roll-top frame bags have an advantage in simplicity and durability as there are no moving parts to fail, and they also allow you to much more easily cram extra gear into the bag as you don’t have to worry about getting the zip to shut.

Roll-top bags do take longer to access though, so there are certainly advantages and disadvantages to both styles.

Packing

Because frame bags are positioned between your legs, you want to be careful that the material doesn’t bulge out and rub against you or the cranks as you pedal. This generally isn’t a problem, as frame bags are designed not to interfere, but it’s worth bearing in mind that how you pack your bag can make a big difference.

Frame bags are great for storing heavy compact items, but for very bulky gear you might be better off with a seat pack or handlebar bag.

Waterproofing

Although most frame bags will be at least water-resistant, not all are fully waterproof. If you’re planning on storing electronics, or anything you absolutely need to stay dry, it could be worth investing in a 100% waterproof frame bag. Alternatively, consider using ziplock bags or dry sacks to keep your essentials dry.

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