Best Lightweight Bar Bag?
Kurvenal
Posts: 29
Having just invested in a zippy new road bike, the last thing I want to do is burden it with heavy bags when I take it on some sportive tours. But I recognize that I will need storage for phone, keys, sunblock, etc., so am looking for a lightweight bar bag, preferably with multiple pockets. Am thinking that will probably end up carrying waterproofs and any other clothes in a rucksack, so will not need much in terms of capacity for the bar bag. I will be mostly going on tours with luggage transport, so am not planning on having any other bags other than a small saddle bag for a multitool and tyre kit and a spare tube.
I have listed some options I have found in the poll. The best capacity/weight ratio that I could find is the Agu Thimpy (5L/405g), which I like because it does not look boxy but for which I have so far not been able to find a UK stockist (although it looks like I can order it online from Belgium or The Netherlands). Does not look like it can be used with a map case, however, but that is not necessarily fatal as I will be using a GPS for navigation.
Another clever solution would be the Topeak Tour Guide Compact (2L/470g) since it can double as a bum bag off the bike, but I am mindful that carrying valuables in a bum bag is not necessarily the smartest thing to do. I would be interested to hear from people who have used either this or the Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Compact (2.7L/470g) though. The lightest bag is the Topeak BarPack (1.8L/310g), but at less than 2L capacity I am guessing it could be frustratingly small, although I think I remember reading that the foam padding can be removed to give it extra room.
The next size up Agu bag is the Agu Suntera 315KF (5.4L/570g) which has a more traditional boxy design. The other Agu Suntera 320KF, Topeak Tour Guide and Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Plus bags will hold a bit more and also have map cases, but there is a weight penalty (they range from 670 - 700g). I am thinking that for maximum flexibility it might be best to be able to swap between a compact and medium size bag both from the same manufacturer so that they can share the same bar mount, which would eliminate Vaude since I have not found a compact bag from them other than the Vaude Road I (4L/700g) which weighs more than the Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Plus (Medium) which holds 7L. I have not listed the Vaude Aqua and Vaude Discover bar bags because they weigh in at 850g and 870g respectively. The Revolution Adventure (3L/680g) is branded by the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative but made by Vaude. At 3L with a map cover it looks like it could be a good compromise solution even if it is heavy for its size.
Thoughts and suggestions are welcome. If anyone owns any of the bags I would love to see photos of them on the bike to get a sense of size. The only manufacturer that did that on their web site was Ortlieb.
I have listed some options I have found in the poll. The best capacity/weight ratio that I could find is the Agu Thimpy (5L/405g), which I like because it does not look boxy but for which I have so far not been able to find a UK stockist (although it looks like I can order it online from Belgium or The Netherlands). Does not look like it can be used with a map case, however, but that is not necessarily fatal as I will be using a GPS for navigation.
Another clever solution would be the Topeak Tour Guide Compact (2L/470g) since it can double as a bum bag off the bike, but I am mindful that carrying valuables in a bum bag is not necessarily the smartest thing to do. I would be interested to hear from people who have used either this or the Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Compact (2.7L/470g) though. The lightest bag is the Topeak BarPack (1.8L/310g), but at less than 2L capacity I am guessing it could be frustratingly small, although I think I remember reading that the foam padding can be removed to give it extra room.
The next size up Agu bag is the Agu Suntera 315KF (5.4L/570g) which has a more traditional boxy design. The other Agu Suntera 320KF, Topeak Tour Guide and Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Plus bags will hold a bit more and also have map cases, but there is a weight penalty (they range from 670 - 700g). I am thinking that for maximum flexibility it might be best to be able to swap between a compact and medium size bag both from the same manufacturer so that they can share the same bar mount, which would eliminate Vaude since I have not found a compact bag from them other than the Vaude Road I (4L/700g) which weighs more than the Ortlieb Ultimate 5 Plus (Medium) which holds 7L. I have not listed the Vaude Aqua and Vaude Discover bar bags because they weigh in at 850g and 870g respectively. The Revolution Adventure (3L/680g) is branded by the Edinburgh Bicycle Cooperative but made by Vaude. At 3L with a map cover it looks like it could be a good compromise solution even if it is heavy for its size.
Thoughts and suggestions are welcome. If anyone owns any of the bags I would love to see photos of them on the bike to get a sense of size. The only manufacturer that did that on their web site was Ortlieb.
0
