The Best Bike Bags for Touring and Commuting (2024)

Ortlieb’s durable, high-volume, convenient pannier setup has excellent capacity and versatility. These panniers work great for everything from farmer’s market runs to multi-day front-country tours. These bags come in a set of two and are built from a rugged coated polyester that is fully waterproof thanks to the roll-top closure.

At 20 liters each, these are big enough to fit camping gear, food, clothes, or your local grocery haul. The panniers fit on racks up to 16 millimeters in diameter, and also have adapters for narrower rails. They have an interior pocket for keeping smaller items organized, don’t flap around on the bike rack, and come with shoulder straps for when you may want to wear them around town.

The Details: 20 liters each | 4.19 pounds | PVC-coated polyester | Waterproof

Known for their ultra-durable luggage, gear racks, and storage, Thule also makes a similarly rugged line of waterproof bags with super secure attachments. These panniers come in a range of sizes, including a set of 13-liter bags, and single bags in 17-liter, 22-liter, and 25-liter capacities. They are hassle-free to attach securely to racks, and will fit anything from eight- to 16-millimeter rack bars without the need for adapters.

This set features a padded laptop sleeve that fits laptops up to 15 inches, as well as a smaller padded sleeve for tablets and file folders. The external zippered pocket holds small items for easy access, and the hardware and straps are all extremely durable and reliable.

The Details: 13-25 liters | 3.3-4.4 pounds | Welded nylon | Waterproof

Combining the convenience, storage, and carrying system for use with both a bike rack and as a backpack, Ortlieb’s Vario PS Pannier is a no-brainer for bike commuters. Hop off your bike, unclip the bag, throw it on your back, and you’re ready for the day.The backpack straps tuck away for safe riding, and we appreciate the reflective details for early morning or evening commutes. This pack has convenient external pockets and a padded internal laptop sleeve making commuting a breeze. It also comes in fun colors with a retro-looking clasp to secure the roll-top closure.

The Details: 26 liters | 3.44 pounds | PU-coated nylon | Water-resistant

With simple attachments that eliminate the need to remove the straps from your handlebars (if you know, you know), this bag is convenient, secure, and versatile. This small bag has just over 2.5 liters of capacity, with a clear internal zippered pocket for cash and cards. The front zippered pocket is perfect for keys, and the pouch itself can hold small necessities and doubles as a purse, waist-pack, cross-body bag, or clutch. It attaches securely to your handlebars with nylon straps, then the pouch attaches to the straps with a simple clasp for added security. You can choose between a few different materials for the body of the bag, and the color range is so wide it feels almost custom.

The Details: 2.65 liters | 0.36 pounds | EcoPak EPX or Cordura | Water-resistant

This waterproof bag is shaped like a tube and sits close to your handlebars, but doesn’t impede steering. The bag can be accessed from both ends, which means if you pack strategically, you can reach everything you need with a quick unbuckle-and-unroll during breaks. The bag comes with dense foam spacers to customize the fit and clear any brake lines, and it stays tight against the handlebars even after days of bumpy riding.

This bag is ideal for hauling tent poles or other long, awkwardly shaped bikepacking gear, and the expandable front flap provides even more capacity for snacks or maps. The material is fully waterproof, and as long as you roll the sides as directed, will withstand even torrential downpours. Just be aware of your bike’s drop-bar situation as smaller bikes with narrower drop bars may need a smaller roll.

The Details: 11 liters | 0.9 pounds | TPU-laminated nylon | Waterproof

There are so many bike geometries and measurements that the only way to ensure a perfect frame bag fit is to get a custom bag. However, the next best thing is a frame bag that comes in multiple capacities and sizes. Blackburn’s Outpost Elite Frame Bag doesn’t just have different sizes, it comes in different heights to fill as much space as possible on your frame, keeping packed weight at a lower center of gravity without increasing wind resistance. This bag is made with waterproof materials and sealed zippers, and has multiple pockets for organizing quick-grab items. It even has a hose port for carrying a water reservoir in the bag itself, perfect for those extra-dry stretches.

The Details: 3.4-6.8 liters | 0.44-0.69 pounds | Nylon | Waterproof

A half-frame bag is a versatile option that still allows you to carry an accessible water bottle on your downtube without losing the convenience of gear stashed in the frame. This bag still has six liters of capacity, which is enough for snacks, a tool kit, and a spare layer. It also has a small side pocket and comes with the standard hook-and-loop closures to fit a variety of tube diameters, and is highly water-resistant.

The Details: 6 liters | 0.38 pounds | Polyester | Water-resistant

The seat pack is the workhorse of a touring bike-bag system. With a 16-liter capacity and an easy-to-pack shape, this bag can hold compressible sleeping bags, solo tents, and spare clothes — basically your entire camping setup. The Spinelock system uses a set of clamps that attach under your seat, with a forged aluminum pin that connects through the top of the pack attachment. One hook-and-loop strap secures it to your seat post, and you’re ready to go. If you’re filling this bag to capacity you will need to stuff it on the ground like a compression sack, and then use the convenient air purge valve to reduce the volume for easy transport.

The Details: 16 liters | 1.5 pounds | Ripstop nylon, aluminum | Waterproof

The humble top-tube bag is an unsung hero in commuting, bikepacking, and general riding. It’s also kind of hard to get right, but this 1.3-liter model from REI’s bike bag line nails it. Two hook-and-loop closures secure around your top tube, and a bungee can be tightened as much as possible around your stem to keep it stable. It has an internal pocket for small items like lip balm, cash, or cards, and the main pocket is deceptively large, holding important bike tools, snacks, and other essentials.

The Details: 1.3 liters | 0.37 pounds | Nylon | Water-resistant

Frequently Asked Questions

• Is a frame bag or pannier setup better?

  For commuting, running errands, and front-country touring, panniers are convenient, easy to pack, and have a larger capacity. Many also come with carrying straps and can double as backpacks or shoulder bags. For lightweight bikepacking setups or extended gravel racing, bike bags will be more aerodynamic and afford easier riding. “I look for convenience over weight savings,” Montana-based cyclist and gravel bike racer Hailey Hosken says. “I choose panniers because I can load all of my gear into two backpack-shaped bags and find it all easily.”

• Do bike panniers slow you down?

  A fully weighted set of pannier will slow you down due to added weight as well as wind resistance. Your bike goes from being a narrow, sleek vehicle to having added width to catch the wind. Riding with weighted panniers takes some getting used to, and can make you feel less agile, but theyare still a great way to carry camping gear and town gear. Just be aware that your bike will feel different at first.

• Are hard-sided or soft-sided bike bags better?

  If you’re looking for maximum protection for your gear, choose a hard-sided bike bag, but keep in mind that they are clunkier and can be harder to pack than soft-sided bags. A good option for protecting your items is a soft-sided bag with internal structural reinforcements, so you get the flexibility of a soft bag with extra internal protection. If you’re packing a laptop, look for a pannier with a padded sleeve.

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