Colorado Kid

What do members of this list use? Handle bar bag or a basket such as Wald to carry things?

JanMM

Are those the only choices?

Daniel4

Consider these before making your decision. Test the basket or bag that’s fully loaded with a big lunch or some books or bike tools.

1. check the clearance between the front tire and the bottom of the fully loaded bag or basket. You may need to raise the handlebar. If you have front fenders, it should not be a problem.
2. Are there any brake cables in the way? Over tightening the handlebar mounting straps may inadvertently squeeze the front brakes.
3. Anything of high value permanently mounted on a bike can be stolen.
4. Test out mounting the handlebar bag fully loaded in the dark and in the cold or the rain.

dcbrewer

I have a handlebar bag from Velo-orange that attaches to a decaleur. The nice thing about this set up is that I can easily switch the bag from one bike to another (you need a second decaleur attachment for this, but it is pretty cheap).

Gresp15C

Personally, I prefer a basket. My dad gave me a couple of old Wald front baskets, but they don't attach to modern bikes very well because of interference with cables. I tried to mount a detachable front basket on my wife's bike, and we had the same problem with her cables. Also, it's hard for a front basket to carry much weight unless it's supported from the bottom.

Old Schwinn with coaster brake and North Road bars? No problem. That's how old I think those baskets were.

Front baskets seem like a cool idea, but hard to accommodate on modern bikes. So I cut off the struts and attached them to the rear racks of two bikes using hose clamps. There's also a Wald 585 basket that's just a plain basket with "figure it out yourself" mounting, on yet another of my bikes. The Wald stuff is old fashioned but it seems like they have kept up their quality over the years, and it's quite robust.

Basket or bag? My preference for a basket is that I can carry a pretty big payload, such as a full grocery bag or a gallon of milk and a six pack. Once full, it serves as a "platform" for even more stuff strapped on. On my winter bike it's on top of the rack, to keep it away from road spray. And because I can be rather forgetful, the basket lets me see that I've got everything.

A small saddle bag carries my emergency gear, i.e., for fixing flats.

If I need to carry clothing, it goes in a waterproof drawstring bag. Computer goes in a computer backpack, but I rarely carry one.

Note in edit: Computer backpack goes into the basket, but protects the computer. Like Johnny Rebel, I prefer not to carry anything on my back.

Johnny Rebel

Basket. Wald, the shallow kind up front that has struts that go on the quick release skewer and a clamp around the handlebars. The shallow kind won't interfere with your lights as much. 5 minutes to install, 5 to remove. Easy-peasy, as long as it fits. Try to find one at an actual shop to try it out. For me the basket is perfect for carrying my clothes and lunch. It's just easier to install, less fussy, and muuuuuch cheaper ($13 compared to ten times that much -- at least!!) than the fancy bags and decaleurs. A waterproof grocery bag is like $1.50 and a couple of bungee cords are another 2 bucks. The handlebar bags are designed to carry, what?, a few snacks and a rain jacket and a few tools, maybe 6 pounds or so, for randonneuring? Weight up front will make a bike handle differently, ie worse - no need to spend $300 on something that makes your bike less fun to ride and marginally more practical. A basket can carry more weight and unwieldy-shaped packages if necessary. In the rear I use a big saddlebag for tools, shoes covers, rain jacket, lock, etc etc. No backpacks for me unless absolutely necessary, but I commute 33 miles a day r/t, YMMV

Darth Lefty 

Entirely a style choice, unless it's raining, then the bag.

fietsbob

I like the Bags that fit on my Brompton Front carrier block (head-tube mount)

Porteur Racks* are nice too.. there are some pretty nice ones with the Bike its on, built around carrying a Load .

Low Trail .. same benefit I get with the front Bag on my Brompton small wheel Low trail under the load ,

it actually handles better with weight in the bag than when I leave the bag Off.

* https://www.google.com/search?q=Port...w=1793&bih=959

Giant Doofus

I've used a handlebar bag for a long time, but am switching to a basket. The basket will go on a front rack instead of hanging from the handlebars as my current bag does (you can also use a bag on a rack). I'm switching because I want the ease of tossing things in the basket without stopping. I frequently peel off a layer, or gloves, or a scarf without stopping the bike. It would be a lot easier to do that if I didn't have to wrestle with a bag. I have secure bike parking at work, so I'm also planning to toss my high-vis vest and helmet in the basket when I arrive.

Like a lot of things, this is personal preference. Think about the way you use your "front storage" and figure out what will work best for you. Then, if you are like me, a few months later you'll discover you should have gone the other way!

fietsbob

N+1 wins again basket on 1 bike Bag on another (or Sew a Bag that Fits into your Basket)

Gresp15C

That's a good point. I also use my basket for gear storage at work. In fact, I hang my jacket and snow / rain pants from the handlebars.

gregjones

My commuter has a basket, a small Wald of some sort-model# on PedalRoom page....because I'm lazy. Just toss in and go. It doesn't like a lot of weight. I always put a 2ltr drink there if I have a lot of weight on the rear rack/baskets to serve as a counterweight. It keeps the steering input functional when loaded!!

The bracket/hangers that mount on the handlebars could be trouble. They fit close to the stem--perfect on 25.4, I've used them with 26 but they would require some spreading to go on 31.8.

TransitBiker

If i ever get a front rack, i'll be getting a folding basket for it. not a fan of having weight on my handlebars. I do not like that sensation of being pulled to the side or having to fight to steer.

- Andy

noglider 

All the various options have their pluses and minuses. A basket (or milk crate or whatever) lets you toss anything in, so if you had a backpack yesterday and a shopping bag today, you're fine. A bag designed for a bike can save weight and put the majority of the weight in a place that optimizes handling or storage capacity or whatever. Generally, a basket is more versatile and less costly. Lately, I've been using my Ortlieb panniers mostly. They're not for everyone, but I'm very happy with them. I'm so happy with them that I use them as weekend travel bags even when I'm not riding a bike. In fact, I carried one on the subway to work with me today.

CrankyOne

We've got Steco removable front racks. The mount is on the down tube and the removable rack slides in and out. Being frame attached instead of to the handlebars or fork makes handling much better. I've got a basket tie-wrapped to one, an old wine crate on one, and nothing on the other so they get swapped among several bikes as needed. I also have a small wine crate that clips on to any of our rear racks. For lots of groceries its Clarijs panniers (or bakfiets).

AlTheKiller

SalsaShark

I like a pair of rack mounted rear panniers. They are large enough to tote my daily commuting needs (lunch, work clothes, extra cold weather/rain gear, tool, etc...), handle nicely on the road, and allow me versatility to pick up some items on the way home, if needed. I have a set fashioned from military surplus musette bags one one bike, and a set of Nashbar compact euro panniers. Both sets work quite well for my needs.

catgita

Basket: lower speeds, shorter distances, random loads, fair weather, wide handlebars.
Bag: high speeds, long distances, predictable loads, any weather, drop bars only if bike geometry designed for a front load (if you have to ask, you don't have one).

Open baskets on the back are not recommended because if something fell out you wouldn't know it. Rear loads must be very secure, but handlebar loads are toss and go.

I use a small Acorn handlebar bag that hangs below my my drop bars, far enough back that the affect on handling is minimal, but glasses, one article of clothing and usual repair kit is about all I can carry.

Giant Doofus

Here's my theory, and I grant it's only theory since I haven't actually installed the rack and basket yet. I have a bunch of stuff that I take to work every day in my rear panniers. This is stuff that needs to be protected from the weather and that I won't need to get into until I'm actually inside my office. It includes a change of clothes, lunch, an iPad or laptop, a phone, maybe some books or papers. Then there's stuff that doesn't need to be protected from the weather or that I might want access to along the way or immediately upon arrival: A lock, extra layers, a small bag with keys and Kleenex, and so on. If I need to shed a layer, I don't want to have to get into a bag. When I arrive, I don't want to dig through my pannier for the lock (especially if it is raining). I want to be able to pull my lock out of the basket and toss my helmet and vest in without too much hassle. The stuff in the pannier can stay secure and dry until I'm inside and ready to use it.

Edit: Just to clarify, right now I put everything in two Ortlieb front roller panniers, mounted to the rear rack. It's the front rack and basket that haven't been installed yet.

Wilfred Laurier

Baskets can generally accommodate more cargo than handlebar bags. My wife has a giant Wald front basket that she can carry the better part of a weeks groceries for our household; I have a handlebar bag that I can fit a sandwich and my wallet. Granted, these two are at the extremes, but a basket can usually carry a load snug against all sides and stacked higher that itself, but bags often don't work as well when so full they cannot be closed.