Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Touring
Reload this Page >

good handlebar bag under $40 (USD)?

Search
Notices
Touring Have a dream to ride a bike across your state, across the country, or around the world? Self-contained or fully supported? Trade ideas, adventures, and more in our bicycle touring forum.

good handlebar bag under $40 (USD)?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old 10-14-10, 05:06 PM
  #1  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 48

Bikes: '88 Specialized Hardrock, '82 Centurion Le Mans

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
good handlebar bag under $40 (USD)?

I've looked around, but still haven't come to a conclusion... is there a good, fairly cheap handlebar bag that you guys like to tour with? Do some of them mount on the top-bar side and face you (rather than mount on the front-tire side)?

I was looking at the sunlite fortress, mainly because it's waterproof and the map compartment is cool. Any experiences with this or similar ones? I'm on a straight-bar MTB...
granto is offline  
Old 10-14-10, 05:44 PM
  #2  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: City of Brotherly Love
Posts: 1,562

Bikes: Raleigh Companion, Nashbar Touring, Novara DiVano, Trek FX 7.1, Giant Upland

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 22 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
That bag loks like it will be a hassle to open while riding.
Bezalel is offline  
Old 10-14-10, 06:28 PM
  #3  
Look ma...no brakes!
 
Accident's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Tallahassee
Posts: 399

Bikes: Locally built track bike, Kona mtb, Giant Road Bike, Soon to be Surly LHT Tourer!

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
whoa, yeah! It's opening looks kind of difficult for on the ride accessing, but probably more waterproof than most handlebar bags out there. If the mounting system is ok, then I would think it's a decent purchase considering the price. Realistically though, I'm not fishing for things in my bag that often, so maybe it wouldn't be such a hassle. I normally stop to snap pictures and could see the peace of mind of your electronics being safe if a storm came rolling through. I'd say look at the reviews of that bag, if they're decent then go for it!
Accident is offline  
Old 10-14-10, 07:45 PM
  #4  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 81 Times in 64 Posts
for straight bars?

I'd rather have something like this https://www.jandd.com/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=FMBHP with a small dry bag/compression sack strapped under the bars. While that waterproof bag looks like it could hold a lot it's attached with a bracket extending weight further forward and high. Not exactly the best location for good handling and the method of getting stuff will only happen while stopped.
LeeG is offline  
Old 10-14-10, 07:58 PM
  #5  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: upper devonian
Posts: 894
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
2 Jandd's on sale. For 5$ the 4 is a great bag.

https://www.jandd.com/search_results....earch&iLevel=1
dewaday is offline  
Old 10-14-10, 10:42 PM
  #6  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 817
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times in 1 Post
I have this bag... https://shop.ebay.com/?_from=R40&_trk...+Handlebar+Bag
Great price here... even $10 cheaper than I got it and $20 than found elsewhere... Absolutely waterproof so far (thru numerous rain storms this summer).
drmweaver2 is offline  
Old 10-14-10, 10:50 PM
  #7  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,355 Times in 862 Posts
Look at the local charity shop, you might find something that will work with a few modifications for a couple bucks .

can you sew?
fietsbob is offline  
Old 10-15-10, 04:05 PM
  #8  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 48

Bikes: '88 Specialized Hardrock, '82 Centurion Le Mans

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Drmweaver, that's exactly the link I was hoping for, thank you!!!
granto is offline  
Old 10-15-10, 05:35 PM
  #9  
Doesn't ride enough
 
Lamabb's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Carmel, NY
Posts: 350

Bikes: 2010 Cannondale Caad9 5 / 2010 Surly Long Haul Trucker/ 2013 Orbea Orca Bli2 / 2011 Specialized Rock Hopper

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Yeah, thanks a lot! You can't beat that price. It looks like a good bag, I bought one just now
Lamabb is offline  
Old 10-15-10, 06:02 PM
  #10  
Real Men Ride Ordinaries
 
fuzz2050's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,723
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 17 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 3 Times in 3 Posts
Originally Posted by fietsbob
Look at the local charity shop, you might find something that will work with a few modifications for a couple bucks .

can you sew?
I suggest taking an army surplus bag, putting in a stiff liner, and resting it in a cheap front rack. Follow Bobs advice, sew it a bit until it fits your need, and it will be great. I've lost track of the thousands of miles I've put on mine.
fuzz2050 is offline  
Old 10-15-10, 10:55 PM
  #11  
Slow Rider
 
bwgride's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 1,043
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 38 Post(s)
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Topeak makes a nice bag and the mounting system is strong and doesn't wobble. Not waterproof, but it that is needed one could store items inside plastic bag.

https://www.treefortbikes.com/product...Handlebar.html
bwgride is offline  
Old 10-16-10, 05:25 AM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
bktourer1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Western Ma.
Posts: 960

Bikes: Diamondback "parkway" Spec. "expedition

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 47 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 42 Times in 33 Posts
Try here: https://www.bikemania.biz/Handlebar_Bags_s/359.htm
bktourer1 is offline  
Old 10-16-10, 05:44 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Lakeland, Fl
Posts: 281
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
https://www.pricepoint.com/detail/193...dlebar-Bag.htm
bobdell is offline  
Old 10-16-10, 06:46 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 5,200
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 137 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 81 Times in 64 Posts
Originally Posted by fuzz2050
I suggest taking an army surplus bag, putting in a stiff liner, and resting it in a cheap front rack. Follow Bobs advice, sew it a bit until it fits your need, and it will be great. I've lost track of the thousands of miles I've put on mine.
exactly, I tried those big cantilevered handlebar bags a few times and they just didn't feel right for high speed riding down mtns.
LeeG is offline  
Old 08-09-11, 05:39 PM
  #15  
Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 48

Bikes: '88 Specialized Hardrock, '82 Centurion Le Mans

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
This is an old thread, but I just wanted to warn people that this Avenir Excursion 2.0 QR bag is absolutely not waterproof, as my smartphone and ipod can attest after being blasted this weekend on tour!! I took the bag home and did some testing in case I had not zipped it up correctly, and it's definitely defective. In light of the pool of water that accumulates in the bag (presumably through the zipper seams as the material is clearly waterproof), you'd be better off leaving its contents out in a rainstorm than keeping them in the bag. The link in the thread is dead but here is a similar one.

It's a nice bag, it mounted easily, and I'm sure it's "water resistant," but not waterproof, which is a shame because of the needlessly heavy material (Tarpaulin?). If you own this bag and plan to get it wet, bring along a grocery bag.
granto is offline  
Old 08-09-11, 06:22 PM
  #16  
Banned
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: NW,Oregon Coast
Posts: 43,598

Bikes: 8

Mentioned: 197 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7607 Post(s)
Liked 1,355 Times in 862 Posts
Velo Orange has a hang off the stem front bag rack to adapt a whole lot of stuff,

or even put a basket on, a few stuff sacks and you are set to go.

I got a Klick Fix bar bag mount, and one of their wire supports,
and even the 70's Eclipse HB bag has a new life..
fietsbob is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
robert schlatte
Touring
24
03-01-21 12:07 PM
Shinkers
Touring
5
03-28-15 07:08 PM
WonderMonkey
Commuting
19
02-27-14 06:03 PM
jerseyJim
Touring
28
10-07-12 07:20 PM
CherryBlossom
Touring
16
04-15-10 02:20 AM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off



Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.