Originally Posted by Niles H.

One other system I have tried that might be worth mentioning:

If you have a front rack with a good top platform (there are some out there with extra wide platforms; and I have seen one that even has a rail around the platform to keep things from slipping off (Paul (a company name) in Chico, CA might have been the one making it) -- like a milk crate with low sides (I have found that these sides really make things easy -- that's one reason some people like front baskets (speaking of which, they are also an option. Rivendell (see website) sells a large basket made by Wald. They speak highly of it (then again, they tend to speak highly of things they are selling...). It is very reasonably priced, even though is well made (in the Midwest as I recall) and sturdy. It sounds like a good option, actually.).)

The other option I started out mentioning is putting a backpack upright on the (wide) front rack, and securing the top of the backpack (so it doesn't sway or tip or slide off) to something on the handlebars. You could use some kind of clip (like a carabiner). Or (this is what I do sometimes) you can cross the shoulder straps, and loop each one over something (if your bike has something to loop them over).