I have been really enjoying riding my Miyata 610 that I refinished and upgraded.
But it looks quite "clunky" with the cheap trunk bag that I use on the rear rack.
Would like to go the "classic" route with some new luggage. And since I have the small Nitto front rack I would like to have a matching piece upfront.
So Classic guys what might you suggest?
Thanks!

Options are limited if you're looking for a randonneur style front bag, the box-shaped kind. The ones I have seen and liked are made by:

Swift Industries
Gilles Berthoud
C Brenn Bags

Anhaica Bag Works is a small operation in Tallahassee, FL. I've got one of their boxy randonneur bags - it's pretty great. Smells good, too, thanks to the local beeswax. They're catching up on past orders, and I'm not sure when they'll be taking new ones, but they're worth watching out for https://www.etsy.com/shop/anhaicabagworks

I rather like Acorn bags. I have a medium randoneur, a bar bag and two tool rolls.

Ocean Air Cycles also makes a rando/porteur style front bag.

And I'd like to have world peace but it's a toss up as to which would be harder to acquire-








I have one of the Boxy Rando Bags- it is one of my treasured pieces!

I think the old Cannondale Overlands panniers are the coolest looking bags- if you don't want old bags, the Lone Peak luggage looks the closest-

Vintage Bike Quarterly has spawned a lot of readers wanting Classic French Randonneur bikes with 650B wheels..

Vintage bags: buy them with bikes, hunt for them at co-ops, or whatever. I bought one bike just to get the matching front and rear Madden bags. Resold the bike to recoup my purchase.

I love Cannondale panniers and IMHO, they look great on almost any vintage bike.

Rando bag and decaleur.



It don't get no more classic.

TimTas makes some nice custom bags (and racks) as well.






Racing Front bag combined with a ahead steerer front rack
(photo).

Some middle class suggestions: Ostrich and Carradice. I have some of each at the moment and I like them.

Ostrich from Japan are nice and less expensive than boutique bags, depending on where you buy them. They make a wide range of handlebar bags, many of which are intended for rack mount. Carradice (UK) makes some classic style bags, but being British they don't do rack mount front bags.

For old school 80s cordura type bags: Lone Peak I agree look just like the old Cannondale. Jannd is still around also. Both these companies sell nice bags for a good price. If you're actually camping, frankly the old school buckles get a bit annoying when it's late, you're tired, and your hands are cold. Nylon bags with zippers have their place...

Lol. I literally had never looked at the price on the Ocean Air Cycles bag until just now, I just follow them on IG. $300

[MENTION=381793]gugie[/MENTION] pointed me toward Waxwings for custom versions of the traditional Gilles Berthoud-style bags. Dave Cain has been a pleasure to work with on my front bag. The three of us have collaborated to create some interesting variations. Photos will follow when the Miyata 912 conversion is complete in a few weeks.

Waxwing Bag Co. - Home

Ton of good answers here.

How much is the OP wanting to pay?

Here's a good flickr group about bike bags to peruse.

Godzilla ate Tokyo; small screws can be hard to find when Sacajawea leads the wrong expedition. Orange peanut.

Non-sequitur at 11.

Riding one, just once, was all it took. Didn't even know that there was a magazine I was supposed to read first...

My wife would agree as well.

She loves her MAP 650b and the Acorn Boxy rando bag on the front.

I haven't coughed up for a 650b quite yet, but my guy is starting to build again and I am very near the front of that line.

Definitely will use Swift bags on mine.

I have an Ozette for my Bilenky and a Paloma on my Hollands.

Fantastic quality and decent prices. imho