I've decided I want a handlebar bag for my commuter, but I know that one of the most complained about attributes of handlebar bags is the quality of the mount, so I know I want one with a good mount first and foremost. I don't want the bag to be flopping around or always tipping forward.

Second, I want some sort of quick release system. This will be my man-purse that I will unclip and take with me where ever I go, so I won't want to be futzing about trying to disconnect on a quick stop into the grocery store for a snack.

Third, I'd like D-rings for a shoulder strap. I'm decent with a sewing machine, so adding these probably wouldn't be too hard, but it would still be super nice to have them already on.

I'm not too concerned about size, I'll have a rack and rear panniers for groceries, clothes etc. At the bare minimum I want it to hold what I would carry in my pockets if I were driving: PDA phone, wallet, keys and earbuds. I'd really like for it to hold more and I don't think that being too big could ever be a problem, other than possibly interfering with my stable bag requirement.

Ortlieb is what you want:

https://www.ortliebusa.com/CartGenie/prod-90.htm

I love mine.

I'd look at the Arkel Bar Bags if I were looking for a handlebar bag. The big one even has a pocket that allows you to leave the shoulder strap attached so you don't have to take it off and put it on all the time. Metal hardware, flaps that cover the mounts when off the bike...just well thought out, if a bit pricey.

Have over 12,000 miles on my Ortlieb......

Ortleib and Arkel are really nice, so is Jandd, but I haven't found any reasonably sized h'bar bag (400+ cu.in. that doesn't tip forward or bounce around on its mounting once you load it up.

My solution was to get a canti-mounted platform rack and MacGuyvered a way to attach the mounting bracket to the rear of the rack. I've got a super cheapo bag (Nashbar Elite, $24 on sale) that sits on the platform solid as a rock. If you don't have canti-brakes, similar racks exists that you can use P-clips to attach to the forks.
Depending on how much you want to spend, and how much jury-rigging you want to do, you can go my route ($24 bag, $7 rack, $5 of stuff from Home Depot) or you can go super-fancy and get a V-O rack with built in decaleur (fancy French name for "QR mounting bracket") and a Gilles-Berthoud handlebar bag and spend almost $400 for the setup.

LonePeak is another fairly popular one with bike tourers. https://lonepeakpacks.com

Townie makes a great bag. Sholder straps and even converts into a Fanny pack. Lots of storage.

ELECTRA BICYCLES TOWNIE HANDLEBAR BAG at Cambriabike

Rixen and Kaul make the mounts used by many bag manufacturers. They are pretty close to Ortleib, I dont know which came first. My carradice bar bag with R&K mounts is 13 years old.
They are quick-release with a button, wont sag when loaded and will stay on over rough downhill tracks and trails. Spares are available.
I think the design is better than arkel and you can switch the bags and baskets from other manufacturers.
For bags, check out R&K, Carradice and Basil.

I have one of these, and I'm quite happy with it. It has everything you're looking for and it's reasonably priced.



https://www.axiomgear.com/product/bag...duct.php?id=81

Any bag with Rixen Kaul mounts is rock steady. Goes on and off easily and is super secure. Ortlieb, Detours and many others use them.

Inertia Designs seem to use it as well, on their clip-on models, best I can tell anyway.

Thank you! This is infinitely helpful. I actually want to make a pannier set for touring, and was just going to attach the handlebar bag with leather straps because I couldn't find any place that just sold handlebar bag mounts, much less quality mounts.

I really like the look of the compact Ortlieb. It's small and innocuous enough that I wouldn't even mind carrying it on non-bike trips, and it has the added bonus of not costing more than the bike I'm putting it on (Methinks Arkel is just a teeny bit proud of their product)

I'll admit that Arkel products are quite pricey, but then you get what you pay for in this case.

Compared to the Ortlieb you get:

Pockets, lots of them, inside and outside
Included Map case
Included PADDED shoulder strap
Much larger, stronger bag (1.5L more for the biggest of each brand)
Removable, washable inner liner.

All these features add to the complexity of making the bag and that costs money, but it's money well spent for a bag of this quality. However, I don't think the Arkel is what you would be looking for. It's just really more touring oriented than you need for commuting around town.

I think they have every right to be very proud of their product, I've had my Arkel Utility Basket for 4 years, and after countless runs to the grocery, school, hardware store and everywhere else, there's not one stitch broken, one piece of fabric torn; it's never popped off the rack, lost any of my stuff. I will admit I did freak out about the price initially, as I was putting it on a bike that cost less than the bag did, but now two bikes later it's proven its worth.

While admittedly not meeting the bling scale of a Ortlieb or Arkel, I gotten many miles of satisfaction from my plain jane Topeak

Been a great product. Bomb proof.

You can't get nicer than the Gilles Berthoud bags. They use the R/K KickFlix quick release mount. Doesn't get any better that this. Though "it" does get a heck of a lot cheaper........

https://www.gillesberthoud.fr/anglais...ires/index.php

Another plug for the Topeak. Mine was all of 20 bucks at REI and has lasted me about a year. Plenty of pockets, an included rain fly, an extra bar for mounting lights, computer, whatever above it, quick release and the ability to wear it either over the shoulder or as a fanny pack. I've been very happy with mine.