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Top tube bags are becoming practical basic equipment for marathon bikers and gravel cyclists. Slim in design, weighing just over 100 grams and with a volume of around one litre, they offer space for the most essential items such as tools, energy bars or smartphones. Suitable screw threads in the top tube of many endurance or gravel racers allow the bags to be mounted easily and securely. The biggest plus point, however, is their position in the cyclist's field of vision and the quick, easy access to the contents even while riding - whereby the space on the top tube is exactly what bothers many traditionalists who want to have a tidy cockpit and prefer to hide the indispensable small items in a small bag under the saddle.
However, the disadvantage of the rear bag is that it is out of reach while riding. Models with a separate holder are also somewhat heavier. And: the saddle bag is right in the path of the wet, dirty rear tyre. If it is tight, at least only the pannier gets soiled; if moisture gets in, you can be annoyed with dirty repair kit or even rusty tools.
Advantages of top tube bags
The top tube bag, which is much better protected against splash water, is much more careful with its contents. Soft padding material on the inside, which protects smartphone displays from scratches and prevents rattling, small additional compartments to keep things organised and a cable feed-through for the power supply to the GPS computer are further clever details that speak in favour of the top tube bag.
The bags are attached either with screws or straps. Both methods have their advantages and disadvantages. The screw fastening offers a particularly secure hold and is ideal for riders who are regularly out and about on bumpy surfaces and for whom the small front loader is a constant companion on the bike. Straps, on the other hand, offer more flexibility; they allow the bag to be used quickly and easily on different bikes.
When mounting our eight test samples, priced between 35 (Decathlon) and 90 euros (Cyclite), we found that the bike manufacturers mount the threads in the top tube at different distances from the head tube; the smallest measured distance of the front hole was three centimetres, the largest eight centimetres. With a distance of only three centimetres, it can happen that the mounting holes of longer bags no longer fit on the threads in the top tube. This is something to bear in mind when choosing the right top tube bag.
The type of closure
Another decisive aspect is the type of fastening. There are bags with zips and those with hinged lids. Zips, provided they move reasonably smoothly, can be opened and closed quickly and easily in any situation. Hinged lids, on the other hand, require a little more attention; whether they are opened to the left, right or back is not decisive - but it must work without fumbling.
To prevent raindrops from penetrating through the gaps in the teeth of zips, they must be equipped with a sealing lip and a cover that is open at the back as a parking garage for the zip. Hinged lids, on the other hand, protect the contents somewhat better from splashing water, provided they close snugly. However, if the lid does not cover the storage space sufficiently or if it starts to flap in the wind, it can get really wet in the cargo area. Bags like these would not be recommended for all-weather riders and would not make sensible basic equipment.
The most important information at a glance
From the eight top tube bags at prices between 35 and 90 euros none of the bags failed the practical test, but the Cyclite and Topeak models were able to easily set themselves apart from the competition with A grades. Both bags impressed in terms of handling, features and attachment; in the rain test, the inexpensive Topeak bag only let a few drops through the zip, while the Cyclite, the most expensive top tube container in the test, performed slightly better.
The most important information about the 8 top tube bags in the test
Bolt-on Top Tube Bag 1L from Apidura
- UK price: 64,90 Euro >> available here
- Weight: 106 grammes
- Volume (manufacturer's specification): 1 litre
- Distance front hole: 3 cm / 4 mounting positions
- Equipment: Reflective material, taped zip, 1 Velcro strap, 2 screws
TOUR notes
- Watertightness: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.3
- Equipment / processing: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.5
- Fastening: 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0
- Handling: 4 from 8 | Grade: 2.8
Overall grade: 1,9
Conclusion on the top tube bag
Top workmanship, lightweight; the front strap is tight for very thick head tubes; holes must be punched in the intended positions for initial assembly, front hole position fits all bike models; the zip holds tight, but is a little heavy, practical cable feed-through.
Top tube bag from Cyclite
- UK price: 89,90 Euro >> available here
- Weight: 130 grammes
- Volume (manufacturer's specification): 1.1 litre
- Distance front hole: 7 cm / 2 mounting positions
- Equipment: Reflective material, inner pocket, 4 Velcro straps, 2 screws, zipped inner pocket, frame protection film
TOUR notes
- Watertightness: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.3
- Equipment / processing: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.3
- Fastening: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.5
- Handling: 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
Overall score: 1.3 (test winner)
Conclusion on the top tube bag
Very well made; with very small frames the lid can hit the saddle tip; can be loaded and unloaded very easily thanks to the large lid with magnetic fastener, the mesh compartment inside is practical; allows many mounting positions thanks to variable eyelets and straps, but the front hole is set far back.
ADVT 900 waterproof 1L from Decathlon
- UK price: 34,99 Euro >> available here
- Weight: 184 grammes
- Volume (manufacturer's specification): 1 litre
- Distance front hole: 7 cm / 2 mounting positions
- Equipment: Reflective material, 3 Velcro straps, 2 screws, integrated mounting instructions
TOUR notes
- Watertightness: 6 from 8 | Grade: 1.8
- Equipment / processing: 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0
- Fastening: 6 from 8 | Grade: 1.8
- Handling: 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0
Overall grade: 1.9
Conclusion on the top tube bag
Inexpensive; long front strap for thick head tubes; rain can get in under the lid via the sloping front when riding fast; easy access to the storage space when stationary, whereby the lid always wants to fold to the right; note: the model is to be replaced by a successor in mid-2025.
Fuel Back from Ortlieb
- UK price: 65 Euro >> available here
- Weight: 168 grammes
- Volume (manufacturer's specification): 1 litre
- Distance front hole: 8 cm / 1 mounting position
- Equipment: 1 mesh compartment, padded inner compartment, Velcro straps, mounting kit with straps, top tube adapters, 2 screws
TOUR notes
- Watertightness: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.3
- Equipment / processing: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.5
- Fastening: 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0
- Handling: 5 from 8 | Grade: 2.5
Overall grade: 1.8
Conclusion on the top tube bag
High and wide bag, plenty of storage space; sits a little wobbly on the top tube when fully loaded without the front strap; easy to load and unload when stationary, the lid that opens to the left is a little unruly while riding; no reflective material, top workmanship; five-year guarantee.
Bolt-on Top Tube Bag 1L from Restrap
- UK price: 52 Euro >> available here
- Weight: 118 grammes
- Volume (manufacturer's specification): 1 litre
- Distance front hole: 7 cm / 2 mounting positions
- Equipment: Reflective material, 2 straps, 2 mesh compartments, reinforced outer wall
TOUR notes
- Watertightness: 5 from 8 | Grade: 2.5
- Equipment / processing: 6 from 8 | Grade: 1.8
- Fastening: 5 from 8 | Grade: 2.3
- Handling: 5 from 8 | Grade: 2.5
Overall grade: 2.3
Conclusion on the top tube bag
Slim and high bag; the front strap is short and does not fit around thick head tubes; the material is waterproof, but water penetrates through the zip in heavy rain; the zip runs easily, loading and unloading works well even on the move; the outer pockets are practical.
Mag Tank Bolt-on from Revelate Designs
- UK price: 85 Euro
- Weight: 135 grammes
- Volume (manufacturer's specification): 1 litre
- Distance front hole: 7 cm / 2 mounting positions
- Equipment: 1 retaining strap, key hook inside
TOUR notes
- Watertightness: 2 from 8 | Grade: 4.0
- Equipment / processing: 4 from 8 | Grade: 2.8
- Fastening: 5 from 8 | Grade: 2.5
- Handling: 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0
Overall grade: 2.8
Conclusion on the top tube bag
The bag is wide and offers a lot of volume; the lid allows easy access to the storage space even while riding, although the hook fastener is a bit fiddly and the lid offers hardly any rain protection; the front screw eyelet is far back, which is why the bag does not fit on every racer.
Top Tube Bag - Zip from Tailfin
- UK price: 65 Euro
- Weight: 145 grammes
- Volume (manufacturer's specification): 0.8 litre
- Distance front hole: 7 cm / 2 mounting positions
- Equipment: Reflective material, 3 straps, 1 mesh pocket, reinforced inner wall
TOUR notes
- Watertightness: 5 from 8 | Grade: 2.5
- Equipment / processing: 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
- Fastening: 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
- Handling: 6 from 8 | Grade: 2.0
Overall grade: 1.6
Conclusion on the top tube bag
The bag sits securely on the top tube, but doesn't fit on every racer due to the eyelet position; access to the storage compartment is also great on the go, the inner compartment and the cable feed-through at the front are practical; the outer material is tight, the zip isn't quite perfect.
Fastfuel Dryback II from Topeak
- UK price: 39,95 Euro >> available here
- Weight: 108 grammes
- Volume (manufacturer's specification): 0.8 litre
- Distance front hole: 7 cm / 25 mm slotted holes
- Equipment: Reflective material, 3 Velcro straps, reinforced inner wall, frame protection film
TOUR notes
- Watertightness: 6 from 8 | Grade: 1.8
- Equipment / processing: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.5
- Fastening: 8 from 8 | Grade: 1.0
- Handling: 7 from 8 | Grade: 1.5
Overall grade: 1.4
Conclusion on the top tube bag
Lightweight; slim, low, sleek design; top workmanship; the front slot for the screw fastening is far away from the front edge; the zip runs smoothly, access to the long compartment is easy on the go; the material does not let water through, the zip only lets a few drops through.
How TOUR tests
The Overall grade is made up of four sub-ratings: weather protection, features/workmanship, attachment and handling, with all criteria weighted equally.
- Weather protection: All were watered for 60 seconds with a garden hose. Paper towels placed inside served as a tightness indicator. The less moisture was visible, the better. Water ingress from above via the lid or the zip was assessed more strictly than damp spots at the bottom of the bag at the fastening eyelets.
- Equipment / processing: In terms of equipment, there were plus points for reflective material, additional fastening straps, extra compartments for keeping things tidy, inner padding, fastening screws and other accessories such as frame protection film.
- Fastening: A stable bag base and a sufficiently long front strap for a secure fit on the top tube and head tube are essential. Points were deducted for bags with very short straps or few eyelets that only allow one mounting position.
- Handling: Due to the system, bags with a lid can be loaded and unloaded more easily during the ride thanks to the larger opening than very rigid bags with a zip, which only allow a narrow opening and therefore make access more difficult. Small organiser compartments in the form of mesh pockets score extra points.
Matthias Borchers
Editor
