The Madison Roam Waterproof 3L Handlebar Bag is a basic but effective pack for keeping essentials – tools, snacks, packable jacket, a pump – close to hand. It’s easy to fit or remove, secure once on and very good at keeping your stuff dry. About the only thing it doesn’t do is look stylish.
> Buy now: Madison Roam Waterproof 3L Handlebar Bag for £39.99 from Swinnerton Cycles
The polyester fabric sections are firmly welded together to create a waterproof shell that’s sealed with a reasonably easy-to-pull waterproof zip, and it works well enough to earn an IPX6 rating. That’s plenty for keeping out rain and road spray.
Heat-welded plastic is never going to feel like a premium construction, but it works. The seams here are all either neat or fairly neat, and everything is robust. There’s a webbing handle bonded into the extra layer on the back, and four positions in that layer for threading the separate handlebar straps through.
I like these straps. They have a soft, suede-like finish that’s naturally grippy on the bar, but while they feel rubbery they have zero stretch. Consequently getting a good tight fit is easy, and the plastic buckles mean it’s quick – push the levers down and they lock, release and it’s free.
Meanwhile the head tube strap is an elastic cord with a big plastic hook on the end, so once you’ve got the cord sized for your head tube (quick and easy to do), it’s both convenient and secure. There’s just no faff to getting this bag on or off, which makes it very useable.
It sits securely and rattle-free, and its long, slim shape slips neatly behind the cables and hoses – at least on my pretty averagely trimmed bikes, anyway. At 28cm it doesn’t seriously encroach on handroom, and at just 134g, nor is it weighing you down.
On the front you get a loop for attaching lights, a reflective Madison logo and a gloss stripe that’s angled excitingly like it’s the 1980s, though it’s hardly dayglo in black. I suppose it may count as retro to some, but to me this just looks a bit naff in a kind of ‘budget’ way. Still, I’ll take function over form any day. Probably. Yes. I’m not shallow. Would I? Maybe.
Niggles? Not many. The main straps are a bit on the long side, but while they can flap about they’re very thin and light, and don’t hold water the way webbing can either. You could of course trim them, but then you’ll lose the nice little logos stamped out of the ends. They’re the one stylish touch here, really, so that would be a shame.
The inside is unlined, though there’s a zipped and softly lined pocket on the back wall. My 8cm wide phone just fits in under the zip, with room for cards and keys beside. I’d prefer the pocket to be in the front, however – the back is obviously pulled against the headstock, and this bag has no stiffener. I don’t want my phone to be the stiffener…
Value
The asking price of £39.99 seems reasonable; not wildly impressive, but hardly extortionate. You can quite easily pay more, such as with the Carradice Harrop Barbag at £54.99, though that does offer another 0.5L of storage. It’s more than 100g heavier, though.
The 4L Alpkit Toploader is more again at £64.99, and while it’s also a really good bit of luggage, it’s only heavily water resistant instead of waterproof.
The Oxford Aqua Evo Adventure Daytripper Pack is quite a bit cheaper at £27.99, and although it’s 0.5L smaller at 3.5L it’s an excellent option. It’s heavy as stock because it has a large and effective stiffener inside, but it’s removable to leave the Evo a very reasonable 163g. It also has useful elastic netting on the front for impromptu stowage, and is properly waterproof.
Check out our best bikepacking bags buyer’s guide for more options, including handlebar bags and more.
Overall
The Roam is a useful, no-nonsense waterproof bag that gets the basics right. It’s easy to use, fits well and keeps your stuff dry. Consequently it’s also easy to recommend.
> Buy now: Madison Roam Waterproof 3L Handlebar Bag for £39.99 from Swinnerton Cycles
Verdict
Very competent waterproof pack that’s effective and easy to use, if not that inspiring to look at
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road.cc test report
Make and model: Madison Roam Waterproof 3L Handlebar Bag
Size tested: 3 litres
Tell us what the product is for and who it’s aimed at. What do the manufacturers say about it? How does that compare to your own feelings about it?
Madison says: “Compact, tough, and ready for any ride – the Roam Waterproof 3L Handlebar Bag is the perfect solution for carrying your essentials within easy reach. Designed with durable, fully waterproof materials and welded seams, it keeps your gear protected from rain, mud, and road spray.”
Tell us some more about the technical aspects of the product?
Constructed from fully waterproof polyester materials, this bag keeps your belongings dry in any weather
Elastic strap mounting system goes neatly on the bars and stays in place
Welded bag seams are lightweight and robust to enhance waterproofness
High visibility Duraflex trims
3-litre capacity is ideal for snacks, tools, a phone, or even a packable jacket
Size: Height 12cm, Width 28cm, Depth 10cm
IPX6 Rated: resists high-pressure, heavy sprays of water
Limited Lifetime Warranty
Tell us how the product performed overall when used for its designed purpose
Very well.
Tell us what you particularly liked about the product
Secure, easy to attach and remove, good shape and size.
Tell us what you particularly disliked about the product
Slightly budget looks.
How does the price compare to that of similar products in the market, including ones recently tested on road.cc?
It’s not the cheapest, but it’s still a decent price and plenty of bags cost more.
Did you enjoy using the product? Yes
Would you consider buying the product? Yes
Would you recommend the product to a friend? Yes
Use this box to explain your overall score
This does exactly what it should – and no more – and does it well. While the price is not unreasonable, it were just a bit cheaper it would easily score higher.
About the tester
Age: 48 Height: 183cm Weight: 78kg
I usually ride: Vitus Zenium SL VR Disc My best bike is:
I’ve been riding for: 10-20 years I ride: A few times a week I would class myself as: Experienced
I regularly do the following types of riding: general fitness riding, mtb,
1 thought on “Madison Roam Waterproof 3L Handlebar Bag”
I’m surprised that Road.cc
I’m surprised that Road.cc gave this bag – which does everything asked of it – 7/10 yet it gave the tailfin bar bag 10/10. Unlike the Tailfin, the Madison bag can be opened whilst you are riding, which I would have thought quite important for a bar bag.
The difference appears to be the appearance, but bar bags always look rubbish, and isn’t this a little bit subjective? If someone is going for looks a bar bag isn’t going to be on the shopping list even if it is the best looking bar bag on the market.