Apidura Handlebar Pack Compact

The Apidura Handlebar Pack (Compact) is a simple, no-nonsense bag, large enough to carry a few essential items on rides straying into multi-day territory, but still very much targeted at the minimal end of the touring spectrum. While simplicity is generally a desirable trait for anything touring related, the Apidura's shape and attachment system do place certain limitations on its use, more of which below.

Material-wise, Dimension Polyvalent VX21, also known as X-Pac, is used for the main body of the bag. This fabric has become the standard for 'bikepacking' bags and more technically orientated panniers, offering a balanced trade-off between the competing interests of weight, waterproofing and durability. To improve the latter, a large patch of Cordura 600D is sewn onto the rear where the pack is likely to be in contact with handlebars, cables, brake levers and the like.

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The Pack is double-ended and uses roll-top closures, such as you would typically find on dry bags, so you can easily adjust the width and internal volume depending on the load being carried. It attaches directly to the handlebar using two 'Hypalon' reinforced webbing straps and ladderlock-style buckles.

In common with the Apidura seatbag I reviewed earlier this year, the bar bag includes some bungee cord that can be used to strap items to the outside of the bag – useful for stashing a light piece of clothing on the go. Rounding off the list of features is some reflective detailing on the front, plus a couple of 'female' buckles on the rear, designed to easily allow Apidura's own Accessory Pocket to be clipped in. This expands the Pack's carrying capacity from a nominal 9 litres up to 14 litres.

All in all then, there's nothing particularly revolutionary about the design, but it is well executed and constructed to the same high quality standards as other Apidura products reviewed on road.cc. 

Tarmac or trail?

Where things get a little less clear cut is the Pack's intended application. The Apidura website displays images of it attached to a flared drop-bar road bike, but the blurb underneath claims that it 'works best with mountain bike handlebars'. The reason for this is the bag's shape – considering it as a cylinder, it has a relatively small diameter and a relatively long length. This means that for standard drop-bar use, where the ends must be rolled up a lot to clear the hoods and enable use of the drops, the internal volume becomes so small as to be impractical for storing anything much at all.

With flared drop bars more, but not all, of the bag's potential volume can be exploited. However, it is still only suitable for items that would be needed at the start/end of a ride, as access on the go isn't what it's designed for (that's where the Accessory Pocket comes in).

Conversely, the wide, slim shape that makes it unsuitable for road bike use is exactly what is required for mountain bikes, where width isn't an issue but tyre clearance is. When strapped to a flat handlebar, the bag's full 9L volume can be filled. This is just about perfect for lightweight overnight trips in good conditions – my bivi bag and summer sleeping bag fit snuggly inside – when used in combination with rear panniers or a large saddlebag, such as Apidura's own.

For less benign conditions, and rain in particular, you have to factor in additional dry bags for anything that mustn't get wet; while the VX21 fabric is waterproof and will shrug off light spray and drizzle, the seams aren't taped and moisture does eventually get in. (Apidura recommends you do this, on its website.)

Beyond its shape, the other factor limiting the bag's use is the way it attaches to the bike. Since the bag cinches directly onto the handlebar with no additional spacers, you'll need to carefully route shift and brake cables (or hydraulic hosing) around the bag to avoid pinching anything. This may require extending cable/brake housings to loop them out of the way which, frankly, is a bit of a pain.

The other issue with the simple two-strap attachment system is stability. As it's not triangulated, the bag has a tendency to flap up and down over rough terrain, pivoting around the points where the webbing straps attach to the main body. This can be mitigated, and even eliminated completely, by making sure the bag is pulled up tight against the underside of shifters and brake levers, but this then increases the chances that the bag pinches cable and brake housing as it exits the levers. In practice, I found that it tended to work best when used with brake levers where the hoses exit in-line with the master cylinders – the latest generation of Shimano hydraulic brakes, for example – and the levers set up quite flat.

> Beginner's guide to carrying stuff on your bike

If you can sort out the housing routing issue then the system is remarkably stable and the benefits of its simplicity – the ease of attachment/removal, the lack of parts that could fail, and so on – come into play. I've been using the handlebar bag for over a year now, mostly off-road on the mountain bike, and haven't experienced any issues with the straps loosening over rough terrain. Its durability has also been proven as, despite some slight discolouration from all the mud that's been thrown at it, the fabric and seams are still going strong.

Overall, the Pack performs well and is well built to withstand the rigours of touring, but a few features will limit its appeal. The shape means it's best suited to flat handlebars, and access on the go isn't a strong point, making it best suited to carry overnight kit on multi-day rides. The second potential limitation is the attachment system which, though simple and effective if it fits, will likely require some tinkering with your cockpit setup to stop it pinching any cable housing. There is the risk that the Pack will simply not work for some setups and because of these issues, the asking price of £77 feels a little on the high side.

Verdict

Well made and functional, but price is quite steep given limitations imposed by shape and attachment system