Cycling Weekly - Gravel Bag 5L handlebar bag review

Cycling Weekly - Gravel Bag 5L handlebar bag review

By Stefan Abram

Highly effective storage and at a keen price. Alpkit’s gravel bag might utilise quite a simple design but it is highly effective and outclasses many handlebar bags that are much more expensive.

Highly effective storage and at a keen price. Alpkit’s gravel bag might utilise quite a simple design but it is highly effective and outclasses many handlebar bags that are much more expensive. The storage on offer is quite generous and the roll top closure makes it very easy to access. It might not have internal divider pockets, but the side pouches and webbing do greatly add to its versatility.

Alpkit’s Gravel Bag handlebar bag offers a good degree of easy to access storage and handy extra features, such as the front webbing and side stuff-pockets. Mounting the bag is simple and quick to do while pricing is quite competitive.

Cycling Weekly Verdict: 4.5 (out of 5)

Read the full review

Bikepacking Bags

  • New

Forester Toploader Forester Toploader

Forester Toploader

Limited edition canister handlebar bag: UK made, weatherproof, 4L
£55.99 £69.99

  • New

Forester Gravel Bag Forester Gravel Bag

Forester Gravel Bag

Limited edition handlebar bag with roll-top closure: UK made, weatherproof, 5L expandable capacity
£51.99 £64.99

  • New

Forester Fuel Pod Forester Fuel Pod

Forester Fuel Pod

Limited edition top tube bag: UK made, weatherproof, available in 3 sizes
£35.99 £44.99

  • New

Forester Fuel Pod Long Forester Fuel Pod Long

Forester Fuel Pod Long

Limited edition extra-long top tube bag: UK made, weatherproof, 1.25L
£43.99 £54.99

Your next reads

What Are Bikepacking Bags?

Bikepacking bags are magical inventions. You can strap them to pretty much anywhere on your bike! And they keep your weight distribution even for e...
June 30, 2022

How to pack your bikepacking frame bag

James Olsen, the bike designer behind Genesis Croix-de-fer and Pinnacle bikes, shares his frame bag kit lists. "One of an ‘ultralight’ geek’s favou...
July 31, 2012

How to Hike-a-Bike: A Lake District Guide

Why on earth would you want to carry a bike, up a mountain, on your shoulders? This is a common question we get asked. Well, enough of our pitiful ...
May 06, 2021

Cycling Weekly - Gravel Bag 5L handlebar bag review

Highly effective storage and at a keen price. Alpkit’s gravel bag might utilise quite a simple design but it is highly effective and outclasses man...
April 19, 2022

Toploader UK Made handlebar bag reviewed by Road.cc

Road.cc have reviewed our Toploader handlebar bag, a highly functional piece bike luggage designed to attach to your handlebars. It's form factor i...
April 16, 2024

Bike Perfect reviews Kuoka bikepacking bag

The Alpkit Kuoka bar roll is well made in the UK from a natural looking eco fabric with great long term aftersales back-up. It’s not fully waterpro...
August 16, 2022

Bikepacking luggage plain and simple

For those seeking an uncomplicated, reliable, and efficient handlebar storage solution for their sleep setup during bikepacking adventures, the Air...
July 08, 2022

Fuel Pod - a storage solution tailored for the adventurous cyclist

For bikepackers, storage solutions are not just about capacity; it’s also about accessibility, durability, and ease of use. Enter the Alpkit Fuel P...
July 18, 2021

Tuscany Trail bikepacking Kit List

Essential kit for bikepacking the Tuscany Trail Cockpit Storage: Sleeping kit on the front Roo Pouch: 5m fredd /Ordos 3 groundsheet and small clipp...
May 28, 2015

What Pete McNeil Packs for the Highland Trail 550

The Highland Trail is a 560 mile, long-distance, self-supported mountain bike time-trial route through the Scottish Highlands. It’s a tough and gru...
May 20, 2022

Bike Perfect - Alpkit bikepacking bags review: Fuel Pod, Bilbie and Koala put to the test

We’d like bolt-on mounts for the Pod or Cradle and a web mesh on the Koala whose straps also need tucking in neatly. Otherwise, Alpkit has delivere...
April 19, 2022

Bikepacking: The Art of luggage

Itzi Aldecoa Tamayo gives us a run on bikepacking set ups. Oh, packing! It is so interesting how the dullest activity becomes fun when it is for an...
June 08, 2023

Guy Kesteven's Take on the Alpkit Bilbie Bikepacking Bag

Known for his meticulous reviews and deep understanding of the biking world, Guy Kesteven has put Alpkit's Bilbie bikepacking bag under the microsc...
July 26, 2021

Seat pack developments

The wait is finally over, Big Papa is being made as I type. We have taken our classic Koala seat pack and developed it into a touring Tardis. A sea...
November 01, 2016

DIY bikepacking saddlebag

Anna demonstrates how, with a few tweaks and a steady hand with a sewing machine, it's possible to turn an Airlok XTra drybag into a lightweight sa...
April 29, 2012

South Lakes 100 bikepacking Kit List

A few years back, Dan Thompson took us through his bikepacking kit list for the South Lakes 100 - a two-day 100-mile mountain bike ride. Dan rode a...
June 30, 2022

The Highland Trail 550 bikepacking kit list

We all can, and inevitably will, worry, worry, and worry again about all manner of tiny (and to the uninvolved, totally arbitrary) kit details in t...
June 08, 2022

A guide to custom frame bags for bikepacking and cycle touring

Custom-made frame bags are your ultimate carrying system for bikepacking and cycle touring. They optimise every corner of your bike so you can carr...
October 15, 2024

Koala is a masterclass in saddle-slung cargo Motionation

Renowned for his discerning eye, Guy Kesteven recently turned his attention to our bikepacking luggage, and among them, the Koala saddle bag stood ...
July 22, 2021

Vedangi Kulkarni's Thoughts on the Caledonian Mini Top Tube Bag

For those in the bikepacking community, Vedangi Kulkarni's reviews hold significant merit. Having ridden solo around the world at just 19, she know...
July 18, 2022

Leave a comment

Please note, comments must be approved before they are published

2 - 1 =