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16 Best Bike Bags to Wear While Pedaling Around Town

Backpacks, cross-body bags, and more.
Comfortable Bags to Wear While Riding a Bike
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For many of us, the pandemic has been a time to embrace another mode of transportation: the bike. The humble bicycle has allowed us to explore our own neighborhoods in a new way, and expand our reach once we felt comfortable venturing further afield again. With this hobby, though, came the realization that biking requires its own set of luggage. 

Yes, you could repurpose the travel backpack you already own while cycling, but an ideal bike bag has slightly different qualifications: it's ideally even more lightweight, made with breathable material, and won't get in your way while riding. We went on the hunt for the best cross-body bags, fanny packs, backpacks, and saddle bags to wear while pedaling around town. Below, 16 of the best bike bags for every occasion, whether you're only toting the absolute essentials or bringing along a full-on picnic.

This article has been updated with new information since its original publish date.

All products featured on Condé Nast Traveler are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

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    Cross-body bags

  • Bellroy City Pouch

    Cross-body bags can be tough on a bike, because if they sit too low on your hip, you'll be bumping the bag with every pedal. The key is to get one with an adjustable strap and a fairly slim profile. Bellroy's City Pouch fits the bill, and has a convenient slip pocket on the outside for need-to-reach items, but a zippered main compartment to keep everything else safely tucked away. Other useful features include an interior key clip and expandable fabric sides, giving you more room when you need it.

    $129 at Bellroy

  • Alexander McQueen Graffiti Logo water bottle crossbody bag

    Does anyone need an Alexander McQueen water bottle bag? Of course not, but if you're a fan of the brand or are looking to splurge on something frivolous, it'll sure look good wrapped around your shoulder as you pedal around town. Practical touches include a drawstring-close top and an adjustable (and removable) strap.

    $390 at Nordstrom

  • Fjallraven Kanken Art Sling

    Made from recycled poly and organic cotton, with some of the proceeds benefiting Leave No Trace and The 2 Minute Foundation, this bag was designed to call attention to the amount of plastic waste found in oceans worldwide. It's also a great biking bag, as it's compact but roomy, with an exterior front pocket and large main compartment, plus adjustable straps then let you tighten it to hit at your waist, so it's not clanking against your hip or thigh as you ride.

    $70 at Fjallraven
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  • Timbuk2 Especial Stash Messenger Bag

    When you're headed out for the day and a small cross-body just won't cut it, you can count on this Timbuk2 messenger bag to have enough room for a picnic blanket, sweater, snacks, books, or whatever other bulky items you want to bring along. It will work just as well as a commuter bag when you return to the office again or as a carry-on, and will keep you well-organized in any scenario: It has plenty of compartments inside and out, a water bottle holder, key clip, bottle opener, and a waterproof laptop compartment. The exterior is water-resistant too, with reflective touches to keep you visible on the road.

    $179 at Timbuk2

  • Hydro Flask Packable Bottle Sling 

    For those who rely on rental bikes, the problem of storing a water bottle is real, as many don't have bottle cages. If you're not carrying a backpack, and aren't headed out for too long, this Hydro Flask sling bag is your best bet (and much more wallet-friendly than the McQueen option). Along with your water bottle, there's space inside small stretch pockets for keys, cards, chapstick, and, depending on what model you have, a phone. It's also a great bag to have once we're traveling more frequently again, since it takes up very little room in a suitcase or duffel bag.

    $25 at Hydro Flask
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  • Fanny packs

  • Lululemon 1L Everywhere Belt Bag

    Lululemon's Everywhere belt bag will keep your things organized—inside, there are three pockets, one large and two small, on either side of the main compartment. The strap is adjustable, so you can wear it around your waist or slung across your chest, and it comes in about a dozen colors. You won't get a full-size water bottle in here, but I've fit a Kindle Paperwhite, iPhone, keys, sunglasses, chapstick, cardholder, and mask inside with no problem.

    $38 at Lululemon
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  • Cuyana Convertible Belt Bag

    When you're only looking to carry your phone and a card or two, but need to be hands-free, this Cuyana belt bag will do the job, and looks a bit more put-together than a nylon fanny pack. Wear it around your waist or across your chest, and know that if you need a touch more room for things like earphones and hand sanitizer, you can add on a circle pouch that can slide onto the strap.

    $148 at Cuyana

  • Baggu Fanny Pack

    Traveler senior editorial operations manager Lale Arikoglu likes this Baggu fanny pack for bike rides. With two compartments, it's roomier than most fanny packs; it also has a long enough adjustable strap to be worn across the body, over the shoulder, or around the waist. The nylon fabric makes it machine washable and weather-resistant. Plus, it comes in a variety of basics and fun colors like watermelon and pool blue.

    $52 at Baggu
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  • Cotopaxi Bataan Del Día Fanny Pack

    Travel bookings editor Meredith Carey recently brought this fanny pack on a trip to Colorado, and was surprised at how much she could fit inside (both a Nalgene and her bike lock made the cut). Like many Cotopaxi products, this one is made from leftover fabric, so no two bags are exactly alike. And despite its size, it weighs just four ounces.

    $35 at Cotopaxi

  • Baboon to the Moon Fanny Pack

    This Baboon to the Moon fanny pack—which can be worn around your waist or looped around your chest—is a favorite of senior editor Megan Spurrell, who uses it when she is traveling light; it can fit the basics (phone, wallet, keys), and has a clip to attach a water bottle to. In case she winds up doing any errands throughout the day, she'll slide a Baggu reusable bag inside, which rolls up to next to nothing and can be looped around your handlebars or tossed in a bike basket when it's full.

    $65 $44 at Baboon to the Moon
    $65 $35 at Urban Outfitters
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  • Backpacks

  • Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole tote pack

    Patagonia is known for its sturdy, rugged bags that are made to last. That durability can sometimes mean bulkiness, but not with the Ultralight collection. This tote pack—which can be worn as a backpack, on your shoulder, or carried by its top handles—weighs under a pound (13.05 ounces, to be exact) and stuffs down into its own pocket for a smaller footprint when empty. On either side, you'll find stretch mesh water bottle pockets, and there are both internal and external zippered pockets. Plus, the fabric is weather resistant, so you don't have to worry about surprise rain showers, and both compression straps and a drawstring closure mean you can fit a day's worth of gear inside without it spilling out.

    $89 at Patagonia
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  • Rains Rolltop Rucksack

    Another solid waterproof option: This rolltop backpack from Rains, the same company that makes some of our favorite rain jackets. Designed specifically for cycling, it has an outer pocket for keeping a wallet or metro card handy, a loop strap meant to link a bike lock onto, a padded back, and adjustable shoulder and chest straps. There is a side zipper to access the laptop sleeve, handy if you plan on bringing the backpack through TSA later on.

    $125 at Rains

  • Tigre de Salón Briska Backpack

    The best bike bags, especially when traveling, are ones you can use all day. Spurrell likes biking with this buttery soft leather backpack, which she picked up on a trip to Medellín but can be purchased online via Tigre de Salón. It's roomy enough to fit a Turkish towel, book, snack, and a few other essentials, and doesn't cover your back in a smothering way when riding a bike (helpful for hot summer days). Plus, it has adjustable straps and since it's made of a thick, natural leather, it'll stand up to the elements and only look better over time.

    $320 at Tigre de Salon
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  • On-bike bags

  • Rapha bar bag

    If you're looking to take the weight off your back completely, you'll want a bag that can attach to your bike. This Rapha bar bag is great for regular bikers, whether you own a bicycle or not, as the quick-release buckles let you take it on and off the bars with ease, and a detachable longer strap means it can double as a belt bag once you park your bike. Other pros: It's made with a waterproof fabric, and has both internal and external zip pockets. (For longer rides when you're carrying more gear, find larger saddle and bar bag options here.)

    $60 at Rapha
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  • REI Ortlieb Back-Roller Urban Bike Pannier

    For serious bikers, or those who don't want to or aren't able to carry anything heavy, an on-bike bag is a great option for hands-free storage. This Ortlieb model is easy to clip onto bike racks and is fully waterproof. It has enough room for a spare pair of shoes, coat, or your lunch and a change of clothes. And while it's a little awkward to carry off the bike (you'll have to hold it by the top loop), it looks nice enough to bring into the office or to a restaurant.

    $130 at REI

  • Axiom Seymour Oceanweave P25 Twin Panniers

    When you need even more space—say, if kids are in tow or you're bringing along lunch, get a set of twin panniers for maximum storage. Axiom makes this one out of oceanweave material created from reclaimed fish nets, and coats it with polyurethane for water resistance. It also gets points for reflective logos on the back and exterior side pockets. You'll need to get a rack separately, but it's designed to fit most, with velcro hook and loop closures and a bungee hook mount.

    $84 at REI
TopicsSports & Recreational ProductsBags & Luggage