Best Top Tube Bags 2024

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This is a gear review about the Best Top Tube Bags for Bikepacking and Bicycle Touring 2024.

Bikepacking Top Tube Bags are sometimes called Top Tube Packs, Cockpit Bags, or Gas Tanks. Whatever you choose to call them they make for a very accessible bag on the top tube of the bicycle. They are perfect for snacks, electronics, sunscreen, or tools. Anything you want quick access to when cycling.

The Top Tube Bag is just one type of Bikepacking Bags and is often used in conjunction with a Bikepacking Frame Bag, Seat Pack Bag, Bike Panniers, and Handlebar Bag.

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How We Tested

All the Top Tube Bags in this review have been extensively evaluated and researched by the expert author who has many years of experience in Bike Touring and Bikepacking. Some of the bags were purchased and rigorously tested by the author in all kinds of weather from extreme cold of the arctic to extreme heat of the dry deserts. The research, testing, and experience of the author have combined to come up with the Best Bike Top Tube Bags for 2024. Read the Review Policy for further details.

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Best Top Tube Bags 2024

The Best Top Tube Bags in 2024 are:

• Best Overall: Revelate Designs Gas Tank Top Tube Bag
• Best Waterproof Top Tube Bag: Ortlieb Cockpit Pack
• Best Bolt-On Top Tube Bag: Oveja Negra Bolt-On Snack Pack
• Revelate Designs Mag Tank Top Tube Bag
• Topeak Fuel Tank with Charging Cable Hole
• REI Co-op Junction Top Tube Bag
• Blackburn Outpost Top Tube Bag

The Revelate Design Gas Tank Top Tube Bag is one of the iconic bags from Revelate Designs.

When first I used and tested the Revelate Design Gas Tank Top Tube Bag I knew straight away this was a winner. It has the classic Top Tube bag design that locks onto the top tube via a hook-and-loop fastening system. The heavy-duty velcro strap attaches firmly to the top tube. While the front attachment has a daisy chain design, which means that you get a choice of three positions from which to attach it to the bike, to make room for spacers. I also like the small amount of internal padding to keep my phone safe when traveling on rough roads.

I like the heavy duty fabric and wrap around zipper which is water-resistant. In heavy rain water may find its way inside due to the fact that the stitching is not seam sealed, and through the small gap at the end of the zip, but overall it is fairly waterproof. It does a better job at keeping the weather out than the other Revelate Designs top tube bags. Only the Ortlieb bag listed below has better weatherproofing.

It’s lightweight at just 3.5 oz / 100 grams, yet offers a 1-liter storage capacity. Which is enough for storage of easy to access items such as snacks, phone, sunscreen, and bike multitool. Measuring 9 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches / 23 x 11 x 6cm.

Overall, this is one of the best top tube bags or gas tanks as they like to call it. The Gas tank has proven not only popular but functional within the Bikepacking community yet is still suited for road bikes and gravel bikes. Highly recommended.

The one thing about the Ortlieb Cockpit Pack is the fact that it is waterproof. Unlike most of the others in this review, you can leave your electronics in this top tube bag during rain and rest assured that they will stay dry. If you want waterproof, this is the bag.

It has a slightly smaller internal capacity in comparison to the other bags in this review as it is only 0.8L. It measures 9 x 5 by 4.5 inches / 23 x 13 x 11, and it weighs a mere 4 oz / 118 grams. As with everything from Ortlieb, it is very well made and durable.

Overall, this is the best waterproof top tube bag for 2024.

There are several manufacturers that have bolt-on top tube bags for the brands of bicycles that have bolts on the top tubes. The Oveja Negra Bolt on Snack pack will work well for these types of bikes.

The great thing about this pack is that you don’t have to worry about it sliding down the top tube bag, and there are no top tube straps to have to fiddle around with.

Instead, there are screws that go through the inside of the bag and through the top tube. It couldn’t be held on more securely.

It has a good capacity – it measures 8.5 x 4 x 3 inches / 21 x 10 x 7 cm and weighs a mere 3.6 oz / 102 g.

It’s made with rip-stop fabric and can be opened one-handed.

It’s available in a choice of 5 different color options. These include black, Multicam black, Multicam tropic, fluorescent orange, and coyote.

Overall, this is the best bolt on top tube bag.

While I believe the Revelate Gas Tank Bag listed above is the best bike top tube bag, the more I used the Revelate Designs Mag Tank, the more I liked it. There are several versions of this bag including a bolt-on design and a large version that has an oversized capacity of 1.4L.

I used and tested the large 1.4L Mag Tank. At first, I thought it was a little large but the more I used it the more I appreciated the large capacity. The Revelate Designs Mag Tank has good straps to secure the bag to the frame and doesn’t slide around much when in use.

The Mag Tank differs from most other bags by having a magnetic closure system that can easily be opened and closed with one hand while riding. This is not only super helpful, but this magnetic design removes excess wear and tear on the fabric. And the lack of any zip removes the weak point that all bags suffer from.

The most popular size is the 1-liter capacity but I suspect if you are going to use the Mag Tank you will want the extra capacity of the 1.4L which is what I prefer to use. The 1L weighs just 4.5 ounces and measures 8.5 by 5 by 2.5 inches. There are 3 color options.

The fabric is weather resistant but the large closure flap can allow water in during heavy rain. The closure flap makes accessing your gear quickly easy, thanks to the magnetic closure on the right-hand side of the bag. Of all the bags in this gear review, this one is the easiest to access one-handed while cycling. But the ease of use does have the downside of not being as securely closed as zip-design bags. Possibly it could be improved by two magnetic closures, one at the very front of the bag and one at the side.

Although the fabric is water resistant the design does allow a small amount of water to enter the bag, especially when riding in windy, rainy weather. For that reason be sure to wrap electronics in a zip lock bag or some other form of waterproof bag.

Overall, the Revelate Designs Mag Tank is one of the Best Oversized Top Tube Bags for 2024. The more I use this bag the more I like it. The inferior weatherproofing and locking mechanism is the only thing holding this bag from the top spot on the review.

I used one of the earlier versions of the Topeak Fuel Tank with Charging Cable Hole and felt let down by poor-quality stitching and a zip that failed after very little use. It was this early failure that caused me to give up on all top tube bags for a very long time. But things have improved with this Topeak Fuel Tank and with every other manufacturer.

This very smart and sleek-looking top tube bag has proved very popular due to the budget price. It was the budget price that initially enticed me to buy this product to test it out.

It has two attachment points to the top tube and one with the central tube holding the handlebar, so you will be in no fear of the bag getting loose and coming off. It’s easy to attach with Velcro straps.

It’s made with quality, thick 420 Denier nylon, and PVC, and is waterproof. While the material may be waterproof it will still let water into the bag in heavy rain showers so like most other top tube bags it is water resistant, not waterproof.

The good feature of Topeak Fuel Tank is that it features a charging cable exit. This means that for riders who like to mount their smartphone or GPS unit onto the handlebar of the bike so that they can view it as they ride, they can charge it up with a power bank in the top tube bag at the same time. Or run a cable from a dynamo on the front wheel to the power bank.

And if you need to grab something from the bag quickly, there’s a handy loop on the zipper that you can pull down one-handed to access your gear immediately.

It comes in two different sizes. The medium one has 0.5L capacity, weighs just 4.2 oz / 120 g and measures 7 x 3 x 4 inches / 18 x 7 x 10 cm.

Then there’s the larger model. It has a 0.75L capacity, weighs 5.3 oz / 150 g and measures 9 x 3 x 4 inches / 23 x 7 x 10 cm.

Overall, the Topeak Fuel Tank with Charging Cable Hole is a worthy top tube bag for Bikepacking and Cycle Touring and well worth considering.

If you are looking for a spacious top tube bag then this one might be a good option. It offers a whopping 1.3 liter space for all your gear. In addition to your essentials, you could find room for loads of snacks. But it is not very weather resistant and I would limit using it for electronics unless the weather was fine.

It has a large 1.3L capacity and is lightweight at 5.9 ounces. There’s a dual zipper on the top of the bag to give you instant one-handed access to your gear. And there’s a mesh pocket inside to keep smaller items in like keys. I like the low price and choice of 2 colors.

Overall, this is a good budget tube bag for road cycling or gravel bikes.

Now, the Blackburn Outpost Top Tube Bag is a great bag for keeping your items organized and for keeping your most important items in view.

This is because, in addition to the large main compartment, there’s also a small zippered pocket on one side which is great for stashing keys or loose change, and there’s also a mesh pocket on top which is the perfect size for a smartphone or GPS unit.

There are two zippers for the main compartment, and it can be opened one-handed.

There are three attachment points to secure the bag to the bike, including 2 very wide straps for the top tube and one for the tube at the front.

The fabric is made from 4 mm thick, 70 denier rip stop nylon that won’t tear. And it has been treated so that rain simply drips from it rather than getting absorbed.

The Blackburn Top Tube Bag is quite heavy at 6.5 oz / 185 grams and measures 9 by 3 by 4 inches / 23 x 8 x 11 cm.

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Top Tube Bag Comparison Table

Brand	Capacity	Measurements	Weight
Revelate Designs Gas Tank Top Tube Bag	1L	9 x 4.5 x 2.5 inches	3.5 oz
Ortlieb Cockpit Pack	0.8L	9 x 5 by 4.5 inches	4 oz
Oveja Negra Bolt-On Snack Pack	Not Specified	8.5 x 4 x 3 inches	3.6 oz
Revelate Designs Mag Tank Top Tube Bag	1L, 1.4L	8.5 by 5 by 2.5 inches	4.5 oz
Topeak Fuel Tank with Charging Cable Hole	0.5L	7 x 3 x 4 inches	4.2 oz
REI Co-op Junction Top Tube Bag	1.3L	8.2 x 4 x 2.5 inches	5.9 oz
Blackburn Outpost Top Tube Bag	0.5L	9.2 x 3.1 x 4.7 inches	6.5 oz

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Aesthetic

This is the least important consideration in buying a Top Tube Bag but we can all get picky when it comes to colors and styles. Most top tube bags tend to come in either black or slate gray, designed to look like part of the bike itself.

Sometimes you can get other color options as well. Where this applies, I’ve mentioned that in our reviews.

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Attachment

It is important that the bag stays securely attached to the bike as you ride. Top tube bags that have 3 attachment points tend to stay fixed to the bike better than those with only 2 attachment points on top tube and stem or head tube.

Similarly, the top tube packs that have adjustable points of attachment at the front are better. Generally, having it fixed at the front higher is better than lower but this is not always possible.

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Capacity

The top tube is an excellent place to store electronics, keys, snacks, sunscreen, lip balm, wallet and keys. All the really essential stuff that you may need to get hold of quickly. But they are not designed to carry too much stuff. They are simply not solid enough for that purpose.

Some top tube bags can be particularly small, so be sure to check the size first, so you know you’ll safely be able to include all your essential items. One liter is the average size for these bags with anything bigger tending to lose its firm fit.

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Easy Opening and Closing

Unlike with a pannier bag, with a top tube bag, ideally, you shouldn’t have to fiddle around adjusting straps to get to your gear.

A good top tube bag is one with convenient closures that you can open and close one-handed so that you can keep at least one hand on the handlebar at all times. The best option here is the Revelate Designs Mag Tank but it does not close as firmly as a zipped bag. If you are mainly bikepacking and traveling at slow speeds on backroads then this is a good option. When traveling at higher speeds a zip closure will be more secure and offer better protection against dust and water.

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Value for Money

Top Tube bags can really vary in price. You can get some for as little as $15, while others can cost more than $70. As with most things in life, you usually get what you pay for and the price is usually related to quality.

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Conclusion

Overall, any top tube bag in this review will work well and could be considered.

• Best Overall: Revelate Designs Gas Tank Top Tube Bag
• Best Waterproof Top Tube Bag: Ortlieb Cockpit Pack
• Best Bolt-On Top Tube Bag: Oveja Negra Bolt-On Snack Pack
• Revelate Designs Mag Tank Top Tube Bag
• Topeak Fuel Tank with Charging Cable Hole
• REI Co-op Junction Top Tube Bag
• Blackburn Outpost Top Tube Bag

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Frequently Asked Questions

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