Reader John recently asked in an email (thanks John!):
“With the development of [bikepacking-friendly] rear and front racks and the bags and panniers to complement these systems, have you changed the way you pack for a trip, or are you still using your frame bag, seat/handlebar harness?“
This is a great question, and one others likely wonder about too as they’re compiling their setups. I’ve thought about it often as I’ve made gear choices and written reviews over the last few years. After all, more good gear options = more tough choices.
This post is inspired by the answer I sent to John, expanded and improved since I’ve had more time to think about it. Starting with the easiest answer for me personally…
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Frame Bag? Yes!
I still use a frame bag and always will. While today’s bikepacking-friendly racks and panniers can make up for a missing frame bag in terms of pure capacity, their location is not nearly as good.
A frame bag’s low centered position is ideal for carrying heavy things – water, tools, food – without changing the way your bike feels and handles. Personally I’ll never go back to riding with only bottle cages in my triangle, even for a touring-style setup. That frame triangle real estate is just too valuable.
Coincidentally I did just experiment with a partial frame bag on my Fargo for the first time ever. It replaced my old Salsa EXP full frame bag for my recent ride across South Korea, and I liked it a lot – slimmer, easier to access, and better-looking too. But that ride was very logistically straightforward and I was towing a trailer, which alleviated any capacity crunch. For typical bikepacking I would still use a full frame bag.
Seat Bag? Depends.
The short answer: I still love a small seat bag (around 6-8 liters) for short or ultralight trips. But if I can’t fit everything I need into a small seat bag, I no longer mess with a saggy, droopy, overloaded 12+ liter seat bag. Dirt-friendly rack and panniers / fork bags to the rescue.
When I first transitioned from touring to bikepacking, I went all-in on soft bikepacking bags. My budget was small and I was mostly riding gravel on a fully rigid touring bike with 26″ wheels. Meaning, I had more room over my tires than I do now on a small 29er with dropper seatpost and (sometimes) a suspension fork. So I loaded that poor bike down with cheap, oversized, floppy bags and hit the dirt roads. Here’s a picture:
My rides have since drifted toward more rugged routes, often including some singletrack. Fortunately the bikepacking gear world has evolved in parallel to offer more stable, reliable, trail-friendly gear. There is no way my original bikepacking setup would withstand my more recent rides! If I need to carry that much stuff now, especially something bulky like a tent, I’m using a rear rack.
My favorite rear rack setup is either the heavier OMM Divide with dirt-friendly panniers for maximum capacity, or the more minimalist OMM Elkhorn (a cargo cage rack) depending on my gear list. Two examples:
For a fast and light ride like a bikepacking race, I still love a small seat bag. This is mainly for the weight savings, both the bag itself and the selectivity it imposes on my gear list. If needed I’ll add a hydration backpack before I add more on-bike space. Here’s a recent example (Tour de los Padres 2026):
Handlebar Harness / Cradle? Yes.
Despite owning both an Elkhorn and Divide, two excellent front-compatible racks, I have never run a rack on the front of my bike. I’m still firmly in camp handlebar harness (or cradle). If I need more space up front than a harness can provide, I load my fork with cargo cages. This is a luxury of 1) mostly riding bikes with fork mounts, and 2) not running an aggressive suspension fork, or often any suspension fork.
I get my extra space from a rear rack and so far have not needed more, even for multi-month international trips (e.g. Central Asia). This is partly because I’m a small person who likes mountainous routes, so my motivation to pack light is strong! It’s also because I’m guilty of overloading my handlebar harness when the route and my bike allow, as you can see here (arguably should have just used a rack!):
One aspect of front-of-bike cargo where my preferences have evolved: I’m leaning more toward rigid cradles than soft-attachment harnesses these days. I’m not the only one; big names like Revelate Designs and Old Man Mountain both launched their own offerings this year. They’re more stable on rough terrain, and they can solve the pesky tire rub issue for riders of small 29ers, especially when running a suspension fork. I recently changed from a Revelate Designs Harness to a Mountain Laurel Designs Border Harness (rigid clamps, and much lighter) and may never go back.
Wrap Up
In summary, what have I changed about my bikepacking setups now that dirt-friendly racks and corresponding bags abound? Mostly just the rear, and only for longer trips.
If I need more space than a small seat bag provides, first I’ll load my fork with cargo cages and dry bags. If I still need more space I go to a rear pannier rack with dirt-friendly panniers for full capacity, or a cargo cage rack as a compromise. If I’m only out for a few days and the terrain is rugged, I’ll use a hydration backpack before considering a rear rack (keeps the bike lighter for hike-a-bike).
I have yet to run a front rack in addition to a rear one, and due to weight concerns I hope I never will. I am gravitating toward rigid handlebar cradles over soft harnesses lately, but that’s mainly about stability (though I suppose it buys me a bit of extra capacity when using a suspension fork, since I worry less about tire rub).
I’ll never give up my full frame bag! The space is too valuable. Relocating that stuff to anywhere else on the bike just causes more problems than it solves.
Hopefully you found this helpful, but remember, there’s no single right answer. My approach is just one of many, and it’s shaped by my own experience and the gear I happen to have in my gear shed. So much depends on the specific bike, route, rider, and even details like frame size and personal aesthetics. Like it or not, designing and updating our setups is part of the adventure.
More Bikepacking Resources
If you liked this post, you might also like these:
- 9 Ways to Carry Water While Bikepacking
- How I Choose Wild Campsites for Peaceful Nights
- Pros and Cons of Quick Release Fork Bags
Or visit the bikepacking section for lots more!
About the Author
Hi there, I’m Alissa, founder of Exploring Wild. I’ve traveled over 20,000 miles by bike and still can’t stop planning my next ride (and helping you plan yours). Pavement and panniers or singletrack and seat bag, I love it all. On my bike I feel free. Learn more about me here.
Bikepackers: Join me on Patreon for my most current and personal writing, individualized trip prep help, and a community of likeminded supporters.
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Thanks for putting more detail and thoughts into your revised bike setup. I do like the suggestion of a seat bag for shorter trips and look to be more budget friendly.
I saw an interesting setup in Bikepack Baggregator and corresponded with Scott on his choice of bags. His seat bag, for instance, is from a company called Newboler. Looking at the bag and U-clamp, it can be purchased for under $50. For Scott, his whole setup is definitely budget friendly and worked for an Oregon Outback trip, reason enough to at least try out the seat bag for my new setup.
Another question, Is there a reason why you don’t have Newboler bags reviewed on Baggregator?
Hi John, thanks for sparking discussion, both here and on Baggregator!
Product entry and updates on Baggregator are currently manual, i.e. a lot of work for me. I don’t prioritize adding brands like Newboler because 1) they’re already easy to find on other platforms (Amazon, Alibaba), and 2) they tend to have many different products that change often – it’s just overwhelming to keep up to date! But a few people have mentioned Newboler so I should probably look into adding them. I’ve already added budget brands RockBros, Moosetreks, and Rhinowalk for that reason (my own first bikepacking setup was all RockBros and Moosetreks).
Lots of good information, thanks. I see that your largest capacity setup is making use of those REI panniers (now sadly discontinued). I replaced my very nice but rattley Arkel panniers with the REI panniers, thanks to your recommendation. So much quieter and lighter, too.
Yes, so sad that they’re discontinued! They were really unique, a perfect capacity and so affordable too.
Another very insightful post/point of view. My approach is similar – I’ve also moved away from seat bags for longer bikepacking/non-race trips. For me, the rugged OMM Divide rack with panniers is just so versatile and easy to use (and worth the extra weight of the rack).
Thanks for sharing this!
Agreed, the Divide rack is such a practical piece of gear.
Revelate’s Spinelock seat bag doesn’t sag or even move. I use the 16L one on my gravel bike with an Ergon seat; alas, it does not work on a Brooks B17 on my Fargo. But it is like an implant – it just doesn’t move. And it HUGE.
A good frame bag is a great thing. I prefer custom made Rogue Panda bags over Salsa’s bag at half the price because of ease of use (big zipper), optional left-hand pocket, optional Scotchbrite strips, and attachment options (velcro and/or thumbscrews). On a large, they add about 10-11L which is great for tools, other heavy stuff, and on-off clothing.
I keep a Salsa Anything Cradle on all my touring bikes’ handlebars. Keeps my cables safe, and with three Voile 32″ straps attaching my sleep kit & lightweight chair is simple.
Great point, I should have mentioned that stabilized seat bags are a different story. I doubt the 16L Spinelock would fit on any of my 29er bikes… But if it did, I would consider it.
If you use Ortlieb panniers, which I do, I’ve found that adding a second lower stabilizer arm makes them pretty rock solid. They won’t come loose from the rack nor rattle move or rattle around. Their gravel panniers come with two already, but all their “normal” panniers with just one. It is a two minute fix to add a second arm, and a pair of arms cost at last check only $6. Highly recommended.
Also with the Ortliebs, I replace the critical screw bindings supporting the top mountings with actual bolts & nuts (nuts on the outside). These won’t come undone & get lost on a tour.