Topeak Frontloader Bar Bag review - large and sturdy but no quick-access

Bikepacking is made easy with this harness-style bar bag that lets you remove the dry bag once you've arrived at your destination

Image shows the Topeak Frontloader Bar Bag mounted on a bike
(Image credit: Paul Grele)
Cycling Weekly Verdict

A nicely made and versatile way to carry bulky yet lighter items on your adventures. It fitted easily to most bikes it was tested with, but the cable routing can be an issue with some bike models. The air valve on the dry bag was a nice addition to easily remove excess air and pack the dry bag down a bit tighter. It's not a bag designed for quick access on the go, with the only points of entry being the side rolls of the dry bag - but you can pair this Frontloader Bar Bag with Topeak's Barloader accessory pack (sold seperately) to add that extra funtionality and capacity.

Reasons to buy
  • +

    Well made

  • +

    Often straight forward to fit

  • +

    Useful capacity for bulky but light kit

Reasons to avoid
  • -

    Can be awkward fitting to some bikes due to their cable routing

You can trust Cycling Weekly. Our team of experts put in hard miles testing cycling tech and will always share honest, unbiased advice to help you choose. Find out more about how we test.

The Topeak Frontloader Bar Bag is designed to carry light but bulky items on your handlebars. It provides a useful storage area to help you spread your kit across your bike when you next go on an adventure.

The best handlebar bags can be split into two categories, those that add extra capacity on bikepacking trips, and others that give easy access to essentials on local loops or commuting. 

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