Restrap’s Large Bar Bag is a bag that attaches to handlebars in seconds with simple straps and holds enough cargo for bikepacking adventures and commutes alike. For heavy packers, it is a worthy contender in the best bar bags category.
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Restrap Large Bar Bag - Technical details
The Restrap Large Bar Bag is a rackless bar bag system, consisting of a 14-litre dry bag, a holster and a three-litre food pouch that attaches to the top.
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To attach the holster onto the handlebars, no mounts or screws are required, but instead, Restrap has used hard-wearing straps and buckles. The holster, which Restrap calls the ‘hardcase’, has been designed to make loading up easy. It’s made of textured nylon and has nylon webbing for extra strength. The double-roll, taped 14-litre dry bag fits into the holster that is secured to the frame and fork with straps.
And on top of that, Restrap has added a three-litre food pouch for snacks and other things that one might want to access easily. The pouch attaches to the holster with a magnetic Fidlock system and has a bungee cord at the front for attaching more cargo. This bungee cord is also the only customisable part of the setup; you can choose between an orange or black strap.
Restrap claims that the holster with the dry bag weighs 558g with the pouch - I found that the system came to a total weight of 575g on my scales.
Restrap Large Bar Bag - Performance
Restrap’s Large Bar Bag has been strapped on my bike through some Spanish bikepacking and commutes alike, and it has impressed me with its lightweight design, quick mounting and stability when fitted. I’ve tried my best to find a reason to have such an excessive capacity, though, because unless you are a heavy packer, the 14-litre dry bag is hard to fill - and if you have a small bike, this setup will definitely not fit.
That is why this review has had a small contribution from Suvi, who said she was unable to test the bag on her bikes which didn’t have the 230mm required clearance between the bars and front tyre. While my large frame had enough tyre to bars clearance, on 42cm handlebars the filled dry bag still restricted me from using the shifters as usual. Restrap claims on their website claim that the bag fits any bike but I really can't see how this is possible - and based on Suvi’s experience you should consider another setup if you have a small bike - unless that bike has straight bars. Having ridden the setup on my mountain bike as well, I found that the straight bar easily offered the space required to load the dry bag to full capacity.
The first step in using this system is attaching the holster, which was a simple task of wrapping the two straps around the bars and tightening, then looping the additional two straps through the fork. All of this made the holster stay in place really securely - although the fork straps will get dirty and perhaps scuffed from rocks and such. Restrap provided some foam blocks with the bag so that it could be pushed further from the bars if need be. The holster alone is quite bulky - it’s 220mm wide and has a diameter of 200mm.
The 14-litre dry bag that fits into the holster has a roll closure at each end, meaning you can access the contents easily from either end during your rides and adjust its size - trying to keep it away from the shifters. I still prefer a single-opening dry bag, as a solid end makes stuffing in larger things such as a sleeping bag easier. The 14-litre capacity of this bag is plenty - or even too much - for a longer bikepacking trip and allows you to have all of your things packed to the front of the bike. The dry bag doesn’t have any air vents so when you pack it, it does take a little bit of effort to get the excess air out.
When loaded the dry bag is held in the harness and cinched down using two straps over creating a stable platform. These straps are rather long so unless you are careful in securing them (there is a velcro helping to roll them in tightly), they will flap around.
If 14 litres wasn’t enough, the food pouch attachment system adds three litres of capacity. Considering that many bar bags alone are three litres, the 17-litre combined volume really is impressive when you have the drybag and pouch together. The food pouch is easy enough to clip on and off when jumping off the bike to refuel and big enough to hold as many chocolate croissants as your heart desires.
The pouch, however, is a bit of a restriction if you want to have anything else attached to your bars. If you have a computer, you need to find another way to attach it (reversing it to the stem side works) and if you need lights, the bag will likely block the beam, meaning you need to again, find an alternative or take the food pouch off. But when riding, the food pouch is easy to access and really stays attached to the harness with the Fidlock system, so there’s no worry about it bouncing off.
The pouch also has a bungee cord laced to the front, which I found little use for (there’s so much space for storing things already) but it would be good for holding a jacket or extra layer - or more food. It is also reflective which is a nice safety touch.
Restrap Large Bar Bag - Verdict
At £130 this bar bag doesn’t come cheap, but then again, you need to pay for good quality and a lot of storage space - if that is what you want and your bike can take. The Birzman Packman Handlebar Pack that Ty reviewed is almost identical in design, but lacks the food pouch and - according to Ty - stability.
Similarly, the Wildcat Lioness Handlebar Harness is a lot cheaper at £72 - but it doesn’t come with a dry bag which is an additional £40, making it similar in price to the Restrap Bar Bag.
Overall, the whole holster, dry bag and food pouch setup are great quality, and I found there to be nothing to fault in that front: the stitching, materials and finishing are all neat. My only negative with this setup is the size: it is just too much unless you are taking a long trip. And because of the size, this combo with its 17-litre volume is only suited for large bikes or ones with straight handlebars. But if you like to carry a kitchen sink with you, then this is a great quality option.
1 comments
Criticizing it for its size is, frankly, ridiculous. It's made to be big. Too big for you? Get a smaller bag.