The greatest bike baggage, bike containers, and journey circumstances for bikes are extremely well-designed today.
Many cyclists journey overseas with their bikes for holidays or to compete. This means flying together with your bike which could be a daunting proposition. Most of us have heard horror tales of riders opening their bike bag to discover a broken bike inside after a flight. Choosing the fitting bike bag or inflexible journey case or field will guarantee your bike is protected and can make your journey simpler, which means you’ll be able to chill out and simply get pleasure from driving.
Another factor you may need to think about whereas travelling together with your bike is an insurance coverage possibility. Even with probably the greatest bike baggage issues do sometimes occur. We have an inventory of the greatest bike insurance coverage choices, a few of which cowl your bike even when travelling, so if the unthinkable occurs and your bike does not arrive in a single piece, you will need to have insurance coverage in place to assist ease the blow.
You may also need to try our record of the greatest bike torque wrenches. Modern bike elements have particular torque specs and a number of the choices on our record would require some disassembly of your bike earlier than use. Don’t get caught at your vacation spot with out the instruments it’s essential guarantee your bike goes again collectively precisely the way it’s meant to.
With these concerns in thoughts, please hold studying to see our record of the very best bike journey circumstances and the very best bike journey baggage accessible as we speak. We have flown with lots of the bike baggage on this information, in order that we will correctly evaluation packing procedures and sturdiness on a flight.
Best bike baggage, journey circumstances and containers: fast record
Best for roadies
The Evoc Pro holds a highway bike with pedals and wheels eliminated. A tough higher part provides safety.
Minimal disassembly
Scicon AeroConsolation 3.0 Road Bike
Popular with the professionals, the Scicon AeroConsolation simply wants you to take away your wheels to be able to go.
Best for triathletes
Bike Box Alan Triathlon Aero Easyfit
Bike Box Alan’s largest field, the Tri Aero Easyfit will settle for bars as much as 50cm vast with out disassembly.
Best for MTB & Road
PRO Mega Bike Travel Case
Very massive capability signifies that this PRO bike bag can match any kind of motorbike with room to spare.
Integrated restore stand
Thule Roundtrip arduous case
Bikes want disassembly to pack, however this Thule bag has an built-in workstand to make reassembly simpler.
Best price range
This B&W field makes packing straightforward, it closes with velcro and there are not any latches or hinges to interrupt.
Best bike baggage, journey circumstances and containers
You can belief Cyclingnews
Our specialists spend numerous hours testing biking tech and can all the time share sincere, unbiased recommendation that can assist you select. Find out extra about how we take a look at.
Best for roadies
Specifications
External dimensions: 142 x 53 x 92cm
Empty Weight: 11kg / 25lbs
Capacity: 310 Litres
Reasons to purchase
Internal construction
+Sturdy handles
+Easy packing process
+Case wheel removes
Reasons to keep away from
Soft sides aren’t essentially the most protecting
–Support braces are powerful to suit and take away
The Road Bike Bag Pro pairs a smooth decrease and hardcase higher to supply safety with out being too heavy. It contains an aluminium tray inside that attaches to the axles of the bike contained in the bag, holding it safe and out of hurt’s approach when in transit. This can double up as a workstand too, in the event you take away the pedals.
To pack, solely the pedals and wheels want to come back off, and the saddle might have reducing. Then the body is secured with a spread of Velcro straps and purpose-built padding, the wheels go into particular person wheel baggage, and there is loads of house to fill with package, which doubles up as additional safety.
There are inside pockets for instruments and pedals, in addition to an exterior pocket for the roller-skate-style wheel, which may be eliminated to stop harm.
The inside braces that add construction to the smooth decrease half are crucial, however they’re stiff, so can damage your palms when attempting to get them out and in. The stitching between the higher and decrease may also want care, as ours has began to point out indicators of wear and tear.
Despite that although, that is nonetheless the very best bike journey case if you wish to keep away from any wasted time in your journey. Just try our Instagram reel for how quickly Josh can unpack his bike for proof.
Read extra particulars in our full Evoc Road Bike Bag Pro evaluation.
Best for minimal disassembly
Specifications
External dimensions: 109 x 103 x 50 cm
Empty Weight: 9kg / 19lbs
Capacity: 561 Litres
Reasons to purchase
Minimal bike disassembly
+Lightweight
+Packs down for storage when not in use
+Strategically positioned rear derailleur safety
Reasons to keep away from
High worth
–The 360-degree wheels could make the bag roam of its personal accord
The fantastic thing about the Scicon AeroConsolation 3.0 TSA is you’ll be able to pack your bike with out turning a single bolt (except you’ve gotten thru-axles); all you must do is take away the wheels.
With a inflexible Frame Defender metallic base, the bike slots in utilizing your quick-release or thru-axles, and comes with loads of extra padding and a gear bag that is secured to the bottom beneath the downtube.
At 9kg empty, the bike straps into the bag securely, and the 360-degree wheels enable for simple one-handed dragging. With all of that mentioned, we’ve seen baggage handlers stack Scicon baggage the other way up on baggage carts on a number of events in order that they gained’t roll away, so think about some extra padding in your handlebars and shifters.
Read extra particulars in our full Scicon AeroConsolation 3.0 TSA evaluation.
Best for built-in handlebars
Specifications
External dimensions: L 133cm x H 94cm x W50cm
Empty Weight: 13kg / 28lb (together with 2 x foam padding layers)
Capacity: n/a
Reasons to purchase
Quality, robust design
+No want for entrance finish disassembly
+7 yr guarantee and good spares availability
Reasons to keep away from
The bigger measurement might trigger the occasional subject
–Velcro straps might rub the bikes paint
Bike Box Alan makes a lot of arduous case bike containers in Yorkshire, UK. The Triathlon Aero straightforward match is the biggest bike field the corporate produces and with a max width of 50cm means there isn’t a have to disassemble the entrance finish of your bike to pack it into the field.
All that’s required is to take away your wheels and pedals and also you’re good to go, making this field an incredible possibility for time trial or triathlon bikes, highway bikes with extra complicated built-in handlebars or cable routing or for individuals who simply don’t desire the additional problem.
The containers can be found in six totally different colors, we examined the crimson model. You may also select customisable stickers and the field carries a 7-year manufacturing guarantee in addition to a spread of spare elements.
You can learn extra particulars in our full Triathlon Aero Easyfit evaluation.
Best for MTB and Road
4. PRO Mega Bike Travel Case
Specifications
External dimensions: 130 x 25 x 77cm
Empty Weight: 8.1kg / 17.8lbs
Capacity: 348.3 Litres
Reasons to purchase
Easy to pack
+Lightweight
+Internal body
Reasons to keep away from
Can be cumbersome
–Soft sides aren’t as protecting as stable
With room to simply swallow highway, TT and mountain bikes, the Pro Bike Mega Case is large and options an aluminium base body which connects to your bike on the axles. With a lot room contained in the case, the seatpost does not have to be eliminated, simply lowered, and normally, you may get away with merely spinning your bars.
The inside the bag has loads of well-padded provisions to carry your body securely, and even with the 4 360-degree wheels on the backside, the bag tracks simply in a straight line however it may be cumbersome in crowded baggage declare areas or prepare stations.
The outer material appears to mark a bit in transit, nevertheless, it is strong and weighing a hair over 8kg it is best to be capable to get your bike and a bit of additional gear inside earlier than you tip into obese baggage territory.
Integrated restore stand
5. Thule Roundtrip bike journey arduous case
Specifications
External dimensions: 124 x 33 x 85 cm
Empty Weight: 12.5kg / 27.5lbs
Volume: 347.82 Litres
Reasons to purchase
Includes a piece stand for ease of re-assembly
+Packs down small when not in use
+Rigid however gentle facet panels
+Specific safety for the brake rotors
Reasons to keep away from
Case is heavy leaving much less weight for the bike with out incurring obese charges
There are some bike journey circumstances that require plenty of disassembly and others that do not. The Thule Roundtrip Bike Travel Case falls into the class that requires taking issues aside however they have been sensible to embrace the idea. Parts of the bag that add assist and safety come out and assemble into a piece stand. There’s even a intelligent triangle that you just rotate to match your required entrance axle normal.
You can use the work stand to maintain the bike supported and at a snug working top whilst you both get it able to journey or get it able to experience. It’s a ok work stand that though we now have an inventory of the very best bike restore stands you may be capable to get away with a two for one buy in the event you aren’t a lot of a house mechanic.
Best price range bike field
6. B&W International Bike Box II
Specifications
External dimensions: 120 x 88 x 39cm
Empty Weight: 11kg / 24.25lbs
Volume: 411 Litres
Reasons to purchase
The arduous case presents superior safety
+No latches or hinges to interrupt
+Competitive worth
Reasons to keep away from
Frame not completely secured contained in the field
–Lots of disassembly required
Sometimes easy is greatest, and that is exactly what the B&W International Bike Box II has to supply. There are not any sophisticated packing procedures – as an alternative, you get a couple of layers of froth to guard the body from the wheels and field, and all of it suits inside two interlocking plastic sides.
The clamshell design utilises six self-tightening Velcro buckles to stop the case from slipping open, and it contains a shocking variety of handles given the design. B&W International has up to date the case with a brand new plastic designed to flex and never crack, and there are not any latches or hinges to interrupt.
With room for as much as a 62cm body, the case rolls on 4 wheels, two fastened and two free rotating and weighs 11kg with the included padding.
Integrated airbags
7. Biknd Helium V4
Specifications
External dimensions: 130cm x 37cm x 85cm
Empty Weight: 9kg / 19.8lbs
Volume : 408 Litres
Reasons to purchase
Space to hold two wheelsets
+Airbag padding
+Aerobars will match
Reasons to keep away from
Disc wheels require accent straps not included
–Plenty of disassembly required
Using distinctive inflatable partitions and strategically positioned inflexible reinforcements, the Biknd Helium V4 is without doubt one of the most well-padded circumstances of the bunch. With the flexibility to hold two wheelsets, the Helium bag places two airbags on both facet to soak up impacts whereas the inflexible base and entrance cowl shield fragile handlebar elements.
The bag opens flat to simplify packing, and the bike connects to the body on the axles. There are particular compartments in your pump, helmet and footwear and durable finish caps to stop hubs from poking by means of the bag.
Even with the airbags, the Helium will not be all that gentle tipping the scales a 9kg, nevertheless it does supply significantly extra padding than some other smooth case.
Best for low weight
8. OruCase B2
Specifications
External dimensions: 71 x 89 x 23cm
Empty Weight: 6.8kg / 15lbs
Volume: Not listed
Reasons to purchase
Super gentle
+Well-padded
+Carries your bike like a backpack
Reasons to keep away from
Lots of disassembly required
While many airways are abandoning the additional charges for checking bikes, some nonetheless have not taken observe, and that is the place the OruCase B2 is useful. Travelling with the OruCase B2, when requested by desk brokers what’s within the bag we have instructed them every part from therapeutic massage tables and commerce present gear, to ‘it is only a actually bizarre duffel bag’ — simply be sure you’re not sporting a motorbike t-shirt, belief us.
The OruCase sneaks in beneath most airways’ most exterior dimensions limits for luggage and options plastic armour panels which can be backed by foam to maintain your experience secure. You’ll have to take away your pedals, handlebars, entrance brake, fork and seatpost, and the bag remains to be a good match, nevertheless it is available in two sizes to suit a spread of frames.
Weighing in at beneath 7kg empty, there’s loads of free weight so that you can fill the bag with driving garments (which additionally work nice as additional padding), and there are plush backpack straps that can assist you get round with minimal fuss.
Best for simplicity
9. Bike Box Alan Original Premium
Specifications
External dimensions: 116 x 96 x 36cm
Empty Weight: 11.2kg / 24.6lbs
Volume: 400 Litres
Reasons to purchase
Great safety
+Velcro tie-downs
+Seven yr Warranty
Reasons to keep away from
Higher retail worth
–Plenty of disassembly required
The Bike Box Alan Premium is a tough case field that claims to suit highway bikes as much as 65cm in measurement. Our 58cm take a look at bike had loads of room to spare, so we’re assured the declare is true. It is a brilliant sturdy, hard-wearing field that comes with a seven-year guarantee.
The stable plastic case takes the brunt of all heavy-handed impacts whereas your bike is in transit, and the inclusion of an anti-crush pole prevents lateral strain in your chainstays and forks, ought to your chosen airline resolve to stack your bike on the backside of the pile. There is a weight penalty, nevertheless – an empty field weighs in at 11.2kg.
Two layers of froth padding forestall harm from inside, and the myriad Velcro straps and inside directions make packaging a simple course of.
Removal of your handlebars, seatpost, wheels, pedals, and rear derailleur is required, which does take up a few of your valuable experience time however for the safety on supply, it is a sacrifice value making.
Easy to manouvre
Specifications
External dimensions: 127 (H) x 85 (L) x 35 (W) cm
Empty Weight: 12.8 kg / 28.2lbs
Volume: 377 Litres
Reasons to purchase
Easily rolls
+Totally protects every bit of the bike
+Upright design is extra manageable
Reasons to keep away from
Requires loads of disassembly
–High Retail worth
–Massive to retailer at house
The Topeak PakGo X is a bit just like the type of carry-on baggage you’d acknowledge on each flight besides it is super-sized. Once packed the bike sits with the fork dealing with the bottom and the tail of the bike up within the air. This means a extra upright outer silhouette that is simpler to manoeuvre.
More vital than the orientation of the bike although is the well-thought-out safety. There are a lot of protecting parts and every one has a label on it. As you might be packing it is easy to seek out which piece goes the place and each a part of the bike is each protected and securely held to keep away from motion in transit. You might want to take away the bar and stem, saddle and seatpost, rear derailleur, and wheels however there’s a spot for every part.
The one factor to concentrate on is the burden of the case. Topeak lists the burden as 10 Kg for the case solely however that is not how you will use it. Instead, you will need to have a look at the 12.8 Kg weight that features all of the protecting items. Unless you’ve gotten a light-weight highway bike it is unlikely you’ll keep away from obese charges.
Read extra particulars in our full Topeak Pakgo X Bike Carrier evaluation.
What to search for in bike baggage, journey circumstances and containers
There are fairly a couple of concerns when selecting the very best bike bag or case in your bike. We’ll break these down under, that can assist you to make an knowledgeable selection of the very best bike bag in your wants.
Hard or smooth shell?
Hardshell bike journey circumstances have been one of the simplest ways to journey with a motorbike for fairly a while; nevertheless, engineers at bike manufacturers are fairly intelligent and softshell baggage are almost on par for defense, weigh much less, and infrequently have detachable ribbing to allow them to be neatly rolled up for storage.
How a lot does empty weight matter?
With a plastic base, wheels, inside skeleton, and strong supplies, bike journey circumstances are heavy earlier than you set something inside, and a few are pudgier than others.
Most airways gives you 23kg / 50lbs earlier than they hit you with an exorbitant obese baggage payment, some price range airways even much less. If your bag weighs 12kg empty, whenever you pack a 6.8kg light-weight highway bike, footwear and a monitor pump you will be nudging up towards that restrict.
What measurement do I would like?
Are you simply trying to journey with simply your highway bikes, or will you be taking journeys together with your mountain bike too? Are you driving an aero highway bike with built-in handlebars or TT bars? Are you driving an XL body?
These are all issues to consider when looking for a motorbike bag as a result of a number of the extra compact choices are just too small for sure bikes and body sizes.
Do I have to disassemble my bike?
No bike bag will take your bike totally assembled, however some require significantly extra disassembly and mechanical acumen than others. At the very least you’ll must pop your wheels off, however some baggage additionally require you to take away your seat publish, handlebars, and even the fork.
That’s going to chop into driving or enjoyable time when you get to your vacation spot and require you to hold extra instruments to rebuild your bike. As talked about above, a torque wrench is important if you are going to must reassemble delicate elements.
Do I would like to fret about wheels and handles?
For one thing designed that can assist you transfer round with a motorbike in tow, bike journey circumstances and bike baggage may be, unsurprisingly, awkward and cumbersome to maneuver round with.
If you need to keep away from a again harm, a set of wheels must be a minimal requirement, particularly in the event you’re strolling a lot after you land – some bike baggage even use simply replaceable curler blade wheels, as they’re inclined to wreck when being loaded and unloaded.
In addition, you will need loads of handles that can assist you hoist your bag onto a conveyor belt or into the again of a automotive.
Do I have to take away my derailleurs and rotors?
Take them off. Just about each bike bag on the market comes with some kind of safety in your rear derailleur and brake rotors, however airways have a knack for rendering them ineffective.
Learn from our errors and simply take them off. The last item you need is to begin your vacation with a bent rotor or a damaged derailleur hanger. If you might be eradicating disc-brake rotors, do not forget to place a brake block within the caliper to stop the pads sticking collectively or the pistons getting caught – in a pinch, a folded over enterprise card works, too.
What’s the quickest option to get my bike again collectively?
Saddle top and bar roll aren’t one thing you typically take into consideration till both one is a bit bit off, and the very last thing you need to do in your driving trip is to tug over always and faff with minor changes. A few dots and features with a paint pen will assist you to replicate your most popular place on the bike first attempt, each time.
Should I add additional padding?
Yes, we now have simply spent the previous couple of hundred phrases saying how nice the very best bike journey circumstances, baggage and containers are, however there’s nothing mistaken with a little bit of added peace of thoughts.
Some baggage include foam tubing, nevertheless pipe insulation is ideal for an additional layer of safety. You may also pop into your native bike store, and in the event you ask properly, they’re prone to have loads of spare packaging from a newly unboxed bike.
If you’ve gotten a couple of spare kilos in your bike bag as soon as it is packed, throw your footwear, driving garments, bars and gels and no matter else will match with out tipping your bag over the restrict. If you’ve got paid for 23kg / 50lbs, you could as effectively use it, though bear in mind that some airways stipulate {that a} bike bag ought to include nothing however your bike.
Do I have to deflate my tyres?
When you’re packing your bike, take a second to let the air out of your tyres. Airlines don’t enable something pressurised into the cargo maintain as a result of it violates civil aviation security laws.
Before the engineering varieties slide into the feedback, sure we all know that the cargo maintain is pressurised to ~10,000ft which is able to solely add ~3-4psi to your tyres, and it’s extraordinarily unlikely a tyre will burst in transit.
The purpose it’s essential take this step, is as a result of in the event you do ship your bike by means of with the tyres inflated, there’s the distinct risk that an airline worker will pull your bag apart and try to deflate them. At the very least, it will imply somebody heavy-handedly rummaging by means of your neatly packed case, however we’ve heard horror tales of luggage and tyres lower.
Avoid the drama and simply let the air out. If you are working tubeless, drop them to an affordable PSI that will not lead to a sealant bathe.
Is there the rest I ought to think about?
If it’s essential take away your handlebars, put the faceplate again in your stem so you do not lose the 4 bolts.
If it’s essential take away your stem, refit the highest cap, then a zipper tie across the steerer will hold your fork, headset and spacers from rattling unfastened. Be cautious to not harm the steerer when chopping the zip tie off.
If you’ve gotten Di2, unplug the battery. At the very least, it will avoid wasting battery life, however it could additionally forestall your tightly packed derailleurs from shifting in transit and overworking the motor.
If you’ve gotten an inside seatpost wedge clamp, take away and pack it safely. You do not need to spend the primary hour of your journey fishing it out of your body.
Take a spare derailleur hanger with you. For the worth, it is value having a spare anyway, not least when 1000’s of miles from house.
Some airways will let CO2 cartridges by means of, however others will cease the bike and take away them. If you are going to threat it, make them straightforward to seek out so the bags handler does not must empty your complete bag.
If you are utilizing zip ties to carry issues in place, you will want cable cutters or scissors in your case for unpackaging on the different finish. You’ll additionally want extra ties for the return journey. Maybe pack a screwdriver that’ll assist you to undo the zip ties with out chopping them. Not solely does it prevent zip ties, it saves the planet from a bit little bit of single-use plastic.
Take your instruments. If you are having to disassemble your bike to suit it within the field, you will have to reassemble it on the different finish – make a remark of the instruments used and do not forget to pack them. Especially your torque wrench. You do not desire a 90km/h descent of Alpe d’Huez with badly torqued carbon handlebars.
Bottles are an incredible hardshell for storing probably damaging issues – e.g. allen keys, or objects that can pop if crushed – gels, suncream, toothpaste. Wrap them in a service bag, although, otherwise you might need oddly flavoured water in your first experience. Shoes are equally helpful for this.
If you’ve got received house within the bike bag, wrap your biking package in plastic baggage and fill the gaps. Not solely does this depart room in your different bag, it’s going to act as padding.
Don’t neglect meals. Your driving vacation is probably going going to contain elevated mileage, and talking from expertise, you’ll be able to’t all the time belief the native tuna sandwich.
How we take a look at
The crew at Cyclingnews is a devoted group of cyclists who, identical to you, care deeply about their bikes. When we journey, we now have to belief baggage handlers identical to you.
We’re fortunate to have the ability to journey lots in the midst of sharing all types of related biking know-how with you, so we take the chance to check out totally different circumstances and hope we get a working bike again on the different finish.
Every expertise informs the following and we’re sharing a set of choices we predict are the very best accessible for a complete vary of various wants.