These days, hauling ride essentials can be done in a variety of ways. As of late, all the cool kids are opting for the handlebar bag. The Lead Out! Mini Handlebar Bag offers just the right amount of space for ride essentials and mounts up nicely for whatever you’re throwing at it.
Lead Out! Mini Handlebar Bag Features:
- 1.3 L storage (8″x4″)
- Quick-release buckles on each strap
- Single bungee toggle to wrap around stem
- Water-resistant fabric and zippers (not waterproof)
- Mini pocket on one end
- Reflective stripe
- MSRP: $40
Stash a burrito or ride essentials — your choice
Somewhere along the line, saddle bags lost their lustre. Yes, there are those who still use them religiously, but the anti-saddle bag crowd is gaining momentum. Though some may consider it unsightly, I still prefer my EVOC Saddle Bag for longer rides or races. But, the Lead Out! Mini Handlebar Bag is now a great option for easier hauling of my ride essentials.
Without question, the biggest benefit of a handlebar bag is easy access. A quick unzip and you can gain access to a spare tube, tools, phone or multi-tools without much effort at all. With a saddle bag, you spend most of the time playing Jenga with your items whereas with the Lead Out! Mini Handlebar Bag, you just open it up and grab what you need.
A huge benefit of the bag is the bright orange interior. That color makes it easy to identify and find items. And, the mesh sleeve is nice for either phone security or to keep a multi-tool in place. I stashed a spare gravel tube, mini pump and multi-tool in there with plenty of room to spare.
Mounting the mini handlebar bag is a breeze. I loosely attached the straps, then wrapped the bungee toggle around the back of the stem. After that, I cinched everything down and tucked the straps into the elastic loops. Detaching is just as simple. With it in place, the front zipper is in the perfect position to keep items in place and make access easy. While I don’t currently have a GPS mounted on the Fezzari Shafer, the straps sit just wide enough to stay clear of the mount while also not interfering with your hands while on the tops.
The only dig on the bag is that interesting end pocket. Not much fits in there and the zipper pull makes lots of noise on rough terrain. I’d rather have a quiet bag than a trinket pocket of little utility. Oh, and you may tap the bag with your knees on standing climbs.
The Good
- Durable, water-resistant material
- Added reflective band is always a good thing
- Attaches with ease
- Bright interior makes it easy to your find stuff
- Maintains structure for loading/unloading
The Bad
- End pocket is pretty uselss (and the zipper rattles)
- Knees tap bag on standing climbs
The Bottom Line: Lead Out! Mini Handlebar Bag
If you’re a cool kid in need of better on-bike storage, the crew at Lead Out! has a little something for you in their Mini Handlebar Bag. It attaches with ease and stashes more than enough ride essentials for your ride. Or, forget all that and slip that monster burrito in there.
Buy Now: Visit LeadOutGear.com
