Review - Restrap Top Tube Bag and Handlebar Bag

On my 'Coasts and Cols' tour, I used a seat-pack and frame-bag from Yorkshire-based brand Restrap (read my review of the bags here). For my upcoming #7Countries7Passes trip, I will again be employing kit from the brand; with the Restrap Top Tube Bag and Handlebar Bag being two new additions.


The Restrap Handlebar Bag

My #7Countries7Passes tour contains close to 50,000 metres of elevation gain, over its 3,000 kilometre length. With that in mind, I have been scrutinising my kit list; stripping back any unnecessary weight and volume. I used an Arkel Handlebar Bag for my last tour, but the Restrap Bar Bag system will allow for a lower overall weight.

The dry bag holster design used in the Restrap Handlebar Bag is a simple but faultless concept. An 8 or 13 litre roll-top dry bag is easily strapped into the holster, and secured safely; perfect for housing a small tent or sleeping equipment.

The handlebar bag holster system has been chosen by many bikepacking luggage producers. This is largely because of its adaptability to many handlebar designs, as well as the way that it sits the load neatly against the headtube of the bike, without obscuring the front wheel too much.

The Restrap bags handlebar bag model is predictably a very well designed and executed example.

The holster itself attaches to the handlebars using two webbing straps, with a further third strap looping around the head tube or fork for a secure fit. The branded dry bag then clips into the holster with two of Restrap's patented magnetic buckle straps, which allow for fast removal of the bag, without needing to remove the holster.

The whole system feels and looks beautifully made. This is a theme that resides throughout the Restrap range that I have seen. It reflects the small-batch production that the brand employs; producing all their products in-house in their Yorkshire factory.

A great little addition that you can make to the Restrap Bar Bag is the pop-on 'Food Pouch'. This neat little rectangular pocket clips onto the holster using two magnetic fasteners, and it is useful for small valuables and snacks.

Overall, this is a bag system that can certainly go the distance. Made to deal with the rough stuff, and also last the test of time. It is simple design, but superbly executed.


    Review - Restrap Top Tube Bag and Handlebar Bag
    The Restrap Bar Bag attaches to the bike using strong webbing straps


    Review - Restrap Top Tube Bag and Handlebar Bag
    Unlike traditional handlebar bag systems, this set-up still lets you clearly see your front wheel



    The Restrap Top Tube Bag

    Top tube bags are great for adding easy-to-reach storage to your bike. Whether on a round-the-world bike tour, or a daily commute; the little bag can safely house your phone, nutrition or house keys.

    The Restrap model is made from robust Cordura, and uses two soft Velcro straps to secure it to the top tube, with another Velcro strap to keep it against the fork steerer tube.

    I had a minor issue with fitting the bag the first time, because my 'slammed stem' meant I couldn't strap the bag very easily onto the steerer. A neat work around was to use a longer length of Velcro to hold the front of the bag in place; after that, the bag has remained secure, with no wobbling or knocking against my knees.

    This is a great little pouch, which adds some valuable carrying capacity. Another beautifully made product from Restrap.


    Restrap Top Tube Bag Review
    Labels:


    Comments

    Post a Comment

    Popular posts from this blog

    SwissStop Disc Brake Pads Comparison Test Review – Are All Disc Brake Pads Made Equal?

    Image
    The market for disc brake pads for gravel bikes, mountain bikes and road bikes is saturated; there are hundreds of different brands producing disc brake pads claiming to last longer and perform better than the competition. So, what is the difference between a set of low cost disc brake pads from eBay/Amazon versus the high-end pads from SwissStop? Are SwissStop disc brake pads worth the extra money? To find out, I have been doing some extensive disc brake pad testing over the last few months. October to February is obviously a period of wet winter riding, and I have been testing the following list of brake pads on road, gravel and mountain bikes—to create the ultimate test for any disc brake set-up. The disc brake pads on test:  SwissStop Disc 34 RS (Shimano Road/Gravel)  SwissStop Disc 32 RS (SRAM Road/Gravel)  SwissStop Disc 31 E (MTB SRAM Avid)  Superstar Sintered Shimano Road Disc Brake Pads (Shimano Road/Gravel)  SOMMET Resin and Semi-Metallic Disc Brake Pads (SRAM Road/Gravel
    Keep reading

    Recipe – The Ultimate High Energy Flapjacks

    Image
    This traditional flapjack recipe is packed full of energy for long days on the bike. The oats supply a great low-GI fuel source, while the dried fruit offers instant energy and sweetness. Whether on or off the bike, these flapjack bars are a great high-energy snack for cycling. You can adapt the recipe by adding in other dried fruit, seeds, nuts, and spices to make these even more varied and flavoursome. I particularly like pumpkin seeds and chopped crystallised ginger added to the mix. Ingredients 200g butter 100g brown sugar 1 tbsp golden syrup ½ tbsp black treacle 300g porridge oats 100g raisins 75g soft-dried figs 50g soft-dried apricots Method Set the oven to 150°C or 140°C for fan-assisted oven. Place the shelf in the middle Stick a big pan on the scales and measure in the butter and brown sugar Heat the pan on the hob until the butter and sugar are all melted Add a tablespoon of golden syrup and half a tablespoon of treacle to the mix Add the porridge oats and y
    Keep reading

    Review – Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle S3

    Image
    The Selle Italia SLR Boost Gravel Superflow Saddle is designed for gravel bike riding. Featuring gel inserts to reduce vibration, titanium saddle rails to absorb trail buzz, and a sleek low-profile design to offer style and performance—this is a saddle made for adventure. The SLR Boost Gravel is Selle Italia's latest offering for the growing Gravel segment of the market; engineered specifically to enhance riding comfort on difficult terrain and during endurance gravel events. Available in two sizes, I opted for the smaller version (S3), and have been testing it out over the last month… I have become a great advocate of the cut-away design for saddles—it offers greater flexibility in the centre of the saddle and reduces pressure on the sensitive perineum region. The SLR Boost Gravel Superflow is a superb example of this kind of saddle design; with a cutaway section, short nose, and flared sides to effectively support your seat bones. To improve comfort on rough terrain, Selle
    Keep reading

    Review – TRP Spyre SLC Cable Disc Brakes

    Image
    Cable actuated disc brakes get a lot of bad press. There is some justification for that — most of the systems lack the modulation and performance of their hydraulic counterparts. There is however one set of cable disc brakes that shines above the rest: the TRP Spyre SLC Disc Brake. This lightweight and sleek cable disc caliper excels in both design and functionality. My Kona Private Jake arrived in 2016 with a set of TRP's Spyre-C disc brakes fitted as standard. Those brakes worked very well for over 25,000 kilometres of use and abuse; I rode the bike for daily commutes (including a salty daily ferry journey), and I rode the bike fully loaded over the highest cols in the Pyrenees on the #CoastsandCols tour. The Spyre-C took all this abuse in hand and always produced the stopping power I demanded. This year, with the Kona Private Jake hitting a 25,000 kilometre anniversary, I decided it was time to upgrade and replace a number of the parts. To be honest, most of the component
    Keep reading

    Best Gravel Bike Cycling Routes on the Isle of Wight

    Image
    I ride a gravel bike on the Isle of Wight more than I ride any other; it is the perfect way to explore the vast network of quiet roads and exciting open trails. In this post, I have tailor-made a selection of the best gravel cycling routes on the Isle of Wight, with suggested pit-stops and highlights. The Isle of Wight roads, trails, and tracks are my home. I have toured all over the world, but whenever I come back to this small island off the South Coast of the UK I am amazed at how diverse and beautiful the riding is here. 'The Island' is very easy to get to with a bike—use one of the three car ferry routes from Portsmouth, Lymington or Southampton; or come as a foot passenger and bring your bike for free on the Wightlink FastCat  from Portsmouth Harbour train station. You can get to the Island from Central London in just a little over three hours. Once you are here, there is a plethora of bike-friendly accommodation: from hotels and B&B's to campsites and Eco-l
    Keep reading