Hi, newbie to the forums. My mate is pressuring me into the WRT this year. Previously done a little overnighter on Studland. I'm looking at getting a framebag, and was wondering what people recomended.

I'm aware of AlpKit (current fav), Buggybags(mate has one), BikePack.eu.

Cheers for the advise.

Shalarim

Wildcat / Ian off this forum.

Revelate Designs over the pond.

Revelate Designs over the pond.

Don't think they make custom frame bags anymore ... only production stuff for Salsa/Surly

s8tannorm wrote:

Revelate Designs over the pond.

Don't think they make custom frame bags anymore ... only production stuff for Salsa/Surly

Aye, not custom anymore. Site implies current range of bags fit more than the specific frames around which they were based (unsurprisingly):

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.c ... oductID=16

I really like my mid-size Tangle bag but it's smaller than a full frame bag (of course ):

https://www.revelatedesigns.com/index.c ... roductID=5

http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/uraltour/m.ht ... ksid=p3686

Uraltour bags look to be the cheapest out there - I haven't tried their stuff myself but the few reports I've seen are good, and apparently he's very communicative. He's also got a proper website but it's not formatted brilliantly and the Russian translation via google is a little sketchy.

http://translate.googleusercontent.com/ ... yWOUTpZMfQ

Out of interest, has anyone got a bag with 2 compartments but wishes they'd had it made with just the one ? I'm wondering how much space is 'lost' with the addition of the divider, etc (if any).

I've got a couple of Buggybags both with a removable divider. So far I've always found having 2 compartments useful. Putting wet stuff in the bottom bit is one major + eg..

Cheeky Monkey wrote:Wildcat / Ian off this forum.

I second this suggestion - absolutely love mine!

Take a look at http://www.wildcatgear.co.uk for more info on frame bags and other storage solutions for handlebars and saddles. Drop us a line if you would like more info or advice.

s8tannorm wrote:Out of interest, has anyone got a bag with 2 compartments but wishes they'd had it made with just the one ? I'm wondering how much space is 'lost' with the addition of the divider, etc (if any).

You don't so much loose space as packing options IMO. It also depends on frame size and what you intend on packing. Our general advice is small/medium frames suit single compartments and larger frames suit dual compartments. Very small frames might also suit a gate opening, where there is a zip on two axis. The advantage is a wider aperture for getting gear in and out.

I made my own without much problem, material from extremtextil in Germany. Have a look at my facebook page for a list of framebag companies I have found...

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Bikepacki ... 812?ref=hl

Couldn't see a price on the wildcat ones? Anyone know how much they go for.
Anyone got any thoughts on the alpkit one?


Shalarim

----
Giant Talon 0 (2010)
Giant Defy 1 (2012)

Couldn't see a price on the wildcat ones? Anyone know how much they go for.

Email Wildcat would be the best bet. Their frame bags are truly custom, pretty much anything is possible, so prices will vary depending on what you want.

Anyone got any thoughts on the alpkit one?

Some thoughts on the AlpKit Stingray: http://bearbonesbikepacking.blogspot.co ... -look.html

Custom Wildcat here and really like it. Very well constructed and I went for the horizontal divider (although its velcro so you can open the whole bag out). I tend to bury the tools and stuff (hoping they won't be needed in the bottom) and longer, other more frequently accessed stuff (tent poles etc) in the top. Works well like this.
I do like the look of gate access ones having now seem them. Do they not work well on larger bags Ian?

99percentchimp wrote:I do like the look of gate access ones having now seem them. Do they not work well on larger bags Ian?

On a small bag you can usually do without a vertical divider to prevent the bag from bulging when its loaded, as the total volume doesn't warrant one, and so the gate opening is easy to implement. With a larger bag, there is an increasing need to have a divider to maintain a consistant width when loaded. One half of the divider is attached the opening panel, and therefore needs to be easy to release (which hook/loop isn't) or it limits the amount you can open the panel, which defeats the object a bit. It's still do-able, but requires a non-hook/loop divider. It's all just a bit neater on small bag IMO, and not as essential on a larger bag where the aperture of the main zip is already quite large.

Shalarim wrote:Hi, newbie to the forums. My mate is pressuring me into the WRT this year. Previously done a little overnighter on Studland. I'm looking at getting a framebag, and was wondering what people recomended.

I'm aware of AlpKit (current fav), Buggybags(mate has one), BikePack.eu.

Cheers for the advise.

Shalarim

Oh Great, Im the mate thats 'Pressuring you'...RULE #5 :evil: :twisted:

I didn't say it was taking much pressuring to persuade me.

Happy Wildcat bag owner here, you could be too

Beth at Wildcat made me a custom frame bag for my Canyon Nerve (full susser) last year. I didn't manage to use it much last year and have now bought a Revelate Gas Tank to go on the top tube. Needless to say, the position of the Gas Tank strap clashes with the frame bag strap (- the moral here is to plan all of your kit at the same time!). Anyway, Beth has very kindly modified the top tube strap of the frame bag free of charge. Not many companies would do that, so here's another recommendation for Wildcat

Is it worth having a divider pocket added or not?

Who is for, and who is against? (Or does it 'just depend'?)

Is it worth having a divider pocket added or not?

From what Ian wrote, I think some depends on bag size ... bigger the frame triangle/bag the more a divider makes sense.

I've got a fairly big frame/framebag and still didn't fancy cutting into my available space with a divider - not saying it's a bad idea but just that I didn't fancy it.

I usually just whack the stuff I'm least likely to use at the bottom and then work my way up until the stuff I'll need frequently sits at the top.

Seems to work for me (so far)!