[Closed] Bike box recommendations

Evoc

Is the evoc sturdy enough? I know it has some padding but still looks like could get crushed

Yes, it's got structural parts and the wheels form the final triangle, the dropouts are on the base where the rigid floor is. 5 years twice round the world maybe more over 50 oz/nz flights and zero issues.

Sounds like money well spent

Crateworks -  https://www.crateworks.com - the plastic one works really well. Tough, but relatively light and packs flat for storage. Brilliant box.

Crateworks  looks interesting but it's seems pretty expensive at £150  - I guess I could get a  second hand hard case for that

Any benefits to posting vs transporting yourself?

Crateworks  looks interesting but it’s seems pretty expensive at £150  – I guess I could get a  second hand hard case for that

The problem with a lot of hard cases is that they're pretty heavy, so once you add a bike, you're in danger of being way over the weight limit, whereas the Crateworks box is relatively light.

The crateworkx boxes claim to be 22lb, so about 10kg, which is certainly a lot heavier than my CRC bike bag (6kg) or even the Evoc (claims to be 8.6kg).

My CRC bike bag has been fine, but is a bit cramped for a 29er - I usually end up having to remove brake and shifter levers from the bars so that everything fits. But nothing has ever been damaged, apart from the bag, which is now fairly broken after about 5 years of use.

Apologies for the thread hijack, but I'm planning a trip later this year and would like to take a bike with me as I've got easy access to an Evoc bike bag (although I've never used it) and probably have spare luggage allowance on the flight.  The problem is that the kids are coming so can't drop rear seats, and the bike in bag won't go in the boot of my car, and I'll probably have the same problem at the other end with the hire car.

Any bright ideas?

The crateworkx boxes claim to be 22lb, so about 10kg, which is certainly a lot heavier than my CRC bike bag (6kg) or even the Evoc (claims to be 8.6kg).

I was comparing it to many of the hard-cases which tend to be pretty heavy. Bike bags are generally lighter, but they also tend not to offer much protection, particularly against crush damage. I have - or used to have - a Planet X bag myself, it basically gives about as much protection to the bike as a padded pillow-case. I used to stick a cardboard bike box inside it to at least give some crush resistance.

I guess it's less of an issue with a mountain bike, but no way would I be putting an expensive road bike in any sort of bike bag.

Apologies for the thread hijack, but I’m planning a trip later this year and would like to take a bike with me as I’ve got easy access to an Evoc bike bag (although I’ve never used it) and probably have spare luggage allowance on the flight.  The problem is that the kids are coming so can’t drop rear seats, and the bike in bag won’t go in the boot of my car, and I’ll probably have the same problem at the other end with the hire car.

Any bright ideas?

There are a couple of services out there that'll freight your bike out for you. Never used one and, I guess, it'll likely be expensive and maybe inconvenient.

Edit: this sort of thing

https://www.luggagemule.co.uk/what-can-i-ship/bicycle-shipping-service/

Alternatively, look into hiring a bike at your destination. By the time you factor in the cost of flying a bike box and insuring the bike, you might find it makes more sense.

Had CrateWorks, now have Evoc.

Crateworks gives good protection but is really awkward to move around.  Lots of sharp edges, almost impossible to move without a trolley (their wheels are crap).  Took a long while to pack when I used it.

Evoc I was nervous about but I know a lot of people who've used them a lot without trouble.  It's really quick to pack and unpack the bike and very easy to pull around an airport.  its easy for luggage guys to lift as well which means it's less likely to get thrown around.  They fold to a reasonable size when empty.

Discs are a bit of a risk but you can remove them if you're worried (or carry a spare?).  A good idea to make some spacers out of an old handlebar for the fork and rear triangle axles to deal with any crush risk.

Basically a few trips with Crateworks put me off flying with my bike (we drive to France/Spain each year) but a single trip with the Evoc and i'm thinking about new destinations...

A good idea to make some spacers out of an old handlebar for the fork and rear triangle axles to deal with any crush risk.

If you try and squash the EVOC around the dropouts  you will struggle

Bike bags are generally lighter, but they also tend not to offer much protection, particularly against crush damage.

Some do, as I posted above the evoc structures itself really well to give crush protection for resonable forces and situations, beyond that insurance is the thing that will be needed - waying up the flexibility and ease of use it's a simple answer for me. I don't have concerns about using it for any bike

Alternatively, look into hiring a bike at your destination. By the time you factor in the cost of flying a bike box and insuring the bike, you might find it makes more sense.

Well, the cost to me of actually flying the bike in an Evoc bag is zero, which is why I'm considering taking my own bike, but the airport transfers seem tricky.

Basically a few trips with Crateworks put me off flying with my bike (we drive to France/Spain each year) but a single trip with the Evoc and i’m thinking about new destinations…

I can't say I found the Crateworks box particularly irksome to be honest, though I've mostly used it for road bikes. At airports I just stick it on a baggage trolley. I guess it's always a question of balancing convenience and protection though.

Well, the cost to me of actually flying the bike in an Evoc bag is zero, which is why I’m considering taking my own bike, but the airport transfers seem tricky.

Well, the obvious answer is that you need a bigger car at either end, I'm not sure what else you can do bar hire a bigger vehicle at the destination and make your kids walk to the airport... unless you have magical powers I guess. Or can get a lift to the airport...

You probably also want to check with the airline that they'll take a bike as normal hold luggage, some will, some won't.

Evoc. Easy to pack, easy to transport round the airport, well padded, light. As someone has stated, always remove discs as they are prone to getting bent, also go to you LBS and scrounge all the transport bits that come with new bikes that they chuck away. These are plastic spacers for forks and rear triangle and also plastic discs that fit into wheel axels. My wife and I travel a lot touring and use cardboard boxes for one off trips but she has a Evoc and is worth the cash for repeated trips. Also loads of bubble wrap. Its always very stressful packing and unpacking but just be thorough and don’t leave anything loose in the bag.

Just don’t watch them loading it onto the plane from the departure lounge, it’s heartbreaking.

I've used a bike delivery box for free from my LBS both times that I have flown with my bike. Not pretty and as mentioned before you need a trolley in the airport but i've not had any problems at all. As much as i'd like an evoc it is difficult to justify the cost over the free alternative...

Well, the obvious answer is that you need a bigger car at either end, I’m not sure what else you can do bar hire a bigger vehicle at the destination and make your kids walk to the airport… unless you have magical powers I guess.

Me neither, which is kind of why I was asking 🙂  I could probably muddle through at this end using a bike rack and only packing the bag at the airport.  Hiring a car big enough is both expensive and difficult as there's no guarantee of what you'll actually get.

I've ended up buying a second hand hard case

If I had unlimited money would have probably gone for one those inflatable helium jobbies

I've ended up buying a second hand hard case

If I had unlimited money would have probably gone for one those inflatable helium jobbies or a Thule hardcase

I've seen a couple of Evocs that had had something shoved through the side- no idea how it happens but one had damaged the frame inside, the other had just more or less torn the side of the bag off but the bike was OK. But I guess that could happen with most bags. I like the idea of a hard case but I'd be freaking out worrying about weight and size (some are bigger than airline allowances)

Mine is really too small for my massive 29er, so I'm replacing it this year with, I expect, an Apollo cardboard box from Halfords, wrapped completely in brown tape for waterproofing and skidding.

I've got an Evoc bag I was given. It's been used on maybe 10 or so flights so looks a bit worse for wear now.

When it does die, I'm not going to bother replacing it. I'll use a cardboard bike box & shrink wrap it. The Evoc bag is a total pain in the arse if you have more than one bag. It can't stand up on its end on a trolley.

The Evoc bag is a total pain in the arse if you have more than one bag. It can’t stand up on its end on a trolley.

Why would you put it on it's end? Just put it across the trolley and aim well, I got mine all the way from T2 to T5 at LHR and with the exception of the train it got through all the gaps, 2x 23kg bags up the front. Not sure how a cardboard box is going to be easier. With some practice I can do the bike bag, world traveller suitcase and a wheeled hand luggage bag at the same time

Because it doesn't take up the width of a supertanker on its end.

Gets very boring trying to fit it through gaps designed for a trolley plus a bit.

Box on its end, no issues. 6 flights this year with the bike, I'm half inclined to leave it under the bed and go with a box anyway.