Bikepacking Bags - What's good?

My limited experience would say that it’s quite complicated. I’d start by reading about types of bags in bike packing . Com

Alpkit do some good bags. I have a 5 litre handle bar bag from them. But do you want a little bag like mine or harness or a big double ended one. Do you want to be able to continue to use your dropper post. Frames bags are really quite critical on dimensions

I’m sorry if that seems unhelpful but it’s a complicated business. Any idea what volume you need in total? Or what you are hoping to fit in?

If you just want to dip your toe in the water try the Lomo ones. Cheap and functional although i found the big saddle bag required an additional strap.

Tick ... I'm also curious but I'm a cheapskate so looking at some of the cheapo imitations on Amazon so interested in discussion

Planet-X also do some Podsacs bags I think. Not tried them myself but often get referenced on here when people ask for recommendations.

I have used a podsacs seat bag, bar bag and frame bag. They do the job and for  my maybe 2 or 3 trips a year they have been good. No doubt other more expensive bags are light and better thought through but for the price they are ok.

I've a couple of lifeline ones (cheap and cheerful) snd a couple of Topeak ones in a sale. Not used the Topeak ones yet but seem much better quality

I have a carradice seat pack.  Nice and big, very robust, very stable - and as a result a bit heavy.  UK made

I have some cheapo ibera frame bags - ok for a trial but hard to find now.  I also have had  buggy bags custom made frame bags

Those of you using bar bags, how do you mount your bike lights?

I use on of these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B17YTM5D?ref_=cm_sw_r_apan_dp_VT75DEPVMV5JDR23Y05Y

I use on of these

> https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0B17YTM5D?ref_=cm_sw_r_apan_dp_VT75DEPVMV5JDR23Y05Y

Do you leave that permanently on your bars? If not, how quick/easily can you add or remove it?

Those of you using bar bags, how do you mount your bike lights?

On the bar 😉

My Revelate Harness sits away from and just below bar height.

I think you can see the gap clearly here

This one seems to hit my functionality/price point but I've got a GoPro light fitting underneath a Garmin out-front mount so it looks like I'll have to find an alternative light mount point

Though I've got a long head tube so I might be able to drop the bar bag a little

I made a mount similar to that one linked above using four old reflector mounts and a bit of 31.8mm tubing that was used a packing for a set of TT bars

[url= https://live.staticflickr.com/3845/14919198498_176d4cb40b_b.jp g" target="_blank">https://live.staticflickr.com/3845/14919198498_176d4cb40b_b.jp g"/> [/img][/url][url= https://flic.kr/p/oJmMWj ]DSC_0150[/url] by [url= https://www.flickr.com/photos/druidh2000/ ]Colin Cadden[/url], on Flickr

OP
I would start by thinking about " how much crap do I need to pack for my adventures" 😆
Then work out how much space you need for said'crap' 😉
As Ampthill says up there^^ it can get a bit complicated till you have tried out a few scenarios,and find what kit will work best for both road and offroad rides.

If not, how quick/easily can you add or remove it?

Couple of minutes.

You can get stuff a lot cheaper from China, like Aliexpress, to test the waters and see what you like. Bags you see at Planet X are just rebranded Chinese bags anyway. I recently bought a decent seat pack and frame bag for £14 and £15. If you can wait a week or two for delivery, you can get decent stuff. Ebay and Amazon also do similar things for slightly shorter wait times.

You may decide a full frame bag is for you with water bottles on your forks, or a half frame bag with your water inside the frame as usual. You might not like a big seat pack and prefer your stuff on the bars. There can be a lot of trial and error dialing in what suits you.

The higher end Alpkit stuff, Restap, Tailfin or Apidura etc is very nice and will last you well, but is a bit spendy.