barbag – UK GRAVEL COLLECTIVE

It has been said to me before that I have a bike bag problem (my tyre problem is worse but lets not go there) and that’s because I’ve been reviewing bike bags since around 2018 when I got my first gravel bike. I’m not claming to be an expert, far from it but I know what works and I know what I like.

The current market is flooded with bar bags, I bought my first back in 2018 which I ordered from Cordell.cc in Spain (pre-brexit so it was easy and not stupidly expensive!) and that bag is still going strong even to this day. That bag set the bar (pun intended) and everyone I’ve tested since has to come close or surpass it to pass muster.

Topeak describe their Tubular bar bag as a “duffle” which just reminds me of coats worn in the 1980s with a toggle fastening. Sadly no such fastening exsists on this bag but it does come with a full length zip, two end pockets and a bungee cord for extra storage options on the front.

Topeak Tubular bar bag endless potential

The bag attaches to the bike via two velcro straps that will fit the chunkiest diameter bars and can easily be trimmed to remove excess on a smaller one. There is a elasticated cord to fit around the bikes head tube to stop the bag flapping around. The bag material is robust, made from 600d polyester, is water repellent and stain resistant. The bag will take up to 3kg of weight is 23 x 14 cm and weighs 259g on my kitchen scales. The version I have is black, you can also get green but on both versions the interior is black. The bag has a stiffener meaning there is no saggy bag syndrome and it keeps its shape if you put a small heavy item in it. The interior is the same polyester as the outer as far as i can tell.

The bag fits to any bike very easily and is secure once fitted. It takes seconds to remove if you wanted to take it into a cafe/B&B etc or to another bike. The bag’s capacity is 3.8L so you can stuff quite a few items in it. it will easly take a waterproof jacket, spare tube, e-inflator and sandwiches/cake. The side pockets are generous and ideal for wrappers or energy bars for on the fly snacking.

I’ve had this Topeak Tubular bar bag on various bikes, both gravel and MTB since march 2026 and so despite the summer sun it’s also seen some rain. The bag is water repellent but i’d pack any precious items in plastic bags if it looks like there will be a deluge. The size is great, you can get a lot of things inside the bag if you pack carefully but there isn’t a lot of stretch in the material, especially the zip. This keeps the bag looking good but does cause a bit of a fight if you want to get to an item at the bottom of the bag under lots of other stuff, especially if you are riding along at the time. The bungee cord on the front does a great job of holding onto the “just one more thing” items or things you are taking on and off frequently like a gilet or light rain jacket. On a Peak district tour i carried 10 rashers of bacon for around 12 miles secured by the bungee that we picked up in a local butchers. The side pockets are quite deep but could do with a bit more elastication on the opening for added security so i’d be more likely to trust items such as a multitool or tubeless repair kit without fear of those item bouncing out on rough terrain. The biggest drawback though is the black interior. Even on n a bright sunny day or let alone a gloomy overcast one or at night it’s difficult to peer in and see what’s inside the bag. The affore mentioned tubeless repair kit got lost in there and i spent ages looking for it only to discover it in the black hole under a cap a few rides later. Not a deal breaker but something to note. A nice bright colour in there would make this bag stand out, literally.

After 5 months use the Topeak Tubular bar bag looks as good as the day it arrived, it has withstood rain, mud, dust, at least two crashes and 4 different bikes and remains unscathed. Topeak market this as a commuter/local gravel ride bag and I think they have that right, with a couple of tweaks it would be up there with my Spanish original. That being said the Topeak doesn’t look like its been to hell and back like that one does, so if you want something to look good, work well and be good value for money the the Topeak Tubular bar bag is definately one to consider.

more information on the Topeak Tubular bar bag can be found here

The handle bar bag has become a bit of a cliché in the gravel bike world, along with check shirts and pictures of gravel bikes next to wood piles in the forest. However the bar bag does have a place on a gravel bike as we tend to carry more stuff than our skinny tired cousins because we go a bit further out there (did you see what I did?) away from civilisation. By that I mean away from cafes and shops. Gravel bikers also seem to be not such fair weather riders and go out when the forecast could turn nasty and inevitably being the UK the ground is muddy. So, the need to carry a decent waterproof jacket, some snacks, some tools and a phone for selfies next to a trig point is there. Stuffing all that into the aforementioned check shirt or the pockets of your cargo bib shorts can be problematic if not downright impossible.

The Victory Chimp Out There bar bag is cylindrical and 20cm wide x 12cm high x 12cm depth and has a 2.8L capacity. It is made from 1000D cordura with a waterproof lining and aquaguard zip. There is an elasticated fabric pocket at one end and a mesh pocket at the other. The mesh side also has a bungee cord and clip where Victory Chimp suggest you can secure a phone. The bag has Molle style webbing back and front to enable straps to fit it to a handlebar and front for attaching, well anything you like. I found it ideal for a cafe lock. The bag also has elasticated paracord on the outside for cinching down anything that doesn’t fit inside. The whole bag is stiffened by a plastic liner meaning there’s no chance of saggy bag syndrome. The inside fabric is bright (and bananary) enabling you to see inside better in low light and there’s also a mesh divider in there too to separate a wallet/phone credit card from the rest of your stuff. The ends of the bag have D rings so you can attach the supplied shoulder strap for carrying the bag off the bike. To fix the bag to your bars Victory Chimp supply two plastic straps with plastic buckles. There is also a cord to stabilise the bag around your bikes head tube or steerer. Victory Chimp have also added a nice touch as there’s a velcro pad area where you can attach a patch of your choice to customise the bag!

In use the bag passes the “can it be opened and closed with one hand while riding along” test with flying colours. So on the fly haribo or crisp rations are easily accessible. I managed to get a lightweight jacket, E-inflator, tubeless repair tool, multitool, Mini phone tripod (social medial, sigh), phone and sandwhiches (normal medium sliced 2 rounds, usually cheese) inside easily and used the side pockets for empty wrappers until I found a bin.

The bag is very stable even with a heavy load in it, I carried a large glass jar of chunky marmalade (don’t ask) for 36 miles over rough terrain and there was hardly any bounce or swinging. Also because of the lining there’s minimal rattle when you’ve only got a couple of things in the bag too. Fitting to the bike is easy, the straps are long and so should fit any weird wide aero bar you have. The straps could be a bit more elastic though, especially when it’s cold out and they stiffen up but then you are probably not going to be taking the bag off and on again like I do so that’s hardly a negative. In fact its hard to find anything but praise for this bag, it quietly gets on with it’s job, seems tough without being overbuilt and heavy, has lots of features but no silly gimmics and can resist typical UK weather. Then again Victory Chimp is based in Northern Ireland so I really shouldn’t be surprised at its design.

So the Victory Chimp Out There bar bag is perfect for day rides freeing up your pockets and holding your essentials securely and comes from a UK rider owned company.

At time of writing the bag costs £45, for that you get a lot of bag for your money. You can find more info on the Victory Chimp website

below are a couple of short videos to give you a better look at the bag and a bit more about that marmalade!

Tag: barbag

Topeak Tubular Bar bag review

Victory Chimp Out There Bar Bag Review