A bunch of new & updated ways to carry gear on our bikes have popped up in recent days. Restrap has improved their Tech Bag with easier waterproof usability. Helios has put a unique bag that charges you gear from the sun and doubles as a body cam up onto Kickstarter. ProViz has brought their super visible Reflect360 to a drybag commuter backpack. Plus Loxi also put their bag on Kickstarter, a simple waterproof design that secures its contents and your bike.
Bike bag Roundup: Restrap’s updated waterproof Tech Bag
We’ve used Restrap’s previous Tech Bag to keep a camera or phone handy on the bar while bikepacking, but it wasn’t totally waterproof so riding in proper rain required additional protection for your gear. Now the new $50/40€/£35 Tech Bag gets a better, easy-to-use roll top design using 100% waterproof materials and fully taped seams, keeping your sensitive electronics close at hand and fully protected from the weather.
Helios solar powered should bag & body cam harness
The Helios bag is a bit of an odd creation, but interesting none the less. Starting at around $75 for early birds on its Kickstarter, Helios is a neoprene & nylon harness that can be worn as a sling back shoulder bag, housing an 8W solar panel & 8000mAh powerbank to charge up your electronic devices on the go. Or you can strap the full harness more tightly across your chest, slip your smartphone into the front facing sleeve, and use your mobile phone’s camera as a body camera on the go.
ProViz Reflect360 Dry Bag commuter backpack
For commuting around the city throughout the dark winter months, I haven’t found many products that increase overall visibility more than ProViz’s own retroreflective Reflect360 lineup. Now they have added a new 28L waterproof roll-top backpack to the mix, to keep your things protected from the elements and you visible on the road. The bulk of the $120/87.50€/£70 Reflect360 Dry Bag Backpack’s waterproof 500D PVC body is hi-viz yellow, but it gets reflective details all around to ensure visibility. The roll top bag also features padded (reflective) shoulder straps, a padded breathable back, simple waist strap, and internal organization.
Overade Loxi packable, locking, waterproof dry bag
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/overade/loxi-the-anti-theft-and-waterproof-bag-for-your-bi
The Overade LOXI is essentially a reinforced dry bag with a combination lock integrated into its roll top closure. Mixing functions between a simple dry bag that you can strap onto a rear rack (with the included additional strap) and a basic bike lock, Loxi can serve double duty for urban cyclists. Safely store your gear inside, and loop the lock through your frame so no one will walk off with what’s inside. Then when you stop for longer times, use the short lock loop to secure your bike as well. Surely, it’s not going to replace a larger, more secure bike lock, but seems like a versatile bag.
Loxi is another Kickstarter bag project, but this one has already been funded. It even won a Eurobike award earlier this summer prior to its crowdsourcing campaign. The Loxi is available in two sizes 4L or 9L and is made of a waterproof & cut-resistant fabric laminate. It uses a resettable 4-digit lock cylinder, includes a zip internal pocket, and is available starting at 69€ for the next two weeks (or from 75€ if you want delivery before Christmas.)
