The new Restrap Downtube Bag is as simple and straightforward as its name implies. Yes, this is just a small waterproof roll-top bag – about the size of a large water bottle – that straps around your bike’s frame to give you overflow storage where you didn’t have any. No need for a spare set of cage bolts – it can actually tuck in anywhere you have free space. So, you can strap this thing onto a gravel bike, a bikepacking bike, or even your mountain bike…
Restrap Downtube Bag provides 1.2L of waterproof storage
The Restrap Downtube Bag is meant to be strapped under your downtube – really any ‘dead space’ on the bike you aren’t using.
Yes, it’s gonna get muddy behind your front tire down there. But it also could be the perfect spot to pack away a rain jacket or of set rarely used tools and spares that you’ll feel better knowing are there if you need them.
The bag has been in development for quite some time, and has already been “put through its paces” at demanding adventure races including the Silk Road Mountain Race, Land Between, and Bright Midnight.
Will it fit?
How close your front tire gets to your downtube will really determine whether it will be a good fit for you. It will tuck in between your crankarms, and even behind a big chainring in most cases. The bag is about 24cm long when packed and will stick down from your frame at least 8cm. And you should leave a couple of extra centimeters for safety’s sake – a lesson learned from personal experience.
As a rule, road & cross bikes often won’t have enough space. Nor will some smaller-sized bikes or those that are really pushing their max tire size limitations. But adventure-y gravel bikes, especially bikepacking-specific bikes should have plenty of room, and most mountain bikes will too.
Extra storage wherever you need it
But it doesn’t have to go under your downtube either. A quick bit of bad-photoshopping fun suggests a lot more spots on Restrap’s Cotic Jeht trail bike that could fit an extra little bag since the steel mountain bike only has one set of bottle cage bosses. It also will sit nicely on a cargo cage, too. I’m not saying that these spots are all good ideas where to stick a Restrap Downtube Bag. But I’ve used a similar bag like this in the past, and definitely strapped it on a dodgy spot and was mostly fine.
A small-diameter roll-top bag like this can be a pain in the butt to stuff bigger gear into, like say a rain jacket. A bit easier you can fill it with a couple of spare tubes, a tool, levers, patches, some C02s, and just swap it around from bike to bike in seconds. Any way you look at it, it’s really nice to be able to easily carry more gear on a bike when there aren’t other options. And since this pack is quite small – and adjustable in volume – with a wide secure velcro strap, it tends to actually be quite secure on the bike once you strap it into place.
Tech details
- 1.2L of additional storage anywhere you can find space to strap it on
- fully waterproof roll-top lined nylon construction, vegan-friendly
- 9cm wide x 8cm deep x 24cm long when packed and rolled shut
- secure 5cm wide velcro Hypalon strap, with built-in grip bad to stay in place over any terrain
- long enough to wrap around a 19cm or 7 1/2″ circumference tube (~6cm or 2 3/8″ in diameter)
- fast tool-free install, no cage mounts or braze-ons needed
- 130g claimed weight
- made in-house by Restrap in Yorkshire, England
The Restrap Downtube Bag – Pricing & availability
Restrap makes this little Downtube Bag 100% in the UK and still sells it for a reasonable £50 / $75 / 60€. It even comes with their lifetime warranty against defects so you know it’ll keep your goodies safe. And gear does eventually wear out, so Restrap offers repair services if you ever manage to wear it to the bone after years of bike adventures.
The Downtube Bag is available now with global delivery – shipped locally from inside the UK, US, or EU depending where you are. So you get it fast, and don’t have to worry with any unexpected taxes or fees.
