A cycling holiday offers a chance to explore new roads. But whether you're heading to warmer climes for a block of training or ticking off a few iconic climbs in the Alps, you’ll need to get your bike there safely first.
If you’re flying to your destination then you’ll need to use a dedicated bag to transport your bike . The best bike bags and boxes are designed to protect your bike during its journey. If you’ve heard horror stories from friends who’ve arrived at their location abroad only to find a bent rear derailleur or worse a broken carbon frame, then you’ll understand the importance of choosing a reliable bag or box.
If you’re flying with a steel or aluminium bike you might look to use a soft bag. These are typically cheaper and have the advantage of being far easier to store when they’re not in use. However, if you’re transporting a carbon framed bike, or one that’s of high value, then you might prefer the added security of a hard box. These offer greater protection compared to the softer bags but are far more expensive. They’re also cumbersome and need storing in a garage or shed - many people choose to hire a hard box for these reasons.
Whichever you opt for, you’ll need to make sure that the bike can fit in the bag or box without too much disassembly. This usually isn’t an issue for road bikes, but a large mountain bike may require you to get the tape measure out.
If you’re unsure of the right option for you, we’ve tested a number of bags and boxes and have included the better performers here in this guide. Below the reviews we also look at some of the key considerations when choosing one of the best bike bags or boxes for cycling.
The AeroComfort's soft exterior houses a metal structure to which you fasten your frame so it's held securely. There is very little disassembly required and as the bag is pretty light there is plenty of potential to pack extra kit inside and still be within your airline's limits.
As the Evoc Bike Bag is soft, it's light and easy to store when not in use. There is plenty of padding provided to protect your bike when it's in the bag, and the large side opening makes it simple to put the bike in place.
Very light and compact, LifeLine's EVA Bike Pod also offers excellent value for money. Its semi-rigid design offers more protection than a soft bag but they are still quite flexible and as it only has two wheels it can be a little awkward to manoeuvre around an airport.
Another light option, the Orucase B2 even includes rucksack-style straps which are handy if you have packed very light. There is a fair bit of disassembly required though and it can feel a bit lopsided when wheeling it around.
Thule's RoundTrip Pro XT bike bag uses an internal frame that can also double as a workstand whilst on holiday, which is very handy. It's more of a reinforced bag than a hard case though and as such is quite pricey.
One of the heavier boxes available, the VeloVault2 provides very reassuring protection for your bike. Its quality construction and overall sturdiness will ensure that your lightweight carbon frame should emerge unscathed, but there might not be much weight allowance left once this gets on the scales.
Question marks over protection of the rear derailleur
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Bulky so doesn’t fit into cars well
The AeroComfort 3.0 from Scicon is a firm favorite among the Cycling Weekly tech team. We've flown test bikes all over the world, and we like to use this carry case because it makes travelling by bike easy, hassle-free and incredibly quick. It takes just 15 minutes to pack the bike away, and even less time to put it back together.
How so? The outside is a soft, fabric bag, but inside you'll find a metal structure. You simply remove the wheels, loop your chain over a specially designed T-bar and use your quick releases to stand the bike on the metal frame, so it's immovable inside and thus a lot more secure. It couldn't be easier.
There's no need to remove anything aside from the wheels, the handlebars stay straight and don't need twisting. This does make the front end quite bulky, but we found that the protection is good, with a thick soft fabric, designated pockets for wheels, helmets and shoes, and most importantly the rear derailleur is kept off the ground.
Soft case doesn't offer the protection of a hard box
Whilst hard cases give the ultimate reassurance that your bike is well protected, they also take up a lot of room when out of use, and, they're heavy - limiting your ability to pack kit alongside your bike and stay within airline limits.
Enter soft cases, and this Evoc bike bag is an excellent option. Yes, it offers less protection - but we've used it to transport press bikes on plenty of occasions with no issues. The wheels slot into external compartments, which we had some concerns about but with over 10 flights completed using the bag and not so much as a scratch, we were worrying for nothing.
This Evoc Bike bag excels in terms of ease of use, too. The side opening makes getting the bike in a cinch, and the handy Velcro makes getting the parts in the right place a piece of cake. The newer model reviewed here now has a reinforced front zip, meaning it should last longer.
Although it's a reasonably compact bike box, the LifeLine Bike Pod will take a smaller-sized bike without too much disassembly. It rolls on two rear wheels, with two front feet to stand on. Quick-release wheels, although not wheels with thru-axles, can be secured to the outside of the case.
We found that the LifeLine Bike Pod is relatively easy to move around, although since you have to lift the front end and the carrying handle doesn't let you wrap your hand through it, longer carries can be tiring.
The sides of the bag are quite flexible, so it would be advisable to wrap wheels and frame well inside to prevent crushing. We were also concerned about how robust the feet would be and how well the zip would stand repeated use, but overall, the LifeLine Bike Pod is a relatively inexpensive option for the less frequent flyer.
At 15lbs, it's one of the lightest bags on the market
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Compact in size and storable
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The backpack strap is pretty unique
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Cute "Therapy Equipment" tag
Reasons to avoid
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You have to be comfortable taking your bike apart to pack your bike
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A little lopsided when packed, making it prone to tipping
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You're going to want to purchase the frame protection kit also
We've taken the B2 bike case on several domestic and international flights and were left impressed. It sports many welcomed features, including backpack straps and a rollable chassis. Combined with its compact, space-saving size it makes for a sleek, highly portable and trustworthy bag that we think is a great option if space is limited or you'll be traveling on serval modes of transport during your trip.
We did find that it's not the easiest to pack, and required some disassembling of your bike - so you'll need to be confident of putting your bike back together once you've arrived. It's also far from cheap, but in our opinion, it's likely a worthy investment given the ease of portability and the posibbility to save on extra fees due to its smaller size.
More expensive than other options we've tested and liked
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Does have weak spots
The Thule RoundTrip Pro XT falls into the not-quite-a-bike-bag category. It's a softshell but has some structural implants that should keep your bike safe through the worst of it.
However, the bag does have some weak areas and for the price you pay this doesn't induce confidence. But, maybe we're being picky. This is a solid purchase, undoubtedly, and we always add extra bubble wrap around our frames, whatever we're packing them into.
The base, which holds the bike static in the case, can have three legs added, transforming it into a workstand for when you get to your destination - which is a rather 'nice to have' too.
We really liked the VeloVault2 bike box when we had it in for test. It's big and robust, which is what many cyclists need to achieve peace of mind when flying with a bike.
However, weighing in at 12.5kg means it should sneak under most airline weight controls. The company has sweated the small stuff, too: the clasps are quality, it's easy to close and it rolls well.
VeloVault2 bike box has a new carrying handle, longer wheelbase, improved strut design and it is roof box ready. Oh, and it's now bright blue... other colours are available if that's not to your liking.
Packing the bike into the bag or box sometimes takes quite a bit more effort than expected. The process may differ slightly depending on the specific box or bag, but the general process goes something like:
- Remove the pedals - Partially deflate tires and remove the wheels - Remove the seatpost and saddle - Remove the handlebar from the stem or remove the handlebar and stem together from the steerer - Undo rear derailleur (but leave it on the chain) - Secure the frame and components in the box via the manufacturer-approved method - Pack the tools required to rebuild the bike!
There are a few more mechanical adjustments you might make, and if you’re handy with a spanner they shouldn't cause too much grief. For example, you might have to remove the chainset. This will keep it protected en route but it’s worth bearing in mind that you’ll have to reassemble it when you arrive on your hols, so if you're no spanner wizard it might be best to avoid this. It may also mean packing extra tools, which means extra weight to carry around.
Best bike bags vs best bike boxes: which is better?
You might think this is an easy question: it's surely a box, right? However, that's probably before you’ve taken weight into consideration.
A lighter weight bike bag influences two things: how comfortable it is to carry and lug about but also how much of your baggage allowance it eats into - and how much the baggage supplement might be.
The trade off is in the level of protection: a hard flight case like box is going to take the knocks better than a soft bag. That said, soft bike bags will usually protect your bike from the worst of it and they also tend to be cheaper than bike boxes.
There is an in between option. The best bike bags tend to have some more structural inserts inside but retain more of a bag's lightweight nature. Other bike bags can have nifty, in-built storage techniques. For example, some have built-in dropouts that allow you to stand your frame upright and hold it tight.
Do I need to add extra padding to my bike bag?
Regardless of how tough your bag or box might be, you’ll definitely want to pad the important parts inside it. We’d recommend bubble wrap and foam piping. If you’re lucky, your local bike shop might have excess from all the bikes they get sent in. Don't forget to put it around the frame in places where other items in the box might rub against it.
Riding in the mountains
How we test
A good bike box or bag has to tread the line between providing the best protection for your bike and yet still being light, easy to carry and simple to pack.
We've used these boxes and bags to carry various bikes on multiple flights, being packed and unpacked several times each. They all protected the bikes from any transport damage and none were particularly difficult or awkward to pack but each has its advantages and disadvantages that may clinch the deal for you.
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Like so many, Matt got his start in the bicycle industry wheedling allen keys and the occasional hammer at his local bike shop. Matt grew up mountain biking in the flint-strewn hills of the North Downs, but was convinced during his time with Evans Cycles' in-house brands Pinnacle and Hoy Bikes to take up gravel cycling and bikepacking. Spotting the changing industry, Matt jumped at the opportunity to become an E-bike designer, and won several awards with Cairn Cycles and their range of gravel E-bikes.
These days, Matt will more than likely have a toddler sat shotgun and a balance bike lassoed to his back somewhere on the South Downs. What time he does get to ride for himself, he chooses to take his Sonder Camino to just about anywhere that's quiet, off the beaten track or with some historical point of interest.
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