Cycling · Head-to-head
North St. Bags Handlebar Pack vs Restrap Bar Pack, 10 Litres
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Handlebar Bags: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The North St wins on the combination that matters at this size: a published weight and capacity, a named sailcloth, and an explicit stiffener panel to stop the sag that ruins cheap bar bags. The Restrap is the pick the moment you need to carry more than a day's essentials.
North St. Bags Handlebar Pack
Buy itUnder half a pound for 2.8 litres, in sailcloth, with a stiffener panel whose stated job is stopping the bag drooping.
- Fully specified: 2.8 litres, 7.2 ounces or 205 grams, and 9 by 5 by 3.75 inches.
- Includes a shape-defining stiffener panel that North St says is there to prevent sagging.
- EPX 200 sailcloth outer with a bright packcloth interior, so you can actually find things inside it.
- Two Voile Nano straps for attachment, which hold far better than hook-and-loop and are trivially replaceable.
- 2.8 litres is a day bag, so it is the wrong tool for an overnight load.
- No waterproof rating published for the sailcloth.
- Organisation is limited to a front pocket, rider-facing sleeve pouches and an interior zip pocket.
Restrap Bar Pack, 10 Litres
Buy itTen litres in two fully waterproof roll-tops with an internal stiffener, a light mount and somewhere to put a D-lock.
- Two fully waterproof roll-top compartments giving a stated 10 litres, the largest capacity here.
- Restrap states structural rigidity is provided by an internal stiffener, addressing sag directly.
- A hypalon closure on the front compartment doubles as a mounting slot for a clip-on front light.
- A mini D-lock holster sits between the two compartments, and the front closure doubles as a lock strap.
- A stated 585 grams makes it the heaviest bag here outright, even though it is the lightest per litre.
- Two compartments plus a lock holster is a lot of bag on narrow bars.
- Premium price.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| North St. Bags Handlebar Pack Our pick | Restrap Bar Pack, 10 Litres | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Day rides and commutes where you want the essentials in front of you and the bag to keep its shape. | Loaded day trips, audax rides and urban riding where a D-lock has to go somewhere sensible. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Stated capacity | 2.8 L | 10 L |
| Stated weight | 7.2 oz (205 g) | 585 g |
| Weight per litre, calculated | About 73 g/L | About 59 g/L |
| Anti-sag structure | Shape-defining stiffener panel, stated | Internal stiffener, stated |
| Stated dimensions | 9 x 5 x 3.75 in | Not published |
| Waterproofing | EPX 200 sailcloth, no rating stated | Two fully waterproof roll-top compartments |
| Attachment | Two Voile Nano straps plus a head tube shock cord | Cam-lock bar mount with foam spacers, MOLLE head tube strap |
| Extra features | Bright packcloth interior | Light mounting slot, mini D-lock holster |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the North St. Bags Handlebar Pack if
day rides and commutes where you want the essentials in front of you and the bag to keep its shape.
Know before buying: 2.8 litres is a day bag, so it is the wrong tool for an overnight load.
Pick the Restrap Bar Pack, 10 Litres if
loaded day trips, audax rides and urban riding where a D-lock has to go somewhere sensible.
Know before buying: a stated 585 grams makes it the heaviest bag here outright, even though it is the lightest per litre.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the North St. Bags Handlebar Pack - Under half a pound for 2.8 litres, in sailcloth, with a stiffener panel whose stated job is stopping the bag drooping. Choose the Restrap Bar Pack, 10 Litres instead if loaded day trips, audax rides and urban riding where a D-lock has to go somewhere sensible.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Handlebar Bags: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).