TreeLineBackpacker

The Signature Series by ALMSTHRE represents some of the best, most convenient offerings in bike bags right now. With unique features like a flip open magnetic top, dedicated tool compartments and more, they’re packed with features and quality. Let’s take a look.

We’re looking at two products today, the Signature XL Handlebar Bag and the Signature Frame Bag. Let’s start with the handlebar bag, then I’ll go into detail about the frame bag.

The Signature XL Handlebar Bag

The Signature XL Handlebar bag features a unique magnetized flip top open for the main compartment. There are dual zipper pockets on the sides, a front bungee net, a removable strap for off-bike carry, and a large interior pocket with an included interior mesh pocket. The pack attaches to the handlebar via two adjustable Velcro tabs with an optional but recommended bungee attachment for stabilization. It holds 3.5 liters, measures 5” in diameter and 11” long. Three colors are available at a retail of $88.  

I have found the Handlebar to be extremely useful in both commuting and my gravel riding. The magnetic top opening is just brilliant. Essentially, the fabric lid is lined with a flexible magnetic strip. The lid can be peeled back with little effort, yet manages to snap back into place without fuss. Despite the ease of access it it manages to keep everything inside secure and within reach, and even accessible while riding. The opening is cavernous and allows for tools, snacks, and even lightweight layers to be stuffed inside I found the amount of equipment it can carry to be delightful, allowing me to shed gloves and layers as the conditions change, or just carrying more food and supplies for longer trips. The two side zipper pockets turned out to be great for stashing tubes, tools, or other small objects that I need, but don’t necessarily want bouncing around in the main compartment. The zippers for these side compartments are a touch stiff, just due to the fact that they follow a tight circle around and have water resistant lips, but they do shed water well. I found the interior mesh pocket to be a great location for my phone, wallet and keys. It held them secure without any jingling even on the roughest terrain that I frequent.

The included carry strap allows the pack to be removed and carried off like a small sling backpack. This is smart addition and probably required in most large cities, where nice items like this tend to float away when not monitored.

Mounting was super easy. I have a less traditional gravel bike that is mounted with flat bars and aggressive bike brake levers and cabling that can make packs tricky to install. Thankfully, the pack just straps on and stays on. It takes roughly one minute to install, once you know where you want it. On drop bar bikes it is super easy. With flat bars like mine it can be a little tricky dealing with the cables. I found I was able to mount it above the levels to dodge the cables altogether, but didn’t like the angle the pockets sat at. Instead, I opted to slide it under the cables. It slightly obfuscates getting into the pack, but I preferred it being lower and more stable. It didn’t interfere with steering or my lever functions, so I was happy with this. All bikes are different so this will of course vary.

The Signature Frame Bag

The Signature Frame bag focuses on organization, featuring three distinct and bespoke pockets. There is a rear garage pocket designed specifically for tubes and tools, and two longer, narrow pockets located near the front which works well for snacks, cameras, smaller phones, a hand pump, etc. The pack includes a multitude mounting points that run the entire length of the pack, with adjustable and trimmable Velcro ties to find the most efficient mounting position. The Small Medium size bag tested here comes in at 16” L x 2” W x 3” H, with Large size measuring 9” L x 2” W x 4” H. Retail is $78 and it comes in three colors currently.

My experience with the Signature Frame Bag has been similarly great. It’s a sleek, faster, more aerodynamic option than the Handlebar bag, but obviously doesn’t have the same capacity. I was able to carry multiple tubes, bike tools, my hand pump, some snacks, my phone, keys and wallet inside without any fuss. Gloves are a tight fit in the narrow pockets, and most layers won’t fit inside, so it’s not a do it all option, and that’s O.K. What it is, is a stay out of the way accessory that keeps the essentials close and convenient. Liked how the multiple pockets provided additional organization, providing me the ability to pack my phone away from tools, and snacks in the easier to reach front pocket. There were times when having a large, single pocket instead of multiple smaller ones would have been convenient, but that’s when having the handlebar bag comes in handy. On the other hand, one large benefit of having smaller pockets, aside from more organization, is things do not move around inside, which I appreciated. In my particular instance the narrow build of the frame bag allowed just enough room for me to also mount my largest steel water bottle, which has a huge plus.

The zippers can be a little stiff on the frame bag, but still usable with a single hand. They do an excellent job of shedding water and dirt, keeping the insides nice and clean in my testing. Internally, the fabric is high contrast which makes smaller objects easy to find.

Mounting the frame bag was easy enough. I used 5 Velcro tabs, spreading them out evenly so that weight wouldn’t create any sag points. Once I had them tight I trimmed them down to keep everything sleek and snag free. I believe this process took me about 5 minutes, with a little trial and error to find exactly what strap I wanted where. This was mostly me being particular. Once in place it really doesn’t move much. Over chunky rocks, roots, and even some jumps, it refused to bounce around and felt stable and secure. I found it had a small tendency to shift to the left side (looking down while riding), seemingly due to some sight and natural variance in the manufacturing (no fabric bag is perfectly straight) but this never caused me any issues or rubbing. The Velcro tabs do feel a little abrasive. I have considered lining my frame with a little friction tape and re-attaching the pack, just to reduce friction/rub, which is a common issue with frame bags.

Construction Quality

As both items are built with basically identical materials and standards, I’m lumping construction into one category. Both are built from high denier, recycled rip-stop nylon and the same waterproof zippers. The fabric is sturdy, holds up well to abrasion, and so far has shown no tendency to stretch or fray. The stitching is consistent, smooth, and devoid of any obvious flaws, even on the tight corners and seams. The zippers are robust and while taking a little effort to pull, have yet to hang or snag. The Velcro tabs and straps are fine, nothing special but they do the trick. They feel a little rough against the frame but have shown no signs of failing or losing their bite, so I can’t fault them.

Overall

The Signature Series from ALMSTHRE left me impressed. From build quality to ease of access, everything on display here is top notch. I adored the magnetic top access on the Handlebar Bag, while finding myself continuously relying on the organization and stability of the frame bag. Independently, the each provide a wealth of storage options. Layers and gloves go great in the handlebar bag, while tools and snacks tuck away without bouncing or shuffling in the frame bag. Which will suit the needs of the rider will certainly come down to individual preference and use case, but I ended up using both of them on just about every ride except summer heat rides, where I wasn’t bringing any layers or changes of gloves. They’re tough, light weight, convenient, and easy to configure for, just about, any bike. They’re even priced well given the build quality, making them easy to recommend.

Highly Recommended

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Big thanks to ALMSTHRE for sending this over for review. We couldn’t do this without their support.

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