A guide to custom frame bags for bikepacking and cycle touring
Our custom frame bags offer a perfect fit tailored to your bike's geometry through our Customiser Service. Made from tough, waterproof materials, our bike luggage offers uncompromising quality, innovation, and affordability with personal service from a team of experts.
Custom-made frame bags are your ultimate carrying system for bikepacking and cycle touring. They optimise every corner of your bike so you can carry what you need where you want it.
Our custom frame bags offer personalised solutions based on your bike’s specific geometry. We were an early innovator in bikepacking gear and now have 20 years of experience supporting cycling adventures. We use high-quality materials and have a strong reputation for creative designs, personal service and functional bags that last.
The case for custom frame bags in cycle touring and bikepacking
As a seasoned bikepacker you understand how important it is to get your set-up just right. You are particular about what you ride, so why ruin it with bags that wobble around, don't quite fit or only last a couple of seasons?
Demand better for your ride. Our custom-made frame bags are for the times when an off-the-shelf solution just isn't good enough.
With a custom-made Stingray framebag, you can maximise the space available on your frame. From corner to corner (to corner) of your frame, Stingrays are made to match your bike. They’re fine-tuned technical products made to last a lifetime.
Frame bags: finding the right fit for your setup
Our frame bags have been used on the toughest cycling adventures around the world. The Iditarod Invitational in Alaska, the Tour Divide, the Silk Road in Kyrgyzstan, the Highland Trail 550 in Scotland. Where ever riders have demanded the best bike luggage you will find our frame bags.
These are extreme examples, you don't need to be riding an epic to benefit from a framebag. The sign of a great frame bag is one you strap to your bike and forget it's there.
Benefits of custom bike luggage
It is completely custom and versatile. You can personalise the colours, zips, pockets and dividers to your heart’s content. This can give you more space and organizing potential for the bits and bobs you couldn’t leave at home. Or maybe you just want to match your bag to your kit!
Custom bike luggage vs off-the-shelf alternatives
Our custom bike luggage is handmade here in our UK factory by expert makers. Each part is cut out individually, each zip cut to your length, no two bags are the same no detail is left unturned. We use the highest quality fabrics, bombproof construction techniques and quality control what we make before sending the products to you.
You also get the reassurance that should you have any accidents down the line, we will be able to fix your bags for you.
Custom bike luggage for suspension bikes
Fitting bike luggage around your rear suspension is an ideal use case for custom bike luggage. It is notoriously difficult to fill these tight-angled spaces and you are unlikely to find anything suitable off the shelf. Custom-made provides a complete solution to this problem.
Key features to look for in a custom frame bag
If you go for a Stingray, you’ve got some decisions to make. You can even request a teeny tiny one like the black one on this page!
Colours and fabrics
Choose from over 25 to match your bike. Or to match your kit! Some fabrics are more durable and harder-wearing - but, bear in mind, this is at the cost of their weight.
Openings
Standard zip opening or L-shaped “surgeon” zip which makes it easier to get bulky items in and out.
Dividers
You can divide up your bag to help with organisation, making a smaller section for valuables and a larger one for bulkier items like a spare layer or your bike lock. Dividers are also highly recommended for larger frame bags to prevent bulging - no mid-pedal-knee-knocking here!
Document pocket
Sewn onto the drive side of your frame bag, the pocket can be used to store documents like your map or your passport.
Attachment style
Choose between stitched-on hook and loop fasteners in a fixed location or a daisy chain webbing ladder. Webbing ladders allow the fasteners to be attached at various points on the frame.
Reflective piping
Be seen on the trail with reflective detailing on the zips.
Frame bag sizing and fit
No - not if you don't want it to. If you like to ride with two water bottles inside your frame we can make your frame bag to fit around them.
Ideally your frame bag needs to be as big as what you need to carry and no more.
Other things to consider when ordering
If you know what you want to put in your bag, you can design it to suit your needs. Thinking about how everything will fit together across your whole set-up? Our guide to packing for bikepacking covers how to distribute gear from fast and light overnighters to fully loaded expeditions.
Crossing a country border on an epic continental bikepacking adventure? Ask for a document pocket to keep your passport safe and accessible. Want to be as lightweight as possible? Avoid additional extras like padding to save a gram or two. Durable fabrics, like Cordura, will resist abrasion. But they will impact how lightweight your setup is.
Lead times and turnaround
For a straightforward Stingray, it can take Gemma as little as 45 minutes to cut and sew the bag. But she’s super busy with all your orders and only working a few days a week on custom bags. So, it might take her a smidge more than 45 minutes to get the bag from our factory to your frame! Custom orders are expected to take a maximum of 3 weeks to be despatched from your order.
It is easy to design your custom frame-bag
Follow the instructions on the custom frame-bag product page to make your cardboard frame bag template. Don’t forget to label important information like the location of bolts, bottle cages and where you want dividers. Then, send your template to us at:
Alpkit
Units 12 - 14 Oak House
Moorgreen Industrial Park
Engine Lane
Newthorpe
Nottingham
NG16 3QU
You can also wheel your bike into one of our stores and we will help you do it.
Further Reading
Bikepacking Bags
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Made In Britain
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Made In Britain
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Made In Britain
Gravel Bag
Handlebar bag with roll-top closure: UK made, weatherproof, 5L expandable capacity
€84,99
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Sale
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Made In Britain
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Made In Britain
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Made In Britain
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