I travel a lot with my bikes, so I know the worth of a good bike travel bag. Flying with a bike isn’t exactly the easiest endeavor, so any extra feature or convenience to make it less of a hassle is a big plus in my book.
As bike travel has become more popular over the last few years, the options for bike travel bags and cases have grown. But how do you choose the right one for you?
If you are in the process of shopping around for one, I’ve got you covered. In this post, I share everything you need to know about the differences between bike bags and bike cases, what features to look for, and a few great options to consider.
Types of Bike Travel Bags & Cases
There are two main types of bike travel cases: soft-sided bike bags and hard-sided bike cases.
They both have their pros and cons:
| Type | Pros | Cons |
| Soft-sided bike bags | – Typically fold or roll down to be stored when not in use – Decent protection – Have wheels for rolling | – Require more care and attention when packing – Large or heavy bikes may still be overweight |
| Hard-sided bike cases | – Excellent protection and durability – Can withstand rough baggage handlers – Have wheels for rolling | – Will almost always be overweight why flying – Heavy to lug around – Don’t fold or roll down when not in use – Expensive |
I can’t answer the question of ‘which one is better?’ for you, but personally, I use a soft-sided Dakine Bike Roller Bag for my travels. I’ve flown with it domestically and internationally and haven’t had any problems or dealt with any damage. (That being said, I do take my time to pack it correctly and adequately).
A few considerations to think about when deciding whether you want a soft bag or a hard-shell case are:
What about a bike box? Bike boxes are another way to transport bikes. A bike box is essentially what new bikes are shipped in and you can easily pick one up at your local bike shop for free.
A bike box is a good option if you’re doing a one-way bike trip or you only plan on doing the one-off adventure.
If you plan on traveling with your bike more frequently, though, I recommend investing in a dedicated bike case since they are more secure and protective than cardboard bike boxes.
Bike Travel Case Features
Surprisingly, there are actually quite a few features that bike travel bags and bike travel cases are designed with. Some of these features are standard – like rolly wheels – but others have to be sought out.
Here are the main features you can find across models and brands:
Rolling Wheels
Any bike case you get should have wheels. Hard stop. Don’t buy one that doesn’t or else you’ll be sweating and swearing at the airport!
But some bike bags, like the EVOC Pro come with an extra wheel that you can attach to the front of the bike bag that allows you to simply roll the whole package with one hand instead of towing it behind you.
The Thule Roundtrip Road and Thule Roundtrip Mountain Bike bags also have a removable front wheel.
Internal frame & bike stand
Some bike bags and cases come with an internal frame that helps keep the bike secure and anchored inside the travel case. If you travel a lot (or plan on traveling a lot) it might be a good idea to get a bike case that has an internal frame for extra security and protection.
Some internal frames can even turn into a bike stand to help you easily put your bike back together and break down at the end of your trip. The EVOC Bike Stand Pro is compatible with all EVOC bags and the Thule Roundtrip Road and Thule Roundtrip Mountain Bike bags also have internal frames that transform into bike stands.
Padding & Frame Protection
Most bike bags will come with some sort of frame protection and padding on the exterior. The Dakine Bike Roller Bag comes with several pieces of padding that you can use to protect your frame and components.
I always like to add extra foam and protection – it’s lightweight and adds more bulk to prevent my bike from shifting around.
Bike Bag Length
Length isn’t a ‘feature’ per se, but it’s important to note because not all bike bags are the same length. Some bike bags are designed for road bikes and gravel bikes that have shorter wheelbases while others are made for mountain bikes with a longer wheelbase.
If you know you’ll be traveling with several different bikes, you want to make sure that the bag you get is long enough to fit each bike.
Tip: To find the wheelbase of your bike, measure the horizontal distance between the center of the front and rear axles.
Best Bike Travel Bags & Cases
I’ve already mentioned most of these bags and cases above, but here are the top options for the best bike bags:
1. Dakine Bike Roller Bag
$485
The Dakine Bike Roller Bag is a no-frills, but reliable option. It has decent padding, two rolling wheels, and can roll down for better storage.
Reasons to buy:
Reasons to not:
Shop at
I have the Dakine Bike Roller Bag and I’ve flown with it dozens of times: to Peru, Mexico, and Africa as well as many flights domestically. I haven’t had any issues or problems with my bike getting damaged (knock on wood!). That being said, I do take care packing it and making sure it can withstand some rough handling.
After many trips, my Dakine bag is still in great shape. The outer material is durable and the included padding is still like new (I do add additional padding when I pack up my bike).
One of the main reasons I chose this bike bag is because it’s one of the lightest options available, so it’s easier to get it under airline weight limits to avoid paying overweight fees.
The Dakine Bike Bag is designed for mountain bikes but it also fits road bikes, gravel bikes, and fat bikes. Read my full review here!
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2. Evoc Bike Travel Bag
$595
The Evoc Bike Travel Bag is a popular option for mountain bikers. It’s durable, easy to pack, and comes with good internal padding.
Reasons to buy:
Reasons to not:
Shop at
Evoc is a company based out of Munich, Germany that makes high-quality bags and gear for mountain bikers. Their Evoc Bike Travel Bag is similar to the Dakine bag, but with a few key differences:
- It has a better (ie longer) rear triangle stabilizing block
- The outer canvas shell is a bit burlier
- It’s about 4 lbs heavier
But all that does come with a couple of pounds of added weight, which may put you over the weight limit at the airport. My friend Michelle has the Evoc bike bag and while she likes it, her biggest complaint is trying to get it under 50lbs with her (size large) mountain bike inside.
If you ride a fat or plus size mountain bike, check out the Evoc Bike Travel Bag XL.
3. Evoc Bike Travel Bag Pro
$795
The Evoc Bike Travel Bag Pro has all the bells and whistles including a removable front wheel and an internal frame that doubles as a bike stand.
Reasons to buy:
Reasons to not:
Shop at
If you travel with your bike a lot, it may be worth investing in the Evoc Bike Travel Bag Pro. It has a few extra key features that the regular Evoc bag and the Dakine bag don’t, namely the removable front wheel and internal frame that turns into a bike stand.
If you’ve traveled with a bike, you know how tiring and awkward it can be to haul your bike bag from one terminal to the next even though it has two rolling wheels. With the Evoc Pro Bag, the clip-on front wheel allows you to push it along without doing any work. Revolutionary.
It’s also designed with an internal frame for maximum stabilization. You can actually secure your bike on the frame outside of the bag and then transfer it to the bike bag. This frame also doubles as a bike stand, making reassembly a lot easier.
The biggest downside to the Evoc Pro, though is that it’s heavy. It may be really hard to get everything under the weight limit depending on what airline you fly, so be prepared to pay some overweight fees.
4. Orucase B2 Bike Travel Case
$649
Orucase takes a different approach to bike travel bags: they make travel cases that are ultra-lightweight and transportable.
Reasons to buy:
Reasons to not:
Shop at
The Orucase B2 bike travel case is an interesting concept. It’s designed to make traveling with a bike as convenient and affordable as possible. With a compact design, a backpack harness, rolling wheels, and clever tool pockets, it’s ideal for the traveler who wants to be as hassle-free as possible while en route.
Part of the allure of choosing an Orucase travel bag is that it’s easier to get under the weight and size limits of most airlines. While they don’t guarantee a fee-free trip, the relatively low weight of the bag and compact design do make it pretty likely that you’ll be under most airlines’ weight and size restrictions.
The downside to an Orucase bag is that you do need to break your bike down quite a bit more than other travel bags including completely removing the handlebars and removing the fork. But if compact and light is your goal, this could be a great option. Check out Loam Wolf’s video on how to pack an Orucase bag.
The Orucase comes in two sizes. The B2-R is for road and gravel bikes and the B2-MTB is for mountain bikes.
5. Thule Roundtrip MTB Travel Case
$1,000
The ultimate bike travel case that comes with a price tag.
Reasons to buy:
Reasons to not:
Shop at
You know the saying, “You pay for what you get”? Well, that’s true for the Thule Roundtrip MTB Travel Case. This travel bag has all the bells and whistles like an internal frame that doubles as a bike stand, a clip-on front wheel, a ton of padding, and two side panels that fold down completely (which makes it much easier to pack and unpack).
However, this bag is also the heaviest on the list. If you choose the Thule Roundtrip, opt for an airline that waives overweight fees for bikes (like Alaska Airlines), or be prepared to pay overweight fees.
This bike bag is seriously impressive if you can swallow the price tag and weight. It also comes in a smaller road bike option.
6. Thule Roundtrip Transition
$1,000
A hard-sided case to ensure there’s no damage to your bike in transit. The hard shell comes with some drawbacks, though.
Reasons to buy:
Reasons to not:
Shop at
The Thule Roundtrip Transition Bike Case is a burly beast and if you’re really worried about protecting your multi-thousand dollar bike during transit, it could be a good option. However, despite providing the most protection out of all the bags and cases on this list, it definitely has some downsides.
Because it’s constructed with an ultra-protective hard shell, it comes with added weight. A lot of added weight. When fully packed with a mountain bike, the Thule RoundTrip Transition can easily be 70-80 lbs, which would be considered overweight for most airlines. Be sure to check overweight fees and weight restrictions on your airline carrier before choosing this case.
Another downside is that there is no front wheel. Do you want to lug a 70-80 lb bike down airport corridors? I don’t.
It also can’t accommodate longer wheelbases (46″ max), so some larger mountain bikes won’t fit.
Lastly, the Thule Case doesn’t come with any frame padding like the other bags on this list do. You’ll need to get creative with packing materials or purchase a frame padding kit.
Looking for a Road Bike Travel Bag?
I’m primarily a mountain biker, so I have mainly researched mountain bike travel bags (that can also be used for road and gravel bikes).
But if you’re strictly a roadie (no judgment), there are several options for road-bike specific bike big bags:
- EVOC Pro Road Bike Bag / $995 / Amazing protection for delicate frames
- Thule Roundtrip Road Bike Travel Case / $1000 / Great protection but heavy
- SciCon Aerotech Evolution / $1,699 / Maximum hard-shell protection
- Topeak PakGo X / $999 / Great protection, but need to disassemble bike more
Read next
Planning on flying with your bike? Check out these posts to help you prepare:
Final thoughts
If you plan on traveling regularly with your bike, I highly recommend investing in a good bike travel bag or case. Not only will this make your travels easier, but a good bag (and a good packing job) will help ensure your bike doesn’t suffer during transit.
There are lots of options out there, each with its own pros and cons, so be sure to do your due diligence before settling on a case.
If you have questions, drop them in the comments!
Do you own a bike travel bag? Which one and what are your thoughts? How does it perform on trips? Let us know in the comments!
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BEWARE: 2018 Evoc Pro DOES NOT allow a 29″ wheel to fit in the wheel bags – with my Continental (29 x 2.6)” tires on it, even with most air let out!! And that removable front wheel on the Evoc case is a major PITA – and if you forget to remove it, it WILL break, every single time! Hauling a case without front wheel/s along with another suitcase, etc., around an airport is not fun. Thankfully I checked when I got a new bike with a 29″ front wheel – now looking for a new case.
MY Thule MTB bag is about 12 KG, to heavy for most domestic flights.
I’m just saying…if your last name is Timbers and you’re not doing something outdoors related for your job, you’re just not doing life right!
Thanks for the review! This helps a lot. I got the go-ahead from my wife to spend the money on a ‘vacation box’ for my bike this week.
I feel like I should have been a forester 😅. I’m excited about all the adventures you and your bike will be going on!
i got the old evoc which was waaaay cheaper for almost the same bag as the current evoc (also same weight at 8.6kg). its _just_ big enough for my long mtb.
I find that you can put rotor protecting discs to avoid having to take them off (bikes generally have these when shipped these days, its quite handy to grab a couple from a trash near a bike shop).
The only issue id say is the weight, 8.6kg isnt terrible but its still too high to fit within the 23kg limit usually.
Rotor protectors are a great idea – I’ll ask my shop for a few!
Thanks for this run down. I’ve been considering investing in a travel case for some time now, and your pros and cons really hit the nail on the head while being easy to search, compare, and consider. Thank you for compiling this info.
Many XXL frames these days exceed 130cm wheelbase. I have not personally tested the Dakine or new Thule options with my XXL Sentinel (132cm), but it does not fit in the EVOC Standard or older Thule Roundtrip Pro. I’m hoping to test the Dakine bag in the coming year. If anyone has experience fitting a 130cm+ frame in any bag, I’m all ears!
With that said, I have a few comments and corrections regarding larger frame mountain bikes that others may find useful:
-The EVOC XL bag is not intended for larger frames. In fact, the maximum wheelbase is actually SHORTER than that standard bag. It is intended for plus bikes and fat bikes with more volume in width and wheel pockets.
The wheelbase maximums for EVOC bags are:
Standard: 126cm
XL: 125cm
Pro: 130cm
-The EVOC Pro and Thule Roundtrip MTB both use rigid mounting rails, so 130cm max is exactly 130cm max. I have not personally tested it with a bike, but inspecting the frame mechanisms in-store, I don’t see a way to squeeze a larger bike. Maybe Problem Solvers or another company could make a wheelbase shortening thru-axle insert for such a thing? Niche market, but sure would be nice.
-There is no published wheelbase max for the Dakine bag, but it seems to compete with the EVOC Pro around 128-130cm. Without the mounting rails it could be larger. However, several reviewers stated the XXL Transition Spire (135.2cm wheelbase) did not fit in the Dakine bag.
-Weight: Even the lightest XL-XXL mountain bikes, when combined with a bag, will almost certainly go over the typical 50lb weight limit of most airlines. Either accept that and load ‘er up (additional “extremely overweight” fees usually apply after 75 lbs or even 100 lbs), or start removing parts.
I’d consider removing the dropper post, saddle and cassette+freehub to save on weight (assuming you have room in another bag). This way the bike still holds the structure of the bag, but you can easily ditch 4-8 lbs depending on your component spec. Many modern freehubs bodies pull out of the hub shell without tools, just be sure to remove any exposed springs/pawls and keep them safely secured (or bring a cassette wrench in your tool bag). Tires would be the next option, but even when flat they provide additional protection for the rim during transport. Plus, tubeless tires can add a huge headache during setup at your destination if they are unseated during packing.
-Can’t find bike packaging materials in a pinch? Most home/hardware stores sell black pipe insulating foam “noodles” that work great. They come in various lengths and widths with a split down the middle just like the white bike packaging. Not free, but they cost very little ($2-5 USD) and can be custom cut for maximum protection.
Thanks for your insights and tips, Ben! Much appreciated
Super helpful, thanks! I’m considering the Dakine bag you use. Wondering if I could also use it for a drop bar gravel bike?
Hey Michael – The Dakine bag would definitely fit a drop-bar gravel bike. You might need to add extra protection to fill empty space, but it should work great!
Thank you for recommend these bike travel bags. I think EVOC is an excellent bike travel case with great functionalities and features.
Thanks Patrick! I have my eye on the new EVOC pro bag that has a removable front wheel. It would make traveling with a heavy, awkward bike so much easier!
This B & W International Bike Case is a really nice travel box. It is extremely lightweight and has an incredible lifespan. My racing bike fit easily into the case and was very well protected because  its self-reinforced curve structure is suitable for road and gravel bikes, mountain bikes, and downhill bikes. The best feature of this bike case is that it is impact-resistant, abrasion-resistant, and tough, even at low temperatures. Also, this bike case is so hassle-free when walking, as it is designed with four easy-rolling wheels. For my trip, I was able to easily roll my bag with one hand and pull the bike case with the other, which was really nice.
Thanks! I haven’t heard of that one. I’ll check it out!