boxy randonneur front bag makers these days?

[Brent Knepper]

I've noticed the now-discontinued Swift rando bags that came in various sizes and names tend to sell quickly on ebay etc, and others posting WTBs for them. I had a custom swift rando bag 10 years ago with hi-viz pink pockets and naturally I now regret selling it during a downsizing period. it was great for brevets and touring! maybe its worth having a thread for 2025 of folks making/selling the traditional rando front bag?

ones I know about:

Acorn Bags

Atwater Atelier

Bags by Bird

Gilles Berthoud

Outershell

Tim Tas + Rek

Rene Herse

Velo Orange

Waxwing Bag Co

anyone have any other brands to share?

Brent "thoughts of my old swift bag are accompanied with the Édith Piaf song" in NY

[David Hays]

I love my custom made Cory Brenn bags.

https://www.instagram.com/cbrennbags/?hl=en

David Hays

Williamsville, New York

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[Peter Adler]

Loyal Designs - made-to-order by Phil Woosley, longtime (and current) LBS guy in Berkeley, CA. He was Bruce Gordon's bagmaker, during the last 10 years or so before Bruce closed his shop.

http://loyalbags.com

The handlebar bags/saddlebags/panniers (in a RH/Sologne/GB style) are primarily in waxed canvas with leather trim/straps. I've never asked him about cloning the BG/Beckman panniers he did for Bruce Gordon, but I suppose he has the patterns, and so might be willing.

I've known Phil for about 15 years. I have an early example of his medium handlebar bag, in a grey similar to GB's. When I first got hold of it (used), the side stiffeners weren't installed in their little finished pockets. When I tried to insert them, I realized that the sides weren't rectangular as with most bagmakers, but trapezoidal; the bottom of the bag front-to-rear was wider that the top, so I had to curl the stiffeners a little to get them in. When I asked Phil why he'd done it that way (hey, that's one of my early ones!), he said that a wider base helped stabilize the bag by directing the load towards the bottom of the bag and keeping the weight lower.

That stuck me as very thoughtful design, whether or not you agree with the reasoning or the sacrifice in volume. Plus, Phil is a reasonable guy to deal with, and he addresses your questions as if you know what you're talking about.

The BG designs are less relevant to me today, as my BG racks disappeared with my Trek 720 on their BART-conveyed journey into the void. But I'm currently doing a hurried build of a 1969 Raleigh Competition as a replacement pack mule, and I'm building it with MAFAC Racers with Spece Wolfe-ish brake boosters. My TA handlebar rack just resurfaced, and so I may kit the build out with the rack, the Loyal rando bag and a Gilles Berthoud decaleur - because all those bits are already here and paid for. I've never used a rando bag as a townie bag, but I've been using a messenger bag for the last few months; anything else has to be an improvement. Riding with luggage strapped to your body sux.

Peter "don't wanna be a beast of burden" Adler

Berkeley, CA/USA

[tto...@gmail.com]

I also have a front rando bag from Cory Brenn and find the quality to be top notch.

Sorry no pic available at the moment.

[Sam Weinberg]

the berthoud handlebar bag is still available, which is definitely the boxy classic style you're looking for. 

outer shell makes a very neat mini-rando bag that i've enjoyed a lot on my mid trail road bike. mostly used for nice weather days with frequent resupply.

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[DB]

I recommend RSA Sun Bags if you're looking for a bag.  The craft and attention to detail are incredible and they were really easy to order from.  I've had my bag for a couple years now and it's held up really well.  

[fordb...@gmail.com]

I have to mention Waxwing Bags. Dave Cain has a great sense of color and design. His work is top notch !

Ford

Ghent, NY

[fordb...@gmail.com]

I see that Waxwing was already on the list and I missed it...

Ford

Ghent, NY

[Bernard Duhon]

I have aNearly new medium Randi bag that's black from Acorn bags American made and hard to get.

If you are interested, I will post pictures

Get Outlook for iOS

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Subject: Re: [650B] Re: boxy randonneur front bag makers these days?

 

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[Eric White]

I don't own one but I'm intrigued by Wit Slingers' take on the classic rando bag. 

https://witslingers.com/product/rando-bag/

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[Will Watson]

I can only echo what others have said. I bought some panniers from RSA Sun bags and they are awesome, I have no doubt their rando bags would be nice. 

Phil of Loyal Designs is making me a new rando bag right now and I believe he is also making most of the rando bags for Rene Herse right now. 

Will in Minneapolis

[J]

If anyone has a Acorn TALL boxy Rando bag I'd be interested. I think I like the older design better, with the side slash pockets than the new design. Not interested in the Medium size, my bike is too big. 

[Bernard Duhon]

If you change your mind I have a medium of that vintage

 

From: 65...@googlegroups.com <65...@googlegroups.com> On Behalf Of J

Sent: Friday, April 18, 2025 11:51 AM
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[Gary Jacobson]

Here's a photo of a bag, one of many, that David Cain made. Lots of cool details specific to my needs. He may still have it up on his website. Highly recommended.

On Monday, April 14, 2025 at 1:45:06 PM UTC-4 fordb...@gmail.com wrote:

[Ello Shertzer]

I've been on the bag search myself since I have a brand new custom rando bike and it is worthy of a nice new bag, as opposed to the suuuuper beat up old Swift bag that I have on there currently. But my issue is that I don't use leather products, so it's been hard finding a bag maker who doesn't use leather at all. I keep looking online and hoping I'll magically see a Ruthworks or Swift bag in decent condition that someone is selling secondhand but alas, nothing yet.

[Oliver Moss]

Ello,

I know that Dave Cain at Waxwing can make bags without leather. I think he uses some sort of tough rubber for the seams. Just something I thought I'd mention for you.

~Oliver

[Patrick Smith]

I'd be willing to part with my large Restrap Rando bag if that works for anyone. I'll probably regret selling it like I regretted selling my Rawland Rando rack, but it's just collecting dust on a shelf right now. 

Smitty in DC 

[John Dewey]

How about Berthoud? If these were on display in fancy Parisien boutique de mode en cuir they would most certainly be $$$$...as in unobtainium. This is smaller one, most Berthoud pack enough gear for a trip to the coast and back.

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