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SEVEN DAY CYCLIST
CYCLING, BUT NOT USUALLY RACING
LATEST UPDATE JUNE 6th
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Lomo 3L Handlebar Bikepacking Dry Bag
190g 3L £19.50
The Lomo 3L Handlebar Bikepacking Dry Bag is, as you’d expect a bikepacking style handlebar bag. Three litre capacity is hardly massive, but it is sufficient for a variety of items – especially if you go ultra-lightweight, and, in some ways, its moderate size is advantageous. Well-made and waterproof, there’s not much to dislike about this pack.
Pros: can be mounted in various positions, waterproof, lengthy straps, opens at both ends, net, flexible capacity.
Cons: limited capacity, only one colour choice.
Specification
Three litres capacity is far from the largest, although it is a perfectly functional size as part of your bikepacking adventure or more prosaic leisure and commuting. Dual ended roll closures are both convenient and allow the capacity to be more limited. Dimensions are; length (or width between your bars) is 32cm, height is 10cm, width 15cm. Small enough to allow a mixture of mounting options.
The three straps are made of a seemingly sturdy webbing, with plastic buckles. These are sufficiently long to add to the range of mounting positions.
Welded seams and waterproof fabric mean that living-up to the drybag description should not be much of a challenge. Just ensure that the roll closures are properly secured and there should be little chance of the weather getting in. With a background in wetsuits and waterspouts gear, Lomé know a bit about waterproof stuff.
There is some stiffening at the back of the bag, to support the straps, which also adds protection and helps to give some shape.
The impressive spec is maintained by a web of light bungee cord atop the bag and a loop for a reflector or blinkie. The finishing touch is the Lomo logo.
Mounting 4/5
Three-point mounting systems are de rigeur for stability and security. Lomo state that the straps should be long enough for and suitable to attach the bag to any handlebars. Unlike rigid brackets, there’s no need to worry about bar circumferences, of course. However, the webbing straps are sufficiently lengthy to promise flexibility of mounting systems. Old school plastic buckles, rather than quick release ones, require the webbing strap – sealed ends – to be threaded through and secured. That’s not quite as convenient for frequent removal, perhaps whilst commuting, but it is hardly a problem.
I’ve mounted the Lomo on compact drop bars, Jones bars, and flats. All, with no issue – although, as is ever the case, negotiating the web of cables without causing obstruction is necessary. I’ve also put it the ‘wrong’ way round atop some Jones bars (as above).
Lomo point out, quite rightly, that the bag needs to be fully secure to avoid movement. This is not just because no one wants a bag flopping around on their bars. Rubbing by the bag may damage the fabric, or even the neat shine of your bars, or even the paint job on your steering tube, should they come into contact.
Care and durability 3.5/5
Cleaning? Easy, just give it a wipe with a damp cloth. Add a little bike wash or washing-up liquid, if you need.
This is well-made gear. Treat it well and it will pretty much look after itself. Note what it says above about tightening the straps so that there is no movement – constant rubbing could damage both the bag and the finish of bars, stem or seat-post.
Of course, heading for the wilds is likely to bring bikepacking gear into contact rocks and spiky flora, amongst a range of hazards. I’ve not tried ramming my bike through the undergrowth, but it the fabric of the Lomo 3L seems to be pretty sound.
Performance 3.5/5
This isn’t the place to go into the relative merits of rigid and bikepacking models. However, one of the advantages of the latter is that soft items can be stuffed in to fill it right up; when not full, the roll closure means there is no floppy capacity to slop about on your bars. I have tended to use the Lomo 3L for carrying my waterproof gear on weekend tours, for example: jacket, over-trousers, overshoes, gloves. All soft items, suitable for compression and stuff I like to have ready to hand. It has also taken a Thermarest Neoair sleeping mat, with a little friendly persuasion, and can be combined with a lightweight tent in a harness if you have suitable bars such as my heavyweight tourers Jones bars. I’ve done this with an MSR Hubba Hubba 2. The tent comes with its own harness for bar-mounting, so how you carry it is a moot point. The combination also worked on flat bars.
Fundamentally, whilst there’ll be many who would prefer a larger capacity, the Lomo 3L sits neatly on the bars, without being an obstruction. As suggested above, on some bars, you may well be able to festoon your bars with not one, but two bags. Of course, it can be compressed when not stuffed full, too.
Provided the roll closure is properly secured, the Lomo 3L should be fully waterproof. It is. I’ve left it out in downpours, long periods of drizzle, and emptied a watering can over it. It is effectively a dry-bag, although it has not been hurled into the river to see if it floats. Should that scenario arise when you are cycling, please let me know.
Roll closures at both ends are very convenient, especially if packed with multiple items that need to be readily to hand – waterproof jacket, trousers etc, as outlined above, for example.
As for stability, well, take time to ensure things are done up right. After that, check every now and again, although after twenty miles of bumping along forest tracks, It had not budged by the proverbial gnat’s crochet. Mind you,
that was with a light load. Fundamentally, it feels very solid with the straps nice and tight, even if not fully snugged up to the bars and stem: experimenting with different mounting positions made for a bit of ad hoc attachment.
Value 4/5
Size wise, there are plenty of more diminutive bar bags around. The Cycology See Me Pink Handlebar Bag and the See Sense Handlebar Bag, both share some features of the Lomo 3L, but both have zip closures. Effectively, these are waterproof under general cycling conditions, but they will not act as a dry-bag.
I’ve used the Zefal Z Adventure F10 Bar Bag for a long while now. It scoes over the Lomo 3L on most counts – unless you want a more bijoux bag – but it is significantly more expensive. Greater capacity and the harness mount definitely make it one for bigger trips.
Rhinowalk produce a double-ended closure drybag, with a max of 12L capacity, for £27.99, with a choice of colours. A closer comparator, in terms of capacity as well as closures, would be the Evoc 2.5L and 5L bar bags, which have a host of exotic features (e.g. vents for easier compression, Boa mounting system etc.) at a price around the hundred pounds mark. I have seen them discounted.
Summary
As we have come to expect, Lomo hit a very sweet spot between performance and price. It is hard to find similar quality pound for pound. Bikepacking and touring luggage however tends to be part of a system, so whether a 3L bag is just right or too small is a matter of choice for individuals and their preferred packing regime. However, the Lomo 3L can offer some distinct flexibility and is unlikely to let you down.
Verdict: 3.75/5 Neat, well-made bikepacking bar bag, if somewhat bijoux.
Steve Dyster
https://www.lomo.co.uk/products/3l-bikepacking-handlebar-dry-bag/
PUBLISHED JUNE 2025
