If you take your bike on holiday with you, a good-quality bike box or bag can make the difference between it arriving safely or in several pieces.
In fact, one of our most important tips for planning a cycling holiday is to know how to properly pack your bike for flying.
Whether you're going on a once-in-a-lifetime luxury trip or wondering how to plan a cycling holiday on a budget, a sturdy bike box or bag could pay dividends.
Here are our favourite bike bags and boxes for protecting your pride and joy in transit.
And read right to the end of the reviews for our full buyer's guide and advice on how to choose the best bike box or bag for your needs.
The best bike boxes and bike bags 2023, as reviewed by our expert testers
Evoc Bike Travel Bag Pro
£499.99 / $TBC
- Size: 147x85x36cm
- Weight: 8kg
- Highs: Packs small, light, easy-rolling
- Lows: Premium price
Evoc’s Bike Travel Bag Pro offers a good balance of protection, low weight and portability. This robust bag is given extra in-use support with removable composite canes and PVC tubes.
The frame sits on a plastic block that uses Velcro to attach it to the moulded base, while the fork is housed in a padded sheath. Everything is held securely with Velcro straps.
It’s easy to pack once you’ve done it a couple of times.
BikeBoxAlan GPRS Race
£570 / $TBC
- Size: 105x90x30cm
- Weight: 11.74kg
- Highs: Solid, neat-packing, easy-rolling
- Lows: Fewer grab handles than some
BikeBoxAlan has become the hard-case benchmark, offering excellent protection without excess weight or costing a fortune. But the USP of Alan’s top-end GPRS is its tracking device that can be monitored by SMS or smartphone app.
The wheels use a skewer to attach to one side, with Velcro securing the frame and components to the other. The fixing clamps work well and have provision for a padlock or zip ties.
Buxum Tourmalet
£786 / $TBC
- Size: 113x78x30cm
- Weight: 12.6kg
- Highs: Beautifully finished, easy to pack
- Lows: High price loses it a mark
The Tourmalet is a work of art with its cool-looking 0.5mm-thick 6061 aluminium panels, which are riveted to supporting skeletons.
Wheels fit around the frame in the bags supplied, and QR and thru-axle adaptors are available. There’s lots of space and a crush pole to keep everything solid.
The top is held secure with quality latches, while sealed-bearing wheels and sprung handles make it easy to manoeuvre.
Chain Reaction Pro Bike Bag
£249.99 / $TBC
- Size: 140x79x28cm
- Weight: 8.7kg
- Highs: If you can handle it, it’s good value
- Lows: A little unstable, fixings are crude
This padded soft bag fits a range of bikes and does a good job for the money.
Attaching the bike to the base is crude, with lots of Velcro, blocks and ties, but it works well. It’s quick-release and thru-axle compatible. Zipped wheel compartments keep your hoops safe, plus there's hard plastic hub protection.
Dragging the Pro isn’t easy because the low handle lifts the bag high, making it a little unstable.
Polaris Bike Pod Pro
£549.99 / $TBC
- Size: 116x86x30cm
- Weight: 11.4kg
- Highs: Superior build quality, very secure, compact size
- Lows: Requires significant dismantling of the bike
The Polaris Pod Pro is constructed from polypropylene and it’s not only supremely rigid but also very crack-resistant. All the hardware, handles, wheels and clasps are bolted into place and fully replaceable. Of the four clasps, two are lockable for added security.
Inside, on each side of the box, are fitments for the wheels that allow the hubs to centre. These are locked into place with integrated position guides and reusable zip ties.
The frame is then sandwiched between the included foam and plenty of straps are included to lock it down.
Scicon Aerocomfort TSA 3.0
£565 / $TBC
- Size: 109x103x50cm (top) / 103x93x25cm (bottom)
- Weight: 8kg
- Highs: Packs down small, light, smooth-rolling
- Lows: Price is the biggest one
The Aerocomfort 3.0 uses an integrated stand with adjustable wheelbase that’s compatible with quick-release and 12mm thru-axle systems.
The bike’s held securely using straps across the saddle and bar, wheels slot into side pockets and there’s a stash pocket for skewers.
The bag is secured using straps across the top tube. Balanced packing stops it tipping and its 8kg weight allows you to pack additional kit.
Choosing the right bike box or bag
Choosing the right case for bike travel is important if you want it to arrive in one piece. There's always some anguish when you hand over your pride and joy at the airport and see it disappear into the unknown, so having faith in your choice of box or bag can make a difference.
More of us than ever are travelling with bikes, whether it’s for a holiday, training camp or a race, and it shouldn’t be difficult as long as you do your research when choosing which airline to travel with and how to transport your bike.
Just because an airline charges to take a bike, it’s no guarantee your ride will be cared for as you might hope. Some don’t have a separate bike allowance, but will let you take it as part of your luggage allowance, and some charge by the kilo.
A bike box is an invaluable piece of equipment for any travelling cyclist. There’s no perfect answer as to which is the best, because they all have their trade-offs, so it’s important to weigh up your needs before you buy.
Things to consider when choosing a bike box
1. Handles
Handles can make a huge difference to transporting your bike. One handle might work well for pulling it along, while others make lifting easier. It’s a small addition that can make a big difference.
2. Hard cases
These are made from tough plastic or aluminium. They’re the most robust, offering good protection. The trade-off is that they’re usually heavier and more cumbersome than soft cases.
3. Soft bags
These are made from soft, hard-wearing fabric and usually feature added padding and hard bases for extra protection. They’re lighter, which makes it easier to hit airline weight limits.
4. Portability
When you have a week’s worth of luggage, your bike bag or box needs to be as portable as possible. Wheels are a must, and having at least two that steer is helpful. Drag handles make life easier too.
5. Size
Make sure the box will fit in your car or hire car, and check airline size restrictions. Not all bike boxes are easy to carry, but if yours is, it might mean it’s less likely to be dropped by airport staff.
6. Supports and crush poles
Crush poles, made from aluminium or carbon, are used in the centre of a hard case to avoid crushing your frame and components. Supports in soft bags help to keep their shape.
6 tips and tricks for boxing a bike
1. Deflate your tyres
Most airlines require you to deflate your tyres because of potential changes in pressure that could cause them to go bang. They don’t need to be pancake flat, but it’s worth reducing air just in case. Some airlines check, some don’t.
If you carry CO2 inflator cartridges, check your airline’s policy – some allow them in limited quantities, while others won’t take them at all.
2. Know your setup
The last thing you want to be worrying about is whether your mountain bike or road bike is set up the same as before you left. A piece of electrical tape around the seatpost before you remove it will mean you get the same saddle height.
Use a marker pen or take a photo before removing the bars so you know how many spacers you need above and below the stem.
3. Make the most of your box
Whatever your choice of bike box, it's worth making the most of the space and weight available. Your bike box is the perfect place for packing tools, a track pump, cycling shoes and nutrition products.
Remember, these can get thrown around during transport, so pack smartly for damage limitation, especially if you have a carbon bike. Clothes can also be packed for added protection in soft bags.
4. Protect it
Foam lagging (used by plumbers to insulate pipes) is cheap and ideal for wrapping around your bike's tubes for added protection during transportation. Alternatively, some quality bubble wrap or similar will help keep your bike safe and shiny. Also, both will avoid scuff marks from securing straps or other things floating around in your box. If you're in a rush and don't have either, an old T-shirt should do.
5. What to remove
All the bike boxes here require the removal of wheels, which is easy. Some also require removing pedals, bar and stem, saddle and seatpost, and derailleur.
When packing, it's important to make sure the items you've removed are protected and secure, so as not to do damage to them or other parts. Be considerate when it comes to any cables, (electronic or not), making sure to avoid any kinks or stretching.
6. Use baby wipes
A pack of baby wipes is a useful item to have in your bike box. They're brilliant at removing any dirt and grease from your hands after working on your bike, and equally good for cleaning your bike if the need arises.
