Top Rated Bike Bags Boxes and Cases for Air Travel 2023
Flying with your bike can be a little bit of an anxious experience, as you are worried that your treasured bike can fail to arrie, that it will arrive damaged, or that you will be charged an arm and a leg to bring it on board. For this reason we have compiled a list of fees charged by over 300 airlines for bringing your bicycle on board as checked luggage, whether flying on a bike touring trip or to your next triathlon or bike race.
Now that you have your flight and are ready to go, what's left is to pack your bike to make sure it arrives safely on the other side. Whether travelling with your mountain bike to explore Chile's famed singletrack, embarking on a multiweek bike touring trip around Europe, or bringing your TT bike to compete in an Ironman, you want to protect your investment as well as possible. As such, we have put together a list of the best-selling bike bags, bike boxes, and bike travel cases for a variety of budgets, to ensure your bike arrives with you safe and sound.
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This list has been compiled based on ratings, reviews, and best sellers, and has been updated for availabillity on the market in 2023.
Can you buy a cheap bike travel bag for $30? Yes, you can, but would you feel comfortable putting a $4000+ of bicycle into a bag with flimsy zippers and single-stitched seams? Depending on the bike you are flying with, your best option may be to simply ask for a cardboard bike box from your local shop, but if you want to ensure your machine stays safe when being handled at the airport, it is advisable not to skimp on the travel case. You will protect your bike to the maximum, and will keep it safe for many trips in the future.
As you upgrade your ride, your bike case will still be holding strong for years to come. In the list below, we have compiled a set of highly rated bike travel cases (both soft and hard cover) recommended by travelling cyclists around the world.
Before you fly, be sure to take a look at our compilation of bike excess baggage fees for the airline you're flying with, to avoid any surprises at the airport.
Found this page helpful? Feel free to bookmark it as a quick reference, and be sure to share it with your cycling buddies that may find it helpful!
List of Recommended Items in This Article
SciCon Aerocomfort 3.0 TSA Bike Bag
Speedhound Freedom Padded Bike Travel Case
BIKND Jetpack V2 Bike Travel Case
Thule Round Trip Sport Bike Travel Case
Select your Bike Travel Case - Cardboard Box, Bike Bag, Hard Case?
The most common question is whether to travel with a hard-cover or soft-cover bike travel case. Although it is the consensus that hard-cover bike boxes offer the best protection for your prized bike, this is still something to be considered.
Pros/Cons of Cardboard Box
Benefits of Cardboard Bike Box
- Lightweight
- Easy to use
- Cheap/Free
- Less bulky, easier to store when not in use, disposable/recyclable
Disadvantages Cardboard Bike Boxes
- Limited Protection
- Uninsured by the airlines - liability release to be signed
- Difficult to Transport - often without wheels
- Often torn/punctured
- Requires additional protective materials
Pros/Cons of Soft Cover Bike Bags
Advantages of Soft Cover Bike Bags
- Additional Protection
- Easier to Transport - Wheeled
- Lighter than Rigid Bike Box
- Additional Protection with Internal Skeletal Structure
- Cheaper than Rigid Bike Box
Disadvantages of Soft Cover Bike Bags
- More Expensive than Cardboard
- At risk of Crushing if Mis-handled
- Less Durable - Will not last as many years as a Rigid Bike Box
- Less Protection than Hard Case
- No Airline Liability - Limited Release Must be Signed
Pros/Cons of Rigid Bike Boxes
Advantages of Hard Cover Bike Cases
- Maximal Protection
- Easier to Transport - Wheeled
- Liability of Airlines
- Designated Compartments - Bike Parts Less Likely to be Misplaced during Inspections
Disadvantages of Hard Cover Bike Travel Cases
- Most Expensive Option
- Cumbersome - placing into rental cars, takes up space in hotel, storage at home
- Heavy - may make it difficult to stay within weight limit on some airlines
EVOC Bike Travel Bag
The Evoc Bike Travel Bag is the best-selling and best-reviewed bike travel bag on Amazon, and continues to be one of the most highly rated bike bags on the market today.
This travel bag includes aluminum slide rails for rigidity and extra protection, while maintaining its advantages of being a lighter-weight option. It's dedicated wheel compartment offers superior protection for hubs and rotors, as well as keeping things organized if your bag is to be opened by TSA inspectors. We appreciate the secure internal mounting systems to keep everything in place and organized, and the fact that only the handlebars, wheels, and pedals need to be dismounted, so no need to spend a full day's worth of playing mechanic when arriving at the destination.
One drawback with this bag, as with all bike bags as opposed to rigid cases, is that it offers much less protection in case of mishandling at the airports, if the bag is layed on it's side and heavy items are placed on top of it. We recommend you ALWAYS insure your bike before travel, no matter what type of bike bag of case you are using.
Click Here to Buy the Evoc Bike Travel Bag on Amazon
SciCon Aerocomfort 3.0 TSA Bike Bag
The SciCon Aerocomfort 3.0 TSA Bike Bag is the gold-standard bike bag trusted by triathletes to get their bikes around the world. It's unique geometry keeps the bag within the allowable dimensions of a standard suitcase, meaning that you may be able to avoid oversize/bicycle baggage fees when checking in, which could amount to significant savings.
We appreciate the adjustable rigid frame and metal base to keep the bike frame well protected, along with its thoughtful storage compartments to keep things organized. The bags has a TSA-Lock that can be opened up so inspectors can check it out without moving any parts and putting your bicycle at risk. Weighing in at a mere 9 pounds, this is one of the lighter bags on the market and will help you stay within the most common 50 lbs / 23 kg weight limit.
Click Here for More Info about the SciCon Aerocomfort 3.0 TSA Bike Bag
Speedhound Freedom Padded Bike Travel Case
The Speedhound Freedom Padded Bike Travel Case is slightly more budget-friendly option in terms of soft-cover bike travel bag with internal reinforcements (rigid vertical supports), as well as additional protections such as a padded drive chain cover and bonus wheel protectors. This is a great value bag, offering secure storage with multiple anchor points on the frame, seat tube, chainstay, bottom bracket, and fork. For most bikes, the only items that will need to be removed are the wheels, pedals, and handlebars, and yes, the Speedhound fits 29er wheels as well. For large frames, sometimes the seatpost may need to be removed.
We appreciate that with the vertical supports removed, the big bag collapses to a reasonable 52 x 14 x 11 inches, for easy storage. This is also handy on guided bike trips where some bike tour companies may refuse to carry non-collapsable bike boxes in their support vehicle between the start and end points of a trip.
"You get everything that the EVOC soft bag offers (high quality, functional design, lightweight, big wheels) at a great price, plus some nice extras (2 wheel protectors, drivetrain cover) that are thrown in. Also rolls up nicely for storage. A lot of pluses, and I haven't found a minus yet."
- Amazon Review
View More About the Speedhound Freedom Padded Bike Travel Case
Dakine Bike Roller Bag
Dakine has a reputation for creating the highest-quality, most ingenously well thought-out sport travel cases, and the Dakine Bike Roller Bag is no exception. This Dakine bag has plenty of room for downhill, trail, 29er, and roadbikes, and comes with internal padded bags for the wheels, fork, and read triangle. Rigid runners on the bottom of the bag keep the bag holding up well at the airport, and the urethane wheels make it easy to maneouver around the airport.
The Dakine bag has a slew of heavy-duty handles placed thoughtly around the bag, making it easy to place into your car, and also to allow the baggage handlers to keep a good grip on your bike and avoid drops on the tarmac. It's packability is another bonus, as this bag simply rolls up and clips together for easy storage at home and in the hotel room.
Buy the Dakine Bike Roller Bag on Amazon
BIKND Jetpack V2 Bike Travel Case
The BIKND Jetpack V2 Bike Travel Case is more expensive than some other bike bag options, but it does offer some unique features for ease of use as well as additional protection for your bike.
The BIKND features a lightweight strong aluminum base with an adjustable axle that fits bikes of multiple shapes and sizes, and also includes unique inflatable padding to keep your bike safe through transit. It's unique 360 degree opening allows you to access your bike from all sides making it easy to properly secure the bike inside the case. Best of all, the BIKND Jetpack V2 folds up nice and small for easy convenient storage when not in use.
A defining feature of the Jetpack V2 versus other similar bike bags is that the Jetpack's dimensions will fit triathlon bikes with integrated seatposts, something that may not be possible with bike bags that have different geometries.
BIKND Jetpack V2 Bike Travel Case
Thule Round Trip Sport Bike Travel Case
If looking for a high-end rigid bike travel case, you can't go wrong with the Thule Round Trip Sport Bike Travel Case. The rugged construction will keep your bike protected in all situations, including of the baggage handlers decide to lay your bike down on it's side and stack some suit cases on top of it. The case offers a divided interior that separates the wheels from the frame and components, keeping things well organized and in position.
When latched up, the Thule Round Trip is a big bulky box, but you will have the peace of mind knowing that your prized machine is well protected. It is a heavier box (nearly 40 pounds), so you will be carrying around a bulky package through the airport, but it does have wheels for relatively easy transporation. Be sure to note that the wheels are mounted that the bike box is pulled on it's wide end, not vertically. This offers superior stability, but can be little uncomfortable to drag through a busy airport.
Storage at home or at the hotel is something to consider before purchasing a hard-sided case such as the Thule Round Trip.
More Info About the Thule Round Trip Sport Bike Travel Case
Comments / Discussion / Questions
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