The Ornot Ecopak follows the standard barrel-shaped bar bag format, but for this updated design Ornot has introduced a raft of new details and moved to a greener material for its construction.
In practice, it all comes together very well. With a spacious three-litre main compartment and a zippered pocket, it's a handy compact companion for gravel riding and bikepacking trips.
However, it'll get damp in rainy UK conditions and delivery if you're not in the US makes it a costly bikepacking bag option.
Ornot Ecopak details and performance
At the heart of the Ecopak bar bag’s 22cm-long, 13cm-diameter cylindrical shape is a large three-litre main compartment.
The front face of the inside has a zippered pocket for cards and a short lanyard key clip. Aside from that, the compartment is simple and makes the most of the bag’s dimensions.
The zipper for the main compartment extends halfway down the left side of the bag, which makes it a lot easier to access the bag and reach contents at the bottom without having to remove what’s above.
The bag has a semi-rigid insert sewn into it, so even if you load it up with lots of weight, it doesn’t deform or sag.
The Ecopak bag weighs 261g and is impressively rigid for such a lightweight bag.
The outer material is a water-repellent recycled polyester, which is also treated to a PFC (perfluorochemical) free DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating.
It’s a robust material that has stood up to scrapes and brambles without pulling or tearing.
On a few soggy outings, the multi-layer construction kept the contents of the bag dry, though I would like a fully waterproof zipper rather than the YKK design used.
It never leaked, but gets rather damp in prolonged downpours, so it’s easy to imagine water would sneak through eventually.
The outer has twin stretch cargo pockets on the rear, which are ideal for storing energy gels. The front of the bag has another large stretch cargo pocket, which is large enough for a banana.
On the right side, there’s a generous structured pocket with an elastic retaining strap and hook that’ll secure a phone safely.
It’s a great addition and kept my phone safe and secure even when bouncing along on rutted trails.
The fitment to your handlebar takes the form of two Voile straps and a shock cord to add stability.
The straps have multi-position slots, so you can set them at four or six inches.
It’s a smart touch that enabled me to fit the bag to both mechanical-drivetrain bikes with external cable routing and bikes with electronic groupsets and internal routing, without interfering with the cables or brake hoses.
The Ecopak is available in black, white and Coyote (as tested).
The only downside for those of us outside of the USA is that though the bag is priced similarly to some premium alternatives at $86 / £69, when you add in the £28 shipping to the UK, it becomes quite an expensive option.
By comparison, Silca’s new Grinta bar bag is $95 (£TBC), Restrap’s compact Canister is £50, Apidura’s two-litre handlebar bag is £70 and Wizard Works' Lil Presto barrel bag is £58.
Ornot Ecopak bottom line
On the face of it, it’s not that difficult to get handlebar bags right and there are plenty of good options out there from the likes of Wizard Works, Altura, Restrap and others.
Ornot’s clever details, eco credentials and compact size – but generous carrying capacity – however, have made this a firm favourite for my handlebar for big days out. It has become a fixture on my gravel bike.
Product
| Brand | ornot |
| Price | 69.00 GBP,86.00 USD |
| Weight | 261.0000, GRAM () - |
Features
| br_capacity | 3.0000 |
| br_capacity | LITER |
| Features | Size: 22cm long, 13cm diameter cylindrical shape |
