Waterproof bike bags: what it costs in weight and price
276 of the 457 bike bags in our catalog are sold as waterproof. In every position we checked, the waterproof bags cost more per bag. Per litre, they weigh about the same or less, and on the handlebar and the saddle they cost no more. Waterproofing adds a clear cost per litre on frame and top tube bags, and a smaller one on rear panniers.
We count a bag as waterproof only when the brand says it is. A bag described as water-resistant or water-repellent counts as not waterproof.
Same position, with and without
| Position | Waterproof / not | Median price | Median volume | Median price per litre | Median grams per litre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handlebar | 63 / 28 | $120 vs $69.47 | 7 L vs 3.65 L | $19.50 vs $19.60 | 56 vs 105 |
| Saddle | 49 / 24 | $163 vs $52 | 7 L vs 1.23 L | $22.17 vs $38.82 | 54.67 vs 123.31 |
| Frame | 45 / 49 | $167 vs $99 | 3.3 L vs 3 L | $43.75 vs $36.35 | 58.33 vs 61 |
| Top tube | 28 / 27 | $84 vs $59 | 1 L vs 1 L | $80 vs $55 | 119.75 vs 124.44 |
| Rear rack | 71 / 49 | $180 vs $125 | 20 L vs 17.5 L | $8.05 vs $6.63 | 52 vs 52.38 |
Prices only include bags with a US list price.
On the handlebar and the saddle, the comparison is skewed by size. The waterproof bags there are much larger: 7 litres at the median, against 3.65 litres for handlebar bags and 1.23 litres for saddle bags that are not waterproof. Across all bike bags, bigger bags cost less and weigh less per litre: bags under 2 litres weigh 120.56 g per litre at the median, bags of 10 to 20 litres 48.18 g. So those two rows tell you more about size than about waterproofing.
Frame and top tube bags are a fairer test, because the waterproof and other bags have about the same median volume. There, waterproofing adds $68 to the median frame bag and $25 to the median top tube bag, with no real change in weight per litre. Rear rack bags are close in size too: the waterproof ones cost $55 more at the median and weigh the same per litre.
How waterproof bags close
153 of the 276 waterproof bags close with a roll-top. Among the 181 bags that are not waterproof, 9 do. The rest of the waterproof bags open with a panel (25), a top opening (44), or have no opening type recorded (54). So a roll-top bike bag in our catalog is very likely sold as waterproof.
Brands
Ortlieb (52 of 53) and Apidura (56 of 61) make almost only waterproof bike bags, and most of Restrap’s (30 of 38) and Zefal’s (14 of 19) are too. Others make none in our catalog: Oveja Negra (0 of 14) and Two Wheel Gear (0 of 16). Banjo Brothers has 5 of 25 and Topeak 11 of 35.
Light waterproof bags
The lightest waterproof bags per litre, among those of 10 litres or more:
| Bag | Position | Volume | Weight | Grams per litre |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revelate Designs Rohn Rack Bag | Rear rack | 37 L | 0.32 kg | 8.65 |
| Tailfin Bar Cage Bag Large | Handlebar | 15 L | 0.285 kg | 19 |
| Tailfin Bar Cage Bag Medium | Handlebar | 11 L | 0.255 kg | 23.18 |
| Roswheel Off-Road Handlebar Bag Large | Handlebar | 15 L | 0.36 kg | 24 |
| Apidura Backcountry Handlebar Pack 11L | Handlebar | 11 L | 0.27 kg | 24.55 |
Cheap waterproof panniers
For a rear rack, the waterproof bags that cost least per litre:
| Bag | As sold | Price | Per litre |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roswheel Tour Pannier Large | pair, 40 L | $140 | $3.50 |
| Ortlieb Back-Roller XL | pair, 70 L | $275 | $3.93 |
| Banjo Brothers Waterproof Cycling Pannier | 16.4 L | $64.99 | $3.96 |
| Ortlieb Back-Roller Core | 20 L | $90 | $4.50 |
The full ranking is in the waterproof rear panniers guide. For bags that need no rack, see the handlebar bags and saddle bags for bikepacking guides. 23 of the 25 saddle bags of 8 litres or more are waterproof. The bike bags list has a waterproof filter, and the bike fit tool narrows it to what your bike can carry. If you ride with a backpack instead, see water-resistant backpacks for cycling.
How we counted
Waterproof is what the brand states on its product page, checked in October 2026. We did not test any bag. Prices are US list prices; 268 of our 457 bike bags have one. Volume and weight are per bag; for a pair, price per litre divides the pair’s price by twice the per-bag volume.