I have been lucky enough to have been in the cycling and bikepacking industry for a long time. I have tried most brands, from Amazon specials to top-end Apidura and Restrap. I have always wanted an Apidura full frame bag and a few months ago I decided to take the plunge and buy one.

Recently, I got asked by some of my amazing followers if it was worth the money. So, instead of a simple yes or no answer, I decided to do a full review on the website. In this article, I am going to be discussing the Apidura full frame bag and telling you my thoughts by discussing:

• Who Are Apidura?
• Apidura Full Frame Bag Comprehensive Review
• Apidura Full Frame Bag Pros And Cons
• Apidura Full Frame Bag Robbie’s Rating

Who Are Apidura?

Apidura was founded in 2013. They are one of the biggest manufacturers of bikepacking and ultra cycling equipment. They are known for having a wide range of products but also their high quality and inventive solutions to problems bikepackers need help with.

Apidura was one of the first companies to market when bikepacking equipment became popular, and they set the standard for many other brands. I have always wanted to use Apidura, but only in the past few years have I invested in their products.

Many top riders who lead races use Apidura, and not only is it proven to work well, but it’s also proven to be some of the best equipment for ultra cycling and bikepacking competitively. If you want top-quality and innovative design, you should always consider Apidura.

Apidura Full Frame Bag Comprehensive Review

Now, for my review, before we start, I will say this bag was not given to me. I purchased at full price and do not have a relationship with Apidura. To discuss this bag further, let’s break it down. 

Quality

Let’s start with quality, and honestly, I am really impressed. The material feels really nice and strong, and they offer a solid warranty. You can tell they are using premium materials, although flexible, it has never felt flimsy.

I wanted to test the waterproofing of the bag, so as it wasn’t raining, I took the hose to it, and it’s very waterproof. The zip felt a little tight to start with, but nothing a small drop of oil didn’t fix so I could open it while riding.

The straps are good quality, and you have two different types on the bike. The material supports straps on the top and the adjustable rope straps on the bottom. I had no issues with them, and although I haven’t protected the frame fully, it doesn’t seem to scratch it.

Fit

When it comes to full frame bags the fit has to be right. If not, you are just going to have an awful time, and the bike isn’t going to look right. The Apidura full frame bag comes in 6l, 7.5l, 12l, and 14l.

Unfortunately, my bike fell just under the 12-liter size, and I had to go for a bag I knew would be a little bit bigger than I wanted it to be. It was very adjustable, and I got it to fit nicely. I found it sits much better with the hydration bladder at the bottom.

I do think it’s important to mention if you are buying an off the shelf full frame bag ensure the sizing is very close or perfect. Mine fits on the Yoeleo G21, but it wouldn’t have been ideal if it was any bigger and might have caused issues. 

Structure

The structure of the bag is quite interesting. On the surface, it just looks like a frame bag, but there are a few hidden features that I didn’t pick up on until I got the bag delivered. You have the small passport and important documents pouch on the left-hand side for important goods.

The next thing to mention is the double zip, so you can access multiple parts of the bag easily. This is handy with a hydration bladder and if you use it as your main storage. Finally, you have a small opening for a bladder tube or cables. 

For me, the attention to detail, just adding a few extra features, made this bag better than others I have used. Full frame bags are not easy to get right and the little details count in my opinion.

Useability

I found the Apidura full frame bag very usable. There’s always a risk with full frame bags that although they look great and seem like a perfect solution they can just be awful at hitting the knees and bugling out even to as far as the pedals.

Even though I had a bag that was a little too big for my bike, I was quite happy to ride with it, and it didn’t hit my knees or cause me any issues. I will say that sometimes, if I packed too much, it scraped my knee occasionally, but it wasn’t annoying.

As mentioned before, if you plan to use a hydration bladder from Apidura, you will find the frame bag even better. For some reason, the 3-liter bladder in the bottom helped shape the bag and made it so much better. 

Looks

I am a big fan of Apidura products, especially the race series. I would have bought this bag years ago, if I’m honest, if they did it in the matt black like they do with some of their other bags. The gray is ok, but personally, it’s not 100% what I would like on my bike. 

I think if they offered it in black, it would have looked much cooler and might have attracted more people. Apidura does favor a gray bag though and it surprised me you couldn’t get the big full frame bags in any other color. 

The branding is cool. I like the logo, and in the dark, it does have some elements that are going to help you stand out. Safety at nighttime is something I worry about when on bikepacking adventures and when ultra cycling.

Cost

Coming in at around £150 ($190), they are definitely on the top end when it comes to off-the-shelf bikepacking bags, and alongside a bladder, my order was over £200 ($250). It wasn’t cheap, but it’s important to understand you’re investing in a bag that will last years and years.

I have always said that with bikepacking gear, you get what you pay for, and although it’s not cheap, it’s worth the money. The quality is there, and yes, it’s a big outlay. Still, I can see myself using the bag for many adventures and, hopefully, on many of my other bikes. 

Apidura Full Frame Bag Pros And Cons

Pros

• High-Quality Materials
• Multiple Sizes
• You Can Buy Bladders To Match
• Very Waterproof
• Easy to Install
• Lots Of Great Little Features

Cons

• Not The Cheapest
• Do Need To Ensure A Good Fit
• Would Love Another Color To Choose From

Apidura Full Frame Bag Robbie’s Thoughts

The Apidura full frame bag is really good. If I’m honest, I wish I would have bought one ages ago. Yeah, it’s not cheap, but the quality is there, it works well, and for my upcoming bikepacking and ultra cycling events, it will be so beneficial. 

It’s a good product in my eyes, and I can see myself buying more from Apidura in the future. I already have the long-top tube bag and the hydration bladder. Maybe a saddlebag next. Thanks for reading!

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