I’ve been rocking my trusty Camelbak M.U.L.E. hydration pack for years now, and honestly, it’s been solid. It carries all the essentials with enough room to toss in a rain jacket or whatever else the day calls for. But it wasn’t until a trip out to Idaho—linking up with some grizzled MTB vets—that I got turned on to the idea of a frame bag. Intrigued, I picked up the large version from Fernhill. Here’s why I made the switch and how it held up on the trail.
Why Consider a MTB Frame Bag
You’re probably thinking, “Why the heck do I need another bag on my bike?” It’s not like I’m turning into some hardcore bikepacking nomad. I’m just out here for day rides, having fun. But here’s the deal—your repair kit (multi-tool, tire levers, a Gerber, even an extra tube) adds up fast. All that stuff ends up adding weight to your back when it doesn’t have to.
Bike Tubes Are UV-Chickens
If you’re like us, you ride a lot in the sun. What didn’t I realize until recently? Inner tubes aren’t built to handle UV rays. To free up space in my pack, I started strapping mine to the frame. Bad idea. Turns out, they break down fast—we’re talking brittle rubber in no time. Whether it was the sun baking them, dirt grinding against the rubber, or both… they went bad way quicker than I expected.
In Comes the Fernhill MTB Frame Bag
The Verdict
The Fernhill MTB Frame Bag is a solid, no-frills option that gets the job done. It’s water-resistant, built to last, and while it costs a bit more than others out there, you can tell real thought went into the design—and yeah, it’s made right here in the U.S. If you’re looking to ditch some weight off your back and ride with more freedom, this is a great way to do it.
What I Like About It
Placebo or not, getting some of the heavier stuff off my back and onto the bike made the ride feel way easier. And installing the Fernhill bag? Much simpler than I expected. Thanks to the extra Velcro straps and a ton of mounting options, it was super easy to lock it onto both the top and down tubes of my full-suspension rig—no jiggling, no shifting. The small version has just the right amount of space for a full repair kit: multi-tool, tire levers, a Gerber, CO2 cartridge and/or an extra tube.
Cons
The large Fernhill LTL MTB Frame Bag fits perfectly on both my Norco Fluid and my new Trek Fuel EX. I do wish it was a bit bigger, but thanks to the Trek’s frame design, a larger version would block all access to the built-in storage compartment—so this size it is.
Its simple design lets you choose what to stash. But if it’s not fully packed, the tool rattle is something you’ll have to get used to (I did).
As much as I’d love to ditch the backpack completely, I just can’t part with my hydration bladder. That said, I’m officially a convert when it comes to frame bags for all my repair gear. Now, my pack’s just for water and the longer-haul stuff—like a rain jacket or snacks.
Alex, glad to see you’re lighting your load with the LTL frame bag! A rubber band around your tools will help with the rattle. Or I’ll stuff my tools and gear into a goggle bag. My hot tip: if the bag is packed with a tube and other bits, there won’t be room for stuff to bounce around. I’ve taken to packing a TPU tube to have more space for levers, tire plugs, and a multi-tool.