Small frame bag for bike

August 14, 2023 6:02 PM

What is the smallest frame bag I can buy for my bike that will hold my iPhone 14 Pro Max? I don't like to take my phone with me when I ride, but require it to track my workouts. I do not want it to be accessible during the ride but do want it to be somewhat safe during a crash. What's the smallest frame bag I can buy that will serve this purpose?
posted by dobbs to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (15 answers total)

Response by poster: Waterproof would be a plus!
posted by dobbs at 6:03 PM on August 14, 2023

The whole category of bike saddle bags or bike seat bags might be for you, specifically the ones that hang under the rear of your saddle and behind the seat post. This Topeak model is an example, lots of manufacturers make this kind of thing in the $30-40 range to store tools, replacement tubes, and other small items.
posted by migurski at 6:28 PM on August 14, 2023

What sort of bike are you riding?
posted by pullayup at 6:51 PM on August 14, 2023

Use a handlebar bag. That way your phone is close at hand, and it will get less dirty and banged about than if it's in a seat/saddle bag. I have a Lead Out bag, and there are several companies making quality bags.

Frame bags, which I take to mean bags that fit within the diamond of your bike frame, will depend on your bike and frame size. There are also top tube bags, which strap around the top tube or use pre-existing braze-ons. Triathletes and others sometime refer to them as bento boxes.

Most any bag will likely keep your phone safe in a crash, assuming the bag is securely attached to the bike. For extra waterproofness, put the phone in a ziploc bag.

(Other good placement options are in a jersey or shorts pocket, or even in a backpack, so it's on your person.)
posted by computech_apolloniajames at 6:52 PM on August 14, 2023 [1 favorite]

Alternately get a small top tube bag. I have one that is roughly as long and wide as a cell phone but it is a lot thicker so that I can also store snacks and tools in it.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 6:54 PM on August 14, 2023

If the whole goal is to keep your phone safe, consider a camera bag--in my experience, they tend to be better padded than regular ol' frame bags. The downside to that is that, if the phone is running a ride-tracking program, it will heat up in there, especially in summer weather. Even though you said that you didn't need access to it during the ride, you might want to consider a bar mount; Topeak makes a case and bar mount combo (RideCase) with cases that fit most models of iPhones and flexible-size ones for other models, and you're extremely unlikely to damage it in a crash. I use that with solar panels that drape over my rear rack bag and a connecting cord wrapped around my top tube to keep my phone charged on long rides.
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:59 PM on August 14, 2023

Response by poster: Here's the bike. As you can see, I already have a frame bag (it looks frumpy in the photo because it's open on the opposite side). Though it's fine for when I want to carry things, it's way too big for just carrying my phone which is all I want to carry on my workout rides, which are the majority of my rides. I also think it catches too much wind; I suspect a bar bag would be worse in that regard.

Thanks for the answers so far.
posted by dobbs at 7:12 PM on August 14, 2023

It's hard to beat a saddle bag for someone like you who has a small amount to carry and doesn't need quick access to their phone. There are waterproof ones available, but since you say the majority of your rides are for workouts you're probably not riding in the rain that much. The only potential problem I can see is that it might not be compatible with your rollable mudguard (although maybe the mudguard could be mounted upside down?).

I've had the medium Topeak Wedge that's linked above for years and it's the perfect size for a phone, keys, spare tube or patch kit, and CO2 cartridge. It can expand to carry a bit more than that if needed. Everything stays clean and safe, even in the couple of minor crashes I've had. While it's only water resistant, that hasn't been an issue since I don't really need to use it in super-wet conditions. Also has a handy loop to attach a tail light. It worked perfectly fine for tracking workouts with my phone before I got a smartwatch.
posted by theory at 8:00 PM on August 14, 2023

Sweet ride! Love a well-ridden fixed gear. My solution for this is a nice stem bag, like this or this. I generally use mine for adult beverages on cruise-y weekend city rides, but a phone would slide right in and be easily accessible. (You can get generic versions on Amazon for cheap, but you get what you pay for.)
posted by flod at 8:47 PM on August 14, 2023

Bike Shop Girl just posted a review this month on phone bags and mounts. In the end, she really focused on mounts, but did recommend a Banjo Brothers phone bag. Looks like they have several to choose from.
posted by SoundInhabitant at 8:53 PM on August 14, 2023

I use a handlebar bag now, but before I got mine I just strapped a cellphone pocket (something like the reload celly holder) to my bike's headtube.
posted by btfreek at 9:24 PM on August 14, 2023 [1 favorite]

If you are set on a frame bag, maybe the Half-Frame Wedge Bag from Velo-Orange. I have several VO bags (including this one) and I'm generally quite happy with them. They are on the spendy side; you're paying for solid construction and because they're made in the US.
posted by egregious theorem at 10:12 PM on August 14, 2023

I use the hell out of my stem bag for carrying small things (phone and keys mostly, but also other random stuff). This one from Road Runner bags.
posted by mandymanwasregistered at 11:16 PM on August 14, 2023

If you find something that works for you really well but isn't waterproof, a solution is to put your phone in a ziplock bag. You can use the touchscreen through the bag.
posted by TORunner at 6:01 AM on August 15, 2023

Do you have access to a sewing machine? I made a water-resistant fleece-lined bag for exactly that, which attaches to the handlebar stem. Mine's a simplified version of this pattern from MYOG, I think, or maybe I got a similar pattern elsewhere.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:11 AM on August 15, 2023 [1 favorite]