Group test: Brompton commuter bags
Bromptons work best for everyday urban journeys such as the station-to-office commute. Luggage is a given in such situations, and a dedicated Brompton front bag is the best way to carry it. You won’t sweat or ache like you might with a backpack, and having the weight over the front wheel helps stabilise the low-trail steering.
Brompton front bags clip onto the head-tube-mounted Front Carrier Block (£19) that most models are sold with. This is rated for loads up to 10kg. While it will carry more – I once hauled 35kg of tiles – doing so is very much at your own risk.
Brompton’s Front Carrier Block can also be fitted to other small-wheelers with the matching head-tube mount, such as Circe’s Helios tandem.
Bromptons are sometimes used for touring, which may require more carrying capacity in the form of additional bags or a larger front bag. The focus of this review, however, is transport cycling and business trips.
I packed each bag with: my 16in laptop, other electronics, a rain cape, tools, snacks, plus a wash-bag and extra clothing for overnight trips. I also used the bags for shopping, trips to the pool and so on.
Brompton Metro Waterproof Bag Large
Price: £190
Capacity: 20L
Size: 43W×30H×13D
Weight: 1.34kg
Colour: Black
Available from: Brompton
Reminiscent of the discontinued Ortlieb O Bag, this waterproof nylon and TPU bag has a front flap secured by adjustable hook-and-loop fastenings. Its 20-litre capacity is divided up nicely.
There are two useful roll-top pockets on the back, each much bigger than a 750ml bottle, plus a thin pocket in the flap fastened by a weatherproof but not waterproof) zip.
Inside it’s just one big compartment, other than a zipped mesh pocket for a 14in laptop. Mine was too big but fitted fine inside its own neoprene cover.
The shoulder strap can’t be removed but can be cinched effectively.
Verdict: A practical day or multi-day bag with Ortlieb-style simplicity and quality
Carradice Stockport Brompton Folder
Price: £199.90
Capacity: 16L
Size: 39W×32H×12D
Weight: 2.02kg
Colours: Green, black, herringbone tweed (+£20)
Available from: Carradice
Carradice’s bag is made from waterproof and probably bombproof cotton duck, with metal buckles and leather straps. Many cyclists will appreciate leather’s old-school style and durability; vegans like me will buy a different bag.
The Stockport is a flap-fronted satchel with one main compartment, a removable laptop pouch big enough for my MacBook, and two thin, zipped pockets in the front: one external (for tools?) and one internal (phone?).
The bag is £149.95 but you’ll also need the £49.95 small-sized Brompton Front Carrier Frame if you don’t have one.
Verdict: Cotton duck and leather luggage that’s sized just right for commuting
Restrap City Loader
Price: £179.99
Capacity: 20L
Size: 35W×~35H×15D
Weight: 1.26kg
Colours: Black, navy, green
Available from: Restrap
Restrap’s bag doesn’t use a carrier frame; it has a mount on the reinforced back and a U-shaped stiffener inside.
There’s one compartment inside, which has no pockets but does have nine dome-shaped projections around fixing bolts, mandating a padded laptop cover. On the outside there are two mesh side pockets that will hold bidons, a small front pocket (tools?) and a slot for a D-lock.
The roll-top closure keeps out even sideways rain, and its adjustable, Fidlock strap can be used to stash a jacket externally. My 16in laptop just fitted inside but bulged into the side pocket space.
Verdict: Nice details and it adjusts well to load sizes. Suits mid-sized laptops better
Vincita Birch 2.0
Price: £139.90
Capacity: 25L
Size: 42W×31H×20D
Weight:1.90kg
Colours: Black, grey, light brown
Available from: Vincita
Vincita is a Bangkok-based manufacturer with a wide range of Brompton bags, sold in the UK via Amazon. You can buy direct but it’s slightly dearer.
The Birch 2.0 is the biggest and cheapest bag here, with by far the most pockets: two front and two rear, one of which will hold a bottle, and another in the lid. Inside there’s a well-padded laptop pouch and a removable organiser with even more compartments.
Systematic packers will love this. Minimalist me found it faffy; I preferred the Metro for multi-day trips. The Birch 2.0 is only showerproof but does come with a rain cover.
Verdict: Good value, well made and hyper organisable – but not rainproof without its cover
Overall verdict
These are all pleasingly well-made bags. None is cheap but then nor are Bromptons.
The Vincita Birch 2.0 takes what I think of as the US approach to cycle luggage, with pockets for everything so you can organise to your heart’s content. I’d rather have fewer, bigger pockets, however, and would always pick waterproof construction over a rain cover.
The Carradice Stockport is a big-laptop-compatible commuting satchel that should last for decades. I would only buy an animal-friendly version with recycled fire hose instead of leather (an option for some of Carradice’s other bags) but traditionalists will love it.
The Restrap City Loader is a fully featured, load-size-adjustable bag that’s equally suitable for commuting or touring. It’s slightly too narrow for my magazine journalist’s laptop but will be fine for smaller ones, once you add a padded cover.
My favourite overall is the Brompton Metro Waterproof Bag Large. It’s simple and sturdy, with two capacious rear pockets, a main compartment big enough for both multiday trips and large laptops, and a comfy shoulder strap that you can’t lose.
First published in Cycle magazine, June/July 2025 issue. All information correct at time of publishing.
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How to choose the best Brompton commuter bag
Capacity
These bags range in size from 16 to 25 litres. Total volume isn’t the whole story, however. Shape (width, depth and height, which I’ve listed in centimetres in the reviews) matters for some loads, while other contents might require external pockets and/or internal dividers. Do you have specific items to carry? My 16in laptop is a deal breaker, for example.
Weather resistance
It’s easier to avoid downpours on a folder as you can take it in a taxi or on a bus. But if you ride often enough in the UK, you will get wet. The bag needs to be waterproof enough to keep vulnerable contents (laptop!) dry. A rain cover can work but bags that are inherently waterproof are more reliable. Rolltops keep rain out best.
Durability
Apart from wear and tear while riding, a Brompton bag will be stashed in luggage racks and stood on station platforms. Durability is, if anything, even more important than with touring panniers. Both Carradice and Restrap offer lifetime warranties.
Features
A carry handle is essential, a shoulder strap useful. All four bags have both. Take care to remove or cinch the shoulder strap while riding, so it can’t dangle onto the front wheel. Reflective details are useful at night, while adjustable straps accommodate smaller and larger loads better.
