Why a harness?

[dutchwheelz]

Hi, I'm new here, biker from Holland. Read a lot here on the forum, many cool stories and things to know about gear. I'm planning my first bikepackingtrip and I have a question about my gear. I bought an alpkit drybag which a wanna attach to the handlebars. Sleeping bag and alpkit hunka bivy will benin it. I thought about just strap the bag to the bars with two straps. Almost all of you make use of a harness. Whynis that? What are the advantages of using a harness over just strappingthe stuf to the bars?

[D45yth]

Hi, I think the main reasons some folk use a harness is to keep the bag away from the cables and to save anything from wearing a hole in it.  They're probably more secure too, although your Alpkit bag (if it's an XT model) may have loops for threading the straps through, a lot of other bags don't have those.
Give your current stuff a go and see how you get on.  If it looks like something is going wear through the bag, put a few layers of duct tape inbetween.

[Done]

Yep, that pretty much nails it: durability and security. If you can attach a bag to your bars without a sling, then go for it!

[bmike-vt]

also, easier to pack. unclip the bag, and setup.
in the morning, the harness is still on the bike.
clip in the bag, tighten down, and go.
no need to re-rig the bag.

[dutchwheelz]

Thanks for your advices! Gonna give it a try and see if I will buy / make a harness later.

[mtnbound]

Another point favoring a harness (at least the one I use, a Revelate one) - the harness attaches to the handlebars but also attaches to the stem, giving it more stability.  If it just attaches to the handlebars, you will likely get a lot of sway but the attachment to the stem eliminates that sway.

[Colorado Cool Breeze]

Welcome to the forum dutchwheelz.  I'm new myself.


I tried a harness and it crushed / interfered with my cables so I just strapped
a drybag on using the cables to keep it from flopping.

I haven't tried these bags on the trail yet. I just started converting this bike to a gear carrier.
I hope to have a trail report soon.

The drybag is a 10L and it holds my spare clothing and rain gear.



Adding a Jandd handlebar bag(the strap only model no handlebar bracket)



 and a Jpaks gastank and snackbag