Salsa EXP Series Direct Mount Top Tube Bag

I had ordered a similar bag from another site that was not satisfactory. This one was the right size (my knees don't hit and my cell phone fits inside along with a few tools...) The zipper could be smoother but I suspect it will loosen up with time. And, to get the screws in, you have push down the bottom hard to get enough purchase for the screws. But, it's secure and useful.

I've been looking for a direct mount top tube bag for my gravel bike, and this seems to be the ticket. I have a relatively short effective top tube (53.2 cm), so with most bags, I'd be hitting the bag with my crotch when unclipping at a light. This bag still does this a little, but with the sharp slope at the front, it's doable. The other problem I've encountered is with direct mount bags, it seems most are designed for road bikes with steeper head tube angles. I had to return another bag as I couldn't get the holes to line up as the back of the stem was in the way. I was able to mount the Salsa bag without too much fuss, as there's some degree of adjustability with the holes in the bottom. This bag comes with two velcro straps....one for the head tube, and one I used on the small loop at the bag of the bag and wrapped it around the top tube. This setup makes one-handed opening a breeze - otherwise, not so much. It has a decent amount of storage for the size/shape, and the water repelllent zipper is a nice touch. The material strikes a nice balance of being lightweight, but relatively sturdy. There's some padding at the base, which will help with heavier items hitting the frame/making noise (particularly on metal bikes).

It was a little tricky mounting but once mounted it was easy to use. It held everything I needed for easy access. Even without a strap around the head tube it held tight and didn�t move.