Greatest Bike Handlebars for Touring & Bikepacking [2024]


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This can be a assessment of the most effective bike handlebars for bike touring 2024.

If you wish to take your bike on lengthy journeys, then you’ll want to select the correct bicycle handlebars. The entire ergonomics of your bike setup is determined by it.

Deciding on the correct handlebar is necessary as a result of it impacts your posture, steadiness, and luxury. In terms of bike touring there are a few bicycle handlebar kinds that work greatest.

Hold studying beneath to seek out out that are the most effective handlebars for touring in 2024. 

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How We Examined

The Bike Touring Handlebars on this assessment have been extensively evaluated and researched by the skilled writer who has a few years of expertise in Bike Touring and Bikepacking. Among the Handlebars had been bought by the writer for this assessment. Among the handlebars have been rigorously examined by the writer for greater than 30,000 miles of biking by means of greater than 20 international locations around the globe. The analysis, testing, and expertise of the writer have mixed to current this trustworthy and unbiased assessment. Learn the Overview Coverage for additional particulars.


Greatest Handlebars for Touring 2024

The Greatest Handlebars for Touring in 2024 are:

Greatest Bike Touring Handlebars

Butterfly Bars

Butterfly Bars are great bicycle touring handlebarsButterfly Bars are great bicycle touring handlebars

Professionals:
> With butterfly handlebars, you could have numerous choices on the place you place your palms
> Butterfly handlebars offer you a a lot better posture that reduces again ache
> Reasonably priced
Cons:
> Some cyclists battle to mount a entrance mild or a handlebar bag to the entrance of their bike.

Butterfly bars are generally additionally known as trekking bars. They’re seen as top-of-the-line handlebar choices for touring. In case you are on the lookout for bicycle handlebars for sitting upright then these are those for you.

I like utilizing butterfly bars as they provide me loads of hand positions, which permit me to unfold my arms whereas on a protracted biking journey. Which is a crucial characteristic in bicycle touring handlebars.

These bike-touring handlebars will give many cyclists a greater posture and the flexibility to alter hand positions over the course of a protracted day of using.

The draw back is they aren’t the most effective handlebars for tough technical sections. In case your bike tour takes you offroad rather a lot with single path or technical downhill sections then these will not be at their greatest. In case you are biking from Europe to Asia or From Alaska to Patagonia then these are an incredible selection.

General, these are a number of the greatest touring bicycle handlebars for long-distance bike touring.

Greatest Bikepacking Handlebars

Jones Bars

Jones Bars are great bikepacking handlebarsJones Bars are great bikepacking handlebars

Professionals:
> Nice handlebars for mounting a GPS pc, Handlebar baggage, and extra
> Nice management on technical trails
> The Jones Bars will provide you with loads of choices to alter up your grip when you are biking for lengthy durations.
Cons:
> Some cyclists really feel low and may’t get the handlebars excessive sufficient

Jones Bars permit you to change your physique and hand positions simply but they provide you a a lot better hand place when on tough technical sections of path.

The design of those handlebars is sort of easy with a 45-degree sweep, so you possibly can put your wrists in a pure place. 

With these handlebars, they’ve been designed for use with longer grips, which helps you together with your hand place choices. Because of their form and design, they’re nice for including mounts like Biking Computer systems, Bike Cellphone Mounts or Handlebar baggage however some baggage might have particular mounts.

The Jones bars are a favorite of bikepackers as a result of comfy design that enables a number of hand positions, but the palms are within the good place for technical single trails.

General, the Jones Bars are the most effective handlebars for bikepacking.

Price range Handlebars for Touring

Drop Bars

Drop BarsDrop Bars

Professionals:
> Drop Bars permit you to have a extra sporty trip place and cut back any drag chances are you’ll create with different handlebars
> Choices to make use of a number of completely different hand positions
> Light-weight
Cons:
> The decrease trip place just isn’t for everybody and palms should be within the decrease place when needing to brake
> Not excellent on filth roads or technical terrain

Drop Bars have lengthy been a preferred selection for touring bikes. This is because of these handlebars permitting you to crouch low and cut back any drag that you could have been build up.

Alongside that, the pure place these handlebars put you in permits you to enhance your velocity and change into far more environment friendly whereas using. 

These handlebars for bicycles are helpful when using into the wind, alongside lengthy flat areas or when using downhill.

With such a bar, you do have the choice for numerous hand positions, which lets you have far more comfy palms. However because the brake levers are solely in a single place you’re restricted together with your hand place when using on filth roads or technical terrain.

General, these are a number of the greatest handlebars for street bikes. In the event you on the lookout for bike touring handlebars to trip throughout the nation or continent and you’re totally on good roads then these are an incredible possibility.

Flat Handlebars for Touring Bikes

Flat Bars

Flat Bars for mountain bikesFlat Bars for mountain bikes

Professionals:
> Wider than most different handlebars
> Upright place which relieves strain off your again, neck, and arms
> Nice entry to your brakes
Cons:
> You’re restricted to just one hand place with these handlebars until you add bar ends

Flat Bars are usually seen on numerous mountain bikes, but you possibly can add them to your touring bike as properly. Flat handlebars are comfy handlebars to make use of however as a result of restricted hand positions, virtually everybody will need to add some bar ends or use handgrips with bar ends.

One large benefit of those handlebars is your hand place is all the time on the handgrips and in attain of the brakes. So these are nice for technical terrain and filth roads, particularly when going downhill.

Flat bars are a lot wider than another handlebars I’ve talked about on this article. However not many individuals know they are often reduce so they aren’t as vast as most flat handlebars. Most have measurements on the bars to permit you to reduce them.

General, these are good handlebars for bike touring however most cyclists, myself included, want so as to add bar ends in any other case these bars are restricted to just one using place which isn’t so good on these lengthy using days.

Different Handlebars for Touring

Moustache Bars

Mustache BarsMustache Bars

Professionals:
> Moustache handlebars give you good braking management
> Light-weight
> A number of completely different hand positions
Cons:
> Moustache bars are recognized to do properly going downhill, however a number of clients have famous that they’ll battle going uphill and require much more effort to be put in

The Moustache Bars have grown in recognition lately. Their uncommon form can generally put individuals off these bars. But, you could have good braking management with moustache handlebars and the choice of a few completely different using positions.

Alongside additionally places you in a extra upright place, which relieves stress from sure areas of your physique on lengthy biking journeys.

Moustache handlebars have nice management going downhill, and so they work properly on flat surfaces. They’re usually fairly light-weight, and usually very reasonably priced relying on the model. They share rather a lot in widespread with bullhorn handlebars.


Testing swept back comfortable bicycle handlebarsTesting swept back comfortable bicycle handlebars
Flat Bars and luxury bars normally work greatest with bar ends to make them extra comfy

Bicycle Handlebar Comparability Desk



Consolation

Handlebars for bicycles are available in many styles and sizes. Some are designed to suit into particular bikes, whereas others are designed to go well with any bike. In the event you swap your handlebars chances are you’ll want to alter the stem to regulate to a special approach of handlebar top.

The kind of handlebars you select will rely in your private choice. For instance, when you choose a slender look, you then may go for skinny bars.

It is best to take consolation under consideration when selecting handlebars. Strive them in your bike first, and see which of them you are feeling most comfy with.

In terms of touring, you’re going to be in your bike for a protracted time period, so you could have handlebars that provide the possibility to modify up your hand place. This may then additionally permit you to change into extra comfy whereas using.


Relaxed Using Place

A extra upright place for lengthy excursions is a more sensible choice as it’ll relieve anti-stress out of your again and neck, which might trigger backache over time. I’ve an previous neck and again damage so I’m very biased in the direction of a relaxed using place. However the relaxed using place brings with it some challenges.

The extra upright, relaxed using place affords much less stress in your neck and again however it will increase the load in your butt. This makes it tremendous necessary to have top-of-the-line Bike Seats for Touring. However generally that isn’t sufficient. A Suspension Seat Publish can help rather a lot with consolation, particularly in case your handlebars have you ever using in a relaxed upright place.


Sporty Using Place

Some handlebars may have you using in a decrease physique place, generally known as a sporty using place. This place will permit for higher aerodynamics and can take strain off your butt as there will probably be barely extra strain in your palms. When biking right into a headwind you may be grateful when using like this. For some individuals, it may be painful to trip on this place for hours on finish.


Posture

The handlebars you select will have an effect on your posture. The posture that the handlebars you choose put you in will affect how comfy you discover using your bike for lengthy durations. Due to this fact, the posture of the handlebars is one thing to contemplate as properly. 

As you may be using for thus lengthy, you’ll want to take into consideration any strategy to make you as comfy as doable. 


Fashion

Handlebars are available in many kinds, shapes, and designs. It’s necessary to pick a design that fits your persona. Do you want a conventional look?

Then possibly you’d choose a classic-looking pair of handlebars. Or maybe you’d reasonably go for one thing a bit edgy? Maybe you’d choose a contemporary look? 

No matter your fashion, there’s certain to be a pair of handlebars on the market that matches your wants. Though, generally practicality outweighs fashion. Attempt to discover a steadiness, of a method you want that can nonetheless offer you nice advantages. 


Mounting Equipment

Virtually everybody who’s cycle touring or bikepacking will need to mount equipment on the handlebars.

All of us use some type of Handlebar Bag when touring and bikepacking. All of the handlebars on this assessment will accommodate them very properly.

These days virtually everybody makes use of some type of GPS Bike Laptop to document places and get instructions. Others could use their smartphone and a Biking App. You’ll need to mount them in your handlebars.

Mounting a bike mild on the handlebars is an efficient possibility for many individuals, though I have to admit that I’ve by no means accomplished it.

Some individuals, myself included are sturdy advocates for utilizing a rearview mirror when bike touring. You’ll need to mount them on the handlebars or the bar ends relying on what kind of handlebars you’re utilizing.

General, take into accout simply what number of equipment you may be mounting in your handlebars as all of them take up a little bit of room.

Using Bicycle Flat Bars and Swept back barsUsing Bicycle Flat Bars and Swept back bars
Testing Flat Handlebars and raised consolation bars whereas touring in Europe

Worth

You might suppose that it is smart to spend a bit more cash on good high quality handlebars, however you shouldn’t all the time pay further simply since you need the most effective. It’s typically higher to save lots of up a bit of money and purchase cheaper handlebars. 

In any case, you gained’t be capable of inform a lot distinction between low cost and costly handlebars. Positive, some handlebars are produced from greater high quality supplies than others, however you’ll nonetheless be capable of trip comfortably it doesn’t matter what you select.

After all, when you do determine to splash out a bit more cash, then you must just be sure you get the correct measurement and form to your bike. Don’t purchase too large or small, and attempt to keep away from getting handlebars which are too vast or too skinny. 

They could look nice on paper, however they might trigger issues when you begin using. Because of this you will need to all the time do your analysis relating to shopping for something to your touring bike.

You need to get it proper the primary time, so that you don’t waste any cash

Best Handlebars For TouringBest Handlebars For Touring
Flat bars for MTB, Bikepacking and Bike Touring

Conclusion

The Greatest Bike Touring Handlebars in 2024 are:


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Regularly Requested Questions

When Swapping Handlebars Is There Something To Be Conscious Of?

When altering your handlebars on any bike, you want to pay attention to the stem and handlebar clamp. These two issues have to match in diameter.

The commonest and normal measurement is 25.4 mm. You want to be sure that these two parts are suitable for each other, in any other case you could have points altering your handlebars over.

What Is The Most Essential Factor To Look For In Handlebars In Touring?

Consolation is essentially the most important factor relating to touring. It is because you may be spending prolonged durations of time in your bike, so that you need to be as comfy as doable.

Thus, your handlebars have to most significantly offer you consolation, so that you simply don’t dread getting again in your again every single day. Consolation can come from padding, hand positions or the sitting place the handlebars offer you. 

Every fashion of handlebar is completely different and may meet your wants in numerous methods. So, path completely different kinds to see which one you discover essentially the most comfy. 

Ought to You Be Ready To Mount Issues Onto Your Handlebars?

It should make life simpler when you can mount issues to your handlebars, because it offers you extra room. Additionally, by with the ability to mount issues onto your handlebars, you’ll be able to disturb your weight much more simply. 

Not all kinds of handlebars permit you to do that, so that is one thing you’ll want to verify. Most kinds of handlebars will permit you to mount onto them, but some kinds just like the moustache bars could also be extra tough.

Are Butterfly Bars or Trekking Bars any good?

Butterfly bars are generally often known as Trekking bars and are a favorite amongst bike tourers around the globe cyclists. They provide a number of hand positions to permit the palms to not be pressured into being in a single place when spending lengthy days biking.


Best Handlebars for Touring and BikepackingBest Handlebars for Touring and Bikepacking

BikeHikeSafari Gear Overview Course of

The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small unbiased adventurer and outside gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.

BikeHikeSafari just isn’t half of a giant weblog community and is proudly unbiased. All critiques on this website are unbiased and trustworthy gear critiques of outside merchandise by the writer.

The writer, Brad McCartney is a really skilled triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Learn extra). He was a supervisor of an outside retail retailer and may be very skilled in what’s necessary when utilizing and testing gear for critiques like this.

BikeHikeSafari won’t ever obtain any cash for critiques and they don’t settle for sponsored critiques on this web site. All of the feedback concerning the gear critiques are from the writer based mostly on his years of expertise. Hope this unbiased assessment was useful for you.

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