Apidura Expedition Stem Pack: Reshaping Cockpit Carry

In the world of bikepacking, every cubic inch of storage matters, and accessibility can make or break your riding experience. After countless kilometres with traditional food pouches bouncing on my handlebars, I was intrigued by the new Expedition Stem Pack by Apidura. This tapered, waterproof pack had me curious: could its non-traditional shape improve my experience, or was it just another nice-looking gimmick in the ever-expanding lineup of cycling accessories?

Squaring the Circle: A Solution for a Non-Existent Problem?

The classic cylindrical food pouch has been a staple for years—a trusty stem-handlebar mounted bag where your energy bars, occasional emergency candy bar, headphones and basic tools can live within arm's reach. But as bikepacking has evolved, so have our storage needs. Many of us found ourselves stuffing phones, spare gloves, or other decidedly non-food items into these pouches.

Apidura reimagines the handlebar bag, aiming at the shortcomings of traditional food pouches with their 1.3L Expedition Stem Pack. Its waterproof welded construction and magnetic closure system seem perfect for those who need quick access to more than just snacks. It's impossible not to notice the departure from the typical cylindrical shape. The Expedition Stem Pack features a subtle taper designed to prevent knee contact during those out-of-saddle efforts when you're grinding up steep terrain, preferring an orthogonal shape that better resembles the shapes of the smartphone that is now an integrated part of everyone's life. As someone who has never experienced the annoying thigh rub of traditional stem bags during hard climbing efforts, I can't relate, but for smaller frames/riders, this should be a plus on the list. Could this pack be the answer to the eternal problem: Where to safely put the phone while bombing down a gravel descent? I was determined to find out.

Shape, Straps & Setup

Billed as a jack-of-all-trades ready for any perch from bars to racks and baskets, I ignored the hype and put this hauler-of-snacks-and-other-things where a stem bag truly belongs: on the stem. After all, the raison d'être of such a pouch is rapid, one-handed access to snacks, phone or sunglasses – a function best served in this simple cockpit configuration.

As with many other food pouches, the Expedition Stem Pack has a velcro strap system with a three-point mounting option on the bike. Nothing new here: you get the standard configuration designed to provide stability—two straps looping the handlebar, another embracing the stem, and a third stabilizer strap reaching down towards the fork crown or head tube to mitigate sway. The straps are of good quality, as you would expect in a bag for $78 USD; however, they are not as refined as some Tailfin attaching loops, though. That said, the Apidura's system is far from deficient; it holds the bag firmly in place with minimal fuss and performs its duty reliably, keeping essentials accessible right where you need them, even if it doesn't reinvent the wheel. Another feature I loved is the magnetic closure. A Fidlock snap system that allows one-handed operation, without the need to fumble with drawstrings or fidget with zippers while trying to maintain control of your bike on technical terrain.

Apidura's reputation for bombproof gear is immediately evident in this stem bag's construction. All Expedition series of bags use their proprietary trilaminate fabric with a cross-woven core—impressively robust yet a mere 120g. This material isn't just water-resistant; combined with welded seams and the roll-top closure, the entire bag is genuinely waterproof. A critical feature for protecting electronics or preventing snacks from becoming soggy surprises during a downpour.

Internally, the design is elegant and simple: a single main compartment maximizes usable space. A yellow inner liner makes items inside easier to find. The roll-top closure guarantees waterproofness when correctly rolled and allows you to adjust the bag's volume, expanding to swallow a bulky wind jacket one moment, then compressing snugly around your phone or a rectangularly shaped piece of fügassa.

Aesthetically, Apidura typically opts for purposeful, muted colour schemes, punctuated only by the distinctive flash of yellow brand identity. While this functional approach might not scream for attention like some louder, brighter offerings on the market, the result is a clean, technical appearance that integrates seamlessly, avoiding clashes with most bike setups or gear from other brands.

From Gravel to Granita

If a food pouch comfortably fits an egg, why shouldn't a tapered pouch fit a wrap?
Jokes aside, it's a common bikepacking riddle: where do you stash your phone for both protection and instant access to snap a photo? I've never really had any problems using a cylinder food pouch, but I've never tried to stuff my 6” phone in one. My phone was always in my cargo bibs or secured in my old-school fanny pack when travelling. For ages, I've relied on cargo bib pockets for instant phone access—incredibly convenient, yes, but leaving my expensive device vulnerable to grit, sweat, or severe damage from an unexpected tumble. The alternative? Burying it safely in a waist pack, which turns capturing a fleeting moment into a frustratingly slow, sometimes precarious, multi-step process.

The Apidura Expedition Stem Pack offers vastly superior protection from the elements and trail dust compared to an exposed bib pocket, combined with genuine one-handed accessibility that leaves the fanny-pack fumbling far behind. While it doesn't quite replicate the lightning-fast, almost thoughtless slip-in/slip-out ease of a cargo bib for that specific photo-grabbing gesture, as there's still a deliberate action required, it strikes a compelling balance, offering robust protection without sacrificing much immediacy for my specific phone-use scenario.

Phones aside, the rectangular shape has proven to accommodate far more objects than a cylinder of equal volume. Think beyond the idea of cramming in gels and bars; this pack welcomes the awkward squad, folded maps, power banks, AirPods cases, or even more peculiar-shaped cargo. However, to maximize this space, Apidura has opted to forgo any internal organization. This could be a downside for riders who may prefer sleeves, pockets or even a removable divider to keep smaller items (like keys, tools, or individual gels) separate and easier to find, or scratch against the phone when bouncing down a rock-strewn trail.

Picture this: I'm on my first big spring ride, and my legs are heavy with winter's dust. As I crest the hills around Turin, the starvation sinks in—the siren song of a tiny pastry shop calls out, proving too irresistible. The first pack of biscuits was demolished before the cashier counted out the change. However, the second pack was destined to be a fragile peace offering for my patient partner waiting for me back home. Stuffing that delicate box into a regular food pouch would have guaranteed delivering only artisanal crumbs to my loved one, crushing my simple gesture. This was the Expedition Stem Pack's moment to shine. Its forgiving rectangular shape became the perfect place to safeguard the precious cargo.

While you won't be smuggling soda cans in its crisp corners, that box of delicate cookies finds a far safer haven here than in a traditional stuff-sack style pouch. It's less about sheer litres and more about usable, protected space for items that don't appreciate being squeezed.

For those wondering about its performance as a Sicilian Granita holder, while a classic food pouch might offer a slightly more conforming cradle, let's be honest, neither bag is all that suitable. Some mid-ride delights require their time to enjoy. This icy treat deserves a proper pause to fully savour while giving our legs a momentary, blissful ceasefire before the next steep ascent.

Squaring It All Up

I still need to test fit a round wrap in the Apidura Expedition Stem Pack, but I can assure you that this bag won't leave my cockpit any time soon. Its design represents a welcome and necessary evolution, acknowledging that in the world of bikepacking bags, one shape doesn't fit all—a welcome trend that not only Apidura, but other brands like Restrap and Ricochet are embracing in recent years. The added offerings provide better options for riders to choose what best suits their needs.

I'll admit, my setup leans less towards gram-counting minimalism and more towards practical accessibility, especially during bikepacking weekends than during KOM chasing rides. Spoiler alert: I don't have any KOM on Strava. I've used the Expedition Stem Pack paired with a traditional cylinder food pouch as well as a top tube bag, and it quickly became the secure vault for essentials that benefit from structure and protection: my phone, keys, wallet, and any other semi-rigid items that don't fold easily.

If I had to choose between a classic food pouch and this Stem Pack? I honestly would keep both. Asking to choose between the two feels like comparing apples and oranges. While the food pouch remains king for quick-access calories, I found the Stem Pack naturally took over the duties typically assigned to my top tube bag when I wanted to safeguard my phone, keys, wallet, and other less-squishable essentials. For my needs, its true rival isn't the adjacent food pouch, but the top tube bag, offering a compelling alternative for structured storage up in the front.