Arkel Forkpackers: Fork Bags that Lock, Load, & Roll

I've tried a few ways to load my front fork over the years, and each came with its own compromises. Manything cages with dry bags and Voile straps worked until they didn't. Straps would compress and loosen over a handful of kilometers, bags going floppy after bumpy descents, and I've even seen friends' dry bags fly off during rough descents. I moved to Apidura Expedition Fork Packs, which felt more secure, but at 3L each they were just too small, even for my compact Durston X-Mid 1 tent.

While Barry had found success with the Sturdy Bag Designs and others opted for Salsa Anything Cages, I gave up on fork storage altogether. Eventually, I switched to a rear rack with panniers, leaving my fork for water bottles. That's worked fine for a couple of years, but it's always felt like a compromise.

So when I came across the Arkel Forkpackers paired with Old Man Mountain's FLiP cages, I wanted to find out if this system could finally check all the boxes. I tested them over a couple of trips on the west coast of Vancouver Island. It's not exactly a gentle proving ground, with logging roads that go from packed gravel to chunky washboard in a stretch, and weather that'll go sideways on you without much warning. Here's what I found.

Arkel: No introduction needed for Canadians

Arkel was founded in 1988 by Serge Vigeant and Diane Laplante and began crafting hand-sewn cycling bags from their Montreal basement. Their reputation quickly rose above many brands from around the world for their thoughtful designs and solid durability. Having such stellar Canadian-made cycling gear is pretty rad. They need almost no introduction.

The Arkel Forkpackers are waterproof bags available in 5L or 7L, made from Xpac exterior fabric with a bright orange interior liner that makes finding things inside really easy. And they run $145 CAD each.

Their mounting system uses the Old Man Mountain FLiP Cages, which are a brilliant pairing. Simple to use and very secure, the FLiP cages are rigid, purpose-built mounts that attach to your fork and hold the bags in a fixed position. No straps working loose, no rotation, no sag. Once they're locked, they stay locked. You can also use the cages on their own for large waterbottles, or other bags, but these two are honestly made for each other.

Comparing my upgrade

I won't spend too much time comparing my old 3L Apidura bags as they were simply too small for my needs. Stuffing a sleeping bag in was always a project unto itself. With the Arkels, the opening is wide enough and the bag has enough structure that loading soft goods is pretty painless.

The cargo cage and dry bag combination is a different trade-off. It's more affordable and flexible to use a simple cage and different sized dry bags that will keep things perfectly dry. The issue is confidence on bumpy terrain. Dry bags strapped to fork cages have a way of shifting over time, especially on washboard or loose rocky descents. It's not usually dramatic, but it's always there in the back of my mind. With the Arkel / OMM system, that thought never materialized. These bags did not move.

Packing: The Hard Choices

The 7L size is generous compared to what I've used before, and for soft goods these bags are a pleasure to load. A sleeping bag uncompressed, clothing, a puffy, a rain jacket, extra socks, all of that goes in without issue. The bags have enough give and the opening is wide enough that you're not fighting them.

Rigid or semi-rigid items are a different story. I tried fitting a sleeping pad and a gas canister, and neither went particularly well. The canister could technically fit, but it didn't use the space efficiently and made the bag feel awkward. The sleeping pad was more or less a no-go. I should note I was using my Thermarest NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX (large), which is a bit on the big side. These bags aren't designed for rigid objects, and if that's most of what you're carrying on your forks, you'll need to rethink your packing strategy.

Rock Solid on the Road

Out on Vancouver Island, where logging roads can be pretty brutal in spots, the security of this setup was immediately obvious. Washboard that would have had me nervously glancing down at my forks with other setups simply wasn't a concern. The bags stayed exactly where I put them.

Waterproofing held up well through a day of steady coastal rain. The Xpac fabric does its job, and the roll-top closures, when done up properly, kept everything inside dry. The orange lining is a nice touch. I hate digging around for something I can't see.

Perfection is in the Placement

The rider who gets the most out of these bags is probably running a carbon bike with a seat pack instead of rear panniers, keeping things light and fast, and needs the confidence that comes with a fully weatherproof, solid front end. For ultralight summer trips, they're a strong choice. Just put the soft goods in, close the bag, and forget about it until camp.

For me personally, there's one practical issue that keeps these from being a permanent fixture. I like to carry water on my front fork. It's where bottles fit well on my setup, and keeping weight low and centered up front suits the kind of riding I do. With the Forkpackers and FLiP cages occupying that real estate, I have to rethink where water goes. The answer isn't always easy, since I typically carry 5L or more (don't ask, I drink a lot). That's entirely a personal preference and not a knock on the bags. They work better than expected, however, my ideal bike setup and hydration habits just happen to conflict.

What I've found is that I actually prefer running these bags as rear mini-panniers, using the FLiP cages on a rear rack instead of the forks. In that configuration, I get all the same security and waterproofing benefits without sacrificing water storage up front. It's not the intended use case, but it works very well. Old Man Mountain's system is versatile enough to accommodate this. Something like a Tumbleweed T-Rack or a Mica Rat Tail pack could be a perfect pairing here for an ultralight summer trip, running mini rear panniers that will stay put and won't rattle off.

Worth the Price?

At $145 CAD each, these are not a casual purchase, and there are cheaper ways to put storage on your forks. What you're paying for is a system that removes any doubt in your mind. Your bags will not move, fall off, or get wet. The Canadian-made Xpac construction will outlast a lot of cheaper alternatives.

The most useful comparison is probably against the Apidura setup: the Arkels are bigger, more secure, and easier to load. If you've been frustrated with smaller, less confidence-inspiring fork bags, these solve those problems. And if you're already considering a quality cargo cage like a King Cage Manythings plus a separate fork pack with Voile straps, you're approaching the $145 mark anyway. Why not go with the Forkpackers?

If you're new to bikepacking, you don't need to start here though. A cargo cage and dry bag with a couple of Voile straps will certainly work and cost less to get yourself on the road to having fun. But after a couple of trips, maybe you will have experienced something fall off on rough terrain. Then maybe these are worth a look for the peace of mind and ease of use alone.

Conclusion

The Arkel Forkpackers with Old Man Mountain FLiP cages are a well-thought-out system that does exactly what it promises: secure, waterproof, well-sized for soft goods, and built to last. They're best suited to riders running a lighter kit who need a reliable spot for soft goods like a sleeping bag and clothing.

I recently got back from a trip, where my sister-in-law used the Forkpackers, and she LOVED them. She found she needed more room to pack everything, and the Forkpackers fit her configuration on a Canyon Grizl perfectly. She was beyond stoked, finding them easy to take off and on, and super solid. So while they don't align with my current setup, folks who need more packing space will find these are a great product without having to mess about with voile straps.

If you're dealing with cargo shifting, bags getting wet, or the nagging worry of something falling off on wet and bumpy terrain, these forkpackers are worth the peace of mind.