Tailfin's Cage Packs offer a simple, stylish and very functional storage system in three sizes designed to be used with or without Tailfin’s Cargo cage mounting system. Overall the system and bag are very secure in use and the material is completely weatherproof making it a worthy consideration in the competitive best pannier bags​ category.

The Force XC2 is a cross-country tyre from Michelin offering a versatile all-rounder, with an open, wide-spaced tread pattern and low depth to maintain speed. It is far from the perfect all-rounder, only partly succeeding, as traction can be an issue on some surfaces and conditions.

As a genuine contender in hotly contested best bike panniers and pannier racks category, the Tailfin Cargo Cage represents a simple yet versatile option to use when looking to carry more on the bike.

The Bontrager Adventure handlebar bag offers 9 litres of space using durable, waterproof materials and a single opening that makes packing simple. It is designed to be used with a hydration reservoir, but doing so will increase weight, instability and stress on the straps.

The Bontrager Adventure Boss frame bag is available in six sizes. It's designed to fit a wide range of bikes, but also has specific sizing and attachment features to suit the Trek Checkpoint. It might work brilliantly on the Checkpoint, but for other bikes, there are a few comprises.

The Stanton Switchpath is the British brand's take on the best gravel bike recipe and is available in frameset guise only. Stanton is known more for its hardcore mountain bikes and this titanium frame utilises a design philosophy that has evolved from mountain bikes.

The Fizik Terra Atlas represents an entry-level option in the growing best gravel bike shoes segment. While it blurs the line between cross-country and gravel use, they're not the cheapest option around and the overall performance is lacking in a number of areas. The sole is flexible, which may aid walking but certain other areas can't quite match the competition.

The Schwalbe G-One RS tyres focuses on gravel racing where speed is a priority and sits at the top of the brand's best gravel tyre line-up.

Produced as a collaboration between bikepacking brand Apidura, and clothing manufacturer MAAP, this frame pack offers a useful amount of storage with features that make it ideal for accessing on the go. Read on to see where it places among the best bike frame bags.

If you want to go bikepacking and use a mountain bike fitted with a dropper post, there are a few hurdles you often need to overcome. Straight Cut has designed this bag specifically for use with a dropper post when used with a specific adapter, and the performance it delivers is really good. The volume may sound quite limited, but I found it was enough for a full sleeping system, and the lower volume does help limit movement when riding.