Today, we’re releasing our new bag, La Bananadry!
This bag is a happy mix between a fanny pack and a drybag-style handlebar bag. When we go on a trip, we often opt for front handlebar bag option. To keep your sleeping gear dry, our personal belongings close at hand (cell phone, wallet, etc.), our warm layer, our waterproof layer, our sun-dried tomato sandwich (watch out for oil stains).
But there aren’t many of us who can travel all year round, and the time a bag is used is often just a few days a year. So we wanted to make a handlebar bag that was truly developed for bikepacking (waterproof, lightweight, sturdy, stable) AND that could also be used on a daily basis, as an oversized fanny pack. Basically, we took the idea of our La Musette bag and added a much more adventurous personality.
The Bananadry is made from a resistant 500gr/m2 tarpaulin for the part that attaches to the bike, which is also the area most subject to abrasion. The rest is made from technical materials from the catalog of French manufacturer Alpex. These include waterproof membrane fabrics for the outer part, and ultra-light, equally waterproof ripstop for the lining. All cut from scraps and rolls from dead stocks.
The design and materials of this bag ensure a very high level of water resistance. The main volume, which can be increased from 4.6L to almost 13L thanks to adjustable straps, is accessible from both sides. To help you remember which side your warm comforter is on, we’ve put a color on the left and one on the right. The front pocket, with its watertight closure and easy access, is perfect for your phone, or wallet.
The Bananadry is attached to the handlebars at three points. Two straps and foam spacers (supplied as standard : nanostrap x2 and spacers x2) secure the bag to the handlebars. A lightweight stainless steel tube, around which the straps run, stiffens the bag and distributes the weight. Finally, a cord that fits around the head tube stabilizes the bag. Depending on the configuration of your riding position (to move the Bananadry away from the handlebars to allow hands to pass through, or away from the sleeve to avoid compressing the casings), a pack of 6 additional spacers is available as an option.
Once detached from the bike, two straps at the back of the bag allow you to switch to fanny pack mode. We love the contrast this technical bag gives to an everyday outfit (we’re sure you know about “gorpcore”, the trend that hijacks technical parts for lifestyle use). The back of the Bananadry is of course padded for a smooth feel. The “MOLLE” system is available all over the Bananadry and allow you to imagine all kinds of fun configurations for attachning your stuff. The two volume-adjustment straps also allow you to add a small jacket to the outside of the bag, or to secure tent pegs. A third-point strap is also available as an option if you wish to stabilize your Bananadry when carried over the shoulder.
Like all our luggage, the Bananadry is handmade in Strasbourg by the great people at Libre Objet.
