Remember me
Associate Editor & Events Manager
We met up with Revelate Designs founder Eric Parsons at this year’s Sea Otter Classic for an early look at some exciting new bikepacking gear they’ll launch next month. Find a peek at the new Birote Rack Bag, updated top tube bag lineup, and fresh bolt-on handlebar cradle here…
When we heard that Eric Parsons of Revelate Designs would be in Monterey for the Sea Otter Classic, we made it a priority to meet up. Not only was this my first time meeting Eric in person after years of emailing, but he also had some exciting products to show us that will launch sometime in late May to early June. We spent some time with Eric to get a first look at a completely revised lineup of top tube bags, a brand-new handlebar cradle system, and a fresh rack-top bag.
Revelate Designs Birote Rack Bag
Named after the traditional Mexican sourdough bread, the Birote is a fully waterproof dry bag designed for use on the top platform of a rack. It has a roll-top closure at the back end, a slanted face on the front end to leave clearance for dropper post travel, and gusseted mesh side pockets with cinchable closures that Eric says are as deep as they could get them. There’s a bungee lace-up at the top for lashing gear, and there are two small hypalon strap guides on either side of the bag.
Revelate Designs has also been working on some new rubber gear straps, called Constrictor Straps. Eric explained he never liked using full-length straps around racks because, as soon as you take the bag off, the straps loosen and either fall into the wheels or onto the ground.
Instead, Revelate’s straps girth-hitch around the rack rail, so they don’t fall off when packing. Because they don’t use hooks, the straps fit 10mm and 13mm rails, plate-style racks, and they’ll pretty much conform to whatever you want to girth-hitch them to. They have a Voile-style buckle where the two sides meet, providing quick and nearly infinite adjustment.
New Revelate Designs Top Tube BagsRevelate’s entire top tube bag lineup is getting a major facelift next month, and the direction they’re taking is exciting. The Mag-Tank is sticking around, but they’re introducing an entirely new quick-release track system that eliminates the need for straps entirely. The base bolts onto the top tube bosses and allows the bag to be quickly removed or swapped between bikes with the bases installed.
The new Mag-Tank has a more secure, waterproof lid and magnetic fastener, and it still comes with a TPU liner that is easily removed for cleaning. It has a wire port up front, and all top tube bags use fully welded construction, ensuring contents will stay dry.
The strap-on top tube bags also have an updated mounting system with custom silicone rubber pads that can be repositioned on the underside of the bag. The rubber flexible wings wrap around the top tube, and tiny Voile-style straps secure the bag in place. A rigid internal structure keeps the bag stable, despite having no front attachment point. Revelate also worked closely with their zipper supplier to develop a weldable version of the molded-tooth zipper used on all their frame bags.
The zippered top tube bags will be available in two lengths: a 14″ version, pictured above, and an extended 18″ version, pictured in the group shots above. Eric dropped off some samples with Neil and me, and we’ll share some thoughts after real-world testing soon.
New Revelate Designs Handlebar CradleSaving the best for last, Revelate has spent over a year working on a bolt-on handlebar cradle. It has gone through a number of iterations, but the current prototype uses hinged clamps with shims for 31.8mm and 35mm handlebars, an aluminum body, two carbon bars, and an interesting Hypalon sling that cradles a dry bag between the two bars. The sling also has attachment points for Revelate’s pocket mounting clips, which are still backward-compatible with any handlebar pocket they’ve ever made.
The main straps that hold a dry bag in place use custom-made webbing that’s slightly thicker and grippier than traditional webbing, with loops sewn at the ends that slide onto the carbon bars. The cradle features CNC-machined aluminum uprights that hold an optional accessory bar. The carbon bar is oversized to 31.8mm, so accessories have more to hold. Eric said there are a few small tweaks to make, including adjustments to the hardware so the main mounting bolts don’t fall out when removing the cradle.
We’ll have to wait to hear more and get specific specs, such as load limits and weight, but after handling all of the bags in person, I’m comfortable saying they feel exceptionally high-quality and well-designed. We’ve already got a few samples in hand and will be testing them as soon as Neil and I return home from Sea Otter.
To find more coverage from the 2026 Sea Otter Classic, including Neil’s videos, dig into our #SeaOtterClassic tag.
2026 Sea Otter coverage is supported by
Please keep the conversation civil, constructive, and inclusive, or your comment will be removed.
Comments (0)