It’s always fascinating to see the wide range of gear and aesthetic choices throughout the bikepacking world. We get to admire setups that range from incredibly light rackless bags to rack-supported waxed canvas luggage, as well as variations that integrate hardware and accessories for extra carrying capacity. Although the lightest bikepacking bag systems forego tubular metal supports altogether, today’s racks are often the best option. Incorporating a small rack can open up possibilities for a basket, bag support, or just another place to strap things—and there are many options that don’t add much weight. Whether you’re planning a multi-month bikepacking expedition or commuting by bike closer to home, a good front rack is a worthy accessory to consider.
Why Use a Front Rack?
There are quite a few reasons why integrating a small/lightweight front rack into your kit might be useful. Here are the top three:
Basketpacking
A front rack is a must for an off-road basketpacking setup. The popular Wald basket is sold with handlebar clamps that position the basket quite high above the front wheel, which isn’t ideal for hauling heavy loads, and the lower struts are fairly flimsy. This is where a dedicated rack-and-basket setup is recommended. It’s important to choose a rack that can support the load you plan to carry in your basket bag.
Bag Support
While many saddlebag-style top-loading bags are fully capable of mounting to the bars on their own, a small front rack not only helps support the load but also keeps the bag from marring your headtube and helps make space for cables. It’s key to check the height of your bag to match up with the rack platform, but you can also strap sandals or other gear atop the rack and use the rack’s backstop as a strap point for the bag.
Extra Gear
Another reason a front rack might come in handy is if you’re using a small front bag and need an extra spot to strap smaller items, such as a sleeping pad or a lightweight tent. This might be the case if you prefer a small camera bag on your handlebars, or if you use narrow drop bars and need to make up for the packing space lost. We’ve used front racks to lash on everything from fishing equipment to a pineapple!
Choosing the Right Rack
Figuring out what rack will work best for your bike depends on its design and mounting options. Although some racks offer impressive versatility to fit nearly any bike, many aren’t as adaptable and require extra attention to ensure a proper fit. The more adjustable the rack is, the more potential failure points there are, so there are trade-offs either way.
The first thing to look out for is the upper mounting point on the rack. Some racks, such as the Surly 8-Pack Rack, require mid-blade crown eyelets, while other, more svelte options have a fixed single mounting point on the fork crown—the same hole that’s often used for mounting fenders. Most racks have some sort of adjustable mounting option, either the upper struts or legs, which are usually designed to work around different bosses to level out the rack on your bike.
Beyond finding something that fits your bike and fork, consider what you’ll be using it for and make sure to check the manufacturer’s specs so you don’t overload it or push it beyond its limits. The weight limits vary drastically among smaller racks, and some aren’t designed for hauling heavy loads and are better suited as bag supports. Failing to follow these specs could be catastrophic.
Lightweigh Front Bike Racks for Bikepacking and Touring
This is intended to be a comprehensive list of lightweight front racks suitable for bikepacking and light dirt-road touring. As such, we’ve imposed a limit to include only racks that weigh under 750 grams (1.6 pounds). The list currently includes top-rated racks we’ve used ourselves and interesting racks we’ve heard good things about. You can find a selection of popular heavier options that don’t meet this threshold farther down. As a side note, we’ve added the tire clearance specs for the ones we know of, but in most cases, it’s actually the fork that determines which tire size is suitable. If you’re unsure, check with the manufacturer of both the bike and the rack. As always, items marked with the “T” icon have been tested. If we missed something you’d like added to the list, let us know in the Conversation below.
€195
Allygn Diamond Front Rack
Weight: 0.7lbs (326g)
Load Limit: 11-17lbs (~5-8kg)
Platform Size: 215 x 205mm
Made of: Chromoly Steel
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.0+
The Allygn Diamond front rack is made from thin-walled, high-strength 25CrMo4 steel featuring a 3D bend diamond design. As you can see, it’s different than most other options as it forms more of a cradle shape, instead of a flat platform. This reminded me of the Trek solution at first, but in use, it’s quite different. It’s unclear what its load/weight limits are. But, according to Allygn, the Diamond front rack is made to carry a handlebar bag, a drybag loaded with sleeping gear, or a six-pack on your local commute. It comes with fully adjustable stays for fork lowrider eyelets or canti stud mounting.
Another thing that makes the Diamond rack unique is the lighting mounts and routing. The rack platform features an overhead direct M6 light mount, J-Light-Adapter for upright mounted headlights, and zip tie cable guides for dedicated light cable routing. The first iteration also came with J-Light-Mount, loads of mounting hardware, a detailed manual, Gramm-Tourpacking strap, stickers, and a limited series Allygn x Ass Savers Mudder Mini front fender.
Weight: 326 grams (11.5 oz) Price: €195
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
€195
Allygn Grill Rack
Weight: 0.7lbs (350g)
Load Limit: 15lbs (7kg)
Platform Size: 215 x 268mm
Made of: Chromoly Steel
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.0″
Made from thin-walled 0.8mm 25CrMo4 tubing, the Allygn Grill Rack maintains a svelte 350 gram weight, yet it’s proven robust and sturdy enough to carry all manner of bikepacking and commuting payloads. It works well with a basket, too, although Allygn doesn’t provide an official load rating number. The Grill Rack comes with fully adjustable 270mm stays for fork lowrider eyelets or canti studs, and they offer 415mm stays for dropout mounting as well.
Similar to the Diamond we reviewed, the Grill Rack also features a dedicated light mount and light cable routing with custom-designed zip tie guides. In short, the Allygn Grill Rack is an impressively capable and truly versatile front hauling platform that’s packed with thoughtful touches, which is no surprise given it was created Flo Haeussler of Fern Bicycles in Berlin, who builds some of the most detail-rich bikes on the continent.
Weight: 348 grams (12.3 oz) Price: €195
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$130
Hudski Itzarack Front Rack
Weight: 1.5lbs (690g)
Load Limit: 22lbs (10kg)
Platform Size: 330 x 270mm
Made of: Aluminum
Tire Clearance: 29 x 2.4″
Like the Pelago, the Hudski Itzarack Front Rack has both an oversized cargo platform and horizontal mounting points for panniers that are positioned lower than the top platform. This allows for the platform and side rails to be used at once, positioning your favourite panniers closer toward the ground and leaving a clean platform on top for baskets, bags, and other cargo. The two legs of the rack bolt to the top platform, which allows for the rack to be disassembled and packed smaller for travel—although this does create the potential for obvious failure points, and it means having to check more bolts more often. The fork crown mount has a sliding design to help accommodate different frame designs, and the lower brackets have three pre-drilled holes depending on the location of the fork’s attachment points. There’s also a small threaded hole on the front of the main platform for mounting a light.
The top platform offers a generous 330mm wide by 270mm long perch, which happens to fit a Wald 137 basket nearly perfectly. Since the legs are offset underneath the main platform, anything you attach to the horizontal rails sits closer to the front wheel, providing more clearance on tight trails and keeping the weight tucked in toward the centre of the bike. The legs are a fixed length, so the only real adjustments are achieved using the fork crown mount or lower attachment points. While this design may not be as versatile as something like Surly’s 24-Pack Rack, it should work well on most bikes with a drilled fork crown and lower rack mounting points.
Weight: 689 grams (24.3 oz) Price: $130
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$145
NITTO M18 Front Rack
Weight: 0.5lbs (255g)
Load Limit: 11lbs (~5kg)
Platform Size: 190 x 108mm
Made of: Chromoly Tubing
Tire Clearance: N/A
Nitto makes a lot of racks, both under their brand and in collaboration with other companies. They have several different models, but the Nitto M18 front rack is probably the most widely known and universally useful mini rack that they offer. As such, it’s become a go-to for many rando bikes and touring rigs. The M18 can be used as a bag support or as a base for a basket, although there’s a 5kg weight limit that you’ll need to consider.
The M18 is pretty much adjustable to any bike with a drilled crown using a sliding steel bracket that bolts onto the crown and under the rack platform. The rack struts can attach to the fork legs bolts or P-clips, depending on your frame. All the necessary hardware is included for both options. As shown in these photos, I bolted mine to the Fairlight Faran 2.0 fork using the threaded crown bolt and attached the struts to the exterior mid-blade eyelets.
Weight: 252 grams (8.9 oz) Price: $145
Place of Manufacture: Japan helpWe highly encourage you to buy from a local shop when possible, but if you’re going to buy online, you can use our affiliate links. We’ll get a very small kickback that will help support this site. Available at:
Crust
$168
Old Man Mountain Elkhorn (Front Rack)
Weight: 1.4lbs (638g)
Load Limit: 25lbs (11.34kg)
Platform Size: 100 x 266mm
Made of : Aluminum
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.25″ / 27.5 x 3.0″
While many other popular racks are made of steel, the Elkhorn is constructed using Old Man Mountain’s signature welded aluminum construction, flat platform, and charcoal powder coated finish. The Elkhorn’s main structural components feature oversized 1/2″ (13mm) diameter 6061 aluminum tubing in three main pieces—the platform and two risers. It also includes two pairs of additional slotted flat stock struts for mounting to the front or rear and plenty of bolts and hardware. Similar to the Tumbleweed T-rack, the Elkhorn features three-pack mounts on each upright to mount a cargo cage, bag, or extra water bottles.
The Elkhorn comes in two sizes: Short and Tall. The Short measures 390mm from lower eyelet to platform and is designed for 27.5″ tires up to 3″ wide and 700c x 38mm tires. The Tall (430mm) is made for maximum mud clearance and bikes with 29″ tires up to 29 x 3.25″ wide. The brilliant part of the Elkhorn is its versatility. It can mount to standard bosses or directly to the axle using the optional fit kits available for thru-axle or QR mounting. That, with the two pairs of struts and “flippable” design, makes it about as universal as they come. Read our complete review here.
Weight: 638 grams (22.5 oz) Price: $168
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan helpWe highly encourage you to buy from a local shop when possible, but if you’re going to buy online, you can use our affiliate links. We’ll get a very small kickback that will help support this site. Available at:
Campfire Cycling
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$225
RatKing RIP Rack
Weight: 1.6lbs (753g)
Load Limit: 30lbs (13.6kg)
Platform Size: 200 x 200mm
Made of: Chromoly Steel
Tire Clearance: 29 x 2.2″
Handmade in Seattle, Washington, the revamped RatKing RIP Rack V3 offers improved stability and strength, and more adjustment to fit a broader range of bikes. It works nicely as a cargo platform or bag support and neatly holds Wald 137 and 139 baskets thanks to nifty integrated machined brackets. The recently launched third version was updated with a machined curved fork crown brace, beefier U-shaped legs, and a clever threaded rod with M6 swing bolts that allow for additional control over the platform’s angle.
Not only is the V3 one of the most adjustable front racks we’ve tested, but it’s also incredibly stable and has no trouble supporting baskets, large handlebar bags, and other gear. It has a compact 8 x 8″ (20 x 20cm) platform, a 30-pound (13.6-kilogram) load limit, and the included Wald basket hardware is brilliant, especially if you’re like me and have gone through countless zip ties installing and uninstalling baskets.
Weight: 753 grams (26.6 oz) Price: $225
Place of Manufacture: USA Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$90
Rawland Rando Rack
Weight: 1lb (472g)
Load Limit: 33lbs (15kg)
Platform Size: 202 x 113mm
Made of: Steel
Currently in its third iteration, the Rawland Cycles Rando Rack is designed for both straight and raked forks and is constructed from steel to offer a hefty 15kg weight limit. Its narrow 4.5” platform can easily support smaller baskets, but can also double as a bag support when tire clearance is limited. There are multiple mounting points for lights and fenders, and the rack ships with two sets (straight and offset) of 230mm adjustable aluminum struts. Longer 425mm struts are available to purchase separately. The Rando Rack has a single, fixed mounting point at the fork crown, sitting about 1″ above the fork crown—which provides ample room for big tires and/or fenders. Unfortunately, it’s not clear whether or not Rawland will resume production, so your best bet is finding a used one, if you’re lucky!
Weight: 472 grams (16.6 oz) Price: $90
Place of Manufacture: China Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$219
Rene Herse UD-1 Front Rack
Weight: 0.4lbs (215g)
Load Limit: 22lbs (10kg)
Platform Size: 170 x 120mm
Made of: Chromoly Steel/Aluminum
Tire Clearance: 100mm (4″)
The Rene Herse UD-1 front rack is a super lightweight rack—one of the lightest platform rack here, as a matter of fact—designed specifically for bikes with disc brakes. The UD-1 is quite simple and has just three pieces, aside from the bolts and mounting hardware: the platform and two struts. The platform is made from Cromoly tubing and the struts are solid aluminum. Weighing in at just 215 grams, it doesn’t seem like a heavy loader, and Rene Herse doesn’t make such claim. But, it seems suited for a bag support or for stashing extra gear.
The UD-1 features a unique, one-piece platform with a fixed, 40mm fork crown bolt. This threads through the 6mm thru-bolt hole in the fork crown and uses an M6 nut to clamp it in place. The two struts are adjustable by sliding through the securing bolts on the platform. While designed to bolt onto the fork mid-blade braze-ons, the struts come in two sizes, standard 240mm for eyelets in the top third of the fork, or long 420mm versions for mid-fork or dropout eyelets. The struts are available separately, so you can buy multiples and move the rack from one bike to the next if need be. You can also get different struts to attach to cantilever posts. I used the shorter option and attached them to the interior mounts on the Tumbleweed Stargazer Boost fork.
Weight: 215 grams (7.6 oz) Price: $219
Place of Manufacture: Japan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$130
Surly 8-Pack Rack
Weight: 1.4lbs (640g)
Load Limit: 30lbs (13.6kg)
Platform Size: 270 x 160mm
Made of : Chromoly Steel
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.0″
Surly’s front racks were introduced back in 2016, and both the 8-Pack and 24-Pack Racks were positioned as ideal for light-duty touring and running errands. Although not much has changed since then, they’ve both received some minor tweaks, and are still a popular option for carrying bags, baskets, and cargo (Lucas used the 24-Pack Rack on his Cross-Check commuter). The more svelte 8-Pack Rack has a 6.3” wide platform, adjustable mid-blade and fork crown struts, and is made from 4130 Chromoly Steel with stainless steel hardware. Although the rack is designed to work best with Surly’s rigid forks, it should be compatible with most tire sizes and forks out there, providing it has both mid-blade and two fork crown bosses.
At 640 grams, the 8-Pack Rack is on the heavier side, but makes up for that with its durable and reliable construction. This thing is a beast. With all four struts secured close together, it provides an impressively rigid platform that’s perfect for a heavily loaded Wald 137 basket or saggy front-loading handlebar bag. Surly’s Petite Porteur House bag is also compatible with the 8-Pack Rack, attaching directly to the rack’s platform using a combination of velcro straps. The rack is finished with a number of threaded braze-ons that work well for customizing cargo tie-downs or for dialling in your dynamo light position. The Surly 8-Pack Rack retails for $130 USD and is available in black or silver finish. For something with a bigger platform, check out the 24-Pack Rack.
Weight: 640 grams (22.6 oz) Price: $130
Place of Manufacture: China Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$155
Tumbleweed Chromoly Pannier Rack (Front Rack)
Weight: 1.5lbs (712g)
Load Limit: 45lbs (20.4kg)
Platform Size: 120 x 300mm
Made of : Chromoly Steel
Tire Clearace: 29 x 3.5” / 26 x 4.75”
Like the T Rack, the Chromoly Pannier Rack has a 120 x 300mm bag support platform and three-pack bottle mounts. However, it also gets an extra pair of side struts and a small horizontal tube connecting them to provide stability for small or micro panniers. It works with a variety of panniers with adjustable hardware or an elastic lower hook attachment. The Mini Pannier Rack also comes in 355mm and 385mm platform heights and two sets of upper mounting struts—100mm and 300mm—which can be cut to length to fit your bike. Read our review here.
Weight: 712 grams (25.1 oz) Price: $155
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan helpWe highly encourage you to buy from a local shop when possible, but if you’re going to buy online, you can use our affiliate links. We’ll get a very small kickback that will help support this site. Available at:
Campfire Cycling
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$145
Tumbleweed Chromoly T-Rack (Front Rack)
Weight: 1.4lbs (649g)
Load Limit: 30lbs (13.6kg)
Platform Size: 120 x 300mm
Made of: Chromoly Steel
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.5” / 26 x 4.75”
The Chromoly T Rack is a simple Chromoly steel rack that features a set of “three-pack” triple bottle mounts on each main strut and a 120mm wide by 300mm long top platform that can be used to support a large saddlebag, or to secure a drybag in lieu of a seat pack. With the option of using cargo cages or bottle cages on the struts, it’s a fairly unique rack that offers a few different options for carrying extra gear and water. The T Rack can clear large tires (up to 29 × 3.5″ or 26 x 4.75”), making it perfectly suited for dirt-road touring or bikepacking as both a front or rear rack. Read the complete review here.
Weight: 649 grams (22.9 oz) Price: $145
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan helpWe highly encourage you to buy from a local shop when possible, but if you’re going to buy online, you can use our affiliate links. We’ll get a very small kickback that will help support this site. Available at:
Campfire Cycling
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$415
Tumbleweed Titanium Pannier Rack
Weight: 0.9lbs (437g)
Load Limit: 45lbs (20.4kg)
Platform Size: 120 x 310mm
Made of: Titanium
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.5” / 26 x 4.75”
The Tumbleweed Titanium Pannier Rack is almost identical to the steel version that’s also in this Gear Index. It can clear large tires up to 29 × 3.5″ or 26 x 4.75″, comes in two sizes (measuring 355 and 380mm tall from the center of the bottom mount to the platform), and has three-pack bosses on both uprights. It’s made out of 3-2.5 Grade 9 titanium with tubing that has the same 10mm outer diameter, although it has a slightly different set of wall thicknesses than the steel pannier rack to maintain the same strength. Both the steel and Titanium Pannier Racks are ISO tested and rated to carry 45 pounds (20.4 kilograms) of cargo. One glaring downside to the Tumbleweed Titanium Pannier Rack is the price. Its $400 cost is anything but chump change. That’s three times the price of the T Rack and more than two-and-a-half times the price of the steel Pannier Rack.
Read Logan’s review here.
Weight: 437 grams (15.4 oz) Price: $415
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan helpWe highly encourage you to buy from a local shop when possible, but if you’re going to buy online, you can use our affiliate links. We’ll get a very small kickback that will help support this site. Available at:
Campfire Cycling
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$180
Velo Orange Flat Pack Rack
Weight: 1.5lbs (708g)
Load Limit: 17lbs (7.7kg)
Platform Size: 275 x 303mm
Made of: Stainless steel/Aluminum
The Velo Orange Flat Pack Rack is designed to be adaptable and strong, and it just happens to have a classic, timeless look that fits great on vintage bikes and commuters. All three mounting points are adjustable, easily providing room for different sized tires or for working around different mounting points. The rack ships with four aluminum stays that curve at the ends for a clean, flush fork mount, and they can all be used together to increase the overall carrying capacity. The only real fit requirement is that your frame must have a fork crown that’s drilled all the way through, due to the thickness of their hardware. The upright tombstone is removable and can be replaced with a decaleur receiver for randonneur-style handlebar bags that benefit from extra support.
The wide platform on the Flat Pack Rack is great for basket setups, supporting larger handlebar bags, or as a platform for randonneur bags. Its classic styling makes it a perfect option for that 90s hardtail in your basement or for adding some flare to whatever bike you ride. Velo Orange also let us know that an update is in the works and that the fork crown attachment will be redesigned in the next batch.
Weight: 708 grams (25 oz) Price: $180
Place of Manufacture: China Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$110
Wholegrain Cycles Jack the Rack
Weight: 1.5lbs (700g)
Load Limit: 11lbs (5kg)
Platform Size: 225 x 280mm
Made of: Stainless Steel
Tire Clearance: No Max
Jack is made from a single piece of cold-formed 304 stainless steel rod with a 420-denier fabric platform. Two high-strength straps are used to attach it to the bike, cantilevering JACK over the front wheel. One threads under the stem, which holds the rack up and keeps it from rotating down toward the tire, and the other goes around the steerer tube, which keeps the rack from rotating upwards. The rack is officially rated for loads up to 5kg (11 pounds), but according to WholeGrain, it can carry significantly more than that. Jack comes with a removable fabric base, shims for 31.8mm and 25.4mm bars, four different stem load straps, an adjustable steerer tube strap, and two 1.2m bungee straps with a snakehead buckle and carabiner.
Compatibility is pretty much as universal as it gets, requiring no special mounting points or modern features. It’ll work with both metal and carbon handlebars, requiring 10mm of free space on both sides of the stem. At least 225mm (~9″) is required from the centre of the handlebar to the top of the front tire (measured perpendicular to the ground), and it works well with rigid and suspension forks. The stem angle also plays a role in compatibility and works well with 0° to +40° stems or negative angle stems that are fixed to the steerer tube. Jack works with both threadless and threaded quill stems. Check out the full review here.
Weight: 700 grams (24.7 oz) Price: $110
Place of Manufacture: China Manufacturer’s Details: Link
€91
7Roads Front Monster Rack
Weight: 1.3lbs (610g)
Load Limit: 22lbs (10kg)
Platform Size: 260 x 220mm
Made of: Steel
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.0″
Made by Sergey Romanov (@ridegood_rack) in Ukraine, the 7Roads front “monster” rack is described as a “reliable multitasker for gravel rides and bikepacking.” What’s unique are the two bottle mounts on the underside of the platform, providing enough space for standard bottle cages, cargo cages, or a Widefoot LiterCage, like the one Mattie used. There’s a removable light attachment, an integrated bottle opener for fizzy drinks, and the platform is rated for 8-10kg (~17-22 pounds).
The 26cm wide platform is large enough to support a front bag, dial in your basketpacking setup, or just strap a milk crate to for running errands around town. The rack, including all of the attachments, weighs in at 630 grams. There is a single fixed mounting point at the fork crown and two adjustable 27cm legs to dial in the rack’s angle.
Weight: 608 grams (21.4 oz) Price: €91
Place of Manufacture: Ukraine Manufacturer’s Details: Link
£21.99
Brick Lane Bikes Lite Rack
Weight: 0.6lbs (270g)
Load Limit: 5.5lbs (2.5kg)
Platform Size: 135 x 260mm
Made of: Aluminium
Stylish and minimal, the Brick Lane Bikes Lite Rack weighs just 270 grams but supports up to 5.5 pounds (2.5kg), making it ideal for light loads or even as a bag support. The legs have a fixed length, but there’s an adjustable fork crown mount for easy mounting. The Lite Rack is made of aluminium and designed for 700c bikes.
Weight: 270 grams (9.5 oz) Price: £21.99
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
Weight: TBD
Load Limit: TBD
Platform Size: TBD
Made of: Steel
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.0″
Mica Cycles, owned and operated by our friend Skyler Des Roches, took the rack world by storm two years ago with the minimal yet surprisingly functional Rat Tail rear rack. We figured it was only a matter of time before he brought a similar unique design to a front rack, and it appears that time may be coming soon. The photos here were taken by Miles of the first prototype Skyler fabricated to test. Watch the short video Skyler put together on the rack here, and stay tuned for more.
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$105
Hyacinth Wild Child
Weight: 0.77lbs (350g)
Load Limit: 33lbs (15kg)
Platform Size: 190 x 100mm
Made of: Stainless Steel
Handmade by Hyacinth in Ukraine, the Wild Child is described as their “flagship rack. Versatility, beauty, durability, and reliability are the values we incorporated into this baby.” It’s made from stainless steel and is available in three finishes: raw, oil slick, or polished. It weighs 350 grams and is rated for 15kg. They also offer a titanium version that weighs 245 grams. For both, you have your choice of strut lengths to best fit your fork/setup.
Weight: 350 grams (12.3 oz) Price: $105
Place of Manufacture: Ukraine Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$169
Memento Cycles Ant Rack
Weight: 1.1lbs (530g)
Load Limit: 55lbs (25kg)
Platform Size: 150 x 180mm
Made of: Stainless Steel
Tire Clearance: No Max
Handmade in Quebec by Memento Cycles, the Ant Rack is a versatile little rack that can be mounted to the wheel’s axle, dropout eyelets, or mid-fork mounts. The Ant Rack weighs just 530 grams, but is rated for 25kg, and Memento says it’s perfect for bikepacking. If you’re looking for a larger platform, check out the Atlas Rack.
We asked Memento about tire clearance, and here’s what they had to say: “For wheel size and tire, the rack doesn’t interfere at all. So if the rack fits the fork, it will fit the wheel/tire specs. To know if the rack fits the fork, it’s based on the distance between the center of the crown hole to the center of the eyelet/axle. For the Ant, it covers these ranges depending on the struts: Mid-fork: 7″ to 10″, Dropout eyelet: 13¼” to 14¾”, Axle: 14½” to 15¼”.
Weight: 530 grams (18.7 oz) Price: $169 (Black)
Place of Manufacture: Canada helpWe highly encourage you to buy from a local shop when possible, but if you’re going to buy online, you can use our affiliate links. We’ll get a very small kickback that will help support this site. Available at:
Dismount
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$160
Nitto/Rivendell Mark’s Rack M1
Weight: 0.75lbs (340g)
Load Limit: 11lbs (5kg)
Platform Size: TBD
Made of: Chromoly Steel
Tire Clearance: TBD
Designed by Rivendell and made by Nitto, the Mark’s Rack M1 is designed for bikes with caliper brakes. “It’s our smallest rack, and weighs about 12oz, and is rated to 11 pounds. There are lots of ways to use it; as a saddlebag support in back, as a platform for a basket (zip-tie the basket on), or just to strap a stuff-sack full of gear onto it. We use it all these ways, all the time.”
Weight: 340 grams (12 oz) Price: $160
Place of Manufacture: Japan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
€79
Pelago Commuter Front Rack Aluminium
Weight: 1.4lbs (650g)
Load Limit: 22lbs (10kg)
Platform Size: 290 x 220mm (M)
Made of: Aluminium
Tire Clearance: 29 x 2.6″
Potentially a good option for a basketpacking setup, the Pelago Commuter Front Rack Aluminium is a lighter version of their stainless steel Commuter Front Rack. It’s offered in three different sizes that range in weight from 650g (23oz) to 820g (29oz) and includes a versatile attachment kit that allows it to fit to most bicycles with 26″ or 28″ wheels. The new Commuter Front Rack Aluminium is available in black or polished silver, and the small, medium, and large racks are priced at €69, €79, and €89, respectively. Note that there are mounts for a pannier just below the platform.
Weight: 650 grams (22.9 oz) Price: €79 (Medium)
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$61
Racktime VIEWIT
Weight: 0.4lbs (187g)
Load Limit: 11lbs (5kg)
Platform Size: 150 x 128mm
Made of: Aluminum
The Racktime VIEWIT skirts the line between front rack and a handlebar cradle system. It mounts directly to your 1-1/8″ fork steerer tube, replacing some headset spacers, providing a stable platform for gear or to support a bag. It weighs just 187 grams, and has a load limit of 11lbs (5kg).
Weight: 185 grams (6.5 oz) Price: $61
helpWe highly encourage you to buy from a local shop when possible, but if you’re going to buy online, you can use our affiliate links. We’ll get a very small kickback that will help support this site. Available at:
AMG Cyclery
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$233
Sim Works/Nitto Obento Rack
Weight: 1.4lbs (635g)
Load Limit: 11lbs (5kg)
Platform Size: 210 x 210mm
Made of: Chromoly Steel
Tire Clearance: 2.5″ wide
Designed for front forks with or without rack mounts, the Sim Works/Nitto Obento Rack has a large platform that is functional for both light-duty touring and commuting. It’s made from Chromoly steel tubes, weighs ~635 grams, and is available in silver or black. According to SimWorks, “the space between the rack stays (connection rods)is 115mm (~4.5”), which can be spread a little. After that, it sort of depends on the fork and whether it has mounts, and if so, where those mounts are. I would feel confident saying that you could get a 2.5” tire (~62mm), but maybe even bigger.”
Weight: 635 grams (22.4 oz) Price: $233
Place of Manufacture: Japan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$139
Soma Champs Élysées Mini Front Rack
Weight: 0.7lbs (322g)
Load Limit: 22lbs (10kg)
Platform Size: 225 x 100mm
Made of: Stainless Steel
Weighing just 322 grams with a 10kg load capacity, the Champs Élysées Mini Front Rack is a surprisingly capable mini front rack that can be used to support large handlebar bags, baskets, or pretty much anything else you want to load up on it. It’s made from stainless steel, can be mounted using the included P-clamps if your fork doesn’t have mounts, and there are two width options: the Standard 110mm version fits road forks and some cross forks, and the 130mm version fits wider cross and gravel forks.
Weight: 322 grams (11.4 oz) Price: $139
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
€160
Starfish Bicycles Silver Heron Front Rack
Weight: 1lb (450g)
Load Limit: 6.6lbs (3kg)
Platform Size: 209 x 120mm
Made of: Stainless Steel
The Starfish Bicycles Silver Heron is made of polished stainless steel and has classic French rando styling. It uses a three-point attachment system and has an intentionally conservative weight limit of just 3 kilograms (6.6 pounds). The Silver Heron measures 209mm front to back, 112 side to side, and 120mm from the bottom of the platform to the top of the tombstone. It weighs 450 to 500 grams including hardware and depending on leg length; buyers can choose between 300 or 450mm legs to suit their fork. A daruma system for adjusting the legs makes it compatible with just about any bike with a drilled fork crown for the upper mount.
Weight: 450 grams (15.9 oz) Price: €160
Place of Manufacture: Denmark Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$22
Sunlite Front Rack
Weight: TBD
Load Limit: 40lbs (18kg)
Platform Size: 230 x 150mm
Made of: Aluminum
Tire Clearance: 29 x 2.2″
If you’re looking for a front rack of a budget, the Sunlite Front Rack is hard to beat. It features a tubular 6061-T6 alloy construction, it mounts directly to fork bosses + the fork crown, and it’s apparently rated for up to 40lbs (18kg), although some dealers state 18lbs, which is both hard to believe and incredible if true.
Price: $22
Place of Manufacture: China helpWe highly encourage you to buy from a local shop when possible, but if you’re going to buy online, you can use our affiliate links. We’ll get a very small kickback that will help support this site. Available at:
Campfire Cycling
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$189
Tanaka LiftLoc
Weight: 1.4lbs (660g)
Load Limit: 30lbs (13.6kg)
Platform Size: 190 x 205mm
Made of: aluminum
Tire Clearance: TBD
The Tanaka LiftLoc, sold by Soma, is a wide-platform front rack with RatKing-style clamps to secure your basket in place without zipties or straps. It’s made from aluminum, weighs approximately 660 grams, and is rated for 30lbs, so you don’t have to worry about loading up your basket with too much gear.
Weight: 659 grams (23.2 oz) Price: $189
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$95
Velo Orange Randonneur Front Rack
Weight: 0.7lbs (318g)
Load Limit: 12lbs (5.4kg)
Platform Size: 207 x 102mm
Made of: Stainless Steel
Tire Clearance: TBD
Designed for forks with cantilever brake bosses, the Velo Orange Randonneur Front Rack is made from polished tubular stainless steel, weighs 318 grams, and has a load limit of 12lbs (5.4kg). It has fixed cantilever struts and an adjustable diving board-style fork crown bracket.
Weight: 316 grams (11.1 oz) Price: $95
Place of Manufacture: Taiwan Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$145
Veloci Cage Wednesday Front Rack
Weight: 1.4lbs (660g)
Load Limit: 33lbs (15kg)
Platform Size: 265 x 160mm
Made of: Chromoly steel
Tire Clearance: 29 x 3.0″
Using a similar approach as the Hunter Cycles Cargo Rack Logan reviewed, the new Veloci Cage Wednesday Front Rack blends cargo cages and a rack into one clever package. The two vertical leg struts on each side of the rack double as cargo cages, and Veloci even includes removable cage feet for both sides.
The Veloci Cage Wednesday Front Rack is made in Taiwan from 4130 Chromoly steel. There are strap keepers welded onto the legs to make packing easier, and the 265 x 160mm top platform is there for bags, gear, baskets, and whatever else you need to haul. It appears to be a three-piece design, so when disassembled, it should pack quite flat for travel. There are two sizes. The medium has a 365mm height and is for 26″ and 27.5″ wheels; the large has a 390mm height and is for 29″ setups. It has a maximum load of 33 pounds (15 kilograms) and weighs 660 grams (1.4 pounds) without the cargo feet, and 798 grams (1.7 pounds) with them. There’s also a front light tab up front for bolt-on lights.
Weight: 660 grams (23.3 oz) Price: $145
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
$110
Veloci Rack Jr
Weight: 0.8lbs (376g)
Load Limit: 11lbs (5kg)
Platform Size: 200 x 110mm
Made of : chromoly steel
Tire Clearance: 26 x 2.4″
The RACK JR from Veloci is a lightweight and minimal front rack with a unique rocket-inspired design. It features a chromoly steel body, stainless hardware, and aluminum struts. It’s rated for 11lbs (5kg), weighs 376 grams (without hardware), and comes in two colors: matte black or painted silver.
Weight: 375 grams (13.2 oz) Price: $110
Manufacturer’s Details: Link
Not So Lightweight Front Racks
Although we focused on front racks that weigh less than 750 grams for this Gear Index, there are other racks that are not as light but are still perfectly suitable for bikepacking and worth mentioning. Here are some of those options:
Blackburn Grid Front Basket Rack
Instead of a wire basket supported by tubular or solid struts, the Blackburn Grid Front Basket Rack is more like a rack shaped like a basket. The Basket Rack itself is made of a dozen solid 6.2mm aluminum rods bent to shape and welded together. It measures roughly 33cm wide by 22cm long at the bottom of the basket and 39 x 24 at the top. It’s about 7cm tall at the back and 13cm up front. It has three 2mm slotted aluminum plates welded at the bottom to form the base.
Made in Taiwan / 979 grams / $120 at Competitive Cyclist
Manivelle Front Rack
The Manivelle Front Rack is a pizza rack with an integrated mini basket, primarily designed for quattro formaggi. The Manivelle Front Rack weighs 940 grams, is rated for 10kg, and is made from zinc-plated steel. It’s compatible with bikes running 26” to 700C tires, and requires a drilled fork crown for mounting. The lower mounting points are threaded/adjustable, so it should fit most bikes and multiple tire sizes.
Made in France / 940 grams / €90 at Manivelle
Old Man Mountain Pizza Rack
The Old Man Mountain (OMM) Pizza Rack is one of three racks in OMM’s core lineup. Unlike the Divide and Elkhorn, which can be used on the front or back of the bike and accommodate panniers, the Pizza Rack is a front-specific rack with a 13″-wide top platform. The larger platform is better suited for hauling heavy loads and provides a sturdy base for basket setups or for supporting large handlebar bags.
Made in Taiwan / 943 grams / $188 at Old Man Mountain
Old Man Mountain Divide Rack
The Old Man Mountain Divide comes complete with a full complement of mounting hardware—including short stays and long stays—depending on whether you’re mounting it to the frame or fork, and the geometry of the bike in question. It also uses adjustable extenders that allow it to be tailored to the height required, depending on wheel size and rack placement.
Made in Taiwan / 960 grams / $168 at Old Man Mountain
Pass and Stow Three Rail
Handmade in Oakland, California, the Pass and Stow Three Rail is designed to carry panniers, a basket, groceries, or all your things for a bike tour. It features internal dynamo routing, three-pack mounts on both sides, two lower mounting positions, and a nifty sliding y-mount for the fork crown. There’s also a clever integrated light mount for any style of bolt-on light.
Made in USA / Weight TBD / $335 at Pass and Stow Racks
Custom Rack Makers
There are also many builders who can make you a custom rack designed to fit your bike and your unique hauling needs. Find a mix of suggestions below:
As mentioned above, we sometimes miss things in our Gear Indexes. If you know of a highly rated, bikepacking-friendly front rack that weighs under 750 grams, please share it with us in the Conversation below!
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