Ester Song loves the outdoors. Whether she is hiking the mountain ranges near Los Angeles, rock climbing or biking down trails, she is always ready to take on a new physical activity or sport. She knows firsthand how important it is to an outdoor venture that someone has the proper gear. It is why she takes her role as CEO of Road Runner Bags, a local bag manufacturer creating outdoor lifestyle bags, to heart.
“We are guilty of fast fashion and disposable products,” Song said. “But that’s not the ethos that our business is about. It’s about the people who make the product to the people who use our products and how with our mindful designs and consideration of long-lasting materials you can rely on it, no matter where you are.”
Road Runner Bags was established in Downtown LA in 2010 by Song’s partner Brad, and produces active lifestyle bags that aid and empower cyclists and commuters. Inspired by Los Angeles, Road Runner Bags specifically creates products that help the everyday Angeleno take the bus or Metro to work, while also supporting the nationwide outdoor enthusiast.
“Whether it’s food, snacks, water, clothing and just being prepared for being out all day in the city or out in the mountains, woods, desert — wherever outdoor environment you’re in — having the carrying capacity and to comfortably carry it is extremely important,” Song said.
There are several “bags for your bike.” The Jammer Handlebar Bag, starting at $170, has two external pockets, and can be as small as 6 inches tall and expand to 14 inches tall. It comes in various colors, from black and burgundy to Hybrid Teal Pink Turmeric Purple.
“We keep our designs somewhat simple but very utilitarian, and it really streamlines our manufacturing process as well,” Song said. “We do keep the aesthetic in mind, because people want to be stylish.”
The West Coast “Burrito” handlebar bag, starting at $125, is a 5-liter, circular bag with an elastic front web.
However, their bags are not exclusively for cyclists.
“There’s so many different types of bikes and sizes, because we are all unique,” Song said. “Our bodies are all unique as well, and so we kind of design all of our bags as universal as possible. It can be tricky with, accommodating different types and sizes of bikes, but there’s a lot of adjustability to mounting points so that you can accommodate for whether you have wide handlebars or you put stuff on your handlebars… We allow people to take off the strap, and we have a molly strip that we allows for them to place the straps wherever it fits best.”
Ester Song poses for a portrait at the Roadrunner Bags production studio in Downtown Los Angeles.
Chris Mortenson/Staff
Road Runner Bags are all handmade in Downtown Los Angeles. The manufacturing facility is located at 818 Main Street, and is open Monday to Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Local zip codes have the option to save on shipping and pick up products at the facility.
“Los Angeles used to be a hub of garment manufacturing,” Song said. “You see it less and less nowadays. In the past 30 years, there’s been a huge decline. We really proud of contributing to the local workforce, because there’s so many skilled artisans here, and being in downtown really enables our employees to use active transportation to come to work, whether it’s riding their bike, taking the bus or both.”
Road Runner purchases fabric in bulk by the roll, and the plastic hardware arrives in 1000+ count bags. Every step in building the bag takes craftmanship and is done with attention to detail.
Since 2010, they have built over 300,000 finished pieces. There are currently eight artisans completing everything in the cut-and-sew process of the products.
Road Runner Bags’ Warranty Policy
Per the Road Runner Bags Website, the company offers a 30-day to life warranty on Road Runner Bags Cordura, soft goods products.
“We hold responsibility of the products we produce,” NAME said. “Our customers have had our bags for over a decade and will reach out to us sharing like all the adventures and how it has really enabled them with their commuting lifestyle as well. While we also repair our bags over time, which we don’t get too often, we really make our designs robust and long lasting, including the materials that we choose for the products.”
Warranties are not guaranteed and are only available to the original purchaser listed on the order receipt. The warranty on Road Runner Bags are as follows:
“During the ‘lifetime of your bag,’ if it ever has a problem with the stitching, we will fix it. Please note that the effectiveness is highly dependent on the product, its type of use and its age. Any repairs and alterations that are not made by us will void your warranty. Be cool with us, and we will be cool with you.”
All Road Runner Bags Products
• Less than 30 days — Free repairs and shipping, no questions asked
• More than 30 days to one year from the purchase date — Customer pays repairs and shipping
Road Bags Product Lifetime
• Cordura Bike Bags & Small Accessories: less than one year
• Evil Mini, Slacker, Comrad: less than one year
• Backpacks with Vinyl Lining: less than three years
For all warranties, contact RoadRunner with the following info attached to the original order for the product: name, order number, product name, reason for repair, photos of the area needing repair.
This warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, improper care, negligence, normal wear and tear or the natural breakdown of colors and materials over extended use. Damage not covered under warranty may be repaired for a reasonable rate, and a fee will be charged for return shipping. Road Runner Bags is unable to repair any X-Pac material and can only repair Cordura bags.
Learn More
Road Runner Bags has free domestic ground shipping on all retail orders over $150 with the code “150SHIP.” Learn more about their products, which range from roadRunnerbags.us.