Anyone have experience with bike bags for airline flights ? My son is going to do more downhill racing next season and I’ll have to fly to a few events. Found these two bags , are there any others I should look at ?
The bike being flown will be a standard double crown 200mm travel rig.
Then of course , any airline to avoid ? Right now with BmX bikes we get away with shipping as golf clubs , but it won’t be the case with this.
by Terrasmak
27 Comments
I have absolutely no experience with big bags, but i have seen a decent amount of people using the evoc one. My backpack is from evoc and i am really happy about the quality and design
I have the EVOC bag. Have used it twice for a 160mm fork Enduro Bike size large. Was very happy with it. I did add some pool noodles for the frame and the wheel pockets. And I would do the same with the Dakine bag also.
I have the Dakine and haven’t had any issues. It takes up a lot of space though (when not in use), and I think it could use a bit more padding
I have the EVOC PRO one travel bag and I’ve been super happy with it. I’ve flown on a number of occasions with 0 damage.
Sounds obvious, but watch the videos on how to use it as it does need to be used correctly to be safe in transit.
No bag will protect you 100% so maybe factor in spare parts / servicing issues that could occur during transit. For example if you are unlucky you may need to bleed a brake, straighten a disk etc. so just be sure you have some spare time before the race as a small issue could ruin a trip.
Also, awesome that you are supporting him to race. My parents did that for me and I’ll always be greatful for it.
I have the Evoc Pro which is nice, but I recently got a Thule mtb bag and it’s quite a bit nicer. A little more $, but it’s got some great features and it’s really sturdy. It also fits a DH bike no problem.
I have the evoc bag, the only issue is that the bag itself is a bit heavy so it can be easy to exceed the weight limit and you risk paying extra fees. Maybe take a look and see which is the lightest if their bike is heavy.
Always research the airline you are taking and see what they charge for bikes. If possible, book your bags online to ensure there is space for them and that you lock in the cost. Sometimes even if your bag is over weight they won’t charge you if you’ve already paid.
Ideally, fly with an airline that allows bikes as regular luggage (this is getting more rare).
Buy an AirTag and put it in the bike bag. It is super helpful if the bag goes missing… as you’ll know where it ended up (often before the airline does).
Finally, make sure your homeowners or renters insurance covers the bike!!! Also consider getting some travelers insurance or booking with a credit card that comes with good insurance. If the bike goes missing, you may be able to pay for a rental for the race and get reimbursed if it is a complete loss.
I’ve used Orucase a few times with great success.
Having the Evoc bag and a new enduro bike I have come up against the 50lb weight limit multiple times, requiring me to at one point throw my dropper post in checked baggage. The Evoc bag is roughly 4 lbs heavier than the dakine. With a downhill bike, you’ll likely be forced to use the dakine bag if you want to stay under the 50lb weight limit for most airlines. Basically just weigh bike and decide which one is going to work to fly frequently.
I have the dakine bag and it’s been great! I’m not sure if the evoc one does this but the dakine rolls up when not in use for storage. Has dedicated straps and everything. Either will do you good though! Throw an Apple air tag in there for good measure !
I have the Dakine and have used it a couple of times with no issue. Southwest Airlines didn’t charge extra either – they treated it as a normal bag that was under 50 lbs. 
Both are good bags. I have the dakine and it worked great for me. As others have said good to add pool noodles or pipe insulation around frame and form tubes also.
Do check the wheel base fits – double crown forks are pretty long and some of these fit long bikes better.
Have only flew southwest and it was fine. But bike was sub 33lbs not a dh rig. So I was right around weight limit. I think they will be ok with heavier but will charge you a bit more
I have this same Dakine Bike bag. I used it to successfully transport my MTB (L sized Salsa Timberjack, 2022) and it made it across the country on Southwest unscathed. Packing it was pretty easy and I was able to fit about 85 pounds worth of stuff in it. Bike plus bag was right around 50 before adding additional items (all of my bikepacking gear, some tools, and other odds and ends).
The only downside I see with checking a bike bag is just airline policies in general. It is a flat rate $75 to check a bike on SW with up to 100 pounds plus you still get your other standard 50 pound bag free. Some airlines (United, Delta, and American) charge a standard $35-40 bag for a bike up to 50 pounds. ~~And United charges oversize fees for all bikes so would be prohibitively expensive.~~ I would need a second checked bag on other airlines so it all adds up about the same (overweight charges would be worse than just bringing 2 bags). You could maybe get creative with a carryon but it wouldnt be easy and isnt always free anyways.
Often makes much more sense to just demo a bike when you run the numbers. $500 for a bag plus $150+ round trip in bag fees each trip is a steep cost. I only went this route since I was traveling one way for a cross country move. I believe airline policies are such that if you choose to use a soft sided bag, they are not responsible for damages. So I wouldnt want to ship a very expensive bike anyways.
[https://www.orucase.com/blogs/airline-guides](https://www.orucase.com/blogs/airline-guides)
If your bike is under 32 lbs, you should get the Dakine. If not, you could consider the EVOC because you are already going to be raked over the coals for being over 50 lbs.
Another vote for the EVOC bag.
DaKine quality is not what it used to be.
I have used the dakine 5 times or so, no issues. I do recommend removing the rotors though
I fly with my MTB a couple times a year and have the Evoc Pro. I’d get the DaKine as it’s lighter, easier to pack and fits bigger bikes.
A good friend has both Evoc and DaKine, his girls are DH racers. He recommended the DaKine over the Evoc, and they’re even on smaller frames.
If you’re tall, you’ll find modern XL bikes may be a little to long for most bags. Just let the air out of the fork, which shortens the wheelbase, and they’ll fit.
I’ve used both. The EVOC is better in my opinion but Dakine is also pretty good. A similar price, I would chose the EVOC. But again, the DAKINE is not a bad choice
Edit: both fit my large enduro easily.
I have friends with the EVOC bag which they love. It’s a bit of a tight squeeze but they are really excellent.
I bought a SCICON Aerocomfort bag which is slightly roomier and you can get the wheels in more easily and pack it with more gear. The wheels on it are excellent to the point where I can single finger push it through the airport.
Both have wraps that protect the bike well but I’d still recommend bubble wrap in some more delicate areas.
I have the Dakine bag and it has been great so far. The way the tires sandwich the frame and the hard bottom provide a good amount of protection…I think it would take a lot to cause any significant damage. The bag itself is under 20lbs, from what I’ve read it’s a good bit lighter than the evoc and may help keep you under the threshold of overweight bag (if you don’t have status).
I usually fly United since the airport local to me is a hub. Having a United credit card allows me to check two bags for free. Uniteds current policy includes bikes packed properly under standard checked bag requirements (as long as it’s under 50lbs or 75lbs if you have status). So it’s been free to bring along which is pretty awesome.
Evoc is kinda the gold standard. My bag has done like 20 flights since I loan it out all the time to friends. Zero issues with well packed bikes. Use a lot of pipe insulation as extra insurance on vulnerable areas.
DB is best quality bag from what I’ve seen, got one as a present a couple years ago and it’s extremely nice. United doesn’t charge extra bag fees for bikes if they are under 90lbs, $35 checked bag and that’s it.
Been very happy with the Dakine. Have flown ~25 flight legs with no issues. I only use the padding that came with the bag and occasionally pack in extra gear if I’m under the weight limit (full face fits nicely between the triangle and fork.)
Regarding airlines – never had an issue on both budget and major airlines. Fees and weight limits are the only practical differences I’ve noticed. In the US, Southwest charged me an oversize fee of $75 each way which includes up to 100 lbs while United and the other carriers waive the oversize fee and just charge you if the bag is overweight (typically 50lbs cutoff, sometimes up to 70).
I have the Thule bag and my partner has the dakine bag. The Thule bag is a lot nicer and has hard sides yet still collapses better than the soft sided dakine bag. The dakine bag works well and packs the bike in but I don’t really like the soft sides so I end up putting pipe insulation on parts of the nails that could be hit). I don’t have to do that with the Thule one. the Thule unit is more expensive by a lot and it’s pretty heavy as a result of the extra protection, but my bike is one of the most expensive things I own and I can’t afford to replace it.
Biggest thing I can tell you, take your derailleur off at the hanger to prevent it getting hit and bent out broken.
Also, a lot of airlines charge you extra if you put things that aren’t the bike in, like gear. tools and such are fine.
Good luck!
Damn just looked on amazon and these bags are really expensive. Guess if I ever fly for a bike trip I’m renting.
I have the EVOC XL bag which works great. I travel quite frequently, usually with my Fat Bike.
Pro Tip – Fly Delta First Class. With a First Class ticket I’ve never been charged an over weight fee or a specialty luggage fee.
I recently took my gravel bike to Rwanda from the US in the B2 from Orucase, it arrived perfectly. Then down to South Africa and then back to the US. All was well.
I have the Dakine and have used it several times without issue except for poor TSA re-packing jobs.
The Dakine with my Ibis Ripley is usually under the 50 pound limit.
If you have a free checked bag option, us a larger suitcase to pair with the bike bag to transport the rest of your gear and tools.
Items like shoes, pedals and tools could go in the suitcase to keep the bike bag under 50.
I like to pack a smaller backpack and plastic shopping backs in my luggage for car travel at my destination.