The thigh's the limit: Best motorcycle leg bags

Sometimes, the clobber you have to carry with you on your motorcycle gets in the way – and a motorcycle leg bag could be the answer.

It might just be a phone, wallet, bunch of keys and a pack of smokes, for example but it’s too much to comfortably get in your trouser or jacket pockets because there either isn’t room or it all gets a bit too cumbersome or uncomfortable.

But that much stuff isn’t enough to make a rucksack necessary – who wants a ruckie with little more than pocket contents in it flapping around as your ride?

You could fit a tailpack or a tankbag of course but again, they may be overkill for what you need and you might not like the effect they have on the look of the bike, the way it rides or even how they can get in the way when you try to get on and off.

In these cases, a leg bag can be very useful. Sitting against your upper thigh, they have a touch of military sidearm holster to them but for a reason – they remain in easy reach and are capable of housing all the essentials you might need with you on a ride, from a short blast for fun to a longer tour.

Related: Best motorcycle waistbags

One of the great things is that they are accessible from a seated position when you’re on the bike as well as when you’re off the bike, walking around, though clearly, the ‘top’ will be in a different position depending on whether you’re standing or sat on the bike, so bear that in mind when you load it or open it to get at your phone…

There are plenty on the market but here is a selection of our favourites.

About the author: After qualifying as a mechanical engineer, Jim Blackstock began working on magazines in the early 1990s. He remains passionate about product testing to ensure readers know what products offer good value and why. He relishes torrential rain to see if riding kit keeps water out and an hour or two to tinker on a project bike in his workshop.

- Just so you know, whilst we may receive a commission or other compensation from the links on this page, we never allow this to influence product selections - read why you should trust us.