Bike Baskets – Practical All-rounders for Your Bike

If you love your bike and want to use it in a variety of ways, then a bike basket opens up numerous possibilities. They are available for (almost) all situations: If you want to take your dog to the lake or for a walk in the forest a few kilometers away and make it as comfortable as possible. If you want to store your work documents or your child's school bag safely. If you want to pack your sports bag quickly and easily on your bike. Or if you don't have to hold back when you go shopping on the weekend because you have a practical solution for safely transporting your shopping.

Bicycle baskets are ideal for all light to medium-weight items weighing up to ten kilograms. You can also use this helper to ensure that your animal companions or luggage get from A to B safely and undamaged. This is because a school bag, shopping bag or backpack that is temporarily attached to the luggage carrier can not only throw you off balance as a cyclist, but in the worst-case scenario can get caught in the spokes and cause an accident. With the help of a bike basket, you can stow whatever you want to transport safely and don't have to worry about possible dangers.

Suitable and practical fastening mechanisms for the handlebars and luggage carrier ensure that you can attach and remove bicycle baskets quickly and easily. Thanks to their robust design, even bad weather can't harm them or their contents. And if you want to know your basket is secure and lockable, you will also find what you are looking for. Bike baskets are therefore true all-rounders and all-round talents, which is why, to be honest, only a bicycle with a bike basket unfolds its full potential during transport.

They are available for front and rear, open and closed, permanently mounted and quickly removable, for easy transportation or in XXL, for large and small, as well as for men and women – and even for your beloved four-legged friend. Bicycle baskets are among the most popular bike accessories of all. So that you know which basket is right for you, we will introduce you to the different types of bike baskets in detail below.

Handlebar baskets or front bike baskets are bicycle baskets that you attach to the handlebars. Depending on the design, you can attach and remove the handlebar basket quickly and easily thanks to special click systems. This means you can use it immediately as a practical shopping basket and don't have to carry an extra bag. There are also bike baskets that can be permanently attached to your bike. This has the advantage that nothing and nobody can remove them in a hurry. As a general rule, handlebar baskets should not be loaded too heavily, as this can affect your handling and cause you to lose your balance.

For more storage space and a balanced weight distribution, a bicycle basket for the luggage carrier or a rear basket is the perfect solution. Bicycle baskets for the rear usually have more volume, which means you can store more without affecting your visibility or your riding experience. Not only can you transport larger loads, but there is also enough space for heavy items of luggage in a rear bike basket.

Another way to differentiate between the baskets is their construction. There are both open and closed bike baskets. Do you want to protect your belongings in bad weather or prevent them from falling out on uneven ground? Then a closed one is the right choice. These baskets are made to withstand rain and wet conditions. A closed basket is a reliable companion, especially in changeable weather conditions.

However, the classic, open bike basket is more suitable for everyday use. This good-weather companion is not only cheaper to buy, but is also perfectly adequate for the majority of trips and errands. In the event of a spontaneous downpour, a water-repellent insert bag or rainproof basket bag can provide a remedy. Otherwise, if you want to be on the safe side, go straight for the closed bike basket version.

Bike baskets for the front and rear can hold a lot of volume and weight. Luggage baskets are particularly suitable for larger loads, such as compact school bags, four-legged friends or heavy shopping. Depending on the model, a load of up to ten kilograms is even possible. As the handling characteristics of bike baskets can quickly become a traffic risk if overloaded, you should always observe the manufacturer information. Safety first! We therefore provide you with as much information as possible about each bike basket in the respective product descriptions – so that you are sure to find the right model for you.

Another bike basket category is school bag baskets. School bag baskets are bicycle baskets that are specially designed to fit school bags of all kinds. The basket edges are higher on these models so that the school bag does not fall out of the basket in the event of a pothole or sharp bend. School bag baskets are mounted on the luggage carrier. This gives the child more visibility and ensures better riding characteristics so that your child gets to and from school safely and securely.

There are also children's bike baskets for the very little ones. They are specially made for children's bikes – and therefore designed accordingly: cheerful motifs such as colorful butterflies, cute bows or brightly colored wire baskets make cycling even more fun for children. In addition, these models are adapted to the dimensions of children's bikes, which is why children can ride them safely on the bike path or sidewalk.

Whether as a dog basket or for cats – pet baskets for bicycles are specially designed for the safe and comfortable transportation of four-legged friends. As a rule, they consist of a wicker basket to which removable grids are attached and can be combined with variable wind and weather protection. Extra reflectors, carrying handles and the safe and easy attachment of the basket to the bike ensure a good riding experience – for both humans and animals.

Now you know the different types of bike basket. We have listed all the different types of bike baskets below:

• Handlebar basket: These bike baskets are typically mounted on the handlebars or in cockpit area
• Luggage carrier basket: These bike baskets are mounted or clamped onto luggage carriers
• Open bike basket: These baskets are open at the top so that you can fill or empty them quickly
• Closed bike basket: These bike baskets are closed. The advantage is that the transported goods are stored more securely and, if necessary, protected from the weather.
• School bag bike basket: These bike baskets are specially adapted to the size of school bags.
• Children's bike basket: These bike baskets are specifically designed for children's bicycles
• Dog bike basket: Bike baskets for transporting your beloved four-legged friends

Another way to differentiate between bike baskets, and therefore an important purchase criterion, is the material they are made of. From steel to aluminum, plastic, polyester, willow, rattan and wood – bike baskets are made from a wide variety of materials. In addition to your own preference, the intended use plays a decisive role in choosing the right basket.

They are the classic among bike baskets – elegant, modern, functional and, above all, robust, weather-resistant and rust-free. Wind and weather are no match for steel baskets. For this reason, a steel basket is the most reliable everyday companion of all bike baskets. Thanks to their simple colors – usually black and silver – these baskets can be used universally and match any bike. Steel Baskets are available in both coarse and close-meshed versions. To prevent smaller items from falling out, we recommend a close-meshed basket. If you are mainly transporting bags and larger items, a cheaper, coarse-meshed bike basket will most likely be sufficient.

They are lighter than steel baskets, but can sometimes be more expensive. Otherwise, they are identical in terms of function and use. Compared to steel bike baskets, you have to make sacrifices in terms of robustness and durability, but this does not mean that they are not of good quality. Ultimately, it is a 2G decision in which the two factors of money and weight play the decisive role.

Plastic bike baskets are more weather-resistant. They don't weigh much, are easy to clean and durable. However, they are not indestructible, as the weather will attack the material in the long term. Discoloration is also possible, which is why we recommend not leaving the baskets outside in the blazing sun for days on end. Plastic bike baskets are available in both woven and crate versions.

Fabric Bike Baskets hardly differ visually from conventional fabric shopping baskets. They are usually very dimensionally stable thanks to a rigid inner frame made of aluminum and can be folded up if necessary. With often padded carrying handles and a low weight, they are a comfortable shopping companion. We recommend these baskets above all to cyclists who are looking for a basket for shopping that they can also use as a shopping bag.

Bike baskets are easy to attach either by hooking them in directly or by using an adapter with a click system – the Klickfix or Klick&Go systems are widely used here. The latter variant is also available with a lock so that the basket cannot be unintentionally removed from the handlebars when the bike is parked. Alternatively, a corresponding bicycle basket can also be screwed on permanently.

The practical thing about Klickfix or Klick&Go systems is that you can remove the basket from the bike and take it with you in no time at all. A quick trip to the store without having to remove your valuables from the bike basket is no longer a problem. After shopping, the basket simply needs to be hooked into the existing adapter holder, and you're ready to go. Click systems are particularly common for handlebar baskets, but they are also available for carrier baskets.

Originally, a bike basket or crate was attached by clamping it between the saddle and the luggage carrier flap. However, modern fastening systems are recommended for safety reasons alone. They are firmly anchored in the mount and on the bike, which is why nothing slips, wobbles or falls off so quickly, even on bumpy surfaces.

So that you know which bike basket is right for your needs, and you can enjoy it for a long time, you should ask yourself the following questions when buying:

Checklist for buying a bicycle basket:

• What you want to transport?
• How large and heavy is the item you are transporting?
• Do you want a bike basket for the front or rear?
• What material should the bike basket be made of?
• Do you want to use your bicycle basket as a shopping bag, and should it be comfortable to carry?
• Should the bicycle basket have a practical click system or be firmly screwed on?
• Do you want to be able to lock the bike basket?

One thing is certain: a bicycle basket transforms the bike from a pure means of transportation into a transport vehicle. By fitting a bike basket, you can therefore use your bike more often in everyday life and do yourself some good at the same time – including getting some fresh air and strengthening your calves. The motto is clear: stuffy subway tracks, overcrowded buses and stop-and-go traffic by car can be a thing of the past with a bicycle basket thanks to the increased transport capacity. Now only one question remains: Do you already know which bicycle basket should be yours?

By the way: If you need a little more space for transportation, we also have solutions for you in our store. We have suitable bike bags and cargo bike trailers for heavier items, bulk shopping, longer tours or larger animal companions. And if you want to become a transport world champion, cargo bikes could also be an alternative.