The Best Rear Bike Rack

We have been testing ways for commuters to carry gear on their bicycles since 2015. For this guide, Wirecutter’s Eve O’Neill did the following over the years:

• To find the best models for commuters, she researched 38 racks and chose 8 to test in person. Then she spent a total of nine months commuting with them, examining the ease (or lack thereof) of installation, the overall durability, the quality and effectiveness of the mounting hardware, and how well specific features improved (or hindered) portability and access to her cargo.
• She spoke to Mia Kohout, then the CEO and editor in chief of Momentum Magazine, a commuter resource dedicated to functionality and style. She consulted Eric McKeegan, then the tech editor at Dirt Rag and Bicycle Times. To get a heavy-user perspective, she interviewed Andrew Blash, a Yosemite National Park host who commutes 170 miles by bike two to three times a year. And no one knows bike carry better than touring cyclists and commuters, so she referenced a wide variety of forums and blogs.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, she reviewed and tested products with complete editorial independence. She was never made aware of any business implications of her editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

The racks we recommend can carry up to 55 pounds strapped on top or hanging from hooks on the sides without having too much impact on your bike’s handling. That’s plenty for a commuter who wants to take a laptop to work or pick up groceries.

We looked primarily at aluminum racks for this guide, but if you’re going mountain biking or bike packing, a heavier steel rack may be more appropriate. Those higher-end racks, like the Tubus Cargo, are stronger and capable of holding more weight, but they cost a lot more (more than $150) and appeal primarily to touring cyclists who traditionally have valued the ability to repair them in the field.

Front racks, by the way, do exist, but they can’t carry as much as rear racks, and adding weight to the front of your bike can affect your ride much more than weight over the back tire.

That said, if you’re just running small errands around the neighborhood, a front basket might be all you need. Baskets can hold about 10 pounds of stuff—going beyond that can make the bike hard to steer and hard to stand upright. Or, if all you need to carry is a lunch or a spare sweater, you could use a bike handlebar bag.