Riverside 3.5L ADVT 900 Half-Frame Bag review
© Images by Hiatus.Design
Cost
★★★★★
Performance
★★★★★
Overall Score
★★★★★
Overall Score ★★★★★
Verdict: Designed for riders seeking extra and dependable storage for bikepacking expeditions at a very reasonable price, the Riverside 3.5L ADVT 900 Half-Frame Bag is a practical and durable accessory that has great utility as a top-tube frame bag as well as a half-frame bag.
Featuring a 3.5-litre capacity, the ADVT 900 provides ample space for essentials such as tools, snacks, and personal items. Its half-frame design allows for easy access while maintaining a balanced load distribution on the bike. The bag includes interior netting and straps, facilitating organised storage for items like pumps or tent poles.
Constructed to withstand rainy conditions, the bag boasts an IPX3 waterproof rating. This ensures protection against water spray from various directions, keeping contents dry during unpredictable weather. The coated zip, shielded by a protective flap, further prevents water ingress, safeguarding your gear.
Designed for versatility, the ADVT 900 is compatible with a range of bike sizes and features multiple loops around the bag allow for personalised attachment using rip-tab fasteners, ensuring a secure fit tailored to your bike's frame. The double-sided rip-tabs protect the frame's finish while preventing clothing snags, and self-locking straps with buckles on the down tube and seat tube enhance stability during rides.
Crafted from robust materials, the bag is built to endure the rigors of challenging terrains and long-distance riding. To maintain its condition and prevent potential abrasion between the bag and the bike frame, it's recommended to apply protective stickers to contact areas. Regularly inspecting and cleaning the bag will also prolong its lifespan and performance.
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The most notable things I like about it, aside from the price (c.£15), are:
It has a capacity of 0.75 litres, which is enough space to store your essential items such as a phone, keys, wallet, or energy bars, however I use mine for carrying a thin waterproof jacket and bulkier snacks on bikepacking expeditions, as it keeps it quickly accessible for when it inevitably starts to rain.
I’ve been using Fixplus straps since I started bikepacking in 2022 and now swear by them!
They come in many sizes and can be used to secure all kinds of items to the bike, or for holding heavy things together.
They work by having a small amount of stretch in the belt (but nowhere near enough to make it snap), which then pulls back against what you’re holding once you’ve found the correct hole for the belt.
They’re not waterproof and don’t claim to be, however they handle my sweaty heads for many months without complaint.
They’re highly affordable, coming in at under £40 (especially when compared to big brand name wireless in-ear headphones) and the sound quality is superb. I particularly like listening to podcasts and audio books when I head out on the gravel bike after a long day on the computer.

About the Author:
Chris is the founder of Hiatus.Design, a mission-driven branding and website design company that works with clients all over the world.
Over the course of his life, he has travelled to more than 60 countries across six continents, earned two Guinness World Records, completed the legendary Marathon des Sables, summited Mont Blanc and unclimbed peaks in Asia, become a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (FRGS), rowed across the Atlantic Ocean and obtained a Masterʼs degree in Business Management (MA).
The Versacage set come with 3 of Topeak’s excellent versamounts to attach to the frame or forks to hold the cage in place, and as you can see – it holds a 1.5-litre water bottle without any problems. I’ve cycled over 500 miles across Estonia in 2022 without any problems from either one of them