Last Updated on 7 January 2026 by Cycloscope
Bikepacking handlebars + the most comfortable bar-end & aero bars
The very best handlebars for touring: long-distance, trekking bikes, butterfly, multi-position, drop bars & more!
Handlebars are often overlooked in bikepacking and cycle touring, especially among newcomers to the sport.
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However, second only to your legs, your arms and hands experience significant stress during tours and can be easily injured if you have the wrong setup.
It’s essential to consider the type of cycle touring you’ll be doing and the handlebars that suit your needs.
Long-distance bikepackers often report numbness in their hands after long rides, which can lead to nerve damage if it persists.
To avoid this, use suitable bikepacking handlebars with hand positions, length, stability, and design that suit your riding style and daily distance.
You know what else makes a difference?
> The best saddles for cycle touring and bikepacking
Top 10 Handlebars for Touring & Bikepacking in a Nutshell
- Surly Moloko Bar – Best Multi-Hand Position Bikepacking Bar
- Kitchen Sink Gravel Handlebar System – Our handlebar for 2026
- Velo Orange Crazy Handlebars – Best Introductory Bikepacking Bar
- Dimension Trekking Handlebar – Best Long-distance Trekking Bar
- Ritchey WCS Venturemax Handlebar – Best Bikepacking Drop Bar
- Salsa Cowchipper Drop Handlebar – Best Long-distance Trekking Drop Bar
- Jones H-Bar Butted Aluminum Loop – 710mm – Best Overall Bikepacking Bar
- Surly Terminal Handlebar – Best Bikepacking Bar for Stability
- Ergon GP5 BioKork Grip – Best Add-on Grips for Touring
Top 10 best Handlebars for Bikepacking
Best Handlebars for Bikepacking
For bikepacking over rough terrain, most people prefer handlebars that are slightly wider and slightly more swept-back than typical MTB bars, preferably with added space to attach devices and bags.
1. Surly Moloko Bar [~ 110$]
Best Multi-Hand Position Bikepacking Bar
There are a few brands in bikepacking that command more respect than Surly, and when it comes to handlebars, it’s no different.
The Surly Moloko is consistently voted one of the best handlebars for bikepacking, featuring a popular style that offers multiple hand positions and ample bar space for attaching bags, mirrors, and devices.
Forged from the same CroMoly steel that made Surly bikes famous, these bars will survive the harshest conditions.
The sweep angle is 34 degrees, with a bar length of 735mm, providing a comfortable upright riding position and easy control around tight corners or on bumpy surfaces.
For cyclists who prefer narrower bars, Surly includes cut marks at 685mm on either end.
- Clamp diameter: 31.8mm
- Weight: 709g
- Width: 735mm
- Price: around 110 USD
2. Kitchen Sink Gravel Handlebar System
The Kitchen Sink Gravel Handlebar System is a modular drop-bar solution designed specifically for gravel riding, bikepacking, and long-distance adventure cycling. Built around a flared aluminum handlebar, the system prioritizes comfort, control, and versatility across rough terrain and extended days in the saddle.
Its defining feature is the modular grip and accessory ecosystem, which allows riders to add interchangeable top grips, drop grips, aero extensions, and integrated mounting points. This creates multiple hand positions, reduces fatigue, and improves stability on loose surfaces. The ergonomic flare in the drops enhances leverage and confidence when descending or navigating technical gravel.
We personally used the Kitchen Sink system during our bike trip across the Balkans, riding long days on mixed surfaces ranging from broken asphalt to rough gravel and mountain roads. The extra hand positions and improved control proved especially valuable on extended climbs and fast descents, helping reduce hand and shoulder fatigue over consecutive days.
Designed for real-world adventure use, the Kitchen Sink system also integrates seamlessly with handlebar bags, GPS mounts, lights, and accessories, making it particularly well-suited to bikepacking and endurance touring.
The result is a highly adaptable gravel handlebar setup that can be tuned to different riding styles—from fast gravel routes to fully loaded, multi-day expeditions—without sacrificing comfort or control.
3. Velo Orange Crazy Handlebars [~ 110$]
Best Introductory Bikepacking Bar
These aluminum handlebars from Velo Orange are another firm favorite in the bikepacking community, thanks to their multiple hand positions and wide, swept-back design.
At a 35-degree angle with a 40mm rise, the outer bars provide excellent control on loose gravel, singletrack, and MTB trails.
Tuck down and grab the horns when you hit the tarmac, and you’ll get the feel of riding drop bars at high speed.
With the common 22.2mm MTB-size grip area on the main bars and 23.8mm road size on the horns, the Velo Orange Crazy handlebar is compatible with most standard components.
While they lack the extra component bar found on similar bikepacking handlebars, weight-conscious riders will appreciate the lighter load they offer.
- Clamp diameter: 31.8mm
- Weight: 532g
- Width: 780mm
4. Dimension Trekking Handlebar
Best Long-distance Trekking Bar
So-called ‘Butterfly Bars’ (due to their shape) are a favorite amongst long-distance cycle tourists who often find their hands cramping if they don’t alternate positions frequently.
The swooping design offers the comfort of swept-back bars, the control of straight bars, the speed of drop bars, and numerous attachment points for components and devices.
With the Dimension Trekking handlebar in front of you, you’ll feel like the captain of a ship, safely navigating your vessel through rough seas.
No matter how rough the terrain, the Dimension Trekking handlebar provides the proper hand position for it.
- Clamp diameter: 25.4mm
- Weight: 479g
- Width: 585mm
5. Ritchey WCS Venturemax Handlebar
Best Bikepacking Drop Bar
At first glance, this looks like a standard drop bar, but the flared ends combined with multiple gripping points make the Ritchey WCS Venturemax ideal for long-distance touring and bikepacking on varied terrain, especially when paired with one of the best bar tapes.
Whether racing down smooth tarmac or attacking gravel trails, this lightweight triple-butted 7050 Aluminium bar will ensure you’re in perfect control at all times.
Long-distance tourers will also appreciate the flattened 38×22.5mm top section, which allows you to rest your hands while cruising along in a comfortable upright seating position.
For even more comfort and hand positions, consider attaching one of our handlebar add-ons from the accessories section below.
- Clamp diameter: 31.8mm
- Weight: 270g
- Width: 420mm
6. Salsa Cowchipper Drop Handlebar
Best Long-distance Trekking Drop Bar
Salsa is a leading adventure cycling brand, and its Cowchipper drop handlebar has long been a popular choice among bikepackers worldwide.
The simple design incorporates 24-degree flares at the ends, which significantly increase stability and comfort, making it ideal for long-distance riding.
Ex-road cyclists turned bikepackers will find these lightweight aluminum bars provide the perfect balance between speed, comfort, and stability.
The 120mm central area is ideal for use with the Salsa Anything Cradle or several other bikepacking handlebar bags, and at 31.8mm in diameter, it’ll easily fit an assortment of devices, add-ons, and aerobars.
- Clamp diameter: 31.8mm
- Weight: 453g
- Width: 460mm
Best Handlebars for Heavy-Loaded Touring
Multi-seasonal bike touring often requires extensive gear, which can make the bike unstable and difficult to control.
If you plan to carry a lot of weight, consider wider handlebars to help ensure you stay upright and on track.
7. Jones H-Bar Loop
Best Overall Bikepacking Bar
The broad, swept-back style of the Jone H-Bar provides a comfortable, wide hand position that is ideal for long-distance riding with added weight.
The design leverages small hand movements directly through the stem to the wheel, without placing extra pressure on your arms.
When looking for comfort, stability, and convenience on long, heavily-loaded bikepacking trips, you simply can’t beat the Jones H-Bar Loop.
The 31.8mm inner loop clamps on and can be wrapped in tape to provide additional hand positions, while leaving the top bar free to attach devices and components.
For smaller riders wanting a tighter fit, Jones has also included cut lines to reduce the width to 660mm.
- Clamp diameter: 31.8mm
- Weight: 525g
- Width: 710mm
8. Surly Terminal
Best Bikepacking Bar for Stability
With the Terminal, Surly used a cruiser-style rise with a swept-back design for this extra-long straight handlebar.
The bar ends sweep back 34 degrees and can rise or dip up to 40mm from the clamp position, providing a comfortable upright position while maintaining exceptional control on long rides carrying a heavy load.
If you’re planning to take your existing mountain bike on a long tour, the Surly Terminal is the perfect upgrade to ensure you have excellent handling while carrying weight over rugged terrain.
With a 22.2mm diameter and 31.8mm clamp diameter, the Surly Terminal bar fits all standard mountain bike components and devices.
- Clamp diameter: 31.8mm
- Weight: 400g
- Width: 735mm
Best handlebar accessories for touring & bikepacking
Sometimes, to get more comfy, you don’t really need a whole new handlebar; nice accessories like bar ends, aero bars, or so-called spinaches can make a hell of a difference to your riding position.
9. Ergon GP5 BioKork Grip
Best Bar-end Grips for Touring
Add-on grips are a great way to convert a mountain bike into a more comfortable bikepacking or touring bike.
These ergonomic grips allow you to rest your arms in a sideways position while cruising, imitating the relaxed style of riding the hoods on drop bars.
They also feature an additional bend at the top to maintain a comfortable upright seating position on long days in the saddle.
Built with 40% sustainably certified cork and fiberglass composite ends, these grips are lightweight and environmentally friendly (a non-cork version is also available).
- Weight: 253g
- Width: 142mm
How to Choose the Best Touring Handlebars
There are four important things to consider when choosing a touring handlebar: the terrain you are going to be riding on, the speed at which you want to ride, the amount of time you’ll be riding each day, and the level of stability you’ll require.
Terrain
If you’re only planning to travel on paved roads, i.e., tarmac, concrete, or asphalt, then you probably don’t need a wide handlebar that provides extra control in rough conditions.
Many cycle tourists have no problem using a standard road or gravel bike with drop handlebars to tour paved roads.
However, if you’re planning to get a bit more adventurous and head out onto wild, unknown trails, you’ll most likely need a wide, flat handlebar that provides more stability.
Eg: Nukeproof Horizon / Velo Orange Crazy
Speed
Drop handlebars are not generally considered the best choice for bikepacking and cycle touring, but they do offer one advantage over flat bars – speed.
Drop handlebars are commonly used by professional bikepackers who aim to break records because they’re designed to put your body in the optimal position for moving at speed.
However, this does mean you sacrifice some comfort and hand positions, which could become problematic after many hours in the saddle.
E.g.: Salsa Cowchipper / Ritchie Venturemax
Duration
Speed and duration often go hand in hand because riders who are traveling fast tend to spend less time in the saddle, and therefore aren’t too worried about hand comfort.
However, if you’re the type of cycle tourist who likes to ride for hours and hours on end, you’re going to need a handlebar with lots of hand positions.
Drop handlebars are not ideal for trips longer than 5-6 hours, whereas butterfly or trekking bars are designed to maintain comfort for 10 hours or more.
E.g.: Dimension Trekking / Surly Moloko
Stability
Bikepacking requires cyclists to carry more luggage than their bikes are typically designed to handle, which can make stability a challenge on rough terrain.
Fortunately, there are many extra-wide handlebars specifically designed to address this issue.
Swept-back handlebars provide excellent stability while keeping your body upright and your hands in a comfortable position.Â
E.g.: Jones H-Bar Loop / Surly Terminal
What makes a handlebar ideal for bikepacking and touring?
A handlebar for bikepacking should prioritize comfort, multiple hand positions, and stability on varied terrain. Wide drops, flared designs, and ergonomic grips help reduce fatigue on long rides, while integrated mounting points for lights, GPS, and handlebar bags increase versatility for multi-day tours.
How do I choose the right handlebars for my touring style?
Consider the terrain you’ll ride (smooth tarmac vs. rough gravel), how long you’ll ride each day, whether you’ll be carrying heavy gear, and your need for multiple hand positions. Wide sweeps and multiple grips provide comfort, while flared drop bars balance speed with control.
Which handlebars are best for heavy‑loaded touring?
For heavily loaded tours where stability is key, wider, swept‑back bars like the Jones H‑Bar Loop or Surly Terminal are recommended. Their design helps maintain control and comfort even with significant cargo on front racks or handlebar bags.
What are butterfly and trekking bars, and who should use them?
Butterfly and trekking bars (e.g., Dimension Trekking) offer multiple distinct hand positions and a swept‑back design, making them ideal for long‑distance touring, where reducing hand and wrist strain over hours and days is critical.
Why are drop bars like Ritchey WCS Venturemax and Salsa Cowchipper included?
Flared drop bars, such as Ritchey WCS VentureMax and Salsa Cowchipper, offer efficient riding positions for speed and endurance while still providing flare and varied hand positions, making them suitable for mixed terrain and long tours.