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There’s a lot to like about a removable bike basket. Although simple in design they enable us to carry items when riding a bike.
Backpacks are uncomfortable to ride in and pannier bags require special fitments, but baskets fit most bikes and suit most rider’s carrying requirements.
Sometimes you might want to ride to the shops and use the basket to gather your item or even not ride with a basket attached at all.
Therefore many brands now offer a detachable bike basket. These baskets are something you can whip off at a moment’s notice. Here are 7 of our favourites.
Best Removable Bike Baskets
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Removeable and it Folds
Raymace Bicycle Basket
Based around an alloy frame this basket is packed with features. An internal zipper, external pocket, carry handles, a retractable closure system and foot pads.
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Traditional Wicker Design
Nantucket Bicycle Basket Co. Lightship Basket
Available in a variety of shapes this is a traditional wicker basket that removes quickly fit the simple straps.
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Great Folding Design
Chanwei Folding Bike Basket
Super simple to mount and then remove this basket is actually foldable making it easy to store when off the bike.
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Includes Bag
Himiway Folding Bike Front Basket with Liner Bag
Another folding metal design this basket comes with the bonus of a liner bag to keep smaller items safe.
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Ideal for Carrying Pets
Selka Dog Bike Basket
Secured and removed from a bike via a quick release system this basket has loads of features to light up the eyes of pet owners.
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Traditional Basket with Thick Weave
Public Bikes Front Bike Basket
Handcrafted in America from materials of American origin, this is a simple, yet sophisticated front bike basket.
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Different Colour Variants Available
Apollo Steel Bike Basket
With a durable steel frame and 15lbs weight limit this is an ideal shopping basket thanks to its built-in handle.
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Types of Detachable Bike Baskets
There are many different types of detachable bike baskets and perhaps the best way to further sub-categorize them is by their material.
Detachable bike baskets can be made from wicker, metal, canvas or even a combination of those. Wicker baskets are the most traditional, with metal offering a better weight limit. Canvas detachable bike baskets are usually designed for a fixed purpose like pet carrying or the ability to fold.
Most detachable baskets, including all of those on our list, are front-mounted, that is to say, they attach to the bike at the front rather than at the rear.
1. Raymace Bicycle Basket
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£22 -
$28 -
€26
Prices are approximate
- Weight: 1.96lbs
- Weight Limit: 11lbs
- Size: 13″ x 10″ x 10″
Super design
Variety of prints/fabrics
Easily removed and folds
The first item on our list is this detachable number from Raymace. It’s a neat basket made from material and an aluminium frame.
With the carry handles, two pockets, closure system and pet tether this is an under-capable basket. Use it to do the shopping, take a picnic, carry your dog or simply stow the essentials and because it’s detachable when you arrive at your destination it comes off in a trice.
Pros
- Feature-packed
- Good capacity and weight limit
- Different colours
- Sold mount
Cons
- Mount is a tad bulky
- Needs to have enough clearance between handlebar and tire
2. Nantucket Bicycle Basket Co. Lightship Basket
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£41
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$52
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€48
Prices are approximate
- Weight: 0.2lbs
- Weight Limit: 13lbs
- Size: 12″ x 7.5″ x 9″
Uber-traditional
Light in weight
Decent load capacity
Wicker baskets are the most traditional form of bike basket and this option from Nantucket Bicycle Basket Co. fits most of the requirements of a removable basket.
It attaches via simple straps which unlike a bracket-type system won’t be instantaneous to remove but will be fairly quick nonetheless.
Because its woven from rattan the overall weight of the basket isn’t much and despite this, it has a more than acceptable 13lbs weight limit.
Pros
- Different designs and finishes are available
- Easy-to-access items
- Simple to fit
Cons
- Not super rigid when fitted
- Removal isn’t rapid
3. Chanwei Folding Bike Basket
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£16
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$20
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€19
Prices are approximate
- Weight: 2.8lbs
- Weight Limit: 55lbs
- Size: 13″ x 11.8″ x 1.97″
Folding metal basket
Excellent weight capacity
Secure handlebar attachment
Metal baskets tend to have better weight-bearing potential than those made from wicker or fabric. This is a basic option, but for the price, you can’t really argue about its utility.
The basket is secured with simple bolts and should you want to, you can fold it up whilst it’s still fitted to your bike.
Unfortunately, the large holes aren’t good for smaller items but that could be easily solved with a liner or bag.
Pros
- Cheap
- Great weight limit
- Folding design
Cons
- Not quick to remove
- Large holes not good for storing small items
4. Himiway Folding Bike Front Basket with Liner Bag
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£27
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$34
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€31
Prices are approximate
- Weight: 3.9bs
- Weight Limit: 66lbs
- Size: 13″ x 8.66″ x 7.87″
Foldable basket with bag
Bolts to handlebars
Excellent weight limit
Another folding basket that’s good for those riders looking for a basket with a decent weight limit. Incredibly Himiway state that this basket is rated up to an incredible 66lbs, that’s plenty for most basket-carrying requirements.
On the downside the basket itself isn’t quickly removed – you’ll need to carry some basic tools to do that on the fly. That said, the basket can fold and with the included liner bag you can ride your bag to the shop, buy your bits, and stow them back in the basket before you head home.
Pros
- Excellent weight limit
- Bag is a welcome addition
- Folds
Cons
- A bit on the heavy side
- Utilitarian in design
- Not quick to remove
5. Selka Dog Bike Basket
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£32
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$40
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€37
Prices are approximate
- Weight: 3.9lbs
- Weight Limit: 18lbs
- Size: 14.96″ x 14.96″ x 2.76″
Easily removed
Includes extras
Handy backpack straps
Best suited to carrying pets, this removable basket from Selka converts from a bike basket to a pet carrier in seconds. It’d be ideal to take dogs down to the park or a cat to the vet.
On the downside there are no colour options, it’s a bit large (nearly 15″ square) and load it with a heavy dog and you’ll have to be careful it doesn’t rub on the bike’s front wheel.
Pros
- Excellent pet-carrying potential
- Detaches in an instant
- Shoulder straps are useful
Cons
- No colours
- On the bulky side
- Fabric design might create issues with tire clearance
6. Public Bikes Front Bike Basket
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£56
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$70
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€65
Prices are approximate
- Weight: Not stated
- Weight Limit: 10lbs
- Size: 14″ x 10″ x 9.5″
Wicker basket
Simple attachment
Good storage
As looks go, this is our favourite detachable bike basket on our list. The woven look, in different colours, is great and it would top off a traditional city bike nicely.
Whilst it is a tad more expensive than others on our list, we’d heartily recommend it due to its sustainability credentials and the fact that it supports US based manufacturing.
Pros
- American-made from American-origin materials
- Different colours
- Good weight capacity
Cons
- On the pricer side
- Straps are not quick to remove
- No internal storage
7. Apollo Steel Bike Basket
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£20
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$25
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€23
Prices are approximate
- Weight: Not stated
- Weight Limit: 15lbs
- Size: 14.5″ x 9.5″ x 7.5″
Metal basket
Available in a variety of finishes
With handle
Another basic metal basket to finish our list off. This one doesn’t fold like some others on our list but it does have a handy carry handle and the attachment method, although a little crud, is simple to remove. This makes it great to use as a shopping basket at your local store.
The price is great but it’s not all bargain basement with this item, the Apollo basket has a finer mesh at the bottom, making it almost impossible for small items to drop out of the basket mistakenly.
Pros
- Carry handle
- The small mesh at the bottom is great for small items
- Stabilising bracket
- Good weight limit
- Loads of colours
Cons
- Velcro strap stabilisers perhaps not man enough
DIY Removable Bike Baskets
Given their relatively simple execution, it’s possible to make your own bike basket with a bit of know-how and a few simple tools.
We’re not suggesting you start weaving your own basket here, but you can easily modify an existing basket to fit. From there it’s a case of finding a way to attach the basket to your bike – zip ties are a commonly available item that should do the trick and withstand the rigours of daily use. You could also try using an old belt or even a wire coat hanger.
A popular way of making a removable bike basket is to make one out of material. Whilst it won’t hold heavy items it’s a great way at storing small items like a phone or wallet. Plus you can choose a fabric that you like!
For more rigid baskets (and if your bike has the right mounts) you can add some structured support with metal. That way you can carry heavier items without fearing that your DIY bike basket is groaning under the weight.
More Detachable Bike Basket Inspiration from Instagram:
