Colorado Kid

I'm looking to add a front basket to the commuter bike but which one? Ward has always been a top leader but there are so many other brands out there that seem good too. So I have to ask, which one is the best and why?

Giant Doofus

Do you plan to hang it from your handlebars or mount it to a rack? Which you choose should depend on how much weight you plan to put in there. More weigh = put it on a rack or get a basket with struts.

All of that is preface to this: I have a basket zip tied to the handlebars of one of my bikes. I went into Michael's and picked one that looked sturdy and about the right size. It was on sale for $7. I only use it for storing extra layers like gloves or a fleece layer in the "between" seasons. One thing to be cautious of: without a cargo net, things will bounce right out if you hit a bump.

kickstart

I like my Steco folding crate, and with a Racktime quick release it takes one second to put on and take off.


Racktime makes a front rack that would work with the same setup
https://ortliebusa.com/product/top-it/

fietsbob

Popular at The Local Here, is one that simply hooks ober your handlebars. It has 2 parts .

lifting the handle of the basket releases it from the support hooked over the bars (& leaning against the head tube, to further support the weight .

buyers are typically just cruising..


Wald newsboy baskets can really carry a lot of stuff , braces go to your front axle.

wicker and ash baskets look nice . there are plastic coated wicker looking baskets too .


Then there is the whole Porteur front rack thing..

CETMA racks https://cetmacargo.com/pages/cetma-racks-info

Gresp15C

I've been casually researching this question, as I've considered adding a front basket to a new bike, for my typical commuting needs -- carrying my lunch, rain gear, and occasional stops at the store on the way home. I've also attached baskets to other bikes in the family.

Here's the problem, as I see it: Nothing fits the modern bike, due to short head tubes, creative handlebar designs, and the mess of cables in the typical cockpit. Those old Wald baskets (had one as a kid) are perfect for the relatively uniform bike designs of that era. Now, if you don't have good attachment points for the basket, on top and bottom, the thing will flop around just enough to eventually wreck itself, while also mangling all of your cabling.

The one thing that might help is a front rack that attaches to those two threaded inserts that are on a lot of newer forks. The Top-It rack linked by @kickstart is the only product I've found with that mounting scheme. REI also has those, same price. There are also some quite inexpensive racks that attach to the vee-brake posts, but I don't know how those would affect operation of the brakes.

On my other commuters (old Schwinn beater and an old winter Salt-O-Cross bike) I have a regular rigid rear rack and Wald 585 non folding basket attached with stainless hose clamps. Those baskets have taken a beating -- years of constant use and heavy loads from the supermarket.

AusTexMurf

Deluxe Porteur Rack ? Stainless Steel | SOMA Fabrications

You can get it with fence to serve as basket and still attach two ortlieb front panniers.

ColonelSanders

Are you looking for a front basket that can be easily removed and put back on again, or will it be fixed in place?

A permanently fixed in place basket will be cheaper, but if you want the convenience of being able to take your basket off and on again easily, I recently purchased the Racktime front rack and Racktime front basket and I am very, very impressed with the connection system they have, that allows for easy removal.

I would recommend it without hestitation.

Miele Man

I have a front basket here somewhere that's a lot like an open handlebar bag. There's a mount just like a hanblebar bag mount and the basket clips into that. The basket has a carrying handle that folds down out of the way when the basket is on the bike. It'd be very useful for commuting or small shoping trips.

Cheers

jetta_mike

I have one of these on the way.

Origin8 Classique front rack

bmthom.gis

I'm a big fan of Wald...but Topeak also makes some nice front baskets. Quick release - so easy to take on/off. As much as I love Wald, if I were to go with a front basket I would probably choose the Topeak so I could take it off when not planning to use it.
Topeak® Cycling Accessories ? Products - Baskets > Korb vorn

blakcloud

The Wald is inexpensive and functional. This one zip tied to a Nitto rack.



On a porteur rack. (I really liked this for the heavy loads).

okane

Carried my 20 pound dog around in it for a number of years. I set it up on a Breezer with QR skewers at the axel, and weld nuts at handle bar. Takes about 3 minutes to remove or install with 1 hex wrench and is rock solid when riding. Previously used it on a World Sport and both dog and I had many happy miles together until he became blind and is now fearful of riding.

Let me know if you want further info. PS--taking an identical setup to Trexlertown to sell this weekend

CrankyOne

I've had handlebar mounts, fork mounts, and frame mounts. I'm a huge fan of the latter. Riding is much more comfortable and enjoyable without any weight making steering weird. The Azor rack below that we have on all of our bikes can be installed or removed in about 20 seconds as it simply slides in to the mounting tubes.

Azor/Steco Pickup frame mounting front rack

mr geeker

You could always get a cheap big box store basket. They work decently enough, even if you have to bungee cord it to the handlebars and head tube. Probably work even better if you have a front rack to zip tie it to.

jaydee33

Where did you get that Azor Steco pickup rack. I would love one and am in Los angeles.

CrankyOne

Sorry about the late reply. They're available from Workcycles and Dutch Bike Bits

https://www.workcycles.com

https://www.dutchbikebits.com

CrewFan

Kickstart - did you have to buy the crate and the quick release separately?

blackieoneshot 

I ordered a Wald 137 for my old Peugeot earlier this summer. Installation was simple and solid. It's become my favorite grocery bike.