BEFORE & AFTER pics from a ‘light’ cardboard bicycle box
Here is a before and after pic from Ash. The box was neatly packed. But it lacked three things when compared to cardboard bike boxes from OEM manufacturers. Like when new stock arrives at bicycle shops. It is much better to re-use those structurally sound cardboard boxes, than some other alternatives. Yes, we know, because we handle many bicycles. And we have had our own production runs for bicycle boxes. And those bike boxes are extremely heavy. Let’s have a look at what happened here.
What are the drawbacks of a ‘light’ bikebox
Well, as the name suggests, it is not intended for heavy use. Despite the online claims. The real-world testing fails. As we have seen above. More than once. Not necessarily on our carriers but in general. And the reasons for that, in our humble opinion, based on a fair amount of experience, are the following. And last but not least, number 3 is my biggest concern…
- Light construction. Despite being labelled as double-walled, these boxes feel flimsy when compared to top brand-new cardboard bike boxes. And the boxes are lighter, in our experience, for the same size, which means less cardboard in use.
- No proper handles. If there is no handle on the side or at the back, then it becomes very difficult to move the packed and closed boxed. But a cutout in a light material side is not enough, because given a heavy load it will fail.
- The top flaps do not overlap. They simply meet in the middle. Which is terrible for the structural integrity of the box. And combined with no handles on the sides there is no way to easily maneuver the boxes. Especially if it is heavily laden. And despite the marketing on some sites, stacking is a no-go.
*NOTE: This doesn’t mean that you can’t use the above at all. I have sent my own road bike in a BOXMAN box before and may do so again. In fact, if it is a very light or small or older or kids bike then by all means, go ahead and use the options above. But for a high-end or very valuable or a heavy bicycle or e-bike I would look at the proper bike shop alternative. In fact, in some cases, a proper large screen TV box may also be a better alternative.
Which bike boxes could be classified as light?
A quick google search produces the following:
- The R305 Boxman warehouse bicycle box with dims 146*26*79
- The R191 Argus bike box from Boxes Online with dims 108*33*79
- The R234 Moving bicycle box from Box Shop with dims 145*27*80
What are the alternatives? A proper bikebox from your LBS.
Compare the above to a re-used proper bicycle box from your local bike shop, where you can probably get the box and the labour to pack it (so you don’t have to fiddle with the bubble wrap and you know it has been professionally packed) for a national average of around R299-350. And the dims there are more generous at around 160*30*80 cms avg LBH. So easier to pack the bike. And more secure because the rear wheel almost always stays on because of the extra length. So getting feet into bike shops win on box cost and convenience – you don’t have to do the work, just drop off your bike and let the pros handle it. Then we can collect directly from the shop when ready.
Below are the AFTER pics from bike boxes that arrived at our depot and has already gone through the transport process. And more than once. So a proper bicycle box does make a difference. These one have handles, much more padding, and completely fold over at the top. Making them good to go again and again.
TADA!
So, grab a box from your LBS whenever possible. Different bike boxes from TREK and GIANT and SPECIALIZED and the big brands are absolutely amazing. You won’t need to worry. And in most cases, you won’t even have to bother with bubble wrap, given there are sufficient cardboard inserts between the various components to prevent them from touching while in transit.
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PS, featured image from https://www.thebikerack.com/articles/fall-2020-update-pg737.htm
