Manzanita bikepacking handlebar cradle with 9L top load bag on a white background

Manzanita Cradle

The Manzanita Cradle was designed in partnership with Salsa, building on the success of their legendary Salsa Anything Cradle. The Manzanita Cradle is a bracket mounted, rigid handlebar cradle built for all riding conditions from rugged shredpacking to champagne gravel. The design provides ample, unobstructed mounting options for lights, computers, trackers, and more.

Available with the Manzanita Top Load or Side Load bags the Manzanita Cradle is fit for all types of bikes with 31.8 or 35mm handlebars.

Options: Manzanita Cradle w/ 11L Side Load Bag

Manzanita Cradle w/ 11L Side Load Bag
Manzanita Cradle w/ 9L Top Load Bag
11L Side Load Bag (bag only)
9L Top Load Bag (bag only)
Manzanita Cradle & Straps (no bag)

Product variants

Manzanita Cradle

Manzanita Cradle w/ 11L Side Load Bag

$240.00

Gravel rider using the Old Man Mountain Manzanita Cradle on a Salsa Flyway in the Alvord Desert of Oregon

Old Man Mountain was built on a simple, uncompromising promise: you should be able to take the bike you love anywhere you want to go. Whether you’re rolling out on a classic steel commuter, a custom carbon gravel rig, or a full-suspension trail bike that was never “supposed” to carry gear, we exist to turn your favorite ride into the ultimate passkey to the backcountry.

We don’t believe in leaving your dream bike behind just to go big or far, and we certainly don’t believe in worrying about whether your setup can handle the haul. From remote gravel tracks to forgotten forest roads and spontaneous overnighters, we build gear so tough, reliable, and adaptable that it simply disappears into the ride. Because when you’re out where the pavement ends and the cell service dies, the last thing on your mind should be your equipment.

The Manzanita Cradle carries that exact same zero-compromise mindset up front. Built rock-solid to secure your load right to your handlebars without slipping, sagging, or destroying your cables, it turns your cockpit into a bombproof launchpad for whatever gear the trip demands. It gives you the freedom to strip away the guesswork, lash down what you need, and lean into the unknown. Adventure more, worry less, and keep riding the bike you love—wherever the line on the map leads.

Old Man Mountain Manzanita Cradle with 9 liter top load bag attached to a Salsa Flyway gravel bike.

100% Waterproof Bags

Made from TPU fabric with HypalonⓇ reinforcements, fully welded seams, and a roll top enclosure. You can be fully confident that your gear will remain dry and protected, even if you don’t quite make that stream crossing.

Side or Top Load Bags

Available with an 11L Side Load or 9L Top Load bag.

The 9L is perfect for drop bar road and gravel bikes, while the 11L is a perfect companion for flat bar and mountain bikes.

Quick Mount

Simple hooks on the cradle and loops on the bag allow you to hang it on the cradle with ease! With the bag hooked, you can then let go to easily secure it to the cradle with the included cargo straps.

No overly complicated mounts, just elegant and simple solutions.

A mountain biker wearing a teal long-sleeve shirt and black shorts navigates a rocky forest trail on a dirt bike, framed by blurred green foliage in the foreground.

All Terrain Ready

The Manzanita Cradle is built to be super secure and is built for whatever riding you want to take on. Whether rowdy shredpacking or traversing around the world, it’s ready for anything.

Accessory Mounts

Handlebar mounting space is precious! The top of the Manzanita Cradle has 6 mounting points for accessories like lights, computers, trackers, and more.

Secret Stash Pocket

The stretch pocket on the front of the bags keeps snacks and other items easily in reach so you can access what you need without having to stop and open your bag.

100% Waterproof Bags

Made from TPU fabric with HypalonⓇ reinforcements, fully welded seams, and a roll top enclosure. You can be fully confident that your gear will remain dry and protected, even if you don’t quite make that stream crossing.

Side or Top Load Bags

Available with an 11L Side Load or 9L Top Load bag.

The 9L is perfect for drop bar road and gravel bikes, while the 11L is a perfect companion for flat bar and mountain bikes.

Quick Mount

Simple hooks on the cradle and loops on the bag allow you to hang it on the cradle with ease! With the bag hooked, you can then let go to easily secure it to the cradle with the included cargo straps.

No overly complicated mounts, just elegant and simple solutions.

All Terrain Ready

The Manzanita Cradle is built to be super secure and is built for whatever riding you want to take on. Whether rowdy shredpacking or traversing around the world, it’s ready for anything.

Accessory Mounts

Handlebar mounting space is precious! The top of the Manzanita Cradle has 6 mounting points for accessories like lights, computers, trackers, and more.

Secret Stash Pocket

The stretch pocket on the front of the bags keeps snacks and other items easily in reach so you can access what you need without having to stop and open your bag.

Full Product Specs

Manzanita Cradle

Rigid aluminum arms
Reinforced nylon cradle with easy mount bag hooks
6 accessory mounting points
64mm spaced mounts on the cradle arms
70mm spacing on the cradle
Angle adjustable
35mm and 31.8mm compatible

11L Side Load Bag

11 Liter capacity
Fully welded and waterproof construction made from TPU fabric
HypalonⓇ reinforcements are more abrasion resistant and provide structure to the bags
PFAS/PFC free materials
Easy mount loops
Air Purge valve
Stretch front pocket
Roll top enclosure is easy and reliable
638g (bag, cradle, and straps)

9L Top Load Bag

9 Liter capacity
Fully welded and waterproof construction made from TPU fabric
HypalonⓇ reinforcements are more abrasion resistant and provide structure to the bags
PFAS/PFC free materials
Easy mount loops
Air Purge valve
Stretch front pocket
Roll top enclosure is easy and reliable
618g (bag, cradle, and straps)

A technical diagram showing the dimensions of the Old Man Mountain Manzanita Cradle and two bag sizes.

Descending singletrack toward Sisters, Oregon on the OTT700

Eliminating the frustration of a shifting front load is a massive win for my personal bikepacking kit. Add the bulletproof construction and easy loading, and the Manzanita Cradle + Bag is a winning combination in my book!
— Greg Heil, Singletracks.com

On trail, the system does not move around much, and the two nylon straps do a good job of holding everything together. Even on singletrack and rougher terrain, they help compress things nicely and do a good job of staying put in the cradle itself when not tightened down, which is always a nice feature.
— Neil Beltchenko, Bikepacking.com

…the Manzanita Handlebar Cradle delivers on the promise of the premise. I used this thing on three different bikes during testing and had zero compatibility or collision issues. It bolts on and bolts off in about 90 seconds. It’s a full-featured cargo carrier that was good for every one of my bikes. Which is a good thing, because of course, none of my bikes are good for carrying cargo.
— Travis Engel, The Radavist

Black plastic cargo cradle accessory kit laid out on a white background, including a main cradle frame, two cradle arms, four cargo straps, and small hardware pieces, with text labels identifying each component.

Included in the Box

Cradle Body
Rigid Aluminum Arms
Bag (based on selection)
Cargo Straps
Mounting Hardware

Quick and Easy Mounting

Simple hooks on the cradle and loops on the bag allow you to hang it on the cradle with ease! With the bag hooked, you can then let go to easily secure it to the cradle with the included cargo straps.

No overly complicated mounts, just elegant and simple solutions.

FAQs

Please read our FAQs page to find out more.

Will the Manzanita Cradle fit my handlebars?

Yes! The Manzanita Cradle is designed to fit handlebars with a 31.8mm or 35mm clamp diameter, covering most modern road, gravel, and mountain bike handlebars. The cradle is angle adjustable, so you can dial in a position that works for your bike and riding style.

Be sure to check your handlebar's clamp diameter before ordering.

Will the Manzanita Cradle work with drop bars and flat bars?

Yes! The Manzanita Cradle works with both drop bars and flat bars, as long as your handlebars have a compatible 31.8mm or 35mm clamp diameter.

Choose the 9L Top Load bag for a setup that works particularly well with drop-bar bikes, or the 11L Side Load bag for extra capacity and easy access on flat-bar bikes.

Are the Manzanita bags waterproof?

Absolutely! Both the 9L Top Load and 11L Side Load bags use waterproof TPU fabric, fully welded seams, and a roll-top closure to keep your gear dry when the weather turns sour. Hypalon reinforcements add structure and abrasion resistance where it matters.

Just remember to roll the closure properly before heading out ;).

Can I mount lights, a GPS, or a bike computer to the Manzanita Cradle?

Yes! The cradle includes six accessory mounting points, giving you plenty of room for lights, computers, trackers, and other accessories. That means you can keep your cockpit organized without having to sacrifice valuable handlebar space.

We also offer dedicated accessory mounts for compatible lights, action cameras, and quarter-turn bike computers.

How do I attach or remove the Manzanita bag?

It's simple! The bag's loops hang on hooks built into the cradle, allowing you to position the bag before securing it with the straps. When it's time to unpack, you can release the straps and lift the bag off without wrestling with a complicated mounting system.

The rigid cradle keeps the bag supported and stable, making it a reliable setup for everything from gravel rides to rougher bikepacking routes.