Buca Boots

I hesitated a bit buying this product because of some of the negative reviews but I’m SO GLAD I did because it’s changed the way I bike. I go more places on my bike, and it can actually handle all the stuff I have to carry — yoga mat, groceries, work stuff, etc. It takes way less planning to go run errands because all my stuff is in the buca boot.Two criticisms I’ve found to be untrue:Quality — yes, this thing is lightweight and might feel a little cheap in your hands at first, but not until I put it on my bike did I realize how IMPORTANT to the design that is — I can just barely carry my bike upstairs the stairs to the porch, and if the buca boot was any heavier, it would be such a load in addition to my rack. I’m happy the designer made this thing as light as possible while still being sturdy and waterproof (keeping my work laptop safe in the rain!!!)Price — once I compared it to other bike gear I’d bought in the past (cough, that $300 canvas /leather pannier) I feel like the buca boot is WELL worth the dollar amount because it just looks better and does a lot more. And I use it every single day. Also, I saw on their web site when I was looking up how to install it that the founder is a woman who just loves biking and wanted to invent this thing. Maybe that’s marketing mumbo jumbo, but I love supporting an independent lady business owner.Anyway, love my buca boot!

I was somewhere between a 3star and 4star review. I gave it a 4 in order to give props to the design. I like my Buca Boot but was disappointed in the final choices of materials. It reminds me of an Ikea product. What was represented in the promotional videos is not what I received although my product does match the Amazon photos. For example, the cover panels are not solid wood like you see in the promotional video. The actual wood panel is a fairly thin skin set in a plastic frame. The inside sliding and locking hardware is also plastic which again is not like the promotional video. I am not so convinced on its security. The locking and closed lid is certainly a deterrent and I live in a fairly secure town. But if I biked to a slightly lower neighborhood, I would not be care free about what I leave in there. When riding, if your cargo load is stacked on the high side it will change your center of gravity. So be mindful of the weight displacement.From other reviews, it seems to stand up to weather and some bumps and bruises. So I am still hopeful about it as an addition to my work commute and weekend adventures.Overall, I would have expected a little more heft and refinement for a product with a $200+ price tag. I looked at a lot of high end panniers from REI and the like which I know would have stood up for years and their price tag was $50-100 less. So my expectations were fairly high.I will add photos at a later point if I am able to revise this post.

It is a cute design, although for a $200 price tag I didn't expect so much plastic.My boyfriend is an avid cyclist and willing to give me his old bike racks but the buca boot didn't fit 3 different types of racks and we ended up having to drill new holes into the buca boot and make new brackets. Also, the screws inside don't have washers so they literally are holding onto the plastic just by the head of the screw (I added brackets inside).It's a nice addition to my bike, but for the price tag I could have also gotten a way nicer pannier backpack and saved some money.

This is amazing!! I love everything about this bike basket!

I've been using my Buca Boot for more than a year and I really can't imagine life without it. It has traveled with me from San Francisco, to Boston, to Burning Man. I like it so much, in fact, that I bought a second one for my wife. Obviously, I'm a fan. But I also know that Buca Boot might not be for everyone. Here are the pros and cons from my perspective ...THE GOOD- Super convenient for carrying my things around the city. I'm a bike commuter and it's such a relief to feel like I always have the storage I need, whether it's the tupperware holding my lunch, that book I need for work, or the beer I want to pick up on the way home.- It fits SO MUCH STUFF. I once used it to bring a 30-rack of PBR to a picnic. See attached photo.- Makes it easy for me to carry around my "just in case" stuff, like a rain jacket, pump, extra tubes, etc. I just keep it closed an locked on my bike at all times.- At Burning Man, where you stay out on your bike all night, I used it to carry my extra warm clothes and a bunch of beer to get us through the night. Best of all, I wasn't burdened with all my stuff. I could leave everything safely on my bike while we ran off to the next DJ or art car.- Security. After more than a year with two Buca Boots in our household, our stuff has always stayed safe (and dry to boot).- Beauty. I get compliments all the time. It turns heads.THE NOT-AS-GOOD- As some reviews have noted, it tends to rattle on your back rack as you roll around city streets.- You have to keep your eye on your back rack. I've noticed that over time, it loosens the screws on the rack that attach to the bike. On the plus side, if you keep those screws nice and tight, it reduces the rattling.- At first, I had a little trouble closing the doors. It feels like you should pull UP on the handles, but really it's a simple slide. Once I trained myself out of my default behavior, I got the hang of it. But I struggled at the start.- Some folks complained that you can't take it on and off the bike at a moment's notice. That's true. But I guess I see it as a security feature.- The Boot comes with two keys. Of course, my wife promptly lost both of hers, leaving a bunch stuff locked inside her Boot. Thankfully, we had registered on the website. and when we contacted the manufacturer, they were super nice and immediately sent us a set of replacement keys.- It would be extra cool if they had a keyless entry (using my phone, maybe?), built-in lights, and the ability to charge my devices while I rode.All in all, I think the convenience outweighs anything bad you could say. This really changed the way that I bike.

Thoughtfully-designed and totally practical. Better than a basket because it locks and is weather-proof and has more versatility than panniers. If it can survive two Boston winters, I'd say it's pretty sturdy...and very unique.