Much stronger and more resilient than a bag, bike boxes are generally constructed from hard plastic. The major selling point on a bike box is the safety of a hard construction that shouldn’t bend or flex under pressure.

Some are large and fairly square, which means there is plenty of space to store your kit around the bike if you can fit it in and remain under the weight limit, whilst others are moulded into the most efficient shape to save space, making them easier to store and transport, but giving you less wiggle room on adding kit, energy products, and the like.

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There are usually designated and moulded spaces for wheels, skewers and often straps to hold the frame in place and prevent it from moving around in the box.

The downsides on bike boxes are the cost – cheaper boxes are around £150, and more premium brands, such as Bike Box Alan which has a metal ‘anti crush pole’ for ultimate safety, could set you back just shy of £400. They’re also generally much heavier, at around 10kg – 12kg, give or take.

The other negative on bike boxes is that you’ll need to store it throughout the year when you’re not travelling. You can solve both the cost and storage issue by choosing to hire a box as well. If you’ll be travelling regularly, this is not so cost effective, but for 1-2 holidays a year, it’s not a bad idea. Many local bike shops offer a hire service.

Another alternative is to opt for a soft bike case like an Evoc Travel Bag – these have a strong structural frame, but the body is made from a strong fabric, which in this case is collapsible making storage easier and reducing weight substantially.