When it came time to choose a basket for my bicycle, I only had two requirements in mind.  I wanted something sturdy, and I wanted it to be fairly big.  When I looked at the Sunlite Mesh Bicycle Basket, I knew it met both of those needs.  When I found out it had a "quick release" feature, I was surprised.  It had never occurred to me how convenient that would be.  And now that I have that feature, I wouldn't do without it.

The basket is made of coated metal in a mesh design.  Thus there are small, diamond-shaped holes covering the entire surface.  It's good to know that if you're caught out in the rain, the basket will not hold any water.  There are absolutely no sharp edges.  At the top, which is its largest part, the basket measures 13 x 10 inches.  At the bottom, it measures 11 x 7 inches.  It's 10 inches tall.  The sides are slightly flexible - they'll give a little if pressed, but the metal frame is quite strong.  I do not believe the basket will break or crack, even if (when) I take a nasty fall from my bike.

I find the size to be quite convenient.  I always carry several items in there - a tire inflator, a chain and lock, a couple towels, and a small carry-all with my phone, keys, and wallet.  All of those items fit nicely at the bottom the basket.  When I go shopping, I can easily add a couple bags of groceries.  I can also pick up enough Chinese food for two people.  Sadly, the basket will not hold a pizza.  (Yes, I've tried).

The maximum weight it is designed to hold is 5 kg (approximately 11 pounds).  I don't put nearly that amount in there.  The one time I came anywhere close to that amount of weight, I felt the steering was awkward and uncomfortable.  For safety sake, don't push it, when it comes to adding weight.

How do I keep items from bouncing around too much, or from bouncing out altogether?  Well, I use the towels to wrap any items that are breakable, or that could be damaged from bouncing around.  To keep items from flying out, I use several small bungee cords strung across the top of the basket.  Because the entire surface of the basket is mesh, you can hook the bungee in virtually any position to hold your items in place.  If I have several small items, placing a folded towel on top of them, then placing the bungee cords across the towel seems to work well.  It would be great if it came with a snap-closed lid that could be used to cover the contents, but that could be folded out of the way when not needed.

So how about that quick-release feature that I mentioned?  Well, the basket clips into a plastic bracket, which is attached to the bike's handlebars.  Attaching the bracket to the bars is easy - it just takes two screws.  Then there is a clipping mechanism which attaches to the back of the basket with four screws.  The mechanism contains grooves into which the plastic bracket slides.  Thus it's a simple matter of sliding the basket down onto the bracket in order to attach it to the bike.  Once you slide it all the way down, a locking mechanism clicks into place.   To remove the basket, pull the locking mechanism toward the back of the bike, then lift the basket straight up.   So, it's a simple matter to attach/detach the basket.  This makes it easy to bring the basket right into the store with you.  Or, when you get back home you can bring it right into the house to unload it. 

The basket also has a handle with a soft rubber grip, that makes it easy to carry.  The handle can be laid down flat against the back of the basket, so it's not in your way.  This is useful for when you're riding (you wouldn't want the handle to stick up and block your view), as well as for when you're loading and unloading the basket.  When you want to use the handle, simply pull it straight up, and it will click into place.

Finally, you can adjust the angle of the basket, so that it tilts slightly up or down.  I'm not sure why someone would want it to be other than straight. But the option is there. As for me, I keep it straight.

I bought mine at the bike store for $30.  I've since seen it online for around $20. 

It's sturdy, it's big, it's easy to attach/detach, and it was a snap to install.  Overall, I could not be more pleased with this basket. 

Recommended: Yes