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Hi all,
Must confess I got a little behind times when it comes to bikepacking gear since I was b@lls deep into it some 7 years ago. Got a gravel bike for commuting a month ago, and it opened a can of worms and the bug is bitting again.
Planning a couple of trips here in Switzerland and also not a huge fan of commuting with a backpack, so in the market for a new saddle bag. Used to have a Bikepack Repack a while ago that I (maybe foolishly) sold for not being dropper post compatible.
Here's what I'm looking for:
- around 10l volume, +-2l or so
- vendor needs to ship to Switzerland
- mostly to be used on the gravel bike, but dropper post compatibility a big plus. By that I mean having a single post strap close to the saddle and not extending down too much against the seat post like my Repack did.
- I still have the Alpkit Airlok tapered drybag I used with my old bag, so no need for the new one to be waterproof. It makes more sense to me to leave the bag attached to the bike and bring the drybag with me into the tent/locker room. Also seems to make more sense for the relatively fragile water resistance to be in a cheap replaceable drybag than on the expensive and exposed saddle bag.
- would be nice to be from a brand able to supply a set with partial frame bag at least, bolt on top tube bar and fork bags a nice plus
- don't have a hard budget limit, but would prefer not to spend more than I have to.
Which options would you suggest?
The Restrap saddle bag seems nice, but they get super expensive on CRC (CRC ships with custom clearance for Switzerland).
The Topeak Backloader also seems nice, but wonder how durable it is. Mind the bag is to be used everyday, on the rain, snow, negative temps, salty roads etc
I have one of these. I am particularly impressed with the way there is a bracket bolted onto the seat which the bag slides onto. comes with its own liner bag ( which needs it seams sealed) and comes off the bike very easily anyway
https://carradice.co.uk/shop/bikepacking/bikepacking-seatpack/
Was going to recommend the Revelate Vole, but it seems they don't make it any more. Bombproof (Has a big skid plate to protect the bag itself from the tyre, and dropper-friendly, though...
I ordered a bar bag from direct from Restrap and it was despatched to Germany from Belgium. I didn't get any crazy shipping costs, just normal costs.
Unlike when my mum got charged £20 by the Royal Mail for sending a box of teabags and a six pack of Seabrooks 😯
Alltricks sell Restrap stuff, prices better than CRC and ship from France
Thanks for all the answers.
Thanks about the Alltricks suggestion, I seem to always forget that store exists. On the Restrap bag, is the 14L one that big?
Any thoughts on the Topeak one?
I've got the Topeak one and found it doesn't have a good built-in way of stopping the swaying around unlike say tjagain's linked one or the Specialized equivalent. The straps through the saddle rails can easily slide from side to side no matter how tight you pull them. Otherwise fine though and the bungee / light clipping points are handy.
Carradice do something to help stop the swaying which I might try if i can't find a cheaper alternative - https://carradice.co.uk/shop/accessories/bikepacking-rack/
Also to keep whatever you get away from the dropper post, there is the Topeak DP mount which should work with most bags. - https://www.topeak.com/global/en/products/298-Bottle-Cage-Mounts/1139-DP-MOUNT