Was not sure whether I should go with the mag lock or the zipper and now I'm 100 percent sure. Thanks for pointing out the issue of the top closing without holding it open! I think this would be veeeery annoying while riding. In my opinion the zipper also looks way cleaner!
Thanks for another great and informative video. I just bought and installed a Tailfin rear rack and bag system based on your video from last year. Love what you all do for the BikePacking community. The Dude Abides.
My fav top tube bag is the custom Baby Legs Bags I got that fits my frame perfectly and has the colours I want. Being only able to get black or white from most popular brands has finally pushed me to go custom and pay a one-person-local-business directly.
Thanks for another great review. I ordered the 1.5 liter pack today. Just the right size and will bolt on to my Priority 600X. I have been using a Topeak top tube pack that has a nice water resistant hole for a charging cable. Nice pack but not water resistant on long wet days of touring. Tailfin makes good product and look forward to receiving my new pack once it ships April 25.
@@KelsoBradshawHi Kelso and thank you for the question. My bike has two screw holes built into the top tube. These holes are designed to connect top tube bags of this design. You can also mount to a traditional top tube with the included straps. The bag does not move around much when screwed to the top tube. However, I can't speak about how secure the bag may be mounting with only straps.
Always look forward to your weekly youtube input, I like your down to earth way of conveying. I think Tailfin's products are very overrated, especially their carbon rack for pannier mounts. Don´t think that you will be able to measure a reduction in wind resistance, and you can only save around 100 grams, it is for a price that is 10 times higher than others. The Toptube pack is also unreasonably expensive, it's a completely normal pack. Having said that, I think you are super good at keeping us informed on everything that is happening on the cycling front. Also appreciate the way you tell about your cycling adventures. So can't wait for your next input.
Agree on the racks, but disagree on the pack! Tailfin's is $70, which is similar to other packs like Apidura Race ($68), Salsa EXP ($68), Lead Out Racelite ($75), etc. It's pretty average in the 'premium' category of direct mount, and actually waterproof bags.
I got the Louis Garneau Groad top tube bag (and half-frame bag) on sale over the winter. No direct mount option but welded seams with structural fabric. I’m looking forward to using them this year. Tailfin’s bag looks nice too!
Many of use don’t have direct mount top tube mounting points, so it’s nice that they have straps better than Velcro. The only problem with many of the various straps that come with bags, they’re too long it you have a steel or Ti frame with smaller tubing.
I have a couple of RockBros top tube bags, super cheap, but above everything else - super sturdy. The more you pay doesn't necessary lead to a better product, however I love the flip-over version but can see that behaviour you talk about being somewhat distracting or annoying. Expensive end vs budget end - they both share the same common enemy - the zipper. The number of times I have broken a zipper is beyond silly - someone really needs to invent an alternative, and I guess thats what the flip-over version seeks to achieve. There's always a compromise somewhere.
After two weeks I guess I must give up getting one of these bags in the USA. Unless someone has a suggestion here, I must move on. Thanks again for the video.
As my bikepacking bike is a Moots Mooto-X with the top tube cable routing, I'm always looking for better designs in these tank style bags. The latest solution was to put rigid plastic cable housing over the cables so I can synch down the velcro on my Revelate bag and not have excessive pressure on the exposed cables. It work OK, but wonder if the elevated mounting blocks on these bags might be a better option to route the cables under or around those blocks.
I want to like a front mount TT bag, but riding a small frame with already limited standover, the bag is always right in my business when I dismount. So instead I've gone with a rear mount TT bag. Picked up one from Rogue Panda. Only a couple rides on it so far, but its gonna do well. My legs don't rub on it, but I usually ride in knickers, and I am getting used to the sound of the knicker fabric rubbing on the bag. Ah well..
One complaint I have is lack of colors. The white test kits were a neat thing to see but then only to revert back to bland black is just ugh. This Top Tube pack can actually exist on a regular normal road bike to carry pieces of your kit. I have one that does this but would love to get some colors that matches my bike rather than seeing black from Tailfin as far as the eyes see.
The zipper version is very similar to the Rockbros top tube bag which goes for $15 at AE. Only difference seem to be Rockbros uses velcro instead of Voile-type TPU straps. But for $65 dollars less, velcro for the win!
I use RockBros ones myself and yes hell of a lot cheaper, I still haven't found a plausible use for the cargo net thingy on one side. I tried a banana once - naturally it fell out!
@@BikepackingAdventures The one with the mesh pocket on the side is the newer version. I have both the original (w/o mesh pocket) 1.0lt and the 1.6lt versions for almost two years of intensive use. The TPU material is still brand new and the welds are flawless. Probably manufactured in the same chinese factory that makes the Tailfin models. And regarding use for the mesh pocket? the sticky wrappers in which bars and gels are packed in.
Be aware, after 4 weeks and several emails (not all were answered by tailfin) I still have not received my complete order. A real drama and still not solved. 1.1 l Bag is ok but still gets in the way, customer support is lacking!
My timberjack has bottle cage mounts on the bottom of the downtube. Are there any bags that are designed to be direct mounted there? I think most top tube bags would work but the zipper would be in a bad location when it's mounted upside down. I need one that has a side zipper
Like the look of it, but the top tube on my full suspension bike (YT Izzo) is super flat on top, would be nice to have these with a flat rubber piece. The rubber and the shape of my top tube would make this super well without having a head tube strap.
I'd still try it. The straps also provide a secure fit, and I've seen several reviews where they mounted it on an MTB with flat top tube and praised the pack.
No. I have the 1.1 zip and my s24 ultra with a super thin case fits but gets in the way of the zipper when opening and closing. I suspect it would be worse with the 0.8.
my top tube is tapered and seems like this mounting config. would let the bag slide backward: you think? On the other hand, I have next to no headset height so the no-front tie-in would serve well.
I'm thinking of using a top tube bag on my enduro bike so I can get rid of my back or hip pack. I don't have bolt on my top tube. Because of my coil shock I can't use a frame bag under my top tube. Would this bag be stable enough to use on rough trails?
That's the beauty of this design: you don't need to secure it to your steerer tube in order to keep it stable. The two top tube straps or bolts are enough.
sorry, but design looks like Apidura racing top tube bag ripoff. But two ways of mounting the bag is pretty slick. with Apidura you have to choose: bolt version or straps
Perhaps the flip lock is more secure - I would like to see a test. I have had the mag closure on the Apidura Racing bag pop open on a bumpy gravel ride and I lost a wallet.
