New Specialized Bike Packing Bags

[johnnystorm]

Looking similar is fine. Improving on an idea is fine. This is just sub standard.

One man company starts making a new product: https://www.instagram.com/p/BBB8psaP80O/

Big company orders one: https://www.instagram.com/p/BD1A0LzP8_R ... n_kingcage

3 months later...

Wow, that's pretty goddamn poor.

It's the Ritchey/Stump jumper rip-off all over again!

[johnnystorm]

Disappointingly (and surprisingly given their extensive R&D department) they all look very similar (some might go as far to say complete rip-offs?) of existing products from some well known small US manufacturers... Hope this doesn't have a negative knock on effect for those smaller companies.

Hmm, why did Revelate change their name from Epic?

[ScotRoutes]

The first lot of backpacking luggage I ever saw was the Revelate stuff, then Porcelain Rocket. So as far as I'm concerned, everything else I've seen since is arguably just a rip-off of those brands. I don't see any difference between Specialized, Blackburn, Alpkit, Wildcat, Uraltour etc. Each will make their own tweaks and improvements (and mistakes) and each will bring something slightly unique to the party. Whinging about the bigger names getting involved looks like the same sort of cliquey nonsense I've already seen in other outdoor pursuits.

[Steezysix]

Well said!

[Richard G]

Sometimes the ripping off is somewhat more blatant than others.

[johnnystorm]

Just watched the Ultra Romance video. I can now forgive Specialized for *anything*.

[fatbikephil]

Its interesting that various companies are experimenting with bracket attachments for bags - PDW being the latest. I've been toying with various home brewed brackets to stabilise bags on the seat and bars and come to the conclusion that its not worth it. Having your bags shoogle about a bit isn't a problem (as long as its not as bad as Alpkit seat harnesses) and racks and brackets like that are going to break at some point. The good thing about straps is that if they do break when your on a trip its easy to bodge them up whereas broken brackets, especially alloy ones, are much harder to bodge. Plus if your bike goes arse over tit brackets like that are more likely to bend or break whereas a strapped on bag will be fine.

Not convinced but as per Scot Routes comment at least companies are trying stuff out.

[HaYWiRe]

I'm actually a big fan of metal supports, and fashioned something together myself.
That one however looks a bit useless being above the back and will probably still waggle, having it underneath, ala porcelain rocket makes more sense as its getting compressed and supported.

I guess I compare it to backpacks, full racks are like external frames packed of old, rackless is for the ultralight and perfect packers, and "internal framed" falls somewhere in between.
More support for extra weight but still more minimal and lighter than racks.

As for weight of the bags themselves, not much of an excuse nowadays, especially if you have a frame for support, there's plenty of waterproof, tough and light materials to choose from.

[Alpinum]

The contact point of fabric and any stiff material is alway a weak point. The stiff part, here alloy tubes, rub through the fabric sooner or later. Manufacturers then add more fabric and reinforce those areas and your gear gets heavier and more expensive.

But then in my experience (the more regular) tents, rucksacks and other outdoor gear fail sooner than later. The UL stuff I use has changed this situation a bit. It won't exactly last longer, but gets worn out rather than failing in one spot.
When UL gear fails it's easier to fix thanks to its simplicity and mostly cheaper to replace.

I think the crucial part of longevity of most items comes down to if/where/how the flux is impeded.

[HaYWiRe]

I'll be honest, I've never considered abrasion an issue. I've worked with alot of fabrics and the weak point Is always the seams in my experience. However I haven't worked with many lightweight fabrics so can see your point.

Admittedly my experience had mostly been sewing for the military, and if any body know a squadie, they'll break anything! So strength is paramount.
What I sew for myself is very lightweight but doesn't need to be so strong. Trying to achieve both is clearly...well...expensive

[jameso]

re bracket supported bags etc .. I'd go for 2 types. Either pack light / small and use a good design for a stable and 'invisible' seat pack that you can still get behind if needed, just - score one there for Wildcat's seatpack.

Or, use reinforcements and mount it solidly so you can carry a bit more - but at that point I'd be just as likely to use a rack. Weight's lower down and I get better clearance for getting off the back of the saddle a bit. Could mount a light to it, guards if needed, etc.

In between bags ie a large, heavier seatpack, that may be the worst of both worlds ime although I've never had more than ~2.5kg in a Revelate style roll-up bag. Accepted that a rack isn't very on-trend right now but hey, function over fashion. New rack designs will be the NBT anyway.. if you're not carrying 20kg per rack they could go a bit lighter and more minimal in construction.

I'll be honest, I've never considered abrasion an issue.

- Worn through the saddle rail straps of 2 seat packs so far but the main body fabric of my kit lasts well enough. It'd be on my mind if I was riding a long tour with much off-road. Webbing with dry dirt in wears and starts to fray relatively fast I think. The rubberised Revelate straps are a benefit but they might not pull as tight in every area ie over a seat rail Wildcat-style, since they're stiffer.

The good thing about straps is that if they do break when your on a trip its easy to bodge them up whereas broken brackets, especially alloy ones, are much harder to bodge.

Agreed .. I ride in shorts that have a webbing belt holding them up, could keep a bag attached and just let my pants fall down here and there : )

[Richard G]

My Apidura stuff has numerous holes in the fabric. Disappointing.

Straps and seams are fine.

[Antony]

My Singletrack review is here:

http://singletrackworld.com/reviews/rev ... king-bags/

TL:DR - they're not terrible (apart from the bar harness, which won't stay put) but they're heavy, expensive, and aren't recommended for carbon bars and posts. To be honest I can't see many people buying them unless they discount them.

[jameso]

My Singletrack review is here:

http://singletrackworld.com/reviews/rev ... king-bags/

TL:DR - they're not terrible (apart from the bar harness, which won't stay put) but they're heavy, expensive, and aren't recommended for carbon bars and posts. To be honest I can't see many people buying them unless they discount them.

I was going to say "how big is that bar bag!?" but I see it's a spesh bag .. then I read
The aluminium clamps aren’t compatible with carbon bars, but they do come with a set of inserts for the (current) two main handlebar diameters. They secure with tiddly 3mm hex bolts which, being slightly ham of fist, I was constantly in fear of stripping or losing. I couldn’t get them tight enough to stop the support bracket rotating, meaning that within 5 minutes of hitting proper off-road, the handlebar roll would be buzzing the front wheel. And thus began a saga of faff.
I saw the Spesh and Salsa bar roll things using clamps like this and thought it was a bad idea - my old klickfix bar bag with a hard plastic/resin clamp was only just able to resist road-riding bumps without the back-up wire loop to stop it rotating. I hope the alu clamp slip-rotating on the bar won't score it. Your load of 2kg isn't that much there, plenty of riders will have more than that by the time a bar bag/pocket is full of food etc.

Edit
The bar harness weighed 400g
Brilliant .. you could have a rack that weighed only 100g more, held the gear lower and was more stable, and cheaper.

[Antony]

James, that's my experience of using Klickfix bar bags too - proper off road and they just get overwhelmed.

The mounts on the Spesh harness won't score your bars - they have rubber inserts that prevent this - and you can get them holding reasonably firm if you pad them with a bit of duct tape, but on rough trails they still move a bit. I was also terrified of stripping the allen bolts, they're more suited to a pair of lock-on grips than a bikepacking load.

Shameless plug here, but if you're a fan of porteur racks, a mate in Bristol has just started making really nice custom ones. http://clandestine.cc/custom-parts/