Topeak expandable trunk bag - an excellent commuter solution
I recently bought a "29er" mtn bike to start commuting daily to the office. I live in the high Mojave Desert - hence the mtn bike vs anything else. It's a short commute - 9 miles round trip from my house. I needed a way to carry a change of clothes,wallet, glasses,lunch, security badge, etc and do so without a lot of hassle. I looked at a lot of Panniers, handlebar bags, backpacks, etc. I finally decided on this Topeak bag. The Topeak bag (and the corresponding rack I also needed) was the ideal solution. The drop down panniers are great for keeping my dress shirts clean and pressed - the panniers also swallowed up my office shoes and long pants. ...haven't tried, but I suspect a laptop no larger than a 15" (screen) will fit nicely too. The bag is a lot larger than it looks. Overall I'm real happy with this choice. The only real snivel I have is the way the handle is attached to the top of the bag - this looks like a real failure point when the bag is loaded since the straps are adjacent to the zippers. The solution to this is to forget the handle, and use the included shoulder strap...that said, the handle is perfect for taking (and putting back on) the bag off the rack. So it's all good. Can't speak to any weatherproofing...I live in the desert. Some folks will whine about the price: but..."Buy High, Cry Once". This is a good, well made product. they're not the biggest set of panniers out there, but for everyday commuting (etc) use...you really can't go wrong with these. Oh...and the bag rides quite well (panniers up or down); doesn't rattle or make weird noises (for what that's worth...)
Pros: well made
light
well thought-out
panniers fold up when not in use - making the bag that much more compact
Cons: Can't think of any "real" cons: other than my comment about the handle (see review text)
Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes
Reviewed on: June 12, 2012
Reviewed by: Thom Kuby, China Lake, Ca
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Yes No Report as InappropriateGreat Cargo System
This bag is what I had hoped for. Easy to put on the rack, holds a ton of stuff when I need it to, but can be compact and easy to tote when I am only carrying a few items. Having the flexbility to expand and have the panniers is a great option. The side pannier easily fit my laptop or a pair of shoes, but is not as large as regular pannier. Lots of nice features, including the expandable top and insulation. I keep the shoulder stap on it and just tuck it into the top when I am riding.
Pros: Flexibility to do what you need it to. Easy to put on and off the rack.
Cons: Can be a bit rattley on bumpy roads. Needs a separate cover to be fully waterproof, but I have had in heavy showers without an issue.
Would Buy Again: Yes
Would Recommend: Yes
Reviewed on: January 22, 2011
Reviewed by: Rick S.
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