Panniers vs. saddle pack vs. rack bag

[dimrub]

I've been oscillating on the question of both the amount of gear I want with me, and on the optimal way of storing it. Here are two recent examples:

Same bike, two different trips, two different setups. A third one would be like the latter one, with a saddle pack replaced by a light rack with a rack bag on it - something like the Tailfin's Aeropack. Complemented by an optional pair of dry bags on a fork. I'm leaning towards this last option, having grown to appreciate the benefits of a lighter bike - even at a cost of reduced comfort. What do you folks think? Any Aeropack owners in the audience?

 

[Drago]

Stanley. Classy!

 

[chriswoody]

I think @rivers uses a tailfin rack and bag. Personally I really like the look of the Tailfin system but I really can't justify the cost, I just don't think it would bring me enough benefits for the money.

Here's the set up I used last week on my eight day crossing of the Alps:

About half of the route was off-road and a number of days I climbed to over 2000m. I found this to be an incredibly stable and light set up and I never really missed anything. Now there are obviously compromises in this set up, for example, no camping tables or stools. Here's a rough breakdown of what I was carrying:

Rear Saddle bag 14L : Clothes, Washbag, Electronics bag with powerbank cables and Kindle, First Aid Kit, Camp sandals attached to the outside.
Middle frame bag 4L: Mug, Aeropress, coffee, Tent Pegs, Random Food.
Top Tube Bag, 1L Mini Pump, Sun Cream, Food.
Stem Bag: 750ml Water Bottle.
Front Roll, 8L: 1 man Alpkit Tent, Insulated Sleeping Mat, Water Proof Trousers and Jacket, Gilet.
Front Left fork bag 4L, Down Sleeping bag, Silk Liner, Inflatable pillow.
Front Right Fork Bag 4L MSR Pocket Rocket stove and cookset and a little bit of food.
Under the down tube was a tool caddy with a multi tool and various other bits and bobs.

So not a completely ultra light set up, but still pretty light and compact and like I say perfect for an eight day Alpine crossing where I experienced everything from days in the high thirties to pouring rain and temperatures of 9 degrees. It really depends on you and your own comfort levels along with how much you want to invest in smaller lightweight gear.

 

[dimrub]

I think @rivers uses a tailfin rack and bag. Personally I really like the look of the Tailfin system but I really can't justify the cost, I just don't think it would bring me enough benefits for the money.

Here's the set up I used last week on my eight day crossing of the Alps:

View attachment 779825

About half of the route was off-road and a number of days I climbed to over 2000m. I found this to be an incredibly stable and light set up and I never really missed anything. Now there are obviously compromises in this set up, for example, no camping tables or stools. Here's a rough breakdown of what I was carrying:

Rear Saddle bag 14L : Clothes, Washbag, Electronics bag with powerbank cables and Kindle, First Aid Kit, Camp sandals attached to the outside.
Middle frame bag 4L: Mug, Aeropress, coffee, Tent Pegs, Random Food.
Top Tube Bag, 1L Mini Pump, Sun Cream, Food.
Stem Bag: 750ml Water Bottle.
Front Roll, 8L: 1 man Alpkit Tent, Insulated Sleeping Mat, Water Proof Trousers and Jacket, Gilet.
Front Left fork bag 4L, Down Sleeping bag, Silk Liner, Inflatable pillow.
Front Right Fork Bag 4L MSR Pocket Rocket stove and cookset and a little bit of food.
Under the down tube was a tool caddy with a multi tool and various other bits and bobs.

So not a completely ultra light set up, but still pretty light and compact and like I say perfect for an eight day Alpine crossing where I experienced everything from days in the high thirties to pouring rain and temperatures of 9 degrees. It really depends on you and your own comfort levels along with how much you want to invest in smaller lightweight gear.

That's a lovely setup - 1x12 including (is that 38t, 10-51 cassette, or something along these lines?) Pretty similar to my dream setup (with the exception of that rack bag which seems like a marginal improvement for me, due to increased stability and flexibility).

 

[chriswoody]

That's a lovely setup - 1x12 including (is that 38t, 10-51 cassette, or something along these lines?) Pretty similar to my dream setup (with the exception of that rack bag which seems like a marginal improvement for me, due to increased stability and flexibility).

It's a SRAM 1x12 Mullet drivetrain with a 34t chainring and 10 - 50t cassette. It's a modified SRAM GX Eagle Derailleur matched to modified 11 speed SRAM Rival gear/brake levers. 1x gets a lot of negativity on these forums, but for me this was a perfect setup for the Alps, I never felt I was missing a gear and the 34/50 combination got me up the steepest of off-road sections with ease. There's a deeper dive and more information on my drivetrain here: https://www.cyclechat.net/threads/c...ke-drivetrain-a-guide-to-sram-mullets.301861/

Seat packs can be pretty problematic, especially on compact frames with not much seatpost. If you can get them sitting right, snugged up against the frame and seat post, along with being packed carefully, then there is minimal to no sway. Over pack them though or have them jutting out too far from the bike then they can be really awful. This is where Tailfin and others really win because they are really rigid, yet still maintain the slim profile of a seatpack. As you can see from my picture, it's taken a while, but I've finally got it down to a fine art getting the seat pack in close and snug on my bike. What I like about my seat pack is that it's a Holster style, so there's a harness that stays attached to the bike and a dry bag is kept snug inside. So if it's raining all you need to do is unclip the drybag and throw it in your tent where you can pack or unpack it in the dry.

 

[oxoman]

My first trip was a carradice SQR which ended up a bit close to the tyre when loaded near its limit. 2nd trip was a pair of ortleib gravel bags which worked out great. Managed to get all my gear in them plus front rack mounts and alpkit bar bag with sleeping bag in. Did consider various seat post bags but prefer comfort over weight saving. Did the Stans Yorkshire dirt dash last week and 1 guy had to abandon the trip about 6 mile from the end when his seatpost snapped off at the frame complete with his bag. Bike was oldish but made me glad of my choice. Would love sram mullet, currently 1x12 with 10 /44. Could really do with 10/50 or similar for the harder climbs. Sadly expensive upgrade as its wireless.

 

[rivers]

I think @rivers uses a tailfin rack and bag. Personally I really like the look of the Tailfin system but I really can't justify the cost, I just don't think it would bring me enough benefits for the money.

Here's the set up I used last week on my eight day crossing of the Alps:

View attachment 779825

About half of the route was off-road and a number of days I climbed to over 2000m. I found this to be an incredibly stable and light set up and I never really missed anything. Now there are obviously compromises in this set up, for example, no camping tables or stools. Here's a rough breakdown of what I was carrying:

Rear Saddle bag 14L : Clothes, Washbag, Electronics bag with powerbank cables and Kindle, First Aid Kit, Camp sandals attached to the outside.
Middle frame bag 4L: Mug, Aeropress, coffee, Tent Pegs, Random Food.
Top Tube Bag, 1L Mini Pump, Sun Cream, Food.
Stem Bag: 750ml Water Bottle.
Front Roll, 8L: 1 man Alpkit Tent, Insulated Sleeping Mat, Water Proof Trousers and Jacket, Gilet.
Front Left fork bag 4L, Down Sleeping bag, Silk Liner, Inflatable pillow.
Front Right Fork Bag 4L MSR Pocket Rocket stove and cookset and a little bit of food.
Under the down tube was a tool caddy with a multi tool and various other bits and bobs.

So not a completely ultra light set up, but still pretty light and compact and like I say perfect for an eight day Alpine crossing where I experienced everything from days in the high thirties to pouring rain and temperatures of 9 degrees. It really depends on you and your own comfort levels along with how much you want to invest in smaller lightweight gear.

I do indeed use an aeropack. I love it, and use it daily for commuting as well, so for me, the cost is worth it. And I can swap it between bikes easily.
As someone who is vertically challenged, it has given me the most flexibility a d least amount of hassle when it comes to bikepacking.

 

[figbat]

Ortlieb do a selection of racks that now can use the Tailfin axle mount system under license. I have been considering the Tailfin Aeropack but was put off by the need to remove the pack and rack as a single unit. The Ortlieb Quick-Rack (Light) looks like a cost-effective alternative to use with lightweight panniers and/or a pack on the top. For me this would be on a carbon fibre full-sus MTB, where I have until now used a tailpack under the saddle plus a handlebar bag.

I like the idea of whipping lightweight panniers off in moments and, where needed, also having the rack off easily.