Oh, the places you’ll go – by bike, if you’re lucky. Day Touring is a joy if you’ve got the gear figured out. There are some great new options that allow you to use your road bike so you can cover more ground without slowing down. The key to going light and fast: a monster seatpost bag.
My personal favorite is the Moots Tailgator. Made of Cordura, it’s an ultra-light three-piece system (2 separate bags and a rack that they individually slide onto) that attaches to your seatpost with a simple titanium rack mount. With 400 cu inches of storage capacity, I find it the perfect size for everything needed on a self-supported day into Yellowstone. Sadly, it’s hard to find this pack (I got mine years ago), but here’s a start.
Apidura nails it for ultralight touring (photo illustration courtesy Apidura).
Apidura is a London-based company completely dedicated to ultralight cycling and has several rackless pack options that optimize bike handling and weight distribution. They have front, rear and frame packs, all designed to make best use of your bike space and speed you along. Their Saddle Pack comes in three sizes ( and has a simple three-point attachment system.
To get a fully waterproof option, we look to Ortlieb. They have Seatpost options in two sizes (1.5 and 4 liter capacity) and have welded seams and waterproof fabrics that make them one of the few fully waterproof bags of this type.
They come with quick-release mounts that you attach to your seatpost via adjustable strap (to fit a wide of post diameters). You can also get them in high viz colors.
Another great option in the waterproof category is Blackburn’s Outpost. Simple bike attachment removes any question as far as it fitting your seatpost (although none of these bags is recommended to be used with a carbon seatpost). It’s also expandable to 671 cu inches.
Traveling light in the city is a whole different ballgame on a bike. We found a new pack from Timbuk2 that does a fabulous job at hauling it all beautifully.
The Lux Pack has three huge selling points: it’s ultralight, waterproof, and it’s shiny. Reflective trim for visibility, roll top closure that lets you expand vertically enough for a baguette, keeps a 15″ laptop secure, and holds a whopping 20 liters of stuff. At 2.5 pounds, it’s a silver bullet.
And finally, on the very wee side, a Goody Box is a good idea for minimal additional things you want to keep front and center. We sell tons of these and it’s no wonder. Velcro® straps attach to your top tube and stem; ballistic nylon exterior and waterproof interior with organizing details; clear external top pocket lets you slide in and operate your phone without compromising touch screen functionality.
Leave a Reply