British firm Tailfin is quick changing into a revered identify in bikepacking circles, producing effectively engineered minimalist gear, that balances sturdiness and functionality with out main weight positive aspects. Crucially their designs additionally ought to work with just about any bike, which is a significant plus for the bikepacking curious.
More and more, Tailfin is creating its personal ecosystem of bikepacking storage options, with new gear interacting seamlessly with the previous, which to my thoughts bears similarities to the strategy of tech large Apple.
There are positives and negatives to this from a shopper perspective. By way of how the equipment performs collectively it’s onerous to consider something aside from totally bespoke baggage set ups which can give the identical stage of finesse and performance. That nonetheless comes with a danger of feeling trapped into utilizing one firm on your baggage wants.
Depart these ideas apart although, as we have a look at a spherical up of three of Tailfin’s most up-to-date launches: Mini Panniers 16L, 3L Half Body Bag and their Packing Cubes.
Tailfin Mini Panniers 16L: The Journey
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Panniers after a protracted interval of neglect appear to be having fun with a resurgence in bikepacking circles. Tailfin’s newest is one other step to creating panniers nice once more.
Panniers make packing simpler, significantly for riders who don’t have the area between rear wheel and saddle for big saddle / seatpost baggage. My driving companion on one journey may solely look on in envy as I effortlessly packed (together with light-weight camp chair) whereas they struggled to squeeze their small bundle right into a stuff sack lashed to their handlebars and seatpost bag.
The air valve actually helps to take a few of the sting out of the packing, however you can in all probability do with out it, by giving your panniers a wee hug or squeeze as you shut them.
Utilizing these with Tailfin’s alloy rack was an actual pleasure. The engagement of the clamp’s lever is actually satisfying (a bit unhappy to say). Pannier customers shall be conversant in the shake, rattle and hum of the baggage on tarmac, however not these. It’s match and overlook: silent on tough stuff and a slim profile means undergrowth catching is minimal.
With the trunk bag, the lever was more durable to have interaction, getting caught on the bag. That’s seemingly because of the angle I had the rack’s stays to keep away from heel strike. Until I used to be on a multi day distant journey or packing my deep winter camp gear, I’d go together with both the trunk bag or panniers. Each is overkill and makes your bike rear heavy, and harder to deal with on steep technical ascents.
Regardless of lugging a laptop computer alongside the North Downs Method or a full weekend’s tenting equipment I barely observed the rear weight when driving – and I all the time pack to capability!
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For commuters, the laptop computer inside is a worthy funding. It comfortably fitted my 13” display in a padded case, elevating it an inch above the bottom minimising danger when putting on the bottom. The inside could be very straightforward to suit and take away with velcro fastenings and comes with a useful zipped compartment for cables – however will battle with a big plug.
The compression straps can be utilized to compress the bag like a belt, or as a streamlined means of closing the bag. I tended to do the latter, that means the “ladder” you can use to repair a rear gentle was unavailable. It might be good to see an answer there, as lights on seat stays aren’t simply seen, and a seat submit fitted gentle will solely work when you’re not utilizing the trunk bag.
My solely different gripe – when you can name it that – is there isn’t any deal with like on standard panniers to make it simpler transporting it off the bike, resembling at transport hubs, campsites, locations of labor and so forth. You’ll be able to after all use the compression straps, or looped closure – it’s simply not as handy.
There’s some preliminary meeting to suit the hook and clamp at level of buy. Nothing sophisticated because it’s just some turns of the screw, however it was sudden given how a lot they value.
Tailfin Mini Panniers 16L: Spec
• Supplies: Hypalon/Ripstop Nylon
• Weight (scales): 573g every together with two compression straps / 709g incl laptop computer holster
• Dimensions at most: 440mm (H) x 260mm (W) x 120mm (D)
• Capability: 16L
• Advisable load capability: 4kg off-road / 8kg highway
• Mounting: X-Clamp 6061 Alu Alloy; mounted hook for rack keep
• Closure: roll-top
• Standout options: rattle free; waterproof; slim profile; air valve
• Extra: 2 x compression straps; spacers to suit non-Tailfin racks
• Worth: £100 per pannier + £20 together with laptop computer holster (not together with Tailfin rack £140 – £235)
Tailfin Body Bag 3L: The Journey
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I want I’d had that possibility to check out Tailfin’s body measurers, (digital and analogue) as I’d have sized all the way down to the two.3L model.
The decrease wedge of the bag was squished by my Nalgene water bottle on the downtube, leading to a wee little bit of knee rubbing once I was out of the saddle. That’s on me although, and I believe if I’d chosen proper I’d effectively have had my first expertise of a body bag that didn’t catch on my shorts.
Regardless of these restrictions, I fitted a good quantity with out straining the zip: a micro ground pump, software roll, sealant, spare inside, snacks, binoculars, toothbrush and paste, and trowel. Except for a head torch and neck hotter, that’s what I’d often squeeze into my customized made full body bag.
In fact, such packing was a bit like Jenga. The one time I wanted my pump I discovered I needed to take away just about all the things – however c’est la vie with bikepacking.
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Driving via this moist winter and spring of ours, Tailfin’s assurance of waterproofness rings true. I even left my bike zip facet up throughout a very heavy downpour in a single day, and there was no ingress. In fact, a bag is simply waterproof as long as you don’t open it in moist situations…so for an on the go bag I’d all the time advise to pack equipment that you simply assume will get moist finally.
The zips are reportedly a customized sourced waterproof model, designed to carry below rigidity – which is fairly important given how a lot framebags are abused when it comes to their holding capability.
The inflexible construction offered by two carbon rods and safe fastening meant one handed unzipping and doing up on the go was doable. It’s the little issues that depend, and I additionally preferred the way in which the zip heads tucked away into little pockets on the finish as effectively.
My check bike, an Isen, has a fairly delicate paint job – leaving apart that not being splendid for an off-road centric bike – I used to be happy once I eliminated the bag after a few lengthy hours and days within the mud and dirt of the Surrey Hills, that Tailfin’s assertion of lowering damaging to my bike’s end held true.
One other neat contact is you should utilize the identical two straps for the highest tube bag to connect the body bag, too.
Tailfin’s signature darkish gray will swimsuit many, however as anybody who is aware of me, I like color. That absence and the boxy nature of the bag which overwhelmed my slender metal tubes meant I may by no means love this bag, however I positively appreciated the eye to element and strong building.
Tailfin Body Bag 3L: Spec
• Supplies: 210D Hypalon/ 210D Ripstop Nylon physique; inside carbon body; customized sourced waterproof zip
• Type: Half body bag
• Weight with straps (scales): 273g
• Dimensions: 440mm (L) x 140mm (D) x 64mm (W)
• Capability: 3L
• Mounting: up to date V-Mount system and TPU straps (included 1 x 290mm, 3 x 185mm straps)
• Standout options: Port for cables / hydration system; waterproof; inside pockets; inflexible form
• Worth: £105
Tailfin has launched 9 sizes of body bag to suit bikes from 47cm – 61cm, with a quantity from 1.9L (£95) to a whopping 6.5L (£125). These are made in two types: Half body bag (six sizes: 2.3L, 3L, 3.8L, 4.5L, 5.3L, 6.5L) and Wedge (three sizes: 1.9L, 2.7L, 3.5L)
A welcome contact for these not sure what bag is greatest for you might be each the digital and analogue means to measure your body.
Tailfin Packing Cubes: Within the area
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Earlier than diving into in my expertise with these baggage, I ought to caveat I solely belief my sleep system and spare garments when tenting in dry baggage.
It doesn’t matter how waterproof the outer bag is. The chance of water ingress on a multi day journey and what it is going to imply for my post-ride expertise just isn’t value it, whereas in adversarial climate situations it may effectively show harmful.
That may appear an excessive response, however strive sleeping in a soaked down sleeping bag when the rain turns to snow and the wind is relentless. I did it as soon as, received hyperthermia, and vowed by no means to repeat that have once more.
In fact, when you’re not planning on tenting and your stays are indoors, then ignore the above!
These baggage do as you’d count on and match neatly into the Tailfin trunk bag.
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For testing functions purely, I packed my Alpkit Pipedream 200 sleeping bag, silk liner and Klymit Insulated Static V Lite tenting mat simply into the 6L bag, with a little bit of room to spare. The three.5L labored effectively for storing a number of merino off-the-bike put on, with the outer pocket housing my Kindle.
I used to be impressed nonetheless by the potential of the two.5L bucket bag (if additionally a bit aghast on the £28 price ticket). It’s nice for retaining your cookware collectively in a single place. I often bundle all the things right into a cotton tote bag to maintain issues in a single place, however the Packing Dice’s draw string means you may preserve all of your equipment collectively, cosy and safe.
Cooking pot (with range and fuel inside), espresso pot, espresso and mug fitted nice – the 5 inside pockets are useful for storing different requirements for campside cookery too eg lighter, tea baggage and so forth. That does make for fairly some bulk although of immovable objects, and in tight areas, like most people, you’ll in all probability attempt to match all the things in another way in order to maximise your restricted room anyway.
Conclusion and worth
I’d all the time been Tailfin curious earlier than reviewing this equipment, and after a few months of onerous use, I can positively see the attraction.
Its simplicity and practicality speaks to excessive ranges of high quality. That’s backed up by their in-depth analysis and actual life testing into ensuring the equipment works with no snags. I’ve quite a lot of respect for that, and aesthetics apart, would fortunately use their panniers and framebags on future adventures.
Whereas the value is excessive, it compares effectively with different opponents. The panniers are solely £5 greater than their nearest competitor Ortlieb 14.5L Gravel Pack (540g https://www.ortlieb.com/uk_en/gravel-pack-ql31+F9986)– assuming you low cost the £140 wanted for the alloy rack. The body bag is on par with the extra bespoke and vibrant Wizard Works Framebagracadabra (£93 – £110) and extra prosaic Ortlieb Body-pack TopTube (£110 – £120)
The Baggage Cubes nonetheless really feel vastly overpriced, particularly compared to what Alpkit affords (from £7.99) whereas relying in your journey dry baggage from firms like Exped (from £13) shall be less expensive and extra sensible.
Given the bashing most bikepacking equipment will undergo, a 5 12 months guarantee could be very welcome. It’s additionally good to notice the 30% low cost in occasion of a crash for a like for like substitute.
The excessive value shall be off placing for a lot of, as you may certainly discover cheaper options on the market. However will these gadgets be as sturdy and effectively designed? I believe everyone knows the reply to that…
